I wish to now write and post my thoughts regarding legalism and works in the context of Christianity. In order to not obscure my points I’ll begin by stating plainly that salvation is neither a product of nor assisted by doing good things in any capacity. Ideologies that state otherwise are wrong (In my opinion, of course). Further to this, salvation is an act of God towards an individual facilitated through the repentance of sin and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for atonement. As ought to be clear I don’t believe these conditions to be included within the category of works and I will endeavor to explain this and at the same time hope to be concise. (Note: I am using the term “condition” in the sense of God’s plan for salvation. I don’t want there to be confusion as to any denying of unconditional election)
Primarily I would like to focus on attitudes towards legalism and how these attitudes can bring about further detriment. To clarify, again, adherence to laws and works to create or maintain salvation is wrong and rightfully ought to be regarded negatively and to be actively avoided and persuaded against. My issue stems from these things being taken too far. But before I can elaborate on this I must fulfill my stated endeavor from earlier.
With the reality of salvation being an act solely of God and not earned by man it must be concluded that God controls all aspects related to the salvation. Man is corrupted by sin and incapable of willing it not to be. However, God calls on everyone to repent and trust. To repent means to recognize the personal state of being in sin and, more specifically, acknowledging any known sins committed or being committed and then turning away from this reality and state towards God. Trusting has to do with the reliance on the sacrifice He supplied in Jesus Christ having taken all our sins upon Himself and dying the death and receiving the punishment we deserve.
With that in mind the conditions have to do with returning to God on his terms; repenting and trusting as commanded. Not that we are earning anything via this but it is an act of obedience towards the Saviour. It isn’t a work; it is the right response. A brief example would be in the scenario of a man that cheats on his wife leading to a separation. If he becomes truly remorseful and seeks reconciliation and goes back to her asking for forgiveness and she chooses to take him back you wouldn’t look at that situation and say “Well, he earned that forgiveness”. No, he didn’t earn anything. His “repenting” of his sin was just the right response to it.
Now that this has been expounded upon I can finally get to my original intentions for this piece of writing regarding legalism. So if you’re a Christian that means you’ve repented of your sins and have trusted and are trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation. Many Christians find the concept of legalism to be near abhorrent; or varying degrees of disagreement with the concept to that extreme. This comes from the right understanding of where the work of salvation comes from; Jesus and not us, and wanting it to stay that way.
However, once someone becomes a Christian the life we’re to live involves obedience. In order to be obedient there must be things to which to be obedient. In another format; we’re to be holy as He is holy. It is at this point where the conflict of an improper understanding of legalism comes in. In a commendable desire to live in such a manner as to ensure our trust is in nothing other than God we (and I do mean ‘we’ as I don’t intend to make this seem like I am not susceptible) sometimes view the idea of denying ourselves something that is otherwise commonplace in the world to be legalism and to make certain that we are not legalist we are going to exercise our freedom in Christ to partake of this thing to prove that we are not adhering to legalism!
I am not referring to blatant sins as those wouldn’t be covered in this example anyway and ought to be avoided by everyone. I mean things such as actions or points of view held to by the world that in and of themselves are neutral at best but at worst are worldly and not beneficial. But again, to ensure we’re not falling into legalism we partake and approve. This is counter-productive to the outworking of holiness and, as stated, a detriment to the Christian and the fellowship through bad examples.
In conclusion, and having failed at my attempt to be concise, a proper understanding of our salvation is vital. Through that understanding we’re able to view what we do and don’t do in life to be separate from what saves us; and that is quite freeing (Not that a life lived without holiness and good works to be indicative of a Christian; it isn't). It is from this which the concept of Christian freedom stems. Along with it a right view of actions to be taken or denied regarding good works it can facilitate the expressions of holiness and growing in holiness to be in line with Christian character.
Finally (again), in yet another conclusion, the point is this: don’t allow good intentions of wanting to remain separate from any semblance of working for salvation to instead become a hindrance to holiness and denying what ought to be denied to that end. Sometimes obedience and avoiding worldliness takes effort and hurts.
Huzzah!
