Antinomians to the Left of Me — Legalists to the Right

Lol what a comeback post.

I agree but I think its just more apparent at least in the U.S. with the polarization from its political parties causing these differences to come to the surface.

Tigger45 said:

I agree but I think its just more apparent at least in the U.S. with the polarization from its political parties causing these differences to come to the surface.

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I've wondered where that wascally wabbit's been.

jimmyjimmy said:

Interesting, but weren't there legalists and antinomians in Christ's day?

BTW, I don't see them as "differences". I see them as equal errors.

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The gospel is ever crucified between these two thieves.

jimmyjimmy said:

Interesting, but weren't there legalists and antinomians in Christ's day?

BTW, I don't see them as "differences". I see them as equal errors.

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I'm thinking Paul confronting Peter might be a good starting point. Galatians 2:11-21

Also I agree both extremes are in error.

jimmyjimmy said:

Sad, but completely true.

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Sometimes I'm an antinomian and a legalist in the same day!

jimmyjimmy said:

Is there such a thing as a regenerated legalistic Christian?

Is there such a thing as a regenerated antinomian Christian?

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God picks us up where we are at. Hopefully the crud of both will fall off as we grow in grace.

jimmyjimmy said:

I had been away from this site for quite some time, and either forgotten what it was like or it's become much (doctrinally) worse than when I was last here.

There are so many people here who don't have a grasp of the Gospel. It's breathtaking. There are plenty of legalists trying to save themselves, and a whole mess of antinomians with a hippy Jesus who is cool with sin, but I haven't seen very much Gospel Christianity.

Help a brother out and raise your hand if you understand that God is both Just and Justifier! He died the death we should have died *and* lived the life we should have lived, and as we are united to Him by faith, His work becomes ours. Amen?!

If the law could save, the gospel is unnecessary. If there is no law, then the gospel is unnecessary as well.

Can there be a Christianity without the Gospel?

Is there such a thing as a regenerated legalistic Christian?

Is there such a thing as a regenerated antinomian Christian?

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Legalism is not obedience to Jesus as a part of salvation after we are saved by God's grace. For Jesus said if you will enter into life, keep the commandments (See: Matthew 19:17-19). Jesus agreed with the lawyer that to "Love God" and to "Love your neighbor" (Which are commands) is a part of inheriting eternal life (See: Luke 10:25-28). Hebrews 5:8-9 says that the Son is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Acts of the Apostles 3:22-23 says that anyone who does not hear that prophet (Jesus) will be destroyed.

However, just to be clear: A person cannot be saved first without accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior, seeking forgiveness with Him, and in believing in His death, burial, and resurrection on their behalf for salvation. Believing the gospel saves is the core foundation of our faith; For that is the start of salvation for a believer, but it is not the end.

Antinomianism is everything else that seeks to say that all we need is a belief alone on Jesus and or that says all future sin is forgiven a person. This kind of thinking leads a person to treat God's grace as a license to sin on some level. No need to confess sin or to forsake it because one is saved by a belief alone on Jesus. Of course some will contradict themselves and say that no believer will live like the devil, and they are changed, and they will seek to live more holy, but even they will admit at another point that they do not lose salvation if they happen to sin from time to time. So it is an allowance of sin under God's grace a little bit. It is an acceptance of darkness on some small level. But all it took was a one time disobedience to God's command to separate Adam and Eve from God spiritually. They bought into the devil's lie that is being pushed today ("Ye shall not surely die." - Genesis 3:4).

Narrow is the way and FEW be there that finds it.
Most churches today believe in Mid Range OSAS.
Meaning, they appear to be for holy living at first glance, but they really are not about upholding a standard of morality under God's grace.

I believe there are people who think they are not Antinomian but they are Antinomian, too. Disobedience to Jesus and or justifying sin in any small way is turning God's grace into a license for immorality. One is either for holy living as a part of God's grace and salvation, or one is against that. There is no middle ground. A person cannot serve two masters. One is either sold out to Christ and in following Him as a part of eternal life, or one is not.

There aren't a lot of people here that advocate a hippy Jesus that doesn't care about sin. I'm not aware of any on the liberal side that deny the existence of sin, nor God's opposition to it. What might be true is that they don't think your pet sin is sin, for Scriptural reasons that the rules don't permit discussing here.

There is, however, a theological kind of antinomianism that I think is a plausible reading of Paul. A simplified version of it might be that justification is by faith alone, but we'll still be judged on the basis of our works (or lack thereof).

hedrick said:

There aren't a lot of people here that advocate a hippy Jesus that doesn't care about sin.

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My impression is that there are many here who do think they can sin and still be saved.

Read this thread here:

Prove your case biblically that believers can willfully sin and still be saved while doing so.

You said:

There is, however, a theological kind of antinomianism that I think is a plausible reading of Paul. A simplified version of it might be that justification is by faith alone, but we'll still be judged on the basis of our works (or lack thereof).

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I am not sure what you are trying to say. Surely you are not saying Antinomianism is biblical.

okay, so.. welcome back.

I had to look up antinomian.. never heard the term.

Merriam Webster says that definition #1 is a throwing away of moral law..

I disagree although salvation is through faith alone, by the grace of God alone. But moral law still exists that the children of God (aka the church) should follow (although fall short.. )

#2 definition is someone who rejects a socially established morality..

now that I absolutely reject. Morality isn't dictated by the whims of society but by God alone.

Also, God's laws are the requirement of God's people alone, and it is not our place to force men to accept God and His laws, it is our place to share the Gospel with the lost - only. Not force people to anything.

legalism.. I try not to, cant say I'm perfect in any respect. Perhaps I am a bit legalistic in that I believe we should do our best in all regards, as children of God.

Again. welcome back, and merry Christmas.

hedrick said:

There aren't a lot of people here that advocate a hippy Jesus that doesn't care about sin.

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Also, check out this thread again:

Does God want us to "sin less" in this life or to "stop sinning?"