Legalism

One topic I hear, too often, being thrown around in the church is "legalism." Sometimes, it is called "religion" or referred to as a "works mentality." This old concept has taken on a new meaning among American church goers. But, what is it? Well, here lies the problem. Semantics. Most people's definition of this word is not accurate and many of those people fail to see the context in which Paul spoke out against legalism (a term that is not in the Bible, but a concept the Apostle Paul alluded to often in his letters to the churches - mainly, to the Jews).

Real definition: The idea or belief that strict adherence to a set of laws or rules, abstaining from or performing works, in order to obtain justification or salvation.

Sadly, by way of the flesh, the enemy has perverted this definition in the hearts of many. Legalism has been placed in an arena to combat freedom. The problem is that most people would agree on the definition of the term, yet their interpretation and the attitudes of their lives demonstrate an extremism that is slowly destroying the 'church.'

We are supposed to be made "free in Christ" and we are no longer "under the law." I guess the reason most people don't really know what legalism is, is because they don't know what it really means to be free. We love to quote Paul saying, "everything is permissible." But, not the part that says, "but not everything is beneficial." We like to quote that "you have been set free from the law of sin and death," but we leave out the part that says we have been made free by "the LAW of the spirit of life." We assume because the Greek word for 'free' means to come and go, that we have been set free to choose because without choices, we really wouldn't be free. This is philosophy. That line of thinking is not based on divinity, but on humanity.

Freedom, true freedom, in Christ is an escape from the chains of the flesh. Our wickedness no longer dictates our behavior and our actions are no longer governed by the esteem of 'self.' This does not mean that we no longer sin or that temptation no longer exists for us. It does mean that we now have authority to overcome temptation and the desires of the flesh.

But we can't stop here. We are made free from that law and are now subjected to the law of the Spirit of life. No, not for justification or salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith, and there is no work which can attain or lose it. It is not for salvation that we labor, but for God's glory. We must be attentive to the "good works prepared in advance" for us to do. We act and abstain, but not because it earns us salvation, but because it gives God glory and increases our heavenly riches.

Two things we need to realize: 1. Obedience is the evidence of our election. 2. Our goals should be eternal, not temporal. These two concepts are vital to every Christian. We have to get to a point where we daily "examine [ourselves] to see that we are in the faith." Are we obedient to scripture? Am I working toward a reward that is instant and earthly, or am I working toward eternal rewards and "storing up treasures in heaven?"

Obedience is a central topic all through scripture, so why are we so apt to wash it away as a suggestion? The most quoted scriptures from the gospels pertaining to the words of Christ are snip-its, cut and pasted, without the 'hard teachings' attached to them. Read John, chapter 3, and see that several verses around "For God so loved the world..." deal with obedience and God's wrath. Jesus said over and over again in the New Testament "if you obey," "those who obey," "my sheep hear my voice and listen to me." Obedience to scripture is not a suggestion, and no, it is not a means for salvation. But, obedience is a requirement of the Christian walk as the evidence of the new covenant we have with God.

Part of that new covenant is God's providence for His glory and our benefit. Our benefits and rewards, however, are not of this world but are eternal, as God is eternal and as we have been made eternal. "The willing and the obedient shall inherit the fat of the land." This is not temporal, earthly, inheritance. This is eternal treasures in the heavenly places where we will dwell with the most high. Scripture is clear that we labor, not for earthly satisfaction, but for heavenly reward. This brings glory and honor to God, which is the priority of our purpose.

We were made to be satisfied in Christ. We were made so that Christ could be exalted. It was determined before the earth was created that Christ would die on a cross. All of creation exist to glorify God and to bow to his will and plan. Hebrews says that "though he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." How dare we believe we are above the necessity of obedience when Christ himself was subjected to learning obedience through his suffering. "No servant can be greater than his master." Legalism is a whisper of a lie from the pit of hell sent to deceive believers into thinking that we are made to be free creatures, to 'come and go' as we please without regard to the cross. We are not free. And thank God we are not! We are freed from death, but now, as the Apostle Paul says, are slaves to righteousness. What joy we find in God's sovereignty and his providence! As David sang, "I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.." May we be grateful for His grace and honor him with our obedience, and in such be fully satisfied to obey!