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Legalism or hyper-grace are usually an over-correction in response to the other. Joshua West joins the Gary Wilkerson Podcast to discuss identifying legalism or extreme grace in our personal worldview as well as finding the correct, biblical balance.
Key Points from the Podcast
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When you’re walking down the narrow gospel road there are ditches on either side into which we can slip. One is cheap grace—living and doing as you please—and on the other side is legalism—works-based righteousness.
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There is a subtle form of legalism that becomes apparent in hard times. We ask God how he could let this happen to us who live for him and serve him, as if our works should exclude us from any difficulties in life.
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The gospel is not the entry door to Christianity, but the lynchpin that everything hangs on.
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We can’t place all the blame on false teachers because there are those who heap to themselves teachers who tell them what their itching ears want to hear. Part of the issue is our own sinful desires that give false teachers a market and an audience.
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The Bible warns us that false teachers won’t be immediately obvious, but more like wolves disguised in sheep’s clothing.
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A false teacher is one who is deceived and unapologetically devoted to presenting a distorted form of the gospel. It is not the same as disagreeing on certain theological topics or inadvertently mishandling the Word of God.
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Some Christians say we shouldn’t call out false teachers, but Paul was not shy about calling people out by name.
Bible Verses Referenced in the Podcast
Hebrews 12:2; 2 Peter 2:1–3; Matthew 7:15–20; 2 Timothy 4:1–5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 17:10–11; Hebrews 11; Matthew 18:15–19; 1 Timothy 1:19–20; 2 Timothy 2:16–18; 2 Timothy 4:14–15; Galatians 2:11–14; Hebrews 6:19–20; 2 Timothy 3:8; Isaiah 7:9
Resources Mentioned in the Podcast
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Run for Your Life by Carter Conlon
About Joshua West
Joshua West serves as the Church Leadership Network Director at World Challenge helping equip and empower pastors all over the world. Joshua’s desire is to raise up ministers who will correctly and boldly preach the word with passion and integrity. The point of all his work and writings is to preach the gospel, glorify God and to teach sound doctrine.