What is Legalism?

[BobRyan]

Aren't we to keep the commands of God because we love Him? (John 14:15).

Someone will have to show me Scripture where gratitude is the impetus for keeping the commands of God.

Matt 18 does say something about forgiving others just as we have been forgiven.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[BobRyan]

"What matters is keeping the Commandments of God"???

Who said that?

in Christ,

Bob

 

[TCGreek]

Matt 18 does say something about forgiving others just as we have been forgiven.

in Christ,

Bob

Christ commands us to forgive,
I obey Christ's command out of love,
If I forgive others because I've been forgiven, my obedience to this command is out of love.

 

[BobRyan]

I don't mean to argue that we should not obey out of Love for God - but in Matt 18 we hae the argument about forgiving just as you have been forgiven.

There the motive appears to be that the one who has been forgiven will be expected to forgive others in appreciation and gratitude for what they have already experienced from God.

Because God has first loved me I am enabled to then love my neighbor as myself - since I have a model - and example to follow and have experienced the benefit of what it has done for me. And in so doing I may lead my neighbor to experience that same benefit directly from God as I have.

in Christ,

Bob

 

[TCGreek]

I don't mean to argue that we should not obey out of Love for God - but in Matt 18 we hae the argument about forgiving just as you have been forgiven.

There the motive appears to be that the one who has been forgiven will be expected to forgive others in appreciation and gratitude for what they have already experienced from God.

Because God has first loved me I am enabled to then love my neighbor as myself - since I have a model - and example to follow and have experienced the benefit of what it has done for me. And in so doing I may lead my neighbor to experience that same benefit directly from God as I have.

in Christ,

Bob

Bob,

Your point is well argued and I agree.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

According to dictionary.com -

a. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
b. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

During the time of my life when I was caught up in the doctrine of legalism, I was more involved in "b" than "a'. I had a set of strict guidelines - some Biblical, some self-imposed - and if others didn't follow those same guidelines, I assumed they were not a Christian or at least not as good of a Christian as me. It certainly made me feel good about myself (how pathetic, huh?) - a false sense of holiness.

In my personal experience, legalism leads to feeling better about oneself because of living by a set of laws or rules and being better than others instead of comparing ourselves to Christ, knowing we can never measure up to that standard, and understanding His grace.:godisgood:

GE
Especially your last remark! If Christ be our Law, pretending holiness becomes too difficult; in fact impossible! One lives by Grace and Grace only if Christ is one's law.