Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Blog
    • Grace in Focus International Blogs
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Seminary
    • Seminary Info
    • Fall 2023 Classes
    • GES Seminary Curriculum
    • GES Seminary Faculty
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
Home
→
Blog
→
Faith Taken Captive

Faith Taken Captive

September 14, 2012 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - eternal life, gerhard forde, legalism, lutheran, Soteriology

“Faith itself has been taken captive by legalism.” ~Gerhard Forde

Ever since Paul’s fiery denouncement of Judaistic law-keeping in Galatians and Romans, the Christian tradition has recognized, if only grudgingly, that legalism is the death-knell of faith in Christ. Even those churches most closely identified with deeply legalistic tendencies (I am thinking of Catholicism and Orthodoxy in particular), will routinely, if hypocritically, condemn legalism in its most blatant forms.

However, it may come as a shock to realize that even among evangelicals there is a subtle, but equally destructive, form of legalism that has undermined the proclamation that salvation is by faith alone, apart from works. I am referring to a legalistic understanding of the nature of faith. Gerhard Forde neatly explains the downward spiral that leads one to redefine faith in such a way that makes it just one more law that we must fulfill in order to be saved:

Even when we attempt to stick with faith alone we are usually driven to define, qualify, and hedge about the faith of which we speak so that no one will get the “wrong idea.” Of course we don’t mean just any old faith, we mean really believing; we mean a really sincere, heartfelt trust, we mean a living, active faith, a faith which comes after deep and despairing repentance—all that “adverbial” theology. Before we are through we have so qualified and modified faith as to make it even less obtainable than the justice we failed to reach by the law! No wonder most people today would rather take their chances with the law! Faith itself has been taken captive by legalism. The price is so inflated that no one can afford it any more (Forde, Justification by Faith, p. 10).

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Shawn_L

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar (BTh, McGill; MA, VU Amsterdam) was the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society from May 2012 through June 2022. He and his wife Abby have three children. He has written several books including: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

September 26, 2023

Is It Possible that Charles Templeton Is With the Lord Even Though He Died an Atheist?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are answering a question about eternal security and especially the extent of eternal...
September 26, 2023

You Can Believe the Small Things Too (Luke 1:18) 

When Gabriel told Zacharias that he and his wife would have a son, and that the son would be John the Baptist, I find Zacharias’...
September 25, 2023

Were Old Testament Saints and Will Tribulation Saints Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit? Are Roman Catholics Saved?

Welcome to Grace in Focus radio. Today, Bob Wilkin and Ken Yates are answering a question about the ministries of the Holy Spirit toward redeemed...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen on Google Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.00
  • Elisabeth: Christ's Medal of Honor Recipient $11.95 $10.00
  • Six Secrets of the Christian Life (Second Edition, Includes Study Questions) $6.00 $4.00
  • Faith Alone in One Hundred Verses $15.00 $10.00
  • Tough Texts: Did Jesus Teach Salvation by Works? $15.00 $10.00
Grace Evangelical Society

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube