I know we are saved by grace though faith and not by any works that we should boast of! BUT, if we do not works then we can't do that alone. Because as Paul says in romans...'Faith without works is dead'!! And as Jesus says, if oyu love me keep my commandments....So where you draw the line between legalism and being saved by Grace??
2007-02-19 10:22:51 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The only reason salvation remains a free gift is because nobody is able to force God to save them, either by works, or by anything else.
All the rest is merely the false traditions of various men ... most of them protestant.
Jesus clearly explained that faithful baptism by water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, along with good works, are both necessary for salvation.
This also implies full and active participation in the work, worship, sacraments, and devotions of the Church.
Don't waste your time trying to figure it out.
Just do it.
2007-02-19 11:49:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Legalism is the strict adherence to the law. For instance, if you have to obey the commandments in order to be saved, then that would be a form of legalism. Jesus taught that the Spirit of the Law was what was important. This is why He abolished the Law, by fulfilling it, and gave us grace, for, by the Law, everyone should be condemned and none should be saved.
When you are saved by grace, you cannot break a commandment. How? Why? Because when you come to God, giving your life to Him, loving Him and making Him your God, then nothing you do is going to offend Him. And, if it does offend Him, then we have Jesus Christ acting on our behalf, He paid the price for our sins. This is a good thing, because, if we can lose our salvation, if we must obey the commandments in order to be saved, then all of us will go to hell without exception.
God did this on purpose so that we must rely on Him for our salvation. Our salvation is NOT based upon ourselves or on anything that we did or do. For starters, there is no way we could ever do enough for God, certainly not enough to get into heaven. That is why God sent Jesus His Christ to do it for us, to make up the difference between what we can do for the Lord and what is necessary in order to be perfect before Him so that we may enter into His presence.
That is why it is called salvation by grace, for grace is mercy which is not earned.
At the same time, while we do not have to obey the law and the commandments, while we do not have to do good works, once we are saved by grace, we should try never to sin again, for we were just pulled out of a fire, why should we try to jump back into it again? We should try to live the life that Christ wanted us to.
This new life in Christ has very little to do with laws and a lot to do with love, just like the love between a husband (God) and his wife (us). Is marriage all about laws and rules and commandments? If you love God, you will not go around trying to offend Him, nor will you cheat on Him, or in any way be unfaithful to Him or neglect your duties to Him. At the same time, if you do, God loves us and has made a way for us all to repent and come back to Him (that Way is Jesus Christ our Lord).
2007-02-19 19:06:28 · answer #2 · answered by Shawn D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it says that by acts you are saved then it is legalism. We are only saved by GRACE. Not going to the movies isn't going to save us. Not dancing isn't going to save us. Not wearing makeup isn't going to save us.
Faith in Jesus Christ is what saves us.
2007-02-19 18:27:58 · answer #3 · answered by James C 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uh, what?
2007-02-19 18:27:45 · answer #4 · answered by Reileah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋