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The ancient church father Tertullian is reputed to have said, “Just as Jesus was crucified between two thieves, so the gospel is ever crucified between these two errors.” What are these errors to which Tertullian was referring? The theological terms are '''legalism''' and '''antinomianism'''. Another way to describe them could be moralism and relativism (or pragmatism).
The ancient church father Tertullian is reputed to have said, “Just as Jesus was crucified between two thieves, so the gospel is ever crucified between these two errors.” What are these errors to which Tertullian was referring? The theological terms are '''legalism''' and '''antinomianism'''. Another way to describe them could be moralism and relativism (or pragmatism).


These two errors constantly seek to corrupt the message and steal away from us the power of the gospel. '''Legalism says that we have to live a holy, good life''' if we want God to love us. Antinomianism says that because we are saved, we don’t have to live a holy, good life.
*'''Legalism says that we have to live a holy, good life if we want God to love us.'''
*'''Antinomianism says that because we are saved, we don’t have to live a holy, good life.'''


This is the location of the “tip of the spear” of the gospel. A very clear and sharp distinction between legalism, antinomianism, and the gospel is often crucial for the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit to work. If our gospel message even slightly resembles “you must believe and live right to be saved” or “God loves and accepts everyone just as they are,” we will find our communication is not doing the identity-changing, heart-shaping transformative work of Christ.  The gospel is the good news that God has accomplished our salvation for us through Christ in order to bring us into a right relationship with him and eventually to destroy all the results of sin in the world.
The gospel simply the good news that God has accomplished our salvation for us through Christ, in order to bring us into a right relationship with him and eventually to destroy all the results of sin in the world.


“Moralism/legalism” stresses truth without grace, for it claims we must obey the truth to be saved. On the other hand, “relativism/antinomianism” stresses grace without truth, for it claims we are all accepted by God, and we each have to decide what is right for us. We must never forget that '''Jesus was full of grace and truth''' (John 1:14)<ref>Timothy J. Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).</ref>
“Moralism/legalism” stresses truth without grace, for it claims we must obey the truth to be saved. On the other hand, “relativism/antinomianism” stresses grace without truth, for it claims we are all accepted by God, and we each have to decide what is right for us. We must never forget that '''Jesus was full of grace and truth'''. (John 1:14)<ref>Timothy J. Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).</ref>
 
Legalism is to fall back into rule-keeping - we lose our freedom. Falling into permissiveness means we abuse our freedom.


Gospel freedom is freedom that both takes away the guilt of sin and eats away at the motivation to sin.  
Gospel freedom is freedom that both takes away the guilt of sin and eats away at the motivation to sin.  
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