Legalism

[JackofSpades]

I would certainly consider such language to be "antinomian", even though the practice was hardly antinomian; and in many instances was, in fact, staunchly legalistic and moralistic. Something of an irony I suppose.

Yes, this is important. Practise and rethoric won't always match. I think it goes other way around too, some ppl seem to have credos which sound very legalistic, but if you dig deeper, they are not moving a finger in "their own power", I think this is hardly legalism on practical level.

 

[food4thought]

I'll just add my understanding to those who have said basically the same thing... legalism is human attempts to become saved (acceptable before God) by rule keeping. The Bible makes it clear that we can never be acceptable before God by rule keeping because we are all sinners by nature and by choice, and even one sin makes one unacceptable before a truly, perfectly good, righteous, holy, and just God. Legalism is ultimately worship of our own self effort, thus worship of ourselves, not God.

Grace is God's completely unearned gift to sinners through faith in Jesus, and all we must do is believe Him and receive Him as our Lord and Savior. When we do, God gives us a new nature that connects us to Him... this will inevitably result in behavior change. Some change extraordinarily fast, others change slowly over the course of a lifetime, but all who receive God's gift of grace will be transformed by it.

hope this helps.