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"Are you indeed Christ's sheep? Then beware of ever trusting to yourselves; nothing offends the Good Shepherd more than to see the members of His flock, forgetting that in Him alone is all their safety, and glorying in their own attainments and performances...your best attempts toward heaven are in themselves but broken reeds, and can bear no weight; they are precious as evidences of spiritual life--but they cannot justify." - J. C. Ryle

Is believing the gospel legalism? It is if you think you have the moral ability to come to Christ apart from grace (John 6:63, 65; 1 Cor 1:29-30). Likewise, is obeying the imperatives of the New Testament legalism? It is only if you think you can do so apart from Christ (1 John 3:9; Gal 3:3) Legalism is when you trust in yourself (even partly), and not Christ alone, to attain or maintain your just standing before God. But the call to obedience itself is not legalism. To the regenerate person God's commands are not burdensome but a delight. (1 John 5:2-4)