A counterfeit is something that looks like the real [thing] but it isn’t....The devil has produced two counterfeits, not for the world but for christians to trap us....These counterfeits, to a large degree resemble the gospel but they are not the gospel.[1]

The two counterfeits, the two ditches, are legalism and antinomianism.  In order to recognize these two counterfeits, we will take each one of them separately and look at them in detail.[2]

The first counterfeit which I call the “enemy of the gospel” is found in Romans 4 and the second counterfeit is the “danger of the gospel” which is found in Romans 6.[1]

Legalism means that we use the law of God as a method or as a means of salvation....Legalism is man trying to attain a ticket to heaven by his own performance....In its christian form, salvation by works is disguised so that one easily confuses it with salvation by grace.[2]

Rom 4  (v. 1) What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? (v. 2) For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something of which to boast....

Another author from “Transforming Grace” describes it as:  Legalism – the separation of the law of God from the character of God and the cross of Christ.  “I am saved by being good.  I know what being good is because the law of God tells me what is good.  Therefore, I focus on good works and ignore Christ.”[3]

Once the devil gets you in the ditch of legalism, his purpose is to rob you of the peace and joy of salvation and how he has succeeded![1]

Today we also face the danger of Romans 6 which is antinomianism.  Deitrich Bonhoefer, the German martyr called it “cheap grace.”^[1]

Rom 6  (v. 1) What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

The word “antinomianism” comes from two Greek words put together.  “Anti” means against.  “Nomianism” comes from the Greek word “nomas” the law.^[4]

Here is an example, you will often hear people in the church say:  “You know we are saved by grace and not by what we do.” And technically they are right, but they have fallen into the ditch of cheap grace! The issue should be:

If you say that Jesus died instead of you, then He also went to heaven instead of you!  And if you want to go to heaven, then you have to die with Him too.^[1]

II  Tim 2  (v. 11) This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.

You and I are sinners.  Die we must.  We have no choice here, otherwise the gospel becomes unethical.  But the difference is, if we accept our death in Christ, there is a resurrection and therefore there is a hope.  If we choose to die out of Christ, that is the end of us.^[4]

Christianity is not simply a mental assent to truth.  Christianity is participating in Jesus Christ.^[1]

Rom 6  (v. 3) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (v. 4) Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death,... (v. 5) For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection....

The difference between being born in this world and born in the kingdom of God is this: (1) When we were born in this world we were born sinners because of the Fall.  We were born condemned to death....We began in this world with life and we end up with death.  (2) But when we enter the kingdom of God, it is the very reverse.  We begin with death and we end up with life.  Unless we realize this, we are perverting grace.^[4]

Rom 6  (v. 4) ....that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.... (v. 8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.

Antinomianism is saying “since I am saved by grace alone, since I am saved by the doing and the dying of Christ, since my works make no contribution towards my salvation, then I can live as I please.”^[4]

Another author from “Transforming Grace” describes it as:  Antinomianism – the separation of the law of God from the character of God and the cross of Christ.  “I am saved by God through Jesus’ death on the cross and I don’t need to keep the law.  Therefore, I focus on worshipping Christ but don’t do good works.”^[3]

Genuine justification by faith, genuine salvation by grace, does not give us license to sin.  It transforms our lives.  It puts new desires in our minds so that we want to walk a life that is pleasing to God.^[4]

Gal 2  (v. 20) I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me....

A christian should consider himself dead to sin and alive unto God because a christian has participated by faith in the holy history of Christ.  This is what baptism is all about....^[1]

Rom 6  (v. 11) So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. [rsv]  (v. 12) Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. [nkjv]

The christian should stop condoning sin.  You have said goodbye to it through the cross of Christ.^[1]

Yes, you still have a sinful nature; you will struggle, you will fall many times, but if you have actually obeyed the gospel you can say with Paul, “It is no longer I (the converted mind) but it is sin that dwells in my body.”^[1]

God does not give us too much victory, not because He can’t give it to us, but because we are not safe for victory as long as we are depending on victory for assurance.^[1]

....so stop looking at yourself for assurance.  Always keep your eyes on Jesus for your assurance of salvation.^[1]

Now what is the difference between works of the law which is legalism and works of faith?  There are two major differences.  (1) The origin.  Works of law always originate from the flesh.  The Bible refers to works of the law as self-righteousness....^[2]

Phil 3  (v. 9) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

The origin of works of the law is self.  It is referred to as self-righteousness....In contrast, the origin of works of faith is the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  It is not works but fruits that we bear.^[2]

(2) The second distinction between works of the law and works of faith is motivation.  Works of the law are always motivated by self.  Works of the law, no matter how good it appears outwardly, is always the fair showing of the flesh.^[2]

Since the law of God demands, not only perfect acts but perfect motives, self-righteousness, legalism, can never qualify us for heaven....All that the law can do for us is to show us that we are sinners.^[2]

The motivation of works of the law is always self, whereas works of faith are motivated by the agape love of God.^[2]

I  Thes 1  (v. 2) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, (v. 3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ....

When the Holy Spirit produces His fruit or His work in us which to us is fruit bearing, it is always motivated by the love of God.^[2]

Please remember, when we were unbelievers, the law was given to us not to save us but to show us that we were sinners in need of grace.  but when we become christians, when we are justified by faith alone, the law becomes a standard of christian living.^[2]

One certain way to prevent legalism and to recognize it, is for us to realize and to submit to the fact that we are totally sinful.^[2]

It is you and I who are redeemed in Jesus Christ.  The flesh will not goto heaven.  This corruption cannot inherit incorruption.  For this reason we look forward to glorification which is the redemption of the body.^[2]

I  Cor 15  (v. 50) Now this I say brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. (v. 51) ....we shall all be changed.... (v. 52) ....the dead will be raised incorruptible....

It must become absolutely clear to each one of us that any subjective experience that we have as christians, whether we talk of good works or holy living or law obedience, even though it may be produced in us through the working of the Holy Spirit, in no way contributes towards the righteousness that justifies us before God.^[2]

It is of utmost importance that all christians understand the difference between works of the law (which is legalism) and the fruits of the gospel or the (fruits of faith), if we are to avoid falling into the trap, or ditch of legalism.^[2]

Genuine justification by faith always produces works.  Not that those works contribute towards our justification, but the works are evidence of our justification.^[2]

What God does in me does not have a single iota of merit.  It is the fruits of salvation.  It is the evidence of salvation but it doesn’t contribute one iota towards my salvation nor does it contribute towards my retaining the ticket to heaven.  We are saved by grace alone.^[1]

The purpose of legalism is to destroy the peace and assurance of salvation of believers, but the danger of antinomianism or cheap grace is to bring disrepute to the gospel.^[1]

People are not interested in the fact that you are saved....What they are looking for is your life style.  They will judge you by your performance.^[1]

One reason the devil will bring cheap grace into the church is because he wants to bring disrepute to the gospel which is the power of God to save us....A legalist wants to live the christian life in order to be saved.  A christian wants to live the christian life to bring the glory to Christ.^[1]

Genuine justification by faith will always produce works....We will not be conscious of these good works, so stop looking at yourself for assurance.  Always keep your eyes on Jesus for your assurance of salvation.  The purpose of legalism is to turn your eyes from Christ to self....^[1]

God doesn’t give us victory in order to give us assurance.  He gives us victory because we want to glorify Christ.^[1]

Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and the life He lived 2000 years ago He will reproduce in you, not to give you assurance of salvation; not to save you but to show to the world that this is the gospel, the power of salvation.^[1]

When the world sees Christ in you, the hope of glory, they won’t give you or your denomination the glory.  They will give God the glory.^[1]

Matt 5  (v. 14) You are the light of the world.... (v. 16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We cannot produce a people who are safe for victory by pushing legalism, by pushing people and saying, “Unless you overcome sin, you will not be able to meet the Lord.”  That is the devil’s way.  The way to produce a people who will reflect Christ is to anchor them on the doctrine of genuine justification by faith.  The fruits will take care of themselves.^[1]

A christian on the one hand must not use the law [or] good works....as a method of salvation.  On the other hand we must not condone sin.  For me to live is Christ and I will live the christian life.^[1] 

I will take all the old rules but they are no longer rules to me.  They have become an inward desire....Christianity is Christ coming in you, changing your desires, your ambitions and suddenly there is a transformation.^[1]

Heb 10  (v. 16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them. (v. 17) then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

We thank God for the gospel that has moved us from condemnation to justification, from death to life.  We thank Him for the gospel which guarantees our salvation, not because of anything we have done; it is by grace alone.^[1]

John 5  (v. 24) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

I pray sincerely that none will be trapped into legalism after they have read this message and that all will be protected from the evil one who will come as an angel of light.  On the other hand, I pray that we will not disgrace Him by turning the gospel of salvation from sin into a license to sin.^[1]

References:

1. Vineyard Ministries. “The Two Counterfeits” Tape 4. The Gospel in a Nutshell, Audiocassette.

2. Vineyard Ministries. “The Gospel’s Great Enemy” Tape 12A. Revealing the Gospel in Galatians, Audiocassette.

3. https://transforminggrace.wordpress.com/2016/02/13/the-differences-between-legalism-antinomianism-neonomianism-and-the-true-gospel-in-four-lines/

4. Vineyard Ministries. “The Gospel’s Great Danger” Tape 12B. Revealing the Gospel in Galatians, Audiocassette.