Glass of water and O.T. Law analogy

[Guest]

If a glass is empty or half empty we can fill it up with water just before the water spills from the glass. After the glass has been filled with water whatever water we pour into that glass will be useless because the excess water will spill from that glass and therefore is useless.

equate the glass with O.T Law and the water with legalism such as following the sabbath.

Since Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law with his own works
whatever works (i.e. Sabbath, Tithes, legalism) we add will become useless because the works will spill out just like the excess water in the glass spills out.

[Guest]

Since Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law with his own works
whatever works (i.e. Sabbath, Tithes, legalism) we add will become useless because the works will spill out just like the excess water in the glass spills out.

Well said PAULESPINO.

Robin

[Guest]

Hello, Paul,

I disagree. Each person has their own glass. Jesus can only fill his own.

Put another way: Jesus can only be faithful in living his own life, and only we can be faithful in living ours.

Shalom,
Emmet

[_TK]

i was going to say something similar to what emmett said, but i wasnt sure how to formulate it. i guess it depends upon what "works" you consider legalism or fulfilling the law. certainly not things like caring for the poor, acts of service, giving to ministry, etc etc.

TK

[Guest]

Hi TK,

I appreciate your honesty but I was referring to legalism such as sabbath
and all forms of legalism.

[Guest]

Hello, Paul,

Could I impose upon you for a definition of "legalism"?

Thank you,
Emmet

[Guest]

When I said legalism I was referring to sabbath, tithes and circumcision and perhaps there are others that I'm not aware.

[_TK]

paul--

i agree with you now that you have narrowed the definition. you mean "pharisee-ism." i assume when you say "sabbath keeping" you mean the jewish tradition of doing no work, etc on the sabbath as opposed to "going to church."

TK

[_Paidion]

le-gal-ism (leg-lizm)n. 1. Strict, literal adherence to the law or to a particular code, as of religion or morality. 2. A legal word, expression, or rule.--le'gal-ist n. --le'gal-is'tic adj. --le'gal-is'ti-cal-ly adv.

---------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from American Heritage Talking Dictionary
Copyright © 1997 The Learning Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

There's nothing wrong with legalism in the above sense.

I am sure each one of us has a set of moral standards to which we adhere. We are not antinomianists.

Where a problem lies, if any, is with the position that attempting to follow a particular code of laws, through self-effort, is the way to be acceptable to God.

[_TK]

agreed, paidion

TK