The Great Sin of Legalism
Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and justification before God through obedience to God...The subtle and serious error of legalism is a sinful fruit from sinful roots.
Thomas Shreiner writes that "legalism has its origin in self-worship. If people are justified through their obedience to the law, then they merit praise, honor, and glory. Legalism in other words, means the glory goes to people rather than God."
That's how serious legalism is. The implications are staggering, because legalism claims in essence that the death of Jesus on the cross was either unnecessary or insufficient. It says to God, in effect, "Your plan didn't work. The cross wasn't enough and I need to ad my good works to it to be saved."
Of course, no Christian would dare utter such terrible words. But that's the message we send...and it represents the height of arrogance in light of God's holiness and my sinfulness.
Legalism is essentially self-atonement for the purpose of self-glorifcation and ultimately for self-worship. It is the pinnacle of pride for me to assume that by my good works I could ever morally obligate God to forgive me, justify me, or accept me.
Mahaney, Living the Cross Centered Life , 112-113.
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