When we get into conversation about keeping God's Commandments we usually get into the topic of legalism. Many say that the keeping of the commandments is legalism. There are those who believe that they are to keep God's Commandments but at the same time don't want to be called legalists so they say, "I don't keep God's Commandments to be saved but because I love Jesus so much! He has done so much for me, and I am so grateful that my gratitude and love for what He has done for me compels me to keep His Commandments."

So, who is keeping God's Commandments and how? First, Let's ask the question, what is legalism. Legalism is keeping God's Commandments in my own strength. This is an impossibility and if it could be done it would still not be acceptable to God. Why? Because we are sinners. Not because we have committed sin but simply because we were born into this sinful race. "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity." Psalms 51:5. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Romans 5:12. Every one of us needs a savior. So, we can't save ourselves by keeping God‘s Commandments.

But aren't we to keep God's commandments? Yes, "Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them: I am the LORD. Leviticus 22:31. "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Revelation 12:17. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.

So how are we to keep them if we can't do it in our own strength? The only way we can keep the commandments it through the indwelling empowering strength of God's Spirit. The only way we can have that strength within us is by surrendering all to Christ and giving Him permission to become the controlling power in our lives. God will then empower us to keep His commandments. For "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Philippians 1:6. Who dose it? He who began it, God. It is His responsibility. God says, "I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." Hebrews 8:10.

Our human love will never be strong enough to compel us to keep God's Laws. It is God and God alone who can empower us to keep His Laws. Yes, we may say that we keep God's laws because we love Him, but when we say that we need to make it clear that it is not through our human love but threw the love and power that we have been given through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and we can take no credit for that. We do God a disservice if we give others the impression that it is our love that is empowering us. We are deceived by the Devil if we truly think that we can keep God's laws through our own human love. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9. "My soul shall make her boast in the LORD." Psalms 34:2. We need to always give God the glory for everything. Yes, everything, for we would have nothing and are nothing without Him. We would not exist without Him.

Over the years I have heard people defend themselves when accused of being legalists for keeping Gods Law by saying, "I am not keeping God's Law to be saved but because I am saved and because of my strong love for God."

When I heard people say that I felt very guilty because I also loved God and Jesus for what they had done for me but my love was never strong enough to give me victory over sin. I kept breaking God's Law no matter how much love I endeavored to cajole up for them. Victory kept eluding me until I finally realized that I couldn't do it, not even with all my love, but it could only be accomplished by God threw His Holy Spirit controlling me and empowering me without this it would never happen. So, I then gave God permission to control my thoughts and feelings since this is the root of all our actions. I then gave Him permission to do whatever it would take to save me. (You can't do this without being completely surrendered to Him first) This gave God the responsible for my salvation, and the right to change me, which He wants anyway, Philippians 1:6, leaving me to relax in His love and watch Him work in and through me with His power and His love. This also gave me complete confidence in my salvation since He was now in charge of that, and He has promised to complete what He has started. It is all Him! All I have to do is surrender all to Him and remain in that surrendered state. When I do this I have nothing to worry about.

Give God complete control of your life and all of your worries and fears will disappear. His love casts out all fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. 1. Thessalonians 5:16-19