uncovered legalism

I am finishing a bible study called "Gospel Transformation" and it has been just excellent for me. Anyway, today's thought was the idea of legalism and how it can lead to lack of joy and bondage. I just thought I would put up a list they had because I love it so much. Enjoy!

20 reasons why legalism saps the joy out of life

1. Legalism substitutes loving our neighbor with loving ourselves.

2. Legalism substitutes humility with pride.

3. Legalism substitutes a heart relationship with Jesus with external conformity.

4. Legalism substitutes honesty with pretense.

5. Legalism substitutes God’s approval with people’s expectations.

6. Legalism substitutes burden-bearing with burden-giving.

7. Legalism substitutes the power of the Spirit with the powerlessness of rules.

8. Legalism substitutes innocence with guilt.

9. Legalism substitutes the gentle Lord with a hard taskmaster.

10. Legalism substitutes sonship with slavery.

11. Legalism substitutes accepting God’s love with earning God’s love.

12. Legalism substitutes the joy of repentance with the remorse of lingering sin.

13. Legalism substitutes liberty with bondage.

14. Legalism substitutes Christ’s righteousness with self-righteousness.

15. Legalism substitutes kindness and gentleness with forcing, demanding, and compelling.

16. Legalism substitutes the law of Christ with a perverted use of laws.

17. Legalism substitutes the freedom to love with unlimited obligation.

18. Legalism substitutes encouragement with biting and devouring.

19. Legalism substitutes relationship with alienation.

20. Legalism substitutes free grace for a manipulation of God’s grace.

Enjoy your day living in freedom!