LEGALISM

(From Steve Wallace and reworked by David Riggs)


Intro.
   A. These days, we are hearing more and more the terms "legalism"
      and "legalist" in religious circles.
      1. They are used as derogatory terms.
      2. Supposedly, to be a "legalist" is something very bad.
   B. Legalism defined:
      1. "1. of, based upon, or authorized by law. 2. in conformity
         with the positive rules of law; permitted by law; as, a legal
         act." (Webster)
      2. "Scripture is full of judicial terms such as righteousness,
         transgression, judge, judgment, covenant, condemnation.
         They define the relationship between God and man as
         essentially one of Ruler and ruled, King and subject, hence,
         the importance of the concept of law." (Bakers' Dictionary of
         Theology)
      3. "...In a wider sense it is applied to the views of fanatics  
         who refuse to recognize any law but their own subjective     
         ideas which they usually claim are from the Holy Spirit."    
         (Baker's Dictionary of Theology)

I. THOSE WHO SEEK SALVATION BY WORKS ALONE ARE LEGALISTS. 
   A. It was a common problem among the Jews.
      1. They sought salvation on the basis of law-keeping (works
         only).
         a. Paul worked to correct this problem. Rom. 9:30-31
      2. No one achieved keeping the law perfectly. Gal. 3:10-12;
         Heb. 10:1-4
   B. It is in Roman Catholicism.
      1. Do penance for sin, pay money, make pilgrimages, prayer,
         fastings, do good works.
         a. These were works of merit that men had devised.
      2. Martin Luther renounced this in the reformation. He went to
         the opposite extreme of "faith only," i.e., man can do
         nothing to be saved.
   C. It is in Calvinism.
      1. One tenant of Calvinism is imputed righteousness. It says
         that Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to believers  
         so that God does not see their sins.
      2. In explaining why Christ's righteousness was imputed,
         Calvin reasoned from the standpoint of legalism. He said
         that we obtained righteousness through Christ's perfect
         obedience; i.e., through His perfect law-keeping.
      3. It is true that Christ kept the Law perfectly, but one is not
         made righteous because of that. 
         a. He is made righteous through the perfect sacrifice of
            Christ when he, through obedience, receives the
            benefits of that sacrifice.
         b. 1 John 3:7

II. "LEGALISM" IS THE DISPOSITION TO MAKE LAWS WHERE GOD HAS MADE     
   NONE, OR BINDING WHERE GOD HAS NOT BOUND.
   A. The Pharisees were the perfect example. Matt. 15:1-20
      1. First, Jesus rebukes them for their traditions. Vs. 8-9
      2. Secondly, He showed external things do not defile a person.
         Vs. 10-11
      3. Still, the disciples did not understand; and Jesus explains  
         it more fully. Vs. 15-20
   B. Those who bind traditions and/or their own convictions become
      legalists.
      1. Gal. 4:10-11; Rom. 14:6
      2. Examples: Carnal warfare;  one cup when taking the Lord's
         Supper; a church cannot use Bible classes in seeking to
         teach the Bible.
   C. Some think that requiring works (laws) is being like a Pharisee.
      They think they have passages to back them up.
      1. Eph. 2:8-9 - They say, "Salvation is not of works."
         a. We must ask, "What kind of works are being
            considered here?"
         b. The context shows that the source or origin of salvation
            is from the grace of God, not from the works of men.
            (1) It is "not of yourselves" (vs. 8); it is not from
                works that man can boast of (vs. 9).
      2. Rom. 4:1-5
         a. If one were able to work perfectly (relying on works
            alone), salvation would be owed to him as a debt.
            (1) But the one who does not work perfectly (does not
                rely on works alone), his faith is accounted for
                righteousness.
            (2) Rom. 4:1-5 does not means that Abraham did no
                works at all to be justified because Heb. 11:8 says,
                "By faith Abraham obeyed..."

III. IS STRICT ADHERENCE TO GOD'S LAW LEGALISM?
   A. Strict adherence to God's law is taught in both Testaments.     
      Eccl. 12:13-14; Ps 119:30-35; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 6:2; 1 John     
      2:3-5
      1. We all must be "legalists" in the sense of strict adherence  
         to God's law.
   B. People often ask, "How strict must I be?" In other words, they
      don't want to be too strict lest they be "legalists."
      1. Sometimes with man's laws, one is not too strict; e.g., even
         though the speed limit is 45, most will drive about 50.
         a. The speed-check-out counter says, "20 items or less."
            Can I get through with 21 items?
      2. People reason the same way regarding God's laws:
         a. "To steal something big is wrong, but to steal a very
            small thing is not bad." "To tell a little lie is not bad;
            everyone does it."
         b. "To miss services on Wed. nights or Sun. nights is all
            right."
         c. Our denominational friends reason the same way
            regarding truth: "It is not important to follow every     
            little detail in God's word, after all, we don't want to  
            be to picky."
            (1) With this attitude, after several years, what they are
                doing doesn't remotely resemble what God
                ordained.
      3. When we transgress God's law, we sin. 1 John 5:3
         a. God does not think and operate like man. Isa. 55:8-9
         b. All transgression and disobedience will be punished.
            Heb. 2:2-3; 10:28-29
         c. If we do not abide in the doctrine, we don't have God. 2
            John 9; Gal. 1:6-9
      4. THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN, By Frank Dunn in a
         Bulletin entitled, Good News: "A customer shopping in a
         store came to an item that was marked 98 cents. Thinking
         the price too high, he wrote 49 cents. The customer did this
         to several articles. At last, he came down before the checker
         with the cart filled with marked down items. The checker
         began to check. Noticing the changed prices he remarked:
         "I'm sorry we priced these items too high for you, and hope
         the price you marked suits you, for it suits us perfectly    
         too."
         "Certainly, this is absurd, but thousands of people will     
         stand before the Lord Jesus on the other side of life with a
         life-long list of marked down activities. Instead of faithful
         attendance, they will bring before Him irregular attendance.
         Instead of liberal giving, they will bring before Him giving
         that was sparing. Instead of complete obedience, they will
         bring partial obedience. Do you think that our Lord will say,
         "I'm sorry that I made the requirements too high for you.
         Pass on through -- heaven is yours"???

Concl.
   A. Are we "legalists?" We ought to be in the sense of obeying God.
      John 15:14
   B. When people oppose the law of the Lord, where does that leave
      them? 1 Pet. 4:17-18
      1. Apart from obedience to the gospel, there is no promise of
         forgiveness.
      2. In effect, the sinner who hasn't obeyed the Lord is depending
         on his own personal works or moral goodness to save
         himself.
      3. Actually, he is a legalist in the sense of making his own
         laws.
   C. God's laws must be obeyed.
      1. Baptism in water for the remission of sins is one of those
         commands. Acts 10:48
      2. Have you obeyed the gospel?