The Dangers of Legalism
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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.
Martin Luther - the founder of the Reformation Movement.
What is Legalism?
What is Legalism?
Concise Oxford English Dictionary Legalism
legalism
■ noun
1 excessive adherence to the details of law.
2 Theology adherence to moral law rather than personal religious faith.
—DERIVATIVES legalist noun & adjective legalistic adjective legalistically adverb
Guilty if we believe works = salvation
Rules without principles
**stories of people leaving the Apostolic church
The Bible condemns legalism
God is not a God of rules, He’s more interested in the relationship
The rules are not completely abolished
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
conformity to external law never meant anything unless the heart was right (Romans 2:17-29).
**stop on v 27 to expound
17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God
18 and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law,
19 and if you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness,
20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth,
21 you, then, that teach others, will you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?
22 You that forbid adultery, do you commit adultery? You that abhor idols, do you rob temples?
23 You that boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
25 Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26 So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27 Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law.
28 For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical.
29 Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.
The Law was for the purpose of defining sin
To know what is in opposition to God
What does it take to please God
Beginning of a marriage
Don’t know other’s personal likes/dislikes
20 For “no human being will be justified in his sight” by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.
The Law just goes to show us that there is “none good, no not one!”
salvation has always been by faith, not by works. Abraham (before the law) and David (under the law) were saved by faith in God, not by good works or conformity to law
In Acts 15 Peter explained that the Gentiles had already received the HG by their faith
These specific works were no longer neccessary.
Gentiles did not have to obey the law of Moses, except to abstain from food offered to idols, blood, things strangled, and fornication.
Legalism is an insufficient motivation to live for God. It will not bring salvation, nor will it produce holiness.
- David K. Bernard
Self Righteousness of Works Based Salvation
Self Righteousness of Works Based Salvation
Legalism teaches that we’re saved by OUR works instead of God’s grace
The Bible does stress the importance of good works as the inevitable result of saving grace and saving faith (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:11-12; 3:8; James 2:14-26).
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder.
20 Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.
23 Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
FAITH WILL PRODUCE WORKS…WORKS DO NOT PRODUCE FAITH!!!
We live in holiness not to PRODUCE salvation, but because we HAVE salvation
Failure to manifest holiness & good works indicates either failure to receive salvation initially or subsequent rejection of God’s continuing work of salvation.
legalism actually sidesteps grace, faith, and the Spirit. It tries to produce holiness by human efforts alone and to purchase salvation by that human “holiness.”
Fails to Develop an Inward Holiness
Fails to Develop an Inward Holiness
Legalism develops a need for outward holiness
the focus becomes what you look like and less about what your heart is like
When you develop a heart that loves God, it will naturally produce an outward expression of an inward holiness
To some, legalists seem holy, but are found lacking in the eyes of God
Fails to Develop an Understanding of Principles
Fails to Develop an Understanding of Principles
ultimately makes turns to legalism
Under developed sense of conscience
Cannot make mature and informed decisions on their own
Frequently ignore the dangers and grey areas that are outside of their rules
**rule of attending theaters, but will watch the same film at home
The “rule” isn’t being broken, so it must be ok
Legalistic leaders constantly find themselves trying to invent and enforce new rules to cover new situations, because their followers do not know how to apply principles.
“forgive 70x7” rule won’t forgive 491 times
Living by Minimum Requirements & Loopholes
Their attitude is, “What are the minimum requirements of this church, of this pastor, and of salvation itself?”
They have little desire to seek positive holiness, but define holiness in terms of the negative.
looks for loopholes to justify what they want to do
legalists treat Christianity as if it were a collection of rules like the US Tax Code.
Hypocrisy and Inconsistency
no set of rules can ever cover all situations, legalists usually end up doing as they please.
If they cannot satisfy the desires of the flesh in one way, they usually manage to do so in another way. For example, some would never wear a necklace or an earring because of rules against them, but they will satisfy their desire for ornamentation by wearing extremely flashy rings and watches. Some will shun all jewelry but flaunt extravagant, outrageously expensive clothing. Others do not wear lipstick, but think nothing of wearing mascara or blush. They base their conduct only on specific rules of limited application. They are not truly concerned with upholding under all circumstances the biblical teachings against ornamentation, vanity, immodesty, and costly array.
Manmade Rules
Legalism takes human rules and treats them as if they were the Word of God.
Traditions become more important than doctrine
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to Christ.
Taking Things Too Far
Taking Things Too Far
improper alternatives to legalism
Many people who see the dangers of legalism reject it, but in the process they sometimes discard practical holiness altogether.
Frequently what happens is this: one generation discovers a life-changing relationship with God and embraces scriptural holiness. They rearrange their entire lifestyle around the concepts of separation from the world and dedication to God, and they pass this new-found lifestyle to the next generation.
explainations and principles fade and legalism steps in
become pios and cold
liturgical schedules and adherance to guidelines more than to the Spirit and principles
the next generation rebels against the rules - no foundation
Some suppose that we must abandon holiness teaching in order to have revival. However, we should never sacrifice quality in favor of quantity. In fact, the more we emphasize and implement the Word of God the more we will have true, apostolic revival.
A church does not have to be legalistic to emphasize holiness. Nor does a church have to go to the opposite extreme of worldliness in order to grow. A conservative, holiness church can have revival.
most revival churches have a strong sense of holiness on a practical level
A Moral Compass is Still Needed!
A Moral Compass is Still Needed!