Q2. Legalism vs. Gospel

[Sister Evelyn]

Q2. (1 Timothy 4:3-5) Why is performance of legalistic requirements so attractive to people?

These teachers should have known the truth but they chose to deny it. Based on the viewpoint that in order for a ruler to maintain order in society, people must obey a set of strict laws and those in authority. God created everything and it was good, and nothing is to be rejected, if its is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

This fruit produces deception in  a person life.

The emphasis so different from the true gospel because it distorts the truth of the gospel.

[Old Jerry]

The performance of legalistic requirements is so attractive to people because then they can compare themselves with others and say that they don’t do those things. I don’t think that it produces any fruit except one of self-awareness. All I can see is that legalistic requirements just put burdens on us that isn’t necessary.

[hanks]

Q2. (1 Timothy 4:3-5)

Why is performance of legalistic requirements so attractive to people? What fruit does it produce in a person's life? In what ways is this emphasis so different from the true gospel?

It is attractive because these people believe that salvation demands or depends upon total obedience to the letter of the law. We see this in their concern of minute details of the law as well as their obsession with human traditions. They feel they can do it – self-righteousness! These people often neglect their own body in the belief that through self-denial or self-torture, they can achieve a higher state of holiness. The law is good when it is used to produce the knowledge of sin, but it is worthless as a saviour from sin (Rom 3:30). They forget that whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it (James 2:10). By living this life of legalism, some may begin to have concerns about having followed every letter of the law, and start doubting their own salvation. I would think this obedience to these legalistic requirements can produce a form of self-control in a person’s life. But this is not the Spiritual fruit as we know it. No love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). Legalism is self-centred, but living by grace is God-centred. The legalistic heart does it to gain merit with God, whereas the true believer does it because of the love for God, and the need to please Him. In Philippians 3:9 we read, that all our religious effort, self-improvement, discipline, or keeping the law cannot make us right with God. We have to repent and put our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Righteousness comes only from God - He exchanges our sin for His complete righteousness. There is no self-righteousness. That is, we are made righteous by putting our trust in Christ. It’s all about the grace of Jesus Christ.