Legalism is the teaching that sinners are saved (justified, sanctified, and accepted with God) upon the basis of their own works of legal obedience. Legalism is as damning to the souls of men as Hinduism, Mormonism, and atheism! We are not saved by our obedience to the law of God (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9). We are not sanctified by our obedience to the law of God (Gal. 3:1-3). Our inheritance in heaven is not, to any degree, won or earned by our personal obedience to the law of God (Rev. 7:9, 10, 14, 14). Salvation is, in its entirety, by grace alone. Believers are not, in any sense whatsoever, under the yoke of the law (Rom. 6:14-15; 7:4; 8:1-4; 10:4; Gal. 5:1-4, 18; I Tim. 1:9-11).
— Don Fortner (1950–2020), Baptistischer Pastor und Buchautor
Topics: Grace & Redemption, Discipleship
Occasions: For Reflection
Don Fortner
Don Fortner (1950–2020) war ein US-amerikanischer baptistischer Pastor und Autor, der vierzig Jahre lang die Grace Baptist Church in Danville (Kentucky) leitete. Er vertrat eine ausgeprägte calvinistische Gnadenlehre und war innerreformiert umstritten, da Kritiker ihm wegen der Ablehnung des alttestamentlichen Gesetzes als Lebensregel für Gläubige Antinomismus vorwarfen. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnet er in Andachten und Kommentaren mit einer strikt christuszentrierten Auslegung, die das Heil allein in Gottes Souveränität begründet sieht.
It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love.
Max Lucado
Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.
Philip Yancey
In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.
Henri Nouwen
God does not love us because we are lovable, but because his nature is love.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers
God counts on your failure far more than you do yourself.
Hans Peter Royer
Ultimately mourning means facing what wounds us in the presence of One who can heal.
Henri Nouwen
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Tim Keller