Legalism is doing good works in order to have God save you, or stop you from losing salvation.
Faith based is doing good works because YOU TRUST God and his word. Your LOVE God for what he has done for you. And understanding the fact. Blessed is the one who (insert that ever good deed you can think of) not in order to receive salvation, or to keep it, but out of a love for God.
I understand this is what you and others believe but this is not Legalism. This is incorrect.
Legalism is doing *
ONE'S OWN* works in order to have God save you. See the subtle difference? What you described in your quote for "legalism" as well as the part of your "faith-based" definition (
in turquoise)
are the same thing. Both are describing "Faith based" works, because the actions in both of your definitions point to object of one's trust; God...and in particular, His word.
In actual legalism the object of one's trust is one's *own* judgment.
The different is this: God said vs. Man said. Are the actions we take what "God said" to do or are they what "man said" to do?
In your quote, "good" is the term to pay attention to...whereas in the definition I've shared, "one's own" is the operative phrase to pay attention to. The Pharisees were condemned by Christ for performing "
THERE OWN" works for righteousness which made honoring the Commandments of God of none effect (Christ continuously promoted his Father's commandments).
Good works = The works "God said" to do for him.
One's Own works = The works "man said" they would instead do for God.
Justification = Doing good works for God's righteousness.
Legalism (Phariseeism) = Doing one's *own* works for God's righteousness (i.e. self-righteousness).
Let's go into some examples...
Washing Hands before eating = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees)
- Ignored by Christ because God never said to do it
No Carrying anything (like one's Mat) on Sabbath = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees)
- Defied by Christ because God never said not to do it
Selling products in God's House = Legalism
- Establish by man (Pharisees)
- Condemned by Christ because God never said to do it
Using Purifying Water Pots = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees)
- Defied by Christ because God never said to do it
No Making Mud on Sabbath = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees)
- Defied by Christ because God never said not to do it
No eating Grain from field on Sabbath = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees)
- Defied by Christ because God never said not to do it
Worshiping on Mt. Garazim = Legalism
- Established by man (Samaritans)
- Condemned by Christ because God never said to do it
Divorcing just to avoid adultery (partner swapping) = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees) as legal loophole
- Condemned by Christ because it goes against the heart of what God said
Planned stoning of "just" the adulterous woman = Legalism
- Established by man (Pharisees) as legal loophole
- Ignored by Christ because it goes against what God said (*ALL* parties involved are to stand trial)
Obeying the Commandments of God = Eternal life = Never condemned by Christ
- Established by God
- Promoted by Christ (Matthew:19:17) because God said it
- Christ said man lives
by what comes out of God's mouth. His commandments came out of his mouth
-
Not until heaven and earth pass away...will it change
Matthew:15:8-9 "
These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men."
So doing whatever man
makes up to do for God, that God has not said to do, is actually "legalism" (Phariseeism), while doing whatever God said to do is actually "faith-based" (i.e. "hearing & doing"). So with this foundation set, what about the following...? In which category do the following fall: Faith-based or Legalism?
Keeping Sunday as Holy
- Established by man (Catholic Church)
- man said "this is resurrection day; 8th day"
- man said "it doesn't matter which day is holy"
- man said "all days are holy for God"
- man said "why would God have a problem?"
- man said "Christ is our Sabbath"
Keeping Sabbath as Holy
- Established by God
- God said "keep Sabbath holy"
Worshiping on Christmas as Holy Day
- Established by man (Catholic Church)
- man said "this is when we celebrate Christ birthday"
- man said "this is a time for getting together with family"
- man said "no one knows when Christ was born"
- man said "why would God have a problem?"
Worshiping on Feast of Tabernacles as Holy Day
- Established by God
- God said "do throughout *all* your generations"
Worshiping on Easter as Holy Day
- Established by man (Catholic Church)
- man said "this is when we celebrate Christ's resurrection"
Worshiping on Feast of Unleavened Bread as Holy Day
- Established by God
- God said "do throughout *all* your generations"
For which of these do we say "
well *we* do this because..." and for which of these do we say "
well God said..."? For which have we done exactly what the Pharisees and Samaritans have done, and for which have we yielded to God in faith?
This is the proper difference between "legalistic" works and "faith-based" works (i.e. "good works"). Faith = "hearing & doing" all of what God says.