Critics of the United Pentecostal Church International sometimes accuse its members of being

legalistic. Is this a fair criticism? What does the term legalism or legalistic even mean? UPCI

general superintendent Dr. David K. Bernard responds on this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century.

Welcome to Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, a podcast dedicated to helping modern-day believers live out the teachings of the first century church.

This podcast is part of the teaching ministry of Dr. David K. Bernard.

Dr. Bernard is dedicated his life to studying the Bible and helping believers apply its message to their daily lives.

In apostolic life in the 21st century, Dr. Bernard answers your questions about what the Bible teaches

and how those teachings apply to everyday life.

Thank you for joining us for this episode.

Those of us who are in the United Pentecostal Church International, really in the entire

apostolic Pentecostal movement, we have at some point in our lives, we've encountered someone

who accused us of being a legalist. It seems like

that criticism gets leveled at us a lot because of our teachings on personal holiness.

But I'd like you to define what that term legalism even means. I think it gets thrown around

a lot, but what does it mean? And how do you respond to this criticism are apostolic pentecostals legalists

if you want to boil the question down to its essence let me first of all give you a reference

i wrote a book that addresses this has an entire chapter on this subject it's called practical

holiness a second look so if you want more study in this regard, I recommend that book.

But let's define legalism.

Legalism in the Christian context means salvation by works.

You think you can be saved by your good works or by keeping the law.

That's legalism.

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