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CBrush
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Joined: 2005/2/16
Posts: 2
| | legalism? can someone please define..? | | I've heard the term "legalism" used before, i'm not sure I understand what "legalism" is..
Can someone please define "legalism" in a church or in a person or whatever it applies to..
Thank you! |
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 2005/2/22 22:12 | Profile |
sermonindex
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Canada
Online! | | Re: legalism? can someone please define..? | | Quote:
I've heard the term "legalism" used before, i'm not sure I understand what "legalism" is..
I believe the word legalism simply means that a person can keep the law and commandments in his own flesh and therefore trying to justify themselves before the God. But the thing is no flesh shall be justified by works it is by the grace and mercy of God shown in Jesus that can allow us to become righteous before Him.
There are many examples in the scriptures.. perhaps some people will share these.
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| 2005/2/22 22:18 | Profile |
Paulus
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Joined: 2004/1/15
Posts: 87
Celbridge Kildare Ireland
| | Re: Legalism | | The term legalism has been used by many to justify spiritual liberalism. However having grown up in what many termed a "legalistic" church I needed to really pray my way into real "freedom" rather than just throw off anything I in my flesh deemed to be legalism, ie "not throw out the baby with the water".
Legalism is when we try to make ourselves acceptable to God by doing something other than just faith in the finished work of the cross and the washing of the shed Blood of Christ. We need to ensure that we never teach people "how to be" or "how to behave like" a christian rather than teach them what it is that brings about the rebirth by the Spirit. When we do things led by the Spirit as a spiritual being then we do them under the compulsion of heaven and not as a "fleshly sacrifice" to appease God. Thus for many the getting rid of televison and the abstinance from various forms of entertainment is not legalism but a divien interaction between them and heaven.If however we teach that the same acts make one "acceptable" then we are on legalistic grounds.
Paul
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Paul R Carley
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| 2005/2/28 8:40 | Profile |
| | Re: | | My two cents:
1) Teaching the commandments of men as if they were the commandments of God
2)Producing good works to earn salvation. |
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| 2005/2/28 8:48 | |
RobertW
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Joined: 2004/2/12
Posts: 4636
St. Joseph, Missouri
| | Re: | | Quote:
I believe the word legalism simply means that a person can keep the law and commandments in his own flesh and therefore trying to justify themselves before the God.
This is absolutely true. Legalism is trying to keep laws in the absense of the presence and power of God. Legalism trys to work towards holiness- yet holiness is the outworking of the Holy Spirit in our life. Get full of the Holy Spirit and you will live holy.
Quote:
1) Teaching the commandments of men as if they were the commandments of God
2)Producing good works to earn salvation.
Key in on what is said in number 1 and watch this progression:
a) Rules of men become the traditions of men.
b) Traditions of men become the commandments of men.
c) Commandments of men are taught as the commandments of God.
It has been said that religion is the worship of God in His absense; I submit that legalism is the practice of rules in His absense.
God Bless,
-Robert
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Robert Wurtz II
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| 2005/2/28 8:59 | Profile |
| | What legalism is not | | It's also good to define what legalism is not.
Legalism is not wanting and trying to be like Jesus who hated sin and loved righteousness.
Legalism is not wanting to be the Bride of Christ that is without spot or wrinkle.
I have heard men call those who want to have clean hands and a pure heart legalistic. This is a terrible mistake which ends up hurting the body of Christ. |
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| 2005/2/28 9:34 | |
| | Re: legalism | |
Legalism is also spliting of hairs in theological terms. It means that, for instance, a certain set of words are manditory for true repentance or to define a belief strictly and narrowly. An example is confessing Christ and your beliefs about the precise nature of Jesus. You can get very legalistic about this. I try to stick to a simple, Christ Jesus died for our sins. But you can get legalistic about this very quickly if you have a narrowly set definition of salvation. Legalism is a form of putting ourselves in God's place and making judgements about others.
Jake (Bub)
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| 2005/2/28 9:42 | |
nimble
Member
Joined: 2005/2/2
Posts: 12
| | Re: | | Quote:
bubbaguy wrote:
Legalism is also spliting of hairs in theological terms. It means that, for instance, a certain set of words are manditory for true repentance or to define a belief strictly and narrowly. An example is confessing Christ and your beliefs about the precise nature of Jesus. You can get very legalistic about this. I try to stick to a simple, Christ Jesus died for our sins. But you can get legalistic about this very quickly if you have a narrowly set definition of salvation. Legalism is a form of putting ourselves in God's place and making judgements about others.
Jake (Bub)
While part of this may be true I think knowlege of "the precise nature of Jesus" is a very important part of combatting legalism... take this from Collosians 2 for example:
"8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
what do people think? |
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| 2005/2/28 9:54 | Profile |
| | Re: | | I never will be able to wrap my mind around the mechanics of how our infinately powerful God resided in a human form. Its not that I don't believe it, I just don't understand it. Like trying to conceptualize infinity all at once. It is beyond the human minds ability for comprehension.
Bub |
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| 2005/2/28 10:50 | |
Gideons
Member
Joined: 2003/9/16
Posts: 474
Virginia
| | Re: | | Belief in Christ is more than an intellectual assent. I don't fully understand God (and never will) but am asking Him to teach me His ways. His ways and thoughts are higher than our ways and thoughts.
There's proof throughout the scripture for this hypothesis but here's three verses from John 14.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
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Ed Pugh
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| 2005/2/28 17:51 | Profile |
