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Legalism—Spiritual Trap
Preface (Caveat)
Because conservative and devoted Christians may misinterpret the primary focus and spirit of this topical Bible study/commentary, it should be understood from the outset that nothing within this commentary advocates that a Christian should not defend the faith. Bible doctrine must never be compromised. Christians must examine all commentary on the Bible and verify it by careful, systematic, meticulous and scrupulous analysis of and against sound Bible doctrine. Nothing anyone says regarding God’s Word should be taken without painstaking scrutiny.
This was the procedure used by the Bereans when exposed to the teachings of Paul and Silas:
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
This is mandated by the apostle Paul to all believers:
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Furthermore, this study/commentary should not be construed to preclude Christians from standing firm against sin when such sin is clearly exemplified in the Word of God. But while “defending the faith” and “standing against sin,” Christians must be careful to (1) not allow minor issues of doctrine to overwhelm major doctrinal issues in their concept and defense of Christianity, (2) not allow personal taboos and prohibitions, often designated “convictions,” which are not clearly expressed in the Bible, to become major issues in the defining of their spiritual life, and (3) not allow pride to override love and compassion in their service to Christ. This three-fold proclivity (tendency) by many Christians is the thrust of this commentary.
Definition of Legalism
Legalism within this commentary refers to a rigid adherence to self-imposed and prescribed beliefs and rules that are not concretely established in God’s Word, which result in hard and fast judgments and actions regarding any person or organization that does not comply with such beliefs and rules. It is an inordinate emphasis on the letter, not the spirit, of the law—often a misinterpretation of Scripture. It is the product of self-will; it is not a natural outgrowth from God and His Word.
Origination of Legalism
Legalism raised its inefficacious and corrupting head in the Garden of Eden immediately after the Fall of Man. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and immediately they became aware that they were naked. To cover their nakedness they, on their own, devised a means of covering themselves with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). They soon learned that their efforts were displeasing to God, and they learned that only by God’s way their nakedness could be suitably covered (Genesis 3:21).
Again it was displayed by Cain when, on his own, he devised a sacrifice of the produce of the ground and offered it to God; only to learn that God’s way is not man’s way, and that the only suitable sacrifice, just as in the Garden of Eden, required the shedding of blood—a typological and prophetic forecast of the death of Christ on Calvary that was to come (Genesis 4:3-5).
From then till now man has endeavored to achieve the approbation (approval) of God through self-generated and self-righteous works and actions, all of which are as filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64:6). The Pharisees during the days that Christ walked upon the earth epitomized this approach to God. They were highly “religious,” and they were careful to adhere to a strict legalism born of their own interpretation in their endeavor to serve the living God. But their self-righteous attitude and hypocritical religiosity, which was contrary to God’s way, only attracted the scorn and condemnation of Jesus Christ. Listen to the Lord’s indictment:
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, “Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.”. . . Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. . . . Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. . . . Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Matthew 23:13-33)
Legalism, a product and secretion of “religion,” is even stronger, more perverse and widespread today. Religion must never be confused with Christianity. Religion is man reaching up to God. Christianity is God reaching down to man. Religion is man, through self-effort and self-righteousness (works and actions), attempting to please God. Christianity, on the other hand, is a union or relationship with a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Religion is based on works; Christianity is based on grace and faith.
Legalism Prior to Salvation
From the beginning of time man has devised methods, plans and philosophies in order to achieve the salvation of his soul. These may be as simple as the concept of “doing more good deeds than bad deeds during one’s lifetime,” or may be as complex as the performing of a myriad of customs and rituals in the worshipping of a host of gods and idols.
Man has always known of his need for salvation. The need for salvation is embedded in the very soul of man. Not only does the Bible clearly teach that “all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:23), and that the penalty of such sin is spiritual death (Romans 5:12; 6:23); but there is that “still small voice” crying out inside the depth of man’s being revealing the need for God and salvation (Romans 1:18-20). The problem has been in how man has responded to this need. In all cases, left to himself, man chooses to save himself by means of his own invention. And in this he always fails.
Because it is impossible for man to save himself by paying the penalty-price for his sin, God graciously sent forth His only Son, born of flesh to a virgin, in order to do what man could not do. Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary took upon Himself the sin of mankind, became that sin and suffered spiritual death in the place of mankind, thereby paying in full the penalty-price for man’s sin. What man could not do, even in part, God did in full once and for all. Christ paid the price on the cross, and then willingly gave up His physical life only to take it back again by rising from the dead after three days—victorious over death, hell and the grave, to take His place at the right hand of God and thereby certify His salvation for all mankind.
Because of this “work by Christ,” man only needs to accept this gift of salvation from God by faith. No other requirement is necessary to apprehend God’s salvation. It is only by faith alone in Christ alone that a person can be saved, that is, to receive eternal life. It is a matter of the will; it involves only a genuine decision. When a person accepts that he cannot save himself and therefore decides to place his full (earnest) confidence (trust) in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for his own personal and eternal salvation; he will, by that heartfelt decision, be instantly and forever saved from God’s wrath and will share in God’s eternal bliss.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14-18)
And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" So they [Paul and Silas] said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved . . . ." (Acts 16:30, 31)
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
It is therefore apparent that legalism has no place in a person’s salvation; otherwise, it nullifies the grace of God, it places a stumbling block in salvation’s path and condemns the lost to an eternal hell.
Legalism Subsequent to Salvation
It is the propensity of man to flee from God’s way to his own way. This is true prior to his salvation; it is true after he has been saved. Where he may finally accept salvation by grace through faith, he quickly turns to himself and to a self-generated system of rules and procedures (works) in his quest to live the “Christian life.” This self-imposed burden by legalists was of constant concern to the apostle Paul, and is meticulously opposed by his letters of Romans and Galatians.
To turn from grace and faith back to works in one’s Christian’s life not only can rob the Christian of the firm assurance and the joy of his salvation, but it often translates into an interpretation of “salvation by faith plus works” in the Christian’s outreach to the lost. This then becomes a mark of the Judaizers, which in Paul’s day was of serious concern in the church of Galatia. The Judaizers were approaching the Galatians and implanting in their minds that what Paul had said was good, but that it was just not good enough. They were telling the Galatians that in addition to faith in Christ they must adhere to the Mosaic Law in order to be truly saved. This is one of the oldest heresies within the Christian faith, and it remains ever stronger today. It is adding something to the Gospel of grace. It is doing something rather than simply believing something. It is “faith plus works” rather than “faith plus nothing.” Every religion and cult today has something for man “to do” in order to be saved. It must always be remembered that Christianity is not a religion; it is a union or relationship with a Person—Jesus Christ. It emanates from the loving heart of God through His marvelous plan of grace, which comes only by faith alone in Christ alone.
Another insidious effort that springs abundant in Christian circles then and now is the belief that sanctification comes by works, apart from faith. The truth is that Bible sanctification, also known as being set apart by the “filling” of (influence or control by) the Spirit of God or the term, “walking in Christ,” can only be achieved in the same manner that one was saved.
As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord [by faith], so [in the same manner] walk in Him. (Colossians 2:6)
The Christian life originates by faith and it must be lived by faith. It is only when the believer places full confidence in God’s Word regarding the Helper (Holy Spirit) that Christ promised would come to assist each believer can a Christian successfully live a life pleasing to God. To resort to self-imposed rules and regulations to be rigidly adhered to by one’s own power is legalism, and it is an affront to God’s grace, mercy, power and love. It is a sure recipe for failure.
Legalism Stems from Pride and is Self-Generating
Because legalism maintains a focus on man, rather than God, as the source and enabler of the Christian life, there is no doubt that its foundation is rooted in the sin of pride. It was pride that primarily brought Satan down. And if the truth be known, pride is the basis for all sin. The sin nature in man works overtime in its attempt to turn inward to himself in all efforts of achievement, instead of outward and upward to God.
From the beginning of creation man has always wanted it “his way.” He has always wanted to “make the call,” to “establish the means” and to achieve salvation “by his own determination.” In this way he replaces God as the determining force, as the “savior” of his own soul. It is only natural for man, who is subject to the constant influence of Satan and his own “sinful nature” to go this route. To accept the message of grace—the true Gospel—is an affront to and a diminishment of man’s worth. It is far more difficult for man to swallow his pride and to admit that he cannot do anything of or by himself to secure salvation, sanctification and eternal security; than it is for him to turn away from himself and every other confidence (repentance) to Jesus Christ alone and His work on Calvary (for salvation) and His work through the indwelt Holy Spirit (for spiritual growth).
The Spiritual Trap
This form of pride is particularly true in the local church of today, where it takes over to create an atmosphere of spiritual deprivation and abuse. The following is an example of its progression and its fruit:
A newborn Christian becomes a member of a local assembly eager to please His Savior. He is quickly surrounded by several “mature” Christians who eagerly define how he should live for Christ. But instead of directing Him toward major issues such as loving His Lord with all his heart, of loving one another and of trusting God to grant him the wherewithal to live victoriously for Christ and to the reaching out to those who are without Christ; they provide him with a litany of legal “dos and don’ts,” which they affirm will insure and demonstrate to others his “spirituality.” In time the young Christian, eager to advance his spiritual life, becomes encumbered with this web of legalistic convention. This opens the door of pride as he becomes convinced of his “spirituality” by this adoption of these (and other) prohibitions and “must do” measures.
The young Christian soon has only time and energy for his legalistic lifestyle, but his ever expanding pride as a result of keeping all “requirements” assures him that he is on the correct path. Yet in time he finds that the joy of his salvation ebbs and flows away. There is no more inner excitement and enthusiasm to bring others to Christ or in participating in sundry other spiritual events that once brought him refreshment. Not only is his soul-winning endeavors shrinking, but he finds that his rigid “spiritual” prohibitions allows him to hastily and ruthlessly judge other Christians who fail to meet his standards, which in turn drives them away from the loving arms of Christ and Christianity as a whole. It isn’t long until, even as a Christian, he finds himself empty and aimless; so much so, that he may even doubt his salvation. As time goes on, he may even find that the doubts are so overwhelming that he ventures out again into the pigpen of the world where he may succumb to all of Satan’s snares. Even though he may be truly saved, the light of his witness for Jesus Christ has been extinguished.
Now if anyone builds on this foundation [Jesus Christ] with gold, silver, precious stones [divine good], wood, hay, straw [human good], each one's work will become clear; for the Day [of judgment] will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it [the foundation of Jesus Christ] endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
A Brief Word of Personal Testimony
On December 25, 1959, at approximately 2:00 o’clock in the morning while laying on my single bed in my room at 1002 E. Jackson in Harlingen, Texas, I received God’s gracious gift of eternal life by faith alone in Christ alone. On December 27, 1959, I walked the aisle of the town’s Calvary Baptist Church, took John B. Wilder’s hand (pastor of the church) and made my profession of faith in Christ. On March 16, 1960, I was baptized by my pastor. On April 10, 1960 at 4:30 o’clock in the afternoon in a service at (I believe) the Avalon Baptist Church and at the urging of the Holy Spirit, I committed myself to the Christian ministry.
Soon thereafter I found myself surrounded by a number of Christians who placed a high degree of significance in the separation of a Christian from all “worldly” influences. This tendency overshadowed the lessons of grace, love and mercy and the critical lesson that faith plays in the Christian’s life. Before long I found that I had acquired numerous “merit badges” of personal prohibitions and taboos to hang on my spiritual uniform. Some of these prohibitions and taboos (dos and don’ts) were as follows:
The list went on. And as it did, I took ever increasing pride in my “spirituality.” I found it easy to quickly and ruthlessly judge other Christians in light of what I believed defined my spiritual life. Most often others would come short of the plateau that I had achieved; and, although I would never admit it, I looked down on and felt sorry for them. By focusing on this legalistic concept as a model for the Christian life, I completely overlooked the clear instruction in God’s Word, which defined the true model of a life lived for Christ—that of focusing on Jesus Christ, His love and mercy and love for each other; and, the power available to every Christian that would enable such a life.
I was clearly “majoring on minors and minoring on the majors” (issues) of God’s kingdom. No matter how hard I tried to keep all the “rules and prohibitions” of my legalistic prison, I always failed the perfection I required of myself. I was clearly stifling the power of the Holy Spirit in my life, draining it of the one spiritual dynamic for spiritual success.
This self-indulgence in blatant pride and legalism, which resulted in an ever increasing critical attitude toward others, began to take its toll. I was becoming a very “unlovable” child of God. Without the inner power of God’s Spirit to guide me, and even though I was engaged in several aspects of the Christian ministry (seminary, pastor of a church, holding revivals, soul-winning, etc.); I eventually lost my joy and confidence in Christ, became involved in other sin, and left the ministry.
For many years I wandered in a dry and desolate land as God gave me even more rope to “hang myself.” I drifted further into a life of rejection of Christ, of God and of everything that I once held true. The reader may wish to make the determination that I was never saved in the first place, that I was only fooling myself. I can only attest to the fact that I was genuine in my faith toward Christ in my salvation experience. As for a Christian being able to slip back into the world, I will share with you the following comments from Robert B. Thieme, Jr., Pastor of the Berachah Church of Houston, Texas, as are found in his booklet, Reversionism, 1977:
Can a Christian immerse himself in sin and evil and still be a Christian? Throughout the Church Age pastors and theologians have struggled to explain this paradox. Some contend that perpetually carnal believers were never genuinely saved. But the Bible emphatically states that once a person expresses faith alone in Christ alone, he is eternally saved (John 3:16, 36). Others assert that believers who continually sin can lose their salvation. But since every believer has an irrevocable position “in Christ” (2 Cor. 5:17), neither sin nor evil, not even God Himself, can separate the believer “from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:39). The believer is eternally secure, forever a son and heir of God (Gal. 4:5-7).
Although the believer can never lose his eternal life, he can be in danger of destroying his spiritual life and losing all the blessing that “God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). Without his spiritual life the believer returns to the lifestyle of the unbeliever. He thinks like an unbeliever, acts like an unbeliever, sins like and unbeliever. The Apostle Paul warns all believers of this persistent danger . . . (Eph. 4:17b-18).
I call this lifestyle of emptiness reversionism. Reversionism is the way of life the believer chooses when he turns away from God’s plan, will, and purpose for his life and returns to a former belief, a former viewpoint, a former modus operandi. The reversionist has not lost his salvation but he is under the influence of Satan’s cosmic system (1 Tim. 4:1). By his own volition he involves himself in sin and evil, and suffers the consequences of self-induced misery and divine punishment (Heb. 12:4-15).
In time—more time then I wish to discuss—God, as the merciful Father that He is and by His sure hand of discipline for His erring child, brought me to my knees. From that time until now, He has been graciously bringing me back to a spiritual life pleasing to Him. It is a life now centered on Jesus Christ and on loving Him and others; not because I am required to do so but because as I submit in faith to the Holy Spirit’s power in my life, I want to do so.
Conclusion
The Mosaic Law, along with its myriad stipulations, was given for the primary purpose of demonstrating to man that it is absolutely impossible for man to successfully adhere to and obey it. It was given to man to show him he is undoubtedly a sinner, that he cannot through any legalistic means and self-effort save himself from eternal destruction, and that his eternal destiny is hopeless and horrific unless He turns by faith to Jesus Christ for his personal salvation.
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20)
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more. (Romans 5:20)
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Romans 7:7)
What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed [Jesus Christ] should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. . . . Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:19, 24)
But just as a person cannot obtain unity with Christ (become a Christian) through legalism (adherence to law), it is impossible for a person united with Christ to successfully live a life pleasing to Him through legalism. God never intended for a person to whom salvation is by faith to then achieve sanctification (to ever increase in spiritual growth) by any other means other than by faith.
Yet, just as it is difficult for a person to understand that “works” (legalism) has no part in his salvation experience; once saved, it is just as difficult for him to accept the fact that works/legalism has no place in the Christian life. This is why it actually becomes easier for a new-born Christian to quickly adopt an extensive laundry list of “dos and don’ts” in order to demonstrate his spirituality.
This is not to say that there are very specific sins listed in God’s Word that Christians should be aware of and should always avoid. There are ample scriptures that specifically name certain motivations and behaviors as sin. But it is also tempting for a Christian in his zeal to be holy to add to these well-specified sins numerous other taboos and prohibitions, which he “reasonably” determine as being contrary to righteous living. And in so doing, he runs the risk of becoming so “separate” from the world that He will never be able to reach it with the Gospel message of grace through faith.
Instead of adhering to legalism, God would have the Christian understand and concentrate on the following passages of scripture:
As [by faith] you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so [by faith] walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6, 7)
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13, 14)
Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34, 35)
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2)
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:9)
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. (James 2:8)
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart. (1 Peter 1:22)
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another . . . And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (1 John 3:11, 23)
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away . . . And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13)
Remember that Jesus Christ when in human form upon the earth was accused of being a glutton, a wine drinker and a person who socialized with outcast and unpopular individuals (Matthew 11:18, 19; Luke 7:33, 34). These charges were not made without foundation. Because of this, many who were “religious” had serious doubts regarding His relationship with God and thought of Him as a hypocrite and an evil person.
The primary objective for the Christian is not found in a list of taboos and prohibitions. These will only lead to defeat. It is not that a Christian will have no firm standards of conduct, but these of themselves provide no energizing power to keep them. The Christian life should be focused on glorifying Jesus Christ, pointing others to Him and on loving the brethren. These are the qualities of “walking in Christ.” When one truly submits to God in faith, the Holy Spirit is then free to energize him truly to do that which is pleasing to God. As this becomes the rule in the Christian’s life, he will find that not only will his joy and confidence increase but that he will be ever more productive in leading others to his Savior. |