Is Legalism A Heresy

The authors in this compilation address the issue of legalism from a variety of angles. John MacArthur shows, first that obedience to God is not an issue of legalism, but an issue of love. In his second chapter, he deals with the inevitable response of people who are confronted with Biblical standards, "Judge not that ye be not judged." Here MacArthur shows what our Lord meant when He said that, and shows what biblical discernment really is, that there is a vast difference between judgmental and holding people accountable to God's standards. Phil Johnson, in his first chapter, deals with Christian liberty. In his second chapter, he takes a critical look at two kinds of legalism, then explores the relationship of Christian love and Christian liberty. Joel Beeke shows that enthusiasm for God's law is not necessarily legalism. One can be zealous without being legalistic. As David wrote: "Oh, how I love Thy Law!" Bruce Bickel explains that legalism is due to a weak understanding of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Jim Elliff makes clear that legalism is an attack on unity within the Body of Christ, particularly local congregations. Ken Talbot helps us to see that legalism is inconsistent with and incompatible with the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He points out that the doctrine of "free will" leads to this dangerous position. Rick Phillips explores the relationship to loving God and obeying His law. Some today believe that love is all that matters, and that the law as a guideline to love is extinct. Then this author shows that Biblical sanctification is the antidote to and the opposite of legalism. Steven J. Lawson shows that legalism is the result of holding to man-made traditions over the truth of God's Word. Second, he points out how dangerous and deadly a thing legalism is and why. Table of Contents: 1. Introduction: What Legalism Is, What Legalism Does - Don Kistler 2. Truth Vs. Tradition - Stephen J. Lawson 3. Love and God's Law - Richard D. Philips 4. The Cross Is Enough - Bruce Bickel 5. The Danger of Legalism - Steven J. Lawson 6. Obedience: Love or Legalism? - John MacArthur 7. Zealous But not Legalistic - Joel Beeke 8. The Plague of Free-Will Moralism - Kenneth Talbot 9. Judging Vs. Biblical Discernment - John MacArthur 10. Stand Fast in Liberty - Phil Johnson 11. Real Love and Real Liberty - Phil Johnson 12. What Freedom From the Law Accomplishes For the Local Church - Jim Elliff 13. Biblical Sanctification: The Antidote to Legalism - Richard D. Philips

The Africa Study Bible brings together 350 contributors from over 50 countries, providing a unique African perspective. It's an all-in-one course in biblical content, theology, history, and culture, with special attention to the African context. Each feature was planned by African leaders to help readers grow strong in Jesus Christ by providing understanding and instruction on how to live a good and righteous life--Publisher.

Culture is in right now for Christians. Engaging it, embracing it, consuming it, and creating it. Many (younger) evangelicals today are actively cultivating an appreciation for aspects of culture previously stigmatized within the church. Things like alcohol, Hollywood's edgier content, plays, art openings, and concerts have moved from being forbidden to being celebrated by believers. But are evangelicals opening their arms too wide in uncritical embrace of culture? How do they engage with culture in ways that are mature, discerning, and edifying rather than reckless, excessive, and harmful? Can there be a healthy, balanced approach--or is that simply wishful thinking? With the same insight and acuity found in his popular Hipster Christianity, Brett McCracken examines some of the hot-button gray areas of Christian cultural consumption, helping to lead Christians to adopt a more thoughtful approach to consuming culture in the complicated middle ground between legalism and license. Readers will learn how to both enrich their own lives and honor God--refining their ability to discern truth, goodness, beauty, and enjoy his creation.

'Deception in the Church' brings a timely warning to both Christians and non-Christians to be alert to the strategies satan uses to keep us from the truth. The book traces the historical development of Christianity, the battles for the faith against the legalism and tradition of the Jews to the influences of Greek philosophy and Gnosticism. It reveals the heresy and corruption of the faith by Roman Catholicism and the undermining influences of science and humanism to post-modernism and New Age thinking.

John chapter seventeen records Jesus' prayer for unity among his followers, which did not appear to be answered in the affi rmative. In the eighteenth century a movement began in the eastern United States to address the obvious division of Christendom. This Restoration Movement was inclusive, inviting people to leave Christian denominations and return to the Bible alone for spiritual guidance. Thus, "speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent" became their mantra. In 1801 this movement kindled a large revival centered at the Cane Ridge Meeting House (cover of book) near Paris, Kentucky. Churches birthed by this movement grew and spread rapidly to both the frontier and the cities. However, within fi fty years, conflict and division began to arise in these churches as some became more sectarian and others more legalistic, resulting in three primary groups: the Disciples of Christ, the Independent Christian Church, and the Church of Christ. Of these groups, the Church of Christ was the most conservative, with many congregations taking silence of the Scriptures as prohibitive of everything not written in the two thousand-year old text, resulting in more confl ict and division. Thus, the Restoration Movement had run amuck, becoming mired in its own swamp of legalism. Th is book seeks to identify what went wrong, and what changes in attitude, behavior, and conversation are necessary to get the unity train back on its track.

Everyone has questions. Young children ask why? Teenagers ask why not? Adults sometimes lament what if? The God who created us and who loves us has given us the answers to lifes most pressing questions in His Word. Yet many people have no idea that God has the answers and has made them available in the Bible. Whether it is a question about where we will spend eternity or how to deal with the pain of a broken relationship, you can be sure it has been asked and answered already on www.GotQuestions.org, the source for this book. Sadly, many individuals and ministries who offer advice are not biblically and theologically solid. Thats why Got Questions? is crucially neededa resource that answers questions explicitly from a biblical perspective, with solid evangelical theology. Written in an easy-to-understand format and organized in easy-to-follow sections, Got Questions? will help readers find the answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding spiritual matters. The questions were asked by real people struggling through real-life issues who received solid, practical answers from the Bible. The articles in this volume are compiled from the more than 3,800 frequently-asked questions on our website, which are read over 7 million times each month. Some of the articles have been translated into 150 languages. Many books present teaching in a question-and-answer format, but few have delved into the questions that people are actually asking. Having received and answered more than 380,000 questions, Got Questions Ministries has a unique understanding of what questions are truly on peoples minds.

So much of what passes for Christianity today is grounded in feelings, experiences, false teachings, or new revelations. Christians need to know if we are indeed on the right path. All to often as we chug along on our Christian walk we wonder what happened to that first flush of love and enthusiasm that followed being saved. Other times we may feel defeated or overcome by sin. The good news is that there is always more to learn about what holiness is and why we need it, especially in today’s chaotic world. In an inspirational guide tailored for Christians on a walk of faith, Dr. Shirley F. Thurman invites others on a journey into holiness where she examines God’s character, man’s nature, the need for holiness in the life of the believer, and why that is. Throughout her study, Dr. Thurman emphasizes that holiness is not only a great adventure, but the great adventure. While encouraging Christians everywhere to seek out God’s plan for their lives within the pages of His Word the Bible. Equipped for Holiness shares wisdom inspired by scripture that motivates believers to make holiness their number one objective by obeying, trusting, and submitting to God. In an inspirational guide tailored for Christians on a walk of faith, Dr. Shirley F. Thurman invites others on a journey into holiness where she examines God’s character, man’s nature, the need for holiness in the life of the believer, and why that is. Throughout her study, Dr. Thurman emphasizes that holiness is not only a great adventure, but the great adventure. While encouraging Christians everywhere to seek out God’s plan for their lives within the pages of His Word the Bible. Equipped for Holiness shares wisdom inspired by scripture that motivates believers to make holiness their number one objective by obeying, trusting, and submitting to God.