What is Legalism?

This saying probably hits a lot closer to the mark in describing what many Christians believe than we'd like to admit. So what is legalism really? Simply put, legalism is any belief system that supports the contention that man's salvation is in some way connected to his own works through obedience to God's law. That is to say, salvation either through maintaining good conduct, or some other meritorious action. Those who believe that man can get into the Kingdom of Heaven by a strict adherence to the law of God, or who believe that we are toiling in this world to become worthy before Him, are legalists. Whether these people believe that we must meet certain conditions (as baptism or church membership), or that we must maintain a strict adherence to laws in order to keep from losing salvation, these are all examples of legalists. In one way or another they believe that salvation in some way dependent upon man's obedience to the law (thus the term, legalist). In holding such doctrines that are contrary to God's divine Word, they become an adversary to the gospel truth of salvation by the faith of Christ (Grace) alone. For God not only makes it abundantly clear how we are justified in His sight, but also how we can never be justified.

Galatians 2:16

• "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

James 2:10

• "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

So why do legalists believe that they have support for their doctrines? The answer is simple. They read passages like 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 where God says that "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life," and they illogically presume from this that it's saying we shouldn't obey the letter of the law, or that since we can't fully obey the law, we should not even seek to obey it. But quite obviously God is not teaching us that obeying His laws kills us, nor is He saying that we can be obedient to the letter of the law (which would be blasphemy). God is telling us that obtaining Salvation by trying to keep the law is futile. It will only bring the judgment of death upon us for failing to keep it faithfully. While Salvation by the precious faith of Christ and His righteousness, is efficacious (2nd Peter 1:1), and the only way that we can merit everlasting life. If we depend upon our own attempts at keeping the law (our own righteousness), our failure to obtain perfection will condemn us to death. But a dependence upon Christ (and thus His Righteousness), is efficacious and will bring eternal life.

Philippians 3:9

• "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:"

Romans 8:1

• "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The sad reality of modernism is that more and more churches are using the word "legalism" improperly, so that exhorting to keep God's Commandments faithfully is almost seen as a bad thing. They are misusing the word so that anyone testifying that the law condemns anything unbiblical (homosexuality, fornication, immodesty or women Pastors) is labeled a legalist. In fact it has become increasingly popular among Ministers and Parishioners alike to accuse Christians of being legalistic whenever they bear witness to anything that the Lord's Word has forbidden. Typically they will abrogate or make void any testimony against immorality, impropriety, or illegality, by labeling those who witness against it as being judgmental and practicing a form of legalism. Likewise, those who faithfully witness that we should strive to be obedient to God's laws, are even called Pharisaic. Both these terms are usually used by those who don't really understand what either of them really means. It seems today's Christians have fallen so far from the faith of our fathers that they no longer recognize the difference between legalism, and the righteous exhorting of the church to adhere to faithful doctrines.

Hebrews 3:12-14

• "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
• But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
• For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;"

Luke 13:23-24

• "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
• Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

2nd Timothy 4:1-4

• "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
• Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
• For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
• And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

1st Timothy 2:9-10

• "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
• But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."

1st John 2:3-5

• "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
• He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a Liar, and the truth is not in him.
• But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: Hereby know we that we are in him."

2nd Thessalonians 1:7-8

• "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
• In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."

John 8:12

• "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Romans 6:1-2

• "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
• God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

1st Peter 1:14-16

• "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
• But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
• Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

2nd Corinthians 13:5

• "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"

Titus 1:7-8

• "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
• But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;"

Proverbs 22:28

• "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set."

Granted, sometimes Christians can be their own worst enemy. For we should not only preach God's Word and declare what God's law forbids, but we should also help others to understand God's intention in giving us these Commandments. Yes it is true that it is enough to know that God gave them, thus we should unquestionably obey them. But it is also wise to be patient and explain God's laws in the Spirit of love and understanding.

2nd Timothy 2:24-26

• "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
• In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
• And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

Psalms 119:10-12

• "With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
• Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
• Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes."

Matthew 4:4

• "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Having said this, it is important not to stray from the definition of legalism as the belief that 'by' our faithfully adhering to good works or deeds or laws, we will merit blessings, rewards or salvation because of those deeds. Do not confuse the real meaning of legalism with that which many professed Christians teach. Many professing Christians today wouldn't know legalism if a book of law fell out of the sky upon their heads. Though it goes against the grain to speak out against the misuse of this word, we can by Godly conscience do nothing less. For it's not a matter of what seems right to man (Proverbs 16:25), but of what God declares is right. Let us not be lawyers who search the scriptures only to seek loopholes in the law or to find ways to avoid keeping it. For our keeping God's law is not a matter to be grieved over or labeled legalism, it's a matter of love. Jesus didn't have disdain for those who loved the law and understood keeping it was evidence of true salvation. On the contrary, He bore testimony of those who keep His law in their hearts. His disdain was reserved for the "real" hypocrites who thought they could be righteous by keeping the law.

John 9:41

• "Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."

• "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
• And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

1st John 5:3-4

• "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
• For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

In conclusion, what makes people legalists is their shared belief in the value of the works of man, and the insufficiency of the work of Christ unto salvation. But we must never forget that the saints not only sought to obey the righteous laws of God, they often obeyed them unto the death. It wasn't legalism then, and it's not legalism now. It was and is an evidence of true love for God, and thus His law.

    May the Lord who is Gracious above all, give us the wisdom and understanding to humble ourselves before His most holy law, and rightly divide the Word of truth, that we may be blessed thereby.

Amen!