And keep this one thing in mind when studying rules and regs (the commandments): They don't bring salvation. They show us God's character, they help sanctify us, they help society run smoothly, and many other things. But they DON'T bring salvation- this is usually at the core of legalism, accidently equating "obedience to commandments" with "salvation".
Just a pet peeve here: Like so many terms in the world of theology, "Legalism" is thrown around so much that it picks up dirt (false definitions) that eventually become "common knowledge". The term in a semantical light does not reflect one doctrine or another, merely an emphasis on laws (legal) in a practiced (-ism) sense. Again while it speaks of those two things, it is an error to apply this term to a more concentrated doctrine such as what you are explaining as "equating 'obedience to commandments' with 'salvation'". In order to make it a valid statement, you must also admit one other ideal into the collection of definitions and this is very much in opposition to your definition. I know many people who are legalists but who do
not believe that how many good things you do brings you salvation. They believe instead, that a person who is walking with Christ should seek to know the many various sins through study of Law, so that they can avoid those sins because scripture states that those who are under Christ do not commit sin (habitual sin) but seek to avoid it. They also believe that while the hope of salvation cannot be initially attained through not sinning, it is very capable of being taken away through sin and disobedience. In the end, these legalists do these things:
1.) Seek out to learn and understand what sin is right down to the jot and tittle.
2.) Avoid those sins
strictly because:
-a.) Those who are of Christ seek to avoid sin.
-b.) Those who
continue in sin lose their hope of salvation.
In the end they are seen spending tons of time studying the Law of God, and then trying their best to follow it as strictly as possible because of number 2 in the above list. I have more to say concerning this pet peeve, like how many legalists I know have been called this term and then spoken about as if they are in bondage to some evil force, or that their hope lies not in the redemption through Christ, but how many prayers or good deeds they can do to win their salvation. Its nuts.
On a side note, I've even been called a Pharisee by some crazy people because they thought I was a legalist who was trying to hurt the church by...making them understand and walk in the Almighty's holy laws more fully? Even if it is a form of bondage to seek out and Obey the Law of God, I still don't understand how bondage to a holy code of conduct equates to anything bad at all. What am I a slave to? Walking as righteously as possible? OH NO SOME ONE CALL THE COPS!
Bleh!
Peace
Welcome to JCYouth! 
