Archive for the ‘Legalism’ Category:
If I’m Free From Sin, Why Do I Sin?
Lately I have been thinking on what it means to be free from sin. When mankind was created, we were sinless, but unfortunately we did not remain that way. Christianity believes man becomes perfect in God’s sight by Jesus’ death. By Jesus dying in our place, God is able to do so. But the declaration that we are righteous is not indicative of the way we behave. It is a judicial statement, like if a criminal was pardoned from their crime. I can praise God for this, but Jesus’ death means much more.
Sin’s reign in the life of one who becomes a Christian is ended. Check this verse out:
“We know that our old self was crucified with him (Jesus) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” (Romans 6:6)
“Dear Legalism,” A Personal Letter of Hope
The following post is a journal entry I wrote late Saturday night, August 15, 2007 (with a couple edits for the sake of explanation).
The night after I was baptized on March 15, 2005, I wrote:
“I will never deserve the love you’ve shown me, but I will spend the rest of my life trying to earn it.”
The day I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life with the beautiful woman who is now my wife, in November 2006, I wrote:
“As always, I will spend my entire life striving to be at least halfway worthy of all the blessings you have bestowed upon me.”
Where did this come from? How could I not see that the Lie of legalism was already planted and growing in my newfound faith? As I read this, I am totally appalled. Each of these writings came at pivotal points in my life, and in my faith especially. And now I write again, as I struggle with the shadow of fear and inadequacy. Truly, I am grateful for the love shown for me by God the Father and Christ, but why do I feel that I must still earn it after the fact?
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