Ben Zartman
Puritan Board Junior
Perhaps there will be many opinions on this, but I have always thought that "legalism" meant trying to establish your own righteousness by means of the law--in other words, to try and merit your salvation by careful law-keeping, like the Pharisees did.
However, I seem to see the term applied as if it meant "to keep the law more carefully than I would bother to."
Is it legalism to carefully keep to the Law out of duty and love to God? (even if we err on the side of caution in order not to offend, by which I mean we abstain from legitimate things in fear they will cause us to stumble). Or is it legalism only to trust that we're righteous because we behave righteously?
Hope my question is clear. I can clarify if necessary
However, I seem to see the term applied as if it meant "to keep the law more carefully than I would bother to."
Is it legalism to carefully keep to the Law out of duty and love to God? (even if we err on the side of caution in order not to offend, by which I mean we abstain from legitimate things in fear they will cause us to stumble). Or is it legalism only to trust that we're righteous because we behave righteously?
Hope my question is clear. I can clarify if necessary