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The correct New Testament idea/definition of Legalism is : anything that a person (believer or non-believer) has MENTALLY substituted for God's Grace as their self righteous attempt to accomplish what only God's Grace can offer/achieve as a Free Gift.
Simply stated : Its whatever you think you have to DO to keep yourself in God's Grace, that has now replaced the Cross of Christ.
Even more simply stated : It's you trying to keep yourself saved, because you no longer have complete trust in Jesus alone, to get you into heaven.
And again.: Its your list of do's and don't do's that you are trying to execute as a lifestyle that you now BELIEVE are what God wants from you so that you can end up in Heaven.
An example would be a heretic who has substituted "abiding" for the Cross, or a heretic who believes that belonging to the "one true church" is how you end up in Heaven.
And finally : its ALL that stuff you think you have to do to stay saved. Do you have a list? Every heretic does.
So, what is all of this? ???
Its a person who has fallen FROM Grace and INTO "self saving" Legalism = heresy.
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I remember when i was water baptized.
Its been some years ago now.
I had been saved by faith = God through the Blood of Jesus, 12 yrs before i was dunked.
The small church i was working in didn't have a Baptistry, so we borrowed one that belonged to a Charismatic membership that was just down the road.
Their Pentecostal Pastor dunked me, and when i came out of the water, one of the attending Charismatic helpers said to me...>"there go your sins" "all washed away in that water".
And honestly i had to bite my tongue and not say...."what are you talking about nut-bar......as ALL MY SIN'S ARE ON JESUS 200O YRS AGO...HIS BLOOD WASHED THEM AWAY, not the city water system"..
But, i refrained and smiled, dripping, and thanked them..... and was so happy to get away from this type of Cross Rejecting ignorance.
So where are you, Reader?
Are you in the process of falling from Grace?
Have you been convinced by some mind blinded Pastor or Church Leader or family member that you have a "to do" list that you must maintain to keep yourself Saved,? Or are you rather, someone who has understood that the Same Blood of Jesus, and the Same "finished work of Jesus on the Cross" is the ONLY SALVATION that God offers or accepts on your behalf to save you and = Keep you saved. Philippians 1:6
Have you been able to understand the substitutionary DEATH that Jesus provided for you, so that God's Judgment for your lifetime of sin will never find you once you Die or are Raptured?
Have you understood that the reason you will meet God as Father and not as eternal Judge is because of what CHRIST has accomplished for you on the Cross 2000 Yrs ago, including His death and resurrection?
Have you understood this?
Have you been taught this???
Have you maintained your complete faith in the Living Christ who is your Salvation?
Are you daily RESTING in God's Grace, understanding that Peace with God is accomplished for you for all eternity by the Holy One who has Himself on the Cross earned your Salvation for you?
Are you able to see this as God's GIFT to you, that you can't earn, and you can't keep by your silly self effort?
Do you SEE?
Listen..... = "prove yourself that you be IN THE FAITH"< lest you fall from Grace and into self righteous SELF SAVING Heresy.
Listen Saint, the Grace of God, to exit there....IS the Mind of Christ.......and this is not normal regarding our human understanding.
You have to willfully and intentionally maintain your complete faith that God has completed your Salvation as His GIFT, and you have it always....
.= or you will end up lost in Legalism.
A large part of "working out your Salvation" is to keep your mind and faith IN Christ and not let this get away from you, as its our nature to want to try to save ourselves, which is to fall from Grace.
You have to resist the Devil's temptation to fall away from God's Grace within your belief system.
You have to STAND against this, and resist what comes "naturally" to your mind and heart.
God help you to resist your own flesh.... and God help you to return to His Grace, within your Faith, if you have fallen from His Grace = so that this return to Right Believing allows you to rest from ALL self effort to be Accepted and Kept by God.
The correct New Testament idea/definition of Legalism is : anything that a person (believer or non-believer) has MENTALLY substituted for God's Grace as their self righteous attempt to accomplish what only God's Grace can offer/achieve as a Free Gift.
Simply stated : Its whatever you think you have to DO to keep yourself in God's Grace, that has now replaced the Cross of Christ.
Even more simply stated : It's you trying to keep yourself saved, because you no longer have complete trust in Jesus alone, to get you into heaven.
And again.: Its your list of do's and don't do's that you are trying to execute as a lifestyle that you now BELIEVE are what God wants from you so that you can end up in Heaven.
An example would be a heretic who has substituted "abiding" for the Cross, or a heretic who believes that belonging to the "one true church" is how you end up in Heaven.
And finally : its ALL that stuff you think you have to do to stay saved. Do you have a list? Every heretic does.
So, what is all of this? ???
Its a person who has fallen FROM Grace and INTO "self saving" Legalism = heresy.
-----------------
I remember when i was water baptized.
Its been some years ago now.
I had been saved by faith = God through the Blood of Jesus, 12 yrs before i was dunked.
The small church i was working in didn't have a Baptistry, so we borrowed one that belonged to a Charismatic membership that was just down the road.
Their Pentecostal Pastor dunked me, and when i came out of the water, one of the attending Charismatic helpers said to me...>"there go your sins" "all washed away in that water".
And honestly i had to bite my tongue and not say...."what are you talking about nut-bar......as ALL MY SIN'S ARE ON JESUS 200O YRS AGO...HIS BLOOD WASHED THEM AWAY, not the city water system"..
But, i refrained and smiled, dripping, and thanked them..... and was so happy to get away from this type of Cross Rejecting ignorance.
So where are you, Reader?
Are you in the process of falling from Grace?
Have you been convinced by some mind blinded Pastor or Church Leader or family member that you have a "to do" list that you must maintain to keep yourself Saved,? Or are you rather, someone who has understood that the Same Blood of Jesus, and the Same "finished work of Jesus on the Cross" is the ONLY SALVATION that God offers or accepts on your behalf to save you and = Keep you saved. Philippians 1:6
Have you been able to understand the substitutionary DEATH that Jesus provided for you, so that God's Judgment for your lifetime of sin will never find you once you Die or are Raptured?
Have you understood that the reason you will meet God as Father and not as eternal Judge is because of what CHRIST has accomplished for you on the Cross 2000 Yrs ago, including His death and resurrection?
Have you understood this?
Have you been taught this???
Have you maintained your complete faith in the Living Christ who is your Salvation?
Are you daily RESTING in God's Grace, understanding that Peace with God is accomplished for you for all eternity by the Holy One who has Himself on the Cross earned your Salvation for you?
Are you able to see this as God's GIFT to you, that you can't earn, and you can't keep by your silly self effort?
Do you SEE?
Listen..... = "prove yourself that you be IN THE FAITH"< lest you fall from Grace and into self righteous SELF SAVING Heresy.
Listen Saint, the Grace of God, to exit there....IS the Mind of Christ.......and this is not normal regarding our human understanding.
You have to willfully and intentionally maintain your complete faith that God has completed your Salvation as His GIFT, and you have it always....
.= or you will end up lost in Legalism.
A large part of "working out your Salvation" is to keep your mind and faith IN Christ and not let this get away from you, as its our nature to want to try to save ourselves, which is to fall from Grace.
You have to resist the Devil's temptation to fall away from God's Grace within your belief system.
You have to STAND against this, and resist what comes "naturally" to your mind and heart.
God help you to resist your own flesh.... and God help you to return to His Grace, within your Faith, if you have fallen from His Grace = so that this return to Right Believing allows you to rest from ALL self effort to be Accepted and Kept by God.
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