Posts Tagged ‘Legalism’
Differentiating Holiness from Legalism
One of the most emotionally divisive issues between Christian brothers and sisters is something hotly labeled legalism. But ask nearly anyone to define what legalism actually is, and the explanation quickly gets vague. The old joke is that legalism is anything to the right of me! Worldliness is anything to my left. Unfortunately, in real…
Read MoreFood Pharisees?
There’s a lot of talk about gluttony out there. I mean a lot. Billy Graham wrote a Q&A about it. Joe McKeever rebukes it. John Piper tells people how to conquer it. Rachel Held Evans has compared it to homosexuality, and Kevin DeYoung has weighed in for the Gospel Coalition. Besides articles and blog posts…
Read MoreThe Right Use of the Law
Don Johnson The apostle Paul, in the first chapter of 1 Timothy opens with an exhortation to teach “no other doctrine.” He elaborates on this by a discussion of “the commandment” and “the law” which seems to run contrary to the way many people view the law these days. 1 Tim 1.5-8 Now the end…
Read MoreBehaving Properly (2) – Specific Application
Don Johnson Behaving Properly Part One is here. In our first article on this subject, I closed with these words: “The concept is this: God’s will as expressed in Scripture has a wider and deeper application/implication than mere surface understanding suggests. We are called to think and live the spirit and intent of Scripture, even…
Read MoreBehaving Properly: General Principles (1)
Don Johnson We find the topic of personal standards of holiness under continual attack in modern Christianity. What amazes us is that many otherwise conservative believers either directly or tacitly endorse behaviour that would shock previous generations of Christians. We wonder, what kind of church will be left for our children and grandchildren in days…
Read MoreDistortions of Sanctification
Don Johnson An occasional series on the doctrine of sanctification: Part One; Part Two; Part Three. This is Part Four. In this essay, I’d like to address the tendency we have as Christians to fall into error by over-emphasizing a truth. When I say ‘error’, I don’t mean ‘heresy’. Heresy, according dictionary.com, is “an opinion…
Read MoreAround the Web–8/16/12
On John MacArthur Review of Iain Murray biography of John MacArthur from Banner of Truth: John MacArthur – A Review by Jeffrey Riddle – Note: this review is from a non-dispensational perspective. On Legalism Fred Zaspel, former classmate of this editor, addresses the over-use of the words Legalist and Legalism in “Legalism or Obedience?” Fred runs…
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