Legalism? help!!

[guest66503]

I feel like I'm legalistic. To be honest its scaring me! I almost feel as if I can't help it either. I pray and take note of how long I pray and feel accomplished if I pray for a long time and not so much if I don't. I tend to count the number of days I go without sinning and honestly the more days between known sins, the more confident I feel in prayer and vice versa. I just feel fake. I really do. This is perhaps why I am so powerless over my flesh. Can you pray for my deliverance? Thank you. Also any advice would be helpful!

 

[ezeric]

Hey man, you have posted similar queries in other parts of the forum.
Now, I agree with you that Legalism is the biggest problem stopping the world
from growing and having abundant life.

BUT

This is the only question you seem to ask, and when people really see themselves as a pharisee (and you haven't yet) you don't ask 'others' to help you, but you run directly into GRACE. Because there is only ONE antidote, ONE solution and it aint 'others' but its the Unconditional Love of GOD.

Sorry, I don't think you really understand what you are asking.
But I hand you over to the law, so that it would become real to you, showing
how unbending and relentless it really is.

-eric

 

[Goodbook]

oh..?
you don't have a catholic background do you? Why you do this? Do you think God doesn't love you already? Read the Bible and get to know Him better. Doesn't matter how long. Just get to know Him.

 

[Odetta]

I tend towards legalism as well. I think it's a common problem among people who want to be sincere in their faith and be biblical in their actions. The bible has a lot of thou shalts, and thou shalt nots, and in the NT that translates into you really should do this and not that. I just have to concentrate on the gift of God's grace to get through it.

How about doing a word study on grace and then concentrate on verses that talk about grace over works.

 

[Revelation210Faith]

Praying for you. I struggle with this as well but I just remind myself that no matter how hard I try, I will never be sinless and that there is no need when Christ has already paid the penalty of sin for us. I just live my life as best I can for God and accept that whether I succeed or fail, live or die, I will always be one of God's children. Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

 

[QR1]

Alternatively, Jesus is always the friend I bounce thought word and action against. .. . . if I disagree.. . why? I talk about it with Him. I may condemn where I should show grace.. . . how will I know if I am not constantly checking in? Grace pains me. I don't want to need it but I always do. "none righteous" echos in my ears & Jesus takes my hand from the abyss so I can talk about "none righteous". . . toes dipped in brimstone I know the scent of failure. I know grace.

 

[Peripatetic]

It's an interesting tension. On one hand, we shouldn't over-think the rules. Measuring the time between sins is not helpful either because not all sins are specific actions. They can be ways of thinking that are part of who we are at any given moment.

On the other hand, we shouldn't just give up or completely "let go and let God". We are supposed to try hard. Scripture tells us to strive and press on. So we should a) keep trying to live within a reasonable set of boundaries, and b) grow in understanding and discernment so we don't make those boundaries too wide or too narrow.

 

[BFine]

I feel like I'm legalistic. To be honest its scaring me! I almost feel as if I can't help it either. I pray and take note of how long I pray and feel accomplished if I pray for a long time and not so much if I don't. I tend to count the number of days I go without sinning and honestly the more days between known sins, the more confident I feel in prayer and vice versa. I just feel fake. I really do. This is perhaps why I am so powerless over my flesh. Can you pray for my deliverance? Thank you. Also any advice would be helpful!

*The Law...
Galatians 3:24
"Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us to Christ, that we
might be justified by faith."

John 1:17
"For the Law was given through Moses; Grace[God's unmerited favor] and Truth [The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, which literally means to “un-hide” or “hiding nothing.”] came through Jesus Christ."


Colossians 2:20–2
"If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh."

The Lord wants us to love Him with all our hearts, and that our obedience should stem from a sincere desire to be honoring to Him.

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform yourself to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God."


2 Corinthians 3:5-6
"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a New covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the Old covenant kills, but the Spirit gives life."

 

[LilLamb219]

I feel like I'm legalistic. To be honest its scaring me! I almost feel as if I can't help it either. I pray and take note of how long I pray and feel accomplished if I pray for a long time and not so much if I don't. I tend to count the number of days I go without sinning and honestly the more days between known sins, the more confident I feel in prayer and vice versa. I just feel fake. I really do. This is perhaps why I am so powerless over my flesh. Can you pray for my deliverance? Thank you. Also any advice would be helpful!

Have you ever been diagnosed with religious OCD? You might consider contacting a Christian therapist to discuss your issues.

 

[insurchoftruth]

We are totally accepted and forgiven by God, because of his grace. We can never perform good or holy enough, to be accepted by God, because of the sinful nature in us. That is why we are saved by grace. But at the same time, we must aim and strive and put an effort to be perfect and holy, even if we sometimes sin because of weakness. Our part is to make an effort to be perfect, even if we miss the mark some time. That is forgiven and covered by the grace of God. We can not be saved by good works, but the good works in us, prove that we are saved.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I feel like I'm legalistic. To be honest its scaring me! I almost feel as if I can't help it either. I pray and take note of how long I pray and feel accomplished if I pray for a long time and not so much if I don't. I tend to count the number of days I go without sinning and honestly the more days between known sins, the more confident I feel in prayer and vice versa. I just feel fake. I really do. This is perhaps why I am so powerless over my flesh. Can you pray for my deliverance? Thank you. Also any advice would be helpful!

John's First Epistle speaks of the continual cleansing of those who truly trust the Lord Jesus.

Worth a careful and prayerful read; the Epistle has only 5 chapters.

 

[Philpy1976]

Your salvation is in Jesus Christ.

Having said the obvious, I would say that going days and days without knowingly sinning is a great thing!
This is God's will for His flock, that we be made more pure and less wrinkled so we can be presented as a beautiful bride, without blemish.

You SHOULD strive to pray more, you SHOULD strive to sin less!
Paul tells us to pray without ceasing.
John tells us that if we continue to live in sin then the light is not in us.

Don't throw out the teachings of the apostles just because it's trendy these days to label such things as "legalism".
But remember, even if you lived as perfectly as Jesus from this day forward, you still wouldn't be worthy of anything but hell.
Why? because of every day before hand when you were in sin.

Jesus Christ has your past covered (also your stumbles), the Holy spirit is working in you to perfect your future.

This isn't 'legalism', this is biblical Christianity!

 

[parsley]

I think it's a common problem among people who want to be sincere in their faith and be biblical in their actions.

It's also common where people grew up in regimented households and schools -- where obedience was expected and rewarded, and disobedience was scorned more than usual.

We are competitive people, and want to prove we deserve love and acceptance. We might also get a rush out of self-discipline...meeting the standards, making the high grade. Some people hate themselves when they don't perform perfectly.

But if God has set the standards for acceptance, and the terms are grace and faith, then you're running a somewhat parallel race on a different track.

Your achievements are not God's terms for salvation. They are admirable and worthwhile, but not the way to guarantee access. The locks have been changed.

 

[mytel]

I am familiar with this kind of thinking in my own life, especially with the 'counting days' thing when i was younger. I would agree with what other people have said and focus on grace. Really try and understand that this gift is freely given to us, it's not something we earn by our performance. God can free us from any sin, but we need to trust in Him and be willing. It is through Christ that our sins have been atoned for completely. By grace through faith. See Ephesians 2:8. I would suggest to you to read your bible regularly, and spend time in prayer and worship.