Legalism feat. San

What is legalism? Join me and San in a conversation about the struggle to be true to God's Word without becoming legalistic.

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB

About San

I've known known San since I was born, since she is my cousin. San is a devout student of The Word; and although she was not looking to become a pastor, she completed a degree in theology at Knox Seminary.

Definitions from this episode

🗣 DEFINITION

Legalism [1]

noun

1. : strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code the institutionalized legalism that restricts free choice
2. : a legal term or rule

🗣 DEFINITION

Antinomianism [2]

noun

1. Complete rejection of the law
2. literally, against the law

If you start off answering the question will you be in heaven with "yes, because I ...," you're on the wrong track
San

Notes from this Episode

• Legalism causes judgmental-ness and fractures in the Church.
• There's a difference is doing something because you love Christ or because the Holy Spirit has convicted you and doing something to be saved.
• It's supposed to be about relationship not religion!
• It's hard to find the right balance between the extremes of getting too caught up in following God's Word (legalism) and not following it at all.
• Fellowship with diverse believers allows us to balance each other out and pull each other back from the extremes.

Bible verses mentioned in the episode:

• "Why call Me good?" — Mark 10:18
• "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God" — Micah 6:8
• "He who knows the right thing to do and doesn't do it, sins" — James 4:17
• A time for everything — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• Removing the plank in your eye — Matthew 7:1-5
• The tax collector (publican) vs. the Pharisee — Luke 18:9-14

Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye?
Matthew 7:3 CSB

References and Footnotes

1. "Legalism". Merriam-Webster; visited October 6, 2020
2. "Antinomianism". Encyclopædia Britannica. January 20, 2020