In my previous post, With a little help from my friends, I asked several friends of mine (involved in various aspects of ministry) if they could define legalism. I summarized their definitions this way: Legalism is...
+ the belief that one can be right with God by the works of the Old Testament Law of Moses
+ this is easily expanded to include trying to be right with God following any set of rules or laws
+ these rules, obligations, or laws are (usually) extra-biblical and man made
+ an external or outward righteousness, with an emphasis on doing the right things a certain way
And I concluded, “Legalism is not about intentional and determined effort to live a life pleasing to God, rather it is the belief that one is saved or made right with God by keeping rules or laws, that salvation is by what I do, and do the right way, rather than by the grace of God.”
Do we find this anywhere in the New Testament?
Oh yes! Robust, full-blooded legalism can easily be found in the New Testament.
First, in the Jewish community and culture, especially in the leaders: Pharisees, Sadducees, chief priests, high priest, and synagogue rulers. My next post will focus on the Lord and his interaction with these people, but in Matthew 26 we read of a nearly unbelievable incident which illustrates the legalism of the Jewish leaders:
3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him].
5 But they said, Not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar among the people.
These men were very concerned about observing the Passover, while at the same time they were planning to have Jesus murdered! It seems obvious that their observance of Passover was merely an external rite – the right thing, at the right time, done the right way. In addition, we can see that legalism hardens the heart so that you can be concerned about doing the right thing the right way and still plan to kill somebody in cold blood. Admittedly, the word legalism does not occur, but surely this is a perfectly clear illustration of legalism.
This reminds me of a very sad testimony I recently came across: There was a man, a dad, who was active in his church, very public with his faith and service, well thought of by the people in that church, but who all the while was abusing his daughter. This is disgusting, makes one very angry with the father, and breaks your heart for the daughter. This is legalism - he was doing all the right things, in the right way, at the right time, but it was purely external. And his heart was hardened to enable him to commit such heinous acts.
Second, there were the people we now refer to as Judaizers who we encounter in Acts, Galatians, Colossians, and Philippians. What did these Judaizers preach and teach? Their message was Gentile believers in Christ needed to be circumcised, keep the sabbath, observe the dietary laws and feasts in order to be saved.
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
This is what I meant by robust and full-blooded. This was an all-out assault on the Gospel and a very trying time for the early church. The future of the church and the salvation of the Gentiles hung in the balance.
In Acts 15 the apostles and elders came together to discuss this matter. This is the first church council. These men came to Antioch and started teaching this. Paul and Barnabas began contending with them, so the church sent them to the apostles in Jerusalem. After much discussion Peter, who was the first apostle to lead Gentiles to Christ, said, God put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith and We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. James concluded, Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.
It is robust, full-blooded legalism we encounter in the New Testament - the belief that we are made right with God by keeping (at least certain parts of) the Law. The apostles were clear, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ. But this notion easily morphs into the idea that we can be made right with God by observing external religious acts, going to church, giving money in the offering, wearing the right clothes, y'know, Doing the right things, the right way, at the right time. Peter's words apply here as well, We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The Lord Jesus tackles
legalism
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