mgpcpastor's blog

Nathan Bingham offers these thoughts as part of a longer post on Christian obedience.
I think they complement yesterday’s post from Timmy Brister.

A Believer’s Motives vs. A Legalist’s Motives

The believer will not serve sin, because he is alive to God, and dead to sin (Rom. 6:6).
The legalist forsakes sin, not because he is alive, but that he may live.

The believer mortifies sin, because God loves him.
The legalist mortifies sin, that God may love him.

The believer mortifies sin, because God is pacified towards him.
The legalist mortifies sin, that he may pacify God by his mortification.

The legalist may go a great length, but it is still that he may have the glory, making his own doing all the foundation of his hope and comfort.