Romans 4:1-3: The Difference Between Obedience and Legalism

Romans 4:1-3: The Difference Between Obedience and Legalism

Author: Dale Partridge February 2, 2023 Duration: 22:51
What does the Bible teach about obedience? Is our obedience something we do in order to justify ourselves? What do we learn from Abraham about his faithfulness to God? As we continue through the book of Romans, Paul is slowly revealing to us that our works of obedience do not make us righteous before God. In Romans 4, he unpacks this by explaining that it was Abraham’s faith in God and belief in His promises that justified him. So, how does this look for us today? Since we are on the other side of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we are looking back at all of the promises that God has fulfilled. But, this doesn’t change the fact that our faith in God and belief in His promises is also what justifies us. The difference for us is that we now know it is the righteousness of God in Christ that we can rest in as our justification. In this episode of Real Christianity, pastor Dale Partridge walks us through the difference between obedience and legalism, as Paul explains in Romans 4:1-3 how our faith is counted to us as righteousness.

Dale Partridge sits down each week to tackle the complex questions that often linger in the minds of believers, moving beyond simple platitudes to explore the substance of faith. In Real Christianity, these aren't abstract debates; they're grounded, practical discussions addressing the theological puzzles and real-life pastoral situations that people actually face. Every episode is a concise, focused conversation, typically wrapping up in ten to fifteen minutes, making it a thoughtful companion for a daily commute or a quiet moment of reflection. You'll hear Dale draw from scripture and lived experience to provide clarity on topics that can feel confusing or overwhelming, all with the aim of making faith feel more accessible and deeply rooted. This podcast cuts through the noise, offering a space where curiosity meets conviction, and where difficult questions are met with thoughtful, biblically-informed perspectives. It’s for anyone seeking a more authentic and understood spiritual life, one honest conversation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Real Christianity
Podcast Episodes
Romans 3:9-12: Total Depravity: Why No Man Can Come To God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:14
Self-love is blinding. Namely, it’s difficult for man to see his flaws when his view of himself is so lofty. The Bible solves this dilemma by offering a pure and precise view of man—including his fallenness and flaws. Ac…
Romans 2:25-29: Why Salvation Requires A Changed Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
Too often we put trust into religious actions to earn us good standing with God. However, this is opposite of what’s taught in Scripture. Only justification through faith in Christ alone can offer us peace with God. In R…
Romans 2:17-23: How Religion Will Send You To Hell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:05
Over the years, I’ve met many people who know the Bible but do not know Christ. They know the Moral Law but do not know the Gospel. In this episode of Real Christianity, pastor Dale Partridge continues to exposit Romans…
Romans 2:14-16: The Role Of The Conscience In Salvation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
The Bible says that every person has a conscience. But what’s divine the purpose of the conscience? Additionally, is this conscience a form of God’s Law for those who have never heard of God’s Law? Namely, can God rightl…
Romans 2:12-13: The Inescapable Condemnation of God’s Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:46
The Bible tells us that God’s Moral Law had a primary purpose—to bring awareness of man’s sin. Namely, God’s Law becomes the standard of righteousness that man cannot meet. In this episode of Real Christianity, pastor Da…
Romans 2:6-11: The Coming Judgement of Jesus Christ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:08
The Bible teaches that all people will individually stand before the judgement of God. How should Christians be thinking of this coming experience? More than that, how does God’s judgement on Christians relate to the Gos…
Killing Feminism With Biblical Womanhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:05
It’s becoming more and more evident that feminism is the place where true femininity goes to die. The issues are not around equal opportunity before the law but redefining womanhood altogether. But more than that, femini…
Romans 2:1-5: How to Spot a Legalistic Church [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
Legalism is the idea that our works contribute to our salvation. In the Old Covenant, under the Law, it was easy to draw the connection. However, in the New Covenant, it becomes more difficult to discern. the Bible teach…