Legalism

Have been ill for the past few days and that has been a blessing in many ways.Cud just rest and be at home and slow down a lil from my crazy daily schedule. Was listening to CJ Mahaney on Legalism (from Resolved 2005) this afternoon, on Galatians 3:1-5. The passage is where Paul is addressing the Galatians about the Sufficiency of Christ's work on the cross. Even before CJ started preaching i thought, hmmm well Legalism, i dont think i struggle with that as much. By the end of the message i was proved wrong. So many times we take pride in our works. I like the way Paul puts it in vs 2 "Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?" How true. We did not do anythin to be saved. It is only thru Christ that we have a new life, thru His work on the cross. There is nothing that we can do to contribute to our Justification. There were 3 practical ways that CJ suggested from the passage that would help us not to be legalistic:

1. Remember the Cross(vs 1b)

Lets us not forget the cross, and that thru the death of Christ and the victory over sin by His resurrection we are free in Him. (1Peter 1:3) If the Galations forgot so are we vulnerable to forget it too.

2. Recall your conversion.(vs 2)

Its always good to remember the time of our coversion. We all can say in one voice that there was nothing we could do to save ourselves. (Eph 2:4-5 But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He has loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved.)

3. Review your hope(vs3-4)

Let us always keep in mind that my righteousness is in Christ alone. If there is anything good that comes out of us is because the Spirit of God, that is within us.

So let us not boast in our works. Someone very wise said that,Legalism is Attempting Self Atonement for Self Glorification for the purpose of Self Worship.