Grace & the "L" word

Sometimes when I preach, or teach on living the christian life I have been accused of the "L" word: legalism.

Truth is, I beleive it is a fine line that separates grace from legalism. Because of grace, we should be obedient to the instruction we find in the Word, but if obedience out of love turns into nothing more than rules to live by, then legalism creeps in.

I don't recall who said it, but recently I heard (or read) someone say, "Legalism is when we want people to be like us, grace is when we want them to be like Jesus."

I think that's a pretty good definition.

I'm going to close with a song lyric from one of my favorite artists...maybe in my next blog I'll explain why this song means so much to me.

GRACE BY WHICH I STAND
by Keith Green

Lord, the feelings are not the same,
I guess I'm older, I guess I've changed.
And how I wish it had been explained, that as you're growing you must remember,
That nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
Lord, I remember that special way,
I vowed to serve You, when it was brand new.
But like Peter, I can't even watch and pray, one hour with You,
And I bet, I could deny You too.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I'm sure that my whole life would waste away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.
But nothing lasts, except the grace of God, by which I stand, in Jesus.
I know that I would surely fall away, except for grace, by which I'm saved.

Ok, so there's that.
Pastor Dave