Galatians 3:1 "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?"
I've heard this statement a few times. I've heard some say that our church is legalist in its beliefs and practice. Do those people even know what legalist means anyway? Probably not. I found this definition and thought it was pretty good. This unknown person said a legalist is "a person who thinks that salvation comes by not only faith in Christ but also obedience in accordance with the Word of God." Nothing needs to be added to salvation but faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for that salvation.
I know one thing...those that label us fundamental, independent, sin-hating, Christ-loving, hell preaching, separated churches as legalist do not like hard preaching and/or what we stand for. Those people will find some old dead church to go to where they can look pretty good. Those people stand out like a sore thumb when they hear preaching that is hard and straight. I guess they think if they label us as legalists then others will stay away too.
Some people don't stay in a church where sin is preached and truth is proclaimed and Biblical separation is practiced because they say "legalism, legalism". They wouldn't know legalism if they stumbled over it.
Legalism has nothing to do with living clean and holy before God. Legalism has to do with adding baptism, church membership, and good works to the grace of God for salvation. The truth is that there are some people that don't have any standards at all in some of these dead churches who are legalists.
You believe, you trust Jesus and get baptized and join the church and endure to the end to be saved. That's legalism. Holy living and separation and looking like a Christian is not legalism. It's Bible holiness. It is merely following Christ.
So in a nutshell....I'm not a legalist....I'm saved by the grace of God and obedient to those things He tells me to do!!
Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
7 comments:
Mrs Julie very well put. I have faced that question here at work that I am a legalist because I try to live holy. They say God don't care how you live after you are saved so you can party drink, whormonger around after you are saved. They are nuts God expects Holiness and nothing less. Good Post! I want to see some of the comments on this one.
Bro Tim
Sis, Julie, I have heard said and I have found it to be very true. I am not saved because of good works but when I am saved the good works just come. God is good. I am thankful that I am a fundamental, independent, sin-hating, Christ-loving, go to a hell preaching, separated church. I love every second of being in God's house with God's people. To love and serve the Lord is my greatest joy in life.To try and be a blessing to others is my second joy.
When we are truly saved, the Spirit lives in us. He cannot help but shine through us unto good works! Good post, Sis!!!
Good preaching sister! Just Kidding! But good post! I know from experience, that many people just want a church to go to where their ears can be tickled. They don't want good Bible convicting preaching. Aas a matter of fact, many visitors to my dad's church ask this question first: "Do you all have a ball team or something?"
Excellent post! Too often I see the Biblical way of living dismissed as legalism. We live according to God's Word because we *are* saved - not to *get* saved. That's a huge difference!
I treid commenting on this yesterday, but blogger was being a booger!
I think you're right...to anyone who does not want to live by the WORD of GOD, we will be called a legalist. When in reality, we are simply trying to live as the Savior.
~Kristi
That post was too good to let slip past me. The cry of "lagalism" is usually used as a weapon of defense by those who don't want their Christianity to get in the way of their fun and sensuality. To them, legalism is the most terrible sin a person can commit. True legalism is, in that if you are a legalist, you're going to hell. What we are is not legalism.
Good post.
Rhonda
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