Q5. (1 John 2:3-6)
How can we be serious about obeying Christ without become legalistic and judgmental, with a self-righteous attitude like the Pharisees had?
First, we must want to be like Him Who only did the will of God, the Father. God is light. The will of God is that we walk in the light (not in the darkness), guided by His word and not by worldly desires;
Second, we must recognize that we are not good enough to fulfill the will of God without fail. So, no man or woman is in position to grant his own salvation by his / her own effort of doing things right as commanded by the word of God. We will fail, now and then.
Third, whenever we fall, we must be able to go to Jesus Christ in repentance asking for forgiveness. He will forgive us. That is His promise.
How do love and legalism differ?
Legalism has to do with law or the emphasis to the law when it comes to codes of conduct. As mentioned before, when we think of salvation on mankind as based on their good deeds, then we can say, for sure, no man will be saved. BUT when we see the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the atoning sacrifice, then we will understand what LOVE is. It is due to His great love that he saves us by grace. That is the difference between legalism and love: LEGALISM DOES NOT SAVE ANYBODY, LOVE DOES!
How can we be serious about obedience and make love our center?
The word of God teaches us that love is the greatest of all virtues. So, if we are serious about obedience we must exercise love above anything else, and any other virtue will develop around love.