Legalism and Holiness Are Opposites; Not "Kissing-Cousins"

HOLINESS! It's not exactly a subject that we hear alot about... and part of the reason we don't hear alot about it is that most of us are either Pharisees, recovering Pharisees, married to a Pharisee, or directly descended from one thereof. As a result, we are very skittish about stuff that sounds like, "Do this and don't do that!" We know only too well from having heard the Gospel of truth that the keeping of the law, "the doing of this", and "the not doing of that" is not the means by which right standing is found with God Almighty. God saves us by His Grace. There is nothing that we can do, NOTHING that we can do... to cause Him to love us more or to cause us to fall out of His favor. That is the grace and mercy of God. That is His good providence. That is His electing POWER.

But...

That does create a bit of a problem because over and over again, all throughout the Bible, God says, "Do this and don't do that!" That's not just in the Old Testament. Jesus says over and over again, "If you love me, you WILL obey my commandments." Over and over again, He says, "This is how the world will know that you are my disciples: that you LOVE one another!"

...The Pharisees, the Jews in John Chapter 8, actually believed that they could simply by the strength of their own will, gain right standing with God. That's not what holiness is. That's legalism, and legalism and holiness are opposites; not "kissing-cousins".


- Dr. George Grant

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[GarryF08]

Obedience to God is NOT legalism. Even Paul dissagrees with you Romans 3:31 Do we, then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Matt 19:17 " But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, JUST as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."

There is no disparity here! John was written about 90AD. The Gospels were meant to be instructional not just eyewitness accounts.

[LaneCh]

Do you hold that this video is saying that obedience to God is legalism? I'm lost as to the context of your comment.

[ManicDepressive101]

We obey because once we are truly born again, it's just our natural nature. So why is it a need for legalism

[theflarpus]

Another great video. Lane your channel has been a great wealth of understanding for me and continues to do so. And for that I am thankful. Have a fantastic day my brother.

[steveinchelsea]

My uncle used to say he hated God for not existing !

[julnbde]

tell the rest of your story man, 1 john, the same passage you're citing partially and out of context tells us exactly what those commands are, love one another and BELIEVE in the one he sent! It is the obedience of faith that God requires in the NEw Covenant, NOT the obedience to the Law.

Also, Jesus walked by the Spirit, as we do. That does not mean we are to work hard to be perfect like Jesus, NO, we ARE perfect BECAUSE of Jesus! By faith, through grace.

[rstTEX]

The Lord's Table, aka The breaking of bread has the specificity of "Remembering Him" It is if you will, worshiping Him for the finished work He has done for us! In no way can we construe that to become a service wherewith we enter in for blessing, rather we do, simply, "In Remembrance of Me." It is in worship of Him, and Him alone. In Giving Him worship and making obeisance to Him, we again Give to Him that He in turn may render to the Father all Glory.

[mrspogadaeus]

srhabb has a good point. Do we remain faithful to our spouse because if we don't we'll get caught/in trouble...  or do we remain faithful to our spouse because we love them and couldn't offend them even if we tried to? Since we love God & we have a relationship with him, our walk in holiness should be a natural outgrowth of that love and desire to please Him. It shouldn't be something we do because it's on the list of things to do (or NOT to do) but we do the list because it is now who we are.

[srhabb]

Here is an easier way to understand what holiness is. Living set apart to God is like how a wife is holy(set apart, reserved, apart of or joined to) to her husband.

Holiness is not legalism.

[alamin704]

1 John 2:3-6 expresses the opposite of your point(in part)

Now by this we may be sure we know him, IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS (4) whoever says, I have come to know him but DOES NOT OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS HE IS A LIAR...(6)Whoever says I abide in him out to WALK JUST AS HE WALKED.

Holiness is to set apart, apart from what? from the ways of the world, "come up out of her my people" works does not save you but it shows or is a sign that you are saved. May the Lord Bless you!