How to Find the Balance between Legalism and Licentiousness

Without the right knowledge, the Christian life can be lived contrary to the truth. But the Bible gives us the Godly approach. This lesson helps you avoid legalism and licentiousness in your Christian life and to find the Godly balance between these extreme positions. Live to honor God!

In This Article

• Introduction
• The Two Dangerous Extremes
• The Godly Balance – Love-Driven Obedience
• Conclusion

Introduction

It is undeniable today that many people want nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Some don’t even want to believe in the existence of God. At the same time, there are others who claim to know God, or even believe in Jesus. But do not follow Him the right way. They do it their own way.

There are three distinct groups among the believers. We have the group of people who believe and are following Jesus the way the Bible prescribes. The other two groups fall in the two extremes of legalism and licentiousness.

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to determine where you belong and what you need to do, if necessary.

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The Two Dangerous Extremes

The two extremes in which many believers are found today are:

1. Legalism

This can be described in many ways depending the situation. In the matters of relationship with God, legalism is the belief that obedience to the law can make you righteous and earn you the acceptance of God.

The belief is wrongly applied to both salvation and sanctification. In order words, the legalists believe that their salvation was wrought and sustained by their works and obedience to the commandments. But this is an extreme position that is contrary to the Bible.

Galatians 2:16, 21  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. He simply needs to yield to the Spirit’s work.

2. Licentiousness

This is the opposite of legalism. According to Webster 1828, licentiousness is “Excessive indulgence of liberty; contempt of the just restraints of law, morality and decorum.” The licentious people claim to believe in Jesus Christ. They believe that Christ had died and paid for their sins. And that they are saved for life notwithstanding how they live their lives. To the licentious, no choice has any consequence, anything goes. They continue to enjoy their sins. 

In the name of grace, they indulge in all kinds of ungodliness. Those who take this extreme position only talks about the grace and love of God. But they want nothing to do with His call for holiness and sanctification. This position, just like legalism, obviously contradicts the Scripture.

Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

No true child of God should be found in any of the above extremes. Hence the need to find the right balance.

The Godly Balance – Love-Driven Obedience

I strongly believe that the problem with those in the above extremes is lack of knowledge. It is impossible to properly follow Jesus Christ without the knowledge of His words.

The Bibles teaches that Jesus Christ came and died for us, “the ungodly,” “while we were yet without strength.” We did not only lack the ability to do good, we also did not have within us any interest or willingness to do it.

Our Position in Christ

The true Christians are those who have been justified through Christ. They have come to terms with their sins, repented and confessed to God. They have put their trust in the blood of Christ for their salvation. So, what it means to be saved is that God has forgiven you by grace through faith in Christ. You are adopted into the family of God and have received the gift of eternal life.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

The above benefits and blessings are secured in Christ unto glory. What that means is that the one who is saved is sealed in Christ. This is part of the blessings of salvation and it’s the result of the work of Christ. The believer is saved, and kept saved by the grace of God.

Romans 8:29-30 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Our Call to Holiness and Obedience

We are no longer under the law, no longer justified by the law. Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for all who believe (Romans 10:4). All the civil and ceremonial laws in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in Christ. We no longer need to keep them to be justified before God, or to be sustained in our salvation.

However, not being under the law does not excuse us from being accountable to God. Remember, the saved person is a new creature created unto good works, and not for worldly lifestyles. You’re saved from the penalty of your sins; it makes no sense to return to a lifestyle of sin after being saved.

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Our Motivation for Obedience

We obey because we love God and His words. The true followers of Christ seek to honor and please God with their lives for the following reasons:

It is our Response to His Love

God loves us first, and He expresses His love for us by sending His Son to suffer and die for our sins.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In response to His love for us, we yield our lives to Him. One of the ways you express your love for God is by obeying His commandments.

1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

If you do not take the commandment of God seriously, you do not love God. It is plain and simple.

It is our Response to His Holiness

Not only is God holy, He also calls us to live the life of holiness and sanctification. God is our heavenly Father, a good child takes the attributes of his father. Unless of course the child is a bastard!

Leviticus 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

You cannot claim to be a child of God and live contrary to His will.

It Is the Foretaste of our Glorified Life

Justification is not the end of our salvation. It is only beginning. The goal of salvation is our glorification, when we will be just like Christ when He comes. But in the meantime, we live having the end in mind.

Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

So when you separate yourself from the filthiness of this world, you are having a taste of what you will soon become in your glorification. Who says the believer cannot have a taste of heaven here on earth?! 

Conclusion – Beware of Legalism and Licentiousness 

Salvation is by faith alone without the deeds of the Law. Beware of legalism. Similarly, salvation by faith alone does not mean that the believer is no longer accountable to God. Justification in Christ does not remove the need for sanctification. Beware of licentiousness!

Jesus wants you to come as you are, but He does not want you to stay as you are. So, desire to live for Him and not for yourself.

But as you endeavor to live right and keep the commandments of Christ, remember that those deeds don’t produce or sustain your salvation. So do good deeds for the right reasons. Godly obedience is love-driven obedience.

Thank you for reading!