So What is Legalism?

[dhchristian]

If you notice, wherever the Grace of God is preached the Legalist will often follow. Why Is that? This is a well written article on this very topic, from Bible.org. I will quote some snippets for you as the title is based on that.

So what is legalism? The heart of legalism is an attitude of pride. The legalist prides himself for keeping certain standards and judges others who do not keep those standards. The legalist thinks that he is made acceptable to God, either for salvation or spirituality, by his conformity to certain rules that he picks and chooses. Invariably, those rules are not things like loving the Lord with all your heart or loving your neighbor as yourself. Rather, the legalist picks rules that he is able to keep and conveniently neglects or ignores the things he is not able to keep. The legalist often focuses on external conformity while neglecting the heart righteousness God requires (Matt. 23:23-28). Dr. Charles Ryrie (Balancing the Christian Life [Moody Press], p. 159) defines legalism as “a fleshly attitude which conforms to a code for the purpose of exalting self.”

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1. Christians must reject legalism as a way of Christian living.

I use the word “reject” because we need to see legalism for what it is: an aggressive evil which must be resisted. Legalists are not content to live as they see fit and leave others alone. They are recruiters who seek to bring everyone under their system of bondage (Matt. 23:15). Legalism is a subtle tool of Satan, because on the surface it seems to promote holiness. But it’s based on the flesh; it leads people away from vital dependence on Christ into a system of pride and judging others which destroys the church.

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A. Holding fast to Christ as head means not being enamored with things other than Christ.

These false teachers were caught up with the shadow, but they were ignoring the reality! They were into all sorts of rules, but they weren’t into Christ. It would be like admiring some famous person, but when you met him, instead of looking at him, you fell down on the sidewalk and said, “Oh, look at this shadow!” That’s what these false teachers were doing. They were so caught up with the ceremonial aspects of the law that they missed the One to whom those ceremonies and laws pointed! They were hugging His shadow, but missing Christ Himself!

But before we laugh at them, we need to recognize how easy it is to do the same thing. Our number one priority should be to worship God. And yet it’s easy to slip into being worship-centered rather than God-centered. We hug the shadow of various styles of worship and forget that we’re supposed to be exalting the Head of the church, who gave Himself for us on the cross. Or, I’ve seen Christians who get caught up with Bible knowledge, which is a good thing if used properly. But they get puffed up with pride over being right or understanding truths that others don’t get. So they use the Scriptures to exalt themselves, but they’ve forgotten that the Scriptures exalt Jesus (John 5:39; Luke 24:27, 44). They’re hugging the shadow, but not holding fast to the head!

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https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-reject-legalism-hold-christ-colossians-216-19

Pride, Judging people, Gossip, Lording over people, these are all symptoms of the legalistic at work. They bring divisiveness, controversy, Belittling and condemnations to the church. They Pick and choose which laws they can follow and use them to make a public show of themselves and their superiority all the while looking down on others from their podium of Pride. One Article I researched called them a cancer in the church, another showed how they can turn a vibrant church into a cult worshipping a man as opposed to exalting Christ Jesus and the cross. Much of modern Churchianity is based on man exaltation, and has led to all sorts of factions in the church. Denominationalism is largely based on this. What we need most in the church today is the attitude of John the Baptist, I, we, me, must decrease, and Christ Jesus must increase, as He is our all and all. Hold Fast to the Head, which is Christ Jesus. Let us not fall into the bondage of legalism. Jesus Christ is the antidote to legalism. 

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

How does Legalism manifest itself here at Worthy? What form does it take? Can a Legalist be Saved ? Anybody care to take a stab at these questions?  

[Neighbor]

Legalism is the term an  opinionated person uses when they do not want to allow for any differences in understanding from their own.  All discourse contrary to their own becomes disparaged as  being legalism.  

[Tigger56]

Many would say that a legalist is someone who observes the law of God. If that is the case then Jesus Christ was the greatest legalist of all time.

[Neighbor]

18 minutes ago, Tigger56 said:

someone who observes the law of God

I observe the laws of God by His grace and mercy alone, making me a legalist. Thank you LORD.

The Lord of my shame has me covered in all my failings, by His grace and mercy alone I am more than  forgiven I am  pardoned. Praise Jesus.

[Tigger56]

26 minutes ago, maryjayne said:

Nope. Not ever heard that term on here used in such a way. 

I have heard it used towards those who tell us we have to be under laws which Jesus fulfilled.

Who are these "many" of whom you speak? You appear to be implying that they are no following Jesus Christ properly, and are thus unsaved.

Please define "fulfilled".  I'm glad you said, "appear" and "implying".  I simply said... Many would say that a legalist is someone who observes the law of God. If that is the case then Jesus Christ was the greatest legalist of all time.  Just a simple statement. You can agree of not. 

[dhchristian]

4 hours ago, Neighbor said:

Legalism is the term an  opinionated person uses when they do not want to allow for any differences in understanding from their own.  All discourse contrary to their own becomes disparaged as  being legalism.

I Like the definition given above. The Key being the exaltation of self.

12 hours ago, dhchristian said:

“a fleshly attitude which conforms to a code for the purpose of exalting self.”

Legalism can be as simple as looking down on others for the music they listen to or the clothes they wear to church. For example, I love the Old hymns of the church, I grew up with that, My Mom used to sing them in the home all the time, But I am not going to look down on someone who likes contemporary Christian music and singing that in the churches. By the same token I understand there is something more Holy about those Old Hymns than their is about worldly music in the churches. The More contemporary Christian music has its place in outreach, but not in worship, IMO. One reaches out to man the other to God. 

[Alive]

A legalist is one who would try to bring believers under the bondage of 'law' and thus abandon 'Grace and Truth'.

There are few things more clear throughout scripture.

The Galatians were so being accosted by that spirit of bondage. By that 'religious spirit'. This spirit can sound very slick and smooth and draw away those that aren't well grounded. That spirit will speak with persuasive words and quote many scriptures out of context and seek to pollute minds.

Gal. 1:6   I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting ^aHim who called you ¹by the grace of Christ, for a ^bdifferent gospel; ⁷ which is really not another; only there are some who are ^adisturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. ⁸ But even if we, or ^aan angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel ¹contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be ^2baccursed! ⁹ As we ^ahave said before, so I say again now, ^bif any man is preaching to you a gospel ¹contrary to what you received, he is to be ^2caccursed!

[dhchristian]

20 minutes ago, Tigger56 said:

Many would say that a legalist is someone who observes the law of God. If that is the case then Jesus Christ was the greatest legalist of all time.

Jesus was accused by the legalists of His day for healing on the sabbath and being a "wine Bibber".  He Obeyed the Spirit of the Law. 

[Tigger56]

17 hours ago, dhchristian said:

Jesus was accused by the legalists of His day for healing on the sabbath and being a "wine Bibber".  He Obeyed the Spirit of the Law. 

Jesus obeyed the spirit and the letter of the law, but ignored the added laws and traditions that the Pharasees placed upon the Sabbath as well as upon their fellow man. They judged the Lord not based upon the law of God but upon their own laws and traditions. Note that they condemned John the Baptist for not drinking and condemned the Lord for drinking. Also as a side note they called Jesus a wine bibber because he enjoyed wine (me too) not grape juice.

 

17 hours ago, dhchristian said:

Jesus was accused by the legalists of His day for healing on the sabbath and being a "wine Bibber".  He Obeyed the Spirit of the Law.