Are you saying that no one can ever try to obey Christ when He said "if you love me you will keep my commandments" without being a legalist?
We're clearly speaking of different commandments. The legalists here preach works of the law, although their focus is mainly on just the 10 commandments.
BUT, the commandments Jesus referred to is
believe on him (John 3:16) and
love one another (John 13:34).
1John 3:22,23
And whatsoever we ask , we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
In believing on Jesus, our faith is counted for righteousness, Rom 4:5.
To love one another means that we do no ill to another. This also means we show the same love/grace to others as God showed to us. We forgive 7x70. I think most would agree that in this imperfect physical world we live in, forgiveness shows love.
And note how the Sabbath and dietary laws are
not listed in his commandments.
But legalists preach the law/10 commandments, instead. On forums we see 2 different positions from legalists.
One group preaches that some
unspecified, ambiguous minimum standard of obedience to the law is required as proof that one has
"imparted" righteousness/salvation.
The other group claim that
perfect obedience to the law is required as proof of one has
"imparted" righteousness/salvation.
Both these types of legalists are mixing works of the law with grace. Both these types of legalists preach the ministry of condemnation/death, written and engraved in stones, 2Cor 3:7. Such doctrines contradict scripture, Rom 11:6.
Do you think God orders disobedience in order not to obey without spirit and truth?
Christians keep his commandments, as described above.
Legalists however, are the disobedient.
What is God's will?
John 6:40
And this is the will of Him that sent me,that every one which seeth the Son,
and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Legalists reject God's will. They reject His promise of everlasting life when we believe on Jesus.
How?
They preach that unless one attains some minimum standard of obedience to the law as proof of
"imparted" righteousness, then such are not saved. In other words, they say that faith (believing God's promise of eternal life when we believe on Jesus) is
not counted for righteousness unless there is works of the law as proof.
"faith without works in dead".
That's correct.
And what works are these?
Jesus was asked what works we should do (John 6:28).
He answered,
"believe on him whom He hath sent", John 6:29.
Now note Gal 3:12.
"The law is not of faith".
Yet for the legalists, they reject God's word and instead claim that the law is of faith.
And thus, by their works of the law they deny God (Tit 1:16) and make themselves a transgressor/Sinner (Gal 2:18).
Leglalists are like the man described in James 1:23,24
For if any be a hearer of the word (gospel of Christ), and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way , and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was
Christians are righteous (Rom 4:5), Holy (Rom 11:16), complete (Col 2:10), perfected (Heb 10:14) in Christ. When we believe on Jesus we have all this, in Christ.
But legalists forget what manner of man they were in Christ. Thus being hearers only, and not doers of the word (gospel of Christ) they mix works of the law with grace to attain/prove righteousness, holiness, perfection.
Faith without works is dead. If you're mixing works of the law with grace, then those dead works show that you deny God.
Legalists need to repent and believe on Jesus.