Legalism vs. Grace

There are all kinds of grace teachers, and I don't pretend to know what they all teach. I can only say that if it doesn't lead you to rely on the work of Jesus for your justification, if you seek to justify yourself by the things you do, then it is works (legalism).

It isn't just salvation, it is justifying yourself as a better Christian than others, even. It is anything by which you can create a law, that by fulfilling, gives you status that isn't afforded to someone who "breaks" that law.

Why do we think it is necessary to pray? Is it because somebody once taught on prayer and quoted a bunch of scriptures intended to make us feel as if prayer was necessary? What form does our prayer take? Is it conversational? Is it highly structured and formal? WHY?

Why do people respond to the prayer requests on a prayer request forum? Wasn't it placed with the understanding that people would pray for it? Why do people feel the need to let people know they're praying for them? Jesus said we should pray in a closet, in secret! Legalism: Do you pray in a closet, do you pray in secret?

Legalism must find an answer for each of these questions. It must have an answer because it must be able to define the wrong and right behaviors. To approve the right ones and condemn the wrong ones.

I say, Jesus is our justification. He is our tacit approval. He is our right deed never left undone, even when we have done wrong. It is totally backwards from what the rest of the world says, "It is foolish to believe that way."

Better than that, once we have seen grace, we find that he is our motivation when we are not motivated, he is our words when we are speechless, he is our love when we are not loving. He is everything we are not, when we are not so that he then makes us to be everything that he IS. (CAUTION: DEEP POOL)

Previous Comments:

Hey, I thought I'd seen this elsewhere. :)

I love deep water. I'm diving in. :D
Posted by MsTick on November 4, 2003 at 10:36:48 AM

Um, i hope there is enough room for us all cause i'm jumping in too:)
Posted by dave on November 4, 2003 at 09:03:31 PM

Come on it. Here's a pool noodle for you. Kersplash!
Posted by MsTick on November 5, 2003 at 11:05:15 AM

oops, I mean, come on IN. :D
Posted by MsTick on November 5, 2003 at 11:06:02 AM

Thanks for blogging this, HT!:heart:

Should we all feel GUILTY about swimming while you're in a desert?????

Should we make a LAW: No swimming till HT returns?????

Hugs and prayers to ya!
Posted by Mickey on November 6, 2003 at 08:26:48 PM

Don't worry about Harry having water to swim in. God promises him to make rivers in the desert for him - I expect he'll be swimming right along. :) Meanwhile - splash!
Posted by lillium on November 10, 2003 at 07:14:35 AM