Legalism feat. San

What is legalism? Join me and San in a conversation about the struggle to be true to God's Word without becoming legalistic.

PSALMS to God · Legalism Feat. San

⁸For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹not from works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB

About San

I've known known San since I was born, since she is my cousin. San is a devout student of The Word; and although she was not looking to become a pastor, she completed a degree in theology at Knox Seminary.

Definitions from this episode

definition

Legalism [1]

noun

1. : strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice
2. : a legal term or rule

definition

Antinomianism [2]

noun

1. Complete rejection of the law
2. literally, against the law

If you start off answering the question will you be in heaven with "yes, because I ...," you're on the wrong track San

Legalism causes judgmentalness and fractures in the Church.

There's a difference is doing something because you love Christ or because the Holy Spirit has convicted you and doing something to be saved.
It's supposed to be about relationship not religion!
It's hard to find the right balance between the extremes of getting too caught up in following God's Word (legalism) and not following it at all.
Fellowship with diverse believers allows us to balance each other out and pull each oter back from the extremes.

Bible verses mentioned in the episode:

• "Why call Me good?" — Mark 10:18
• "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God" — Micah 6:8
• "He who knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it, sins" — James 4:17
• A time for everything — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• Removing the plank in your eye — Matthew 7:1-5
• The tax collector (publican) vs. the Pharisee — Luk2 18:9-14

Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? Matthew 7:3 CSB

References & Footnotes

1. "Legalism". Merriam-Webster; visited October 6, 2020
2. "Antinomianism". Encyclopædia Britannica. January 20, 2020