Fundamentally, all people are "religious" and thus subject to the well-known fallacy of wanting to satisfy some god or gods through their own religious achievements. Unfortunately, with a few commendable exceptions, "Christianity" is also filled with this fallacy – and is thus based on a "different gospel" (Gal. 1:6-7). The consequences for sincere believers are devastating, because they are under "Christian" pressure to perform throughout their lives. They are caught in the trap of so-called covert "legalism" – perhaps the worst "epidemic" in the "Christian" proclamation environment. The divine antithesis to this is the so-called "gospel of Christ" as revealed to the Apostle Paul. This entire problem is illustrated by the story of the "Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:25-37).
The pitfalls of hidden "legalism" come into play for various reasons, which will be explored individually in the lecture. The most important reason is the misconception that unholy people believe they can convince a holy God. The fact is that no human being could endure the holy presence of the eternal and almighty God for even a second without dying immediately. Therefore, there can never be any (spiritual) reward for (religious-Christian) performance – for example, to earn "eternal life." The salvation of man is structured completely differently. It occurs exclusively in one way: through complete identification with the entire work of salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is precisely the central content of the "Gospel of Christ." Truly believing people rest in the accomplished works of Christ and acquire all divine gifts of salvation in only one way: through childlike faith, in the sense of a divine gift of grace.
Based on decades of pastoral experience, the entire complex of hidden "legalism" is carefully explained from a practical perspective, including its causes and effects. However, the lecture focuses primarily on this wonderful state of faith in Christ. People who have truly recognized the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as their life will never again want to earn anything through religious achievements. Instead, they rest in Christ from morning to night and can then watch as, through the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in their "mortal flesh," all heavenly blessings become a real experience in everyday life. Through the presence of the "Holy One of God," everything unholy in us is disempowered. We are made acceptable in the Beloved. Keeping the commandments is now done only out of love for the LORD – and they are no longer difficult. The Lord Jesus Christ in us reveals Himself through the workings of the Holy Spirit with His wonderful life. And with that, we also possess, among other things, "eternal life" – already in this life!
The manuscript for this lecture can be found under "Study Topics." What shall I do to inherit eternal life? Luke 10:25 (html/pdf)
The lecture was filmed afterwards and is available to watch and study on Bruno Schaer Ministries' YouTube channel: 
