legalism

Why Legalism Destroys Churches and Kills Christians

This article describes legalism and how it is alive and well in churches still today. It explains the value of the law, but also its limitations.

Oh How I Love Thy Law! Do Not Handle, Taste, or Touch

Can Christians keep the law and avoid legalism? This article looks at the place of the law in creation and the law during Moses’ time. It shows that understanding the stages of revelation in the Bible is important for understanding the role of the moral law, ceremonial law, and the civil law.

Salvation Is All of Grace yet I Must...

Legalism and antinomianism are the great threats to the biblical teaching of salvation. Legalism hinders the possibility of being saved while antinomianism hinders the life of salvation. This article shows this by looking at justification and sanctification.

The Imperfections of Our Sanctification

This article discusses sanctification, both definitive and progressive. It critiques antinomianism and legalism, and shows the theological problems with perfectionism.

The Surprising Truth about Legalism

At its root, legalism is the failure to see the generosity of God and his wise and loving plans for us. Legalism is rooted in a distorted view of God as the giver of his law. This is what the article helpfully explains, by using the first sin in Paradise as proof.

The Gospel under Assault

There are two enemies of the gospel: legalism and antinomianism. This article explains why this is so.

Legalism vs. Liberty

The Christian has freedom from the conscience of other people. This liberty is a protection against legalism. To argue the point this article defines what legalism is and why people often fall into its trap.

Flirting with the Law

Is it possible to have your internet history reveal legalism in you? This article considers how we can adopt an attitude of works-righteousness in how we regard our time spent on the internet.

How We Are Sanctified and Live Penitently

By showing that the sanctification of the believer rests in the work of the Triune God, this article makes plain the dangers of legalism and liberalism.

The Centrality of the Scripture

The author takes a look at the church at Ephesus through the lens of 1 Timothy. Three problems that arose in the life of the church are reflected upon: asceticism (1 Timothy 4:1-5), legalism (1 Timothy 1:3-17), and materialism (1 Timothy 6:3-19).

Antinomianism – Lessons from History

This is a book about antinomianism. It discusses the conviction that living out of God’s grace in Christ is incompatible with obligations of the moral law. In Chapter 1 the author surveys antinomian debates in the Reformation and post-Reformation eras. He ends with the so-called Marrow Controversy in the eighteenth century.

Legalism is the biggest threat to the Christian life. Why? Let the article explain.

Jesus - Lord of the Sabbath

This article discusses how we should celebrate the Lord's Day. What may/should we do on Sundays? Looking at Mark 2:27-28, this article shows that in His coming, Jesus freed His people from antinomianism as well as legalism. We must find a balance between these two extremes. Sunday should be a day of joyful delight in God, on which we glorify God with our actions.

The Book of Proverbs and Repetition

Some things are worth repeating, that they might not be forgotten. The book of Proverbs uses repetition to teach us the importance of correction and hungering after wisdom, the danger of legalism, the value of Christian friendship, the need for sexual purity, and the reality of eternal life.

Legalism is a Real Problem

This article shows that legalism is a problem that confronts both justification and sanctification, and needs to be addressed in a balanced way.

Obedience: The First Two Uses of the Law

This article is about the different uses of the law of God: civil use of the law, the evangelical use of the law and the didactic use of the law. It focuses especially on the law as a rule for obedience, and shows what the Reformers thought about this issue.

I Want to Walk Free, but I Still Hear the Chains Rattling

This article is about different forms of legalism and our christian freedom. The author also discusses salvation and our good works, the relation of law and gospel, and the perseverance of the believer.

Not Commanded, Not Forbidden

Should I do it? Or should I not? The Bible does not always give us direct answers about what we should do in all situations. It looks at how we should find the will of God in the so-called indifferent things (adiaphora).