How do I tell if I am a legalist?

How do I recognize my religious chains? (self examination)
pick one of the two options for each section. (the second one is what you should strive for)

Motivations:  What is my motivation for “religious” activity?

• To earn God’s love, to deserve it? (if I just try harder, I’ll be pleasing to God then He will do ____________ for me?
• Or to respond to it?  (Jesus, I am so thankful for your sacrifice and love, ask me anything and I’ll obey, because I love you and I’m grateful for giving me meaning and a destiny).

Emotions: How do I “feel” about my spiritual performance?

• I constantly feel guilt or anxiety about my spiritual performance.  I beat myself up emotionally when I fail and fall back into sin.  Is my joy in Christ overshadowed by a sense of inadequacy?
• I recognize I am a sinner and mess up. My sin grieves me, yet I stand firm on Romans 8:1- There is now therefore NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. I recognize that any condemnation comes from the enemy and sin that dwells within me, not Jesus.  

Perceptions (of others): How do I view others living out their faith?

•  I find myself looking down on others based on their adherence to religious practices compared to mine.
• I readily extend grace but also a willingness to exhort others to grow closer to God.

Perceptions (of God):  How do I view God?

• I see God primarily as a demanding taskmaster or the “cosmic killjoy”.  He is distant.
• I see Him as one who delights Himself in me as His child.

Rejection or Contrition:  How do I respond in failure?

• Rejection: Is my first response in failure to hide or run from God? (like Adam and Eve)
• Contrition: Do I repent and run back into the arms of a loving Father?

*Mindset of "Because I am loved, I want to change" rather than "I must change to be loved."
Devotion:  What do my spiritual disciplines look like?

• I engage in prayer, Bible reading, serving, etc. out of obligation. I “must” do these things.
• I am refreshed regularly by them.  I desire to do them because of what they accomplish.

This doesn't mean we abandon spiritual disciplines or good works, but rather that these flow from a place of love and gratitude, not obligation or fear.