I’m excited to finally publish two new workbooks — to be released in March! What God Requires explores the fundamental principles of Christian obedience and practical discipleship. Rooted in Scripture, this study encourages us to align our lives with God’s will through active faith, love, and submission to His commands.
In it, I address the core aspects of Christian living, including loving God and others, self-examination, gratitude, forgiveness, humility, and service. I strongly emphasize obedience from the heart and highlight the necessity of genuine devotion rather than external legalism. Each lesson presents biblical principles alongside practical applications, urging believers to reflect deeply on their spiritual walk and make necessary changes.
Here is an excerpt from one of the lessons:
Legalism: When Obedience Becomes a Burden
When stressing the need for obedience, we must never allow our emphasis to drift into legalism. The term legalism originates in the work of Edwin Fisher (d. 1655) known as The Marrow of Modern Divinity. The book explores the relationship between law and grace, faith and works, and the dangers of both legalism and antinomianism. In his writing, Fisher used the term to describe “one who bringeth the Law into the case of Justification.” He saw legalism as attempting to add human effort or obedience to the work of Christ for salvation. Fisher believed this undermines the sufficiency of grace and leads to either despair (because no one can perfectly obey the law) or pride (because people deceive themselves into thinking they are righteous by their works).
While legalism or legalist is never found in either Testament, the idea certainly is.[1] A simple way to describe legalism is preoccupation with form at the expense of substance. It works on the outside and drives people to conform externally. It holds that salvation depends on total obedience to the letter of the law and often displays excessive concern for minute details … while neglecting the spirit of the law.
Legalism also refers to those who add a list of dos and don’ts to biblical commands. Usually, this is done to help prevent a person from violating biblical commands. But soon, these lists take on equal authority with God’s commandments … and even, in some cases, supersede them. The effects of legalism often lead to grave fear that forces people to conform externally or be lost.
From the Heart
In contrast to legalism, which emphasizes external compliance, true Christian obedience flows from a transformed heart. In Romans 6:17, Paul commends the Roman Christians for how they came to Christ. He says: But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching to which you were handed over.
Note how the Romans were motivated out of the heart to respond to the gospel obediently. From the Heart describes a very personal decision one makes, by his own volition, to surrender to God. But Paul’s words go further. He is not speaking of superficial or coerced obedience but rather something deeply felt and motivated deep inside someone.[2] The Christian reality is a matter of the heart. Paul focused on this in at least two other places in Romans:
Romans 5:5: This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 10:9-10: If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.
The issue is not being conformed to what is expected on the outside, the issue is the condition of our heart … i.e., doing God’s will from your heart, Ephesians 6.6. Obedience is a commitment to change from the inside out. It is a long-term commitment, not a short-term fix. It is the lifelong work of forming the kind of convictions, motives, and attitudes that move a person to do the work of God from the heart.
It is seen in the way one respects the word of God:
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart, Hebrews 4:12.
The Word penetrates the heart … all the way to our thoughts and intentions. The Word produces conviction. It reveals the source of our thoughts and intentions, unmasking their real condition. It cuts open and reveals the true state. It can cut away what is bad, cleanse our hearts, and help us draw near to God with a heartfelt response.
Hebrews 10:22: let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
Do you find yourself obeying God out of fear, or is your obedience motivated by love and gratitude?
Obedience must be more than performing out of obligation, trying to meet the minimum standard to stay in the father’s good graces. Obedience is not merely external—focusing on rules rather than relationship. This is legalism.
Instead, it is to come from the heart, emanating with acts of love and devotion to the father, not just a duty. This reflects faithful, heartfelt obedience—the kind God desires from His children.
Jesus’ words in John 14:15 ring true: "If you love me, keep my commands." Faithful obedience is not about earning God’s approval but responding to His love.
Obedience is the Fruit of Your Relationship with God
Your response to the gospel involved obedience—acknowledging Christ as Lord and submitting to Him in faith. …You have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, …, 1 Peter 1:22. You were born again by responding to the truth of the gospel communicated through the Word of God, 1 Peter 1:23. That truth is communicated in Acts 2:38. Repentance and baptism are commands that must be obeyed. When you complied in faith, God saved you because you reached out in utter necessity. There was no way you could save yourself.
Your salvation was not only an act of obedience at the beginning, on the occasion of your baptism, but a pledge of continued obedience, recognizing that Jesus is Lord over your life. You committed to follow in obedience. It is the purpose of your salvation. Peter speaks of his relationship with God as he mentions his being part of the people chosen by the foreknowledge of God through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience, sprinkled with the blood of Christ, 1 Peter 1.2. For what was Peter saved? Answer: To be obedient.
Paul also made this point in Ephesians. You were saved by grace through faith, 2.8, and not by your own work, 2.9. Your re-creation, by God, was for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do, 2.10. From before time, God not only chose a people to be in a relationship with himself, but he marked out a path for them to walk. This is a path of good works, which characterize their lives and bring glory to Him. Your works are an outgrowth of your salvation. It is your faith that produces the works, and it is out of love that you labor, 1 Thessalonians 1.3. Your obedience doesn’t negate God’s grace … it confirms it. It is evidence of God’s saving work going on inside your heart. By His grace and the power of His word, He has given you a heart that wants to obey.
It is true that one will not be saved without an obedient response from the heart. Faith without works is dead, James 2.26. A lack of an obedient or compliant heart is evidence of someone who has not committed to God. But as we obey, let us never take credit for salvation. The spirit of I am doing these things to be saved, is nothing more than legalism. Your works do nothing to improve your status or position in Christ. Again, we refer to Ephesians 2.8-10.
You have already been saved, 2.8.
You did not and will not save yourself, 2.9.
The works you do in Christ are evidence of your having been re-created, 2.10.
All your work in Christ is the fruit of the Spirit, who dwells within you, Galatians 5.22-23. He gets all the glory in your obedience. You are simply a servant obeying the wishes of your Lord.
Conclusion: Obedience Rooted in Love, Not Legalism
Obedience is not about rigid rule-keeping or earning God’s favor—it is a response of love from a heart transformed by grace. Legalism burdens people with an impossible standard, making them feel they must earn salvation through perfect adherence to laws. But true obedience flows from a heart that has encountered God's mercy and responds with gratitude.
In Romans 6:17, Paul reminds us that obedience comes "from the heart." It is not forced, nor is it a checklist of religious duties. Instead, it is a willing surrender to God, motivated by love rather than fear. When we understand that salvation is a gift of grace—not something we achieve but something we receive—our obedience shifts from obligation to devotion.
As you walk in faith, ask yourself: Am I obeying God to earn His love, or because I already have it? Faithful obedience is the fruit of a transformed life, not the root of salvation. We do not obey to be saved; we obey because we are saved.
Let your obedience be joyful, heartfelt, and fueled by love for the One who first loved you.
[1] Deasley, A. R. G. “Legalism.” Pages 478–79 in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Electronic ed. Baker Reference Library. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996.
[2] Dunn, James D. G. Romans 1–8. Vol. 38A. Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1988, p. 343.