Legalism (Part 1)

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We have all been guilty of using words without fully understanding their meaning. This is true of words that can convey multiple ideas. In normal conversation this may or may not be harmful. However, when leveling criticism, the meaning and implication of a word should be fully understood. Such is the case with the meaning of legalism. Over the years I have heard this word used in conversation knowing that the person speaking had little or no understanding of the meaning of the word. “You are a legalist,” or “That’s just legalism,” are phrases that often mischaracterize institutions, churches, and people. Some use the word to refer to adherence to a set of rules or prohibitions. And with the ascendancy of the free grace movement, the dilution of the meaning of legalism has had unintended consequences on the church and individual lives of believers. The Holman New Testament Commentary accurately defines legalism as the belief that one gains favor and ultimate acceptance by God through the performing of works prescribed by God’s laws. Paul explicitly tells us that the law cannot save us. It is only through faith that we come to Christ. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” ” (Galatians 3:10–11) The Pharisees were the classic opponents of Jesus during His earthly ministry. They were the ambassadors of legalism. Not only did they depend on the law to save them, they added laws to the law and declared their biases and preferences to be God’s will also. Therein lies the sin. When obedience to a set of rules becomes the basis for salvation, it is legalism. Some people understand that concept. Many do not. In many current church circles legalism means that an institution, church, group, or individual has a catalog of do’s and don’ts. Some people are quick to label others as legalists if they have chosen not to attend the theater, listen to certain types of music, or ascribe to certain forms of dress etc. This may or may not be the case. If that person is depending on those things for salvation, or views their obedience to such rules as a badge of spiritual superiority, then it is legalism. However, we must remember that there is a difference between a narrow way and narrow-mindedness. R. C. Sproul explains in his book “Following Christ” that walking the narrow way reveals a clear focus of what righteousness demands. Any conscientious Christian will have some things he refrains from doing and actions he strives to habitually practice because they are righteous. Again to quote Sproul: To be sure, God gives rules. He pronounces do’s and don’ts, but the purpose of these rules is to describe for us what is pleasing and displeasing to God. God is concerned with the attitude of the heart that one brings with him to the application of the rules. When the rules are kept for their own sake, then obedience is given to a cold abstraction known as the law rather than to a personal God who reveals the law. Of course the opposite of legalism is antinomianism. The term comes from two Greek words. Anti means against. Nomos means law. The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology says that antinomianism refers to the doctrine that it is not necessary for Christians to preach or obey the moral law of the Old Testament. In the broader context of our times it refers to a no rules philosophy because we are under grace. Paul dealt with this very mindset in the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5-6. Then the apostle deals extensively with this very problem in the book of Romans and Galatians. To cite just one verse, Paul said in Romans 3:31: Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Grace is not voided by the presence of do’s and don’ts. Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said that there were some things that a true Christian should not do (Galatians 5:13-21; 24; 26). Then he declares that there were fruits of the Spirit that should be manifested in the Christian life. Again he gave a list (Galatians 5:22-23) True Christian faith does not negate God’s moral law. The law is a reflection of the righteousness of God. James makes this abundantly clear in James 2:14-26. Dr. Robert Picirilli read a paper in the most recent theological symposium that intertwines with this subject. One statement he made was, “Obedience is a necessary evidence of faith.” Rules, laws, and prohibitions cannot save us. But the faith that saves leads us to love God, trusts Christ, and depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us to reflect God’s glory in our lives by being sinners who love Jesus so much they want to do the things He would want them to do and refrain from doing the things that would displease this One who is perfect in righteousness and holiness. If you are depending on a list of prohibitions to save you, then you are lost. If you think that you are a superior Christian because of your list and look down your nose at others because a couple of their items are different, then you are judgmental. But it is also true that if you call a denomination, a college, a church, or an individual a legalist simply because of standards and convictions, then you err. Grace does not lead to loose living. Grace leads us to imitate Christ.