Holiness And Legalism.
 

In order to have Biblical Christian faith we must have Holiness,and God's church must be a Holy people distinct in lifestyle from the ungodly.

However we don't need legalism as the merit of favor of God can't be earned.

So how can a Christian determine if they are walking in Holiness and not legalism and can one tell the difference between legalism and Holiness?

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

Easy - if it isn't in the Bible it's legalism and not Holiness - example-just talked to someone who said the pastor of a church that is close to where she lives will not let girls wear any type of heel on their shoe until they are 13 - that's legalism.

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

If you are showing true love and forgiveness toward your fellow man and doing something with the gifts God has given you (no matter what those gifts are)...... That is bible.

If you are doing X amount for God (whatever X is -it can be anything) because that is what you have been told you must do in order to be saved, then THAT is legalism.

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

Really Scott? You been on these forums for years. How big is the pot you attempt to stir?

Most folks that have been indoctrinated by us OP's think of holiness as a long dress with long sleeves worn by a woman with long hair worn in bun, usually accompienied by a long face.

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

*SIGH* When are we ever going to realize that HOLINESS is NOT a set of RULES/STANDARDS???

Definition of HOLY:

1: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2: divine <for the Lord our God is holy — Psalms 99:9(Authorized Version)>
3: devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity <a holy temple> <holy prophets>
4 a: having a divine quality <holy love> b: venerated as or as if sacred <holy scripture> <a holy relic>
5—used as an intensive <this is a holy mess><he was a holy terror when he drank — Thomas Wolfe> ; often used in combination as a mild oath <holy smoke>

Definition of HOLINESS:

1 : the quality or state of being holy —used as a title for various high religious dignitaries <His Holiness the Pope>
2 : sanctification 2

Definition of SANCTIFICATION:

1: an act of sanctifying
2 a: the state of being sanctified b: the state of growing in divine grace as a result of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion

Definition of SANCTIFIED:

1: to set apart to a sacred purpose or to religious use : consecrate
2: to free from sin : purify
3 a: to impart or impute sacredness, inviolability, or respect to b: to give moral or social sanction to
4: to make productive of holiness or piety <observe the day of the sabbath, to sanctify it — Deuteronomy 5:12(Douay Version)>

If holiness were a set of rules that when abided by caused one to be holy, then the MARINES are holy every time they abide by the rules of the Marine Corp!

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

Well said LR !!!

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

This is what I thought holiness was for years and years and years. lol.
I had to laugh about the 'long face' too. Your statement is full of mental images. :heeheehee

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

There is a great difference in Holiness and legalism, but legalism can stem from Holiness. If a person does anything in the name of Holiness that is not in the Bible that is up to them, but once they began to push it on others then it is legalism--this goes for cons and libs. It goes both ways

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

Thanx MarthaOlivioa: not many will admitt that that is what pops into our conditioned minds when we hear the word holiness,

Strangley we are called holiness folks...but most of us don't have a clue what holiness is in the bible.

Re: Holiness And Legalism.
 

Well said. Liberalism can become legalism if it is required of all. It DOES go both ways. :D