God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)
Why is salvation all of God’s grace and not based in any part on our own works? 1. Because you and I have sin that God will never accept in His holy presence. 2. Because the standard of righteousness required is God Himself. 3. Because, Ephesians 2:9, God does not want us to boast, but rather saves us, “So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). 4. Because a love relationship is never based on the works one gives another. 5. Because we will forever wonder if we did enough good deeds. 6. And because if we could save ourselves based on our works, there would have been no reason to send Jesus Christ.
The reasons why [legalism] is so devastating are:
1. It ignores or underestimates the role of inner attitude and motivation.
2. It focuses upon self-effort rather than on divine enablement.
3. It encourages pride rather than humble dependence upon God.
4. It tends to “use” the Scriptures to reinforce our own preconceived ideas and preferences.
5. It tends to conceive of our acceptance with God as performance oriented.
6. It arouses the flesh and incites us to sin, rather than the avoidance of sin.
7. It tends to impose one's personal convictions on others, and to condemn them if they fail to live up to our rules.
Legalism cannot save you, my friend, and neither can it sanctify. Praise God!
