In continuing our thoughts on the Pharisees, their intentions, and where they went wrong, we can’t help but touch on the subject of legalism. What does the Bible say about being legalistic, and what does the term really mean? Legalism is defined as the view that good works earn salvation. It is not concerned about believing in a law, obeying God, and adhering to His statutes, but rather legalism about one’s attitude toward that obedience. Legalism concerns the heart.
Law-Abiding Versus Legalism
The Bible does teach that we should believe in God’s law and the importance thereof. Romans 3:25-27 speaks of a law of faith under which New Testament Christians live, and chapter 8:1-2 of the same book also refers to the “law of the Spirit of life.” I Corinthians 9:20-21 has Paul writing that he is under law to Christ, and Hebrews 8:10 reveals that God’s law should be written upon our hearts. Finally, James 2:12 says we are judged by a law of liberty. There is no question in the minds of the New Testament writers that God has a law, and it is not legalistic to believe in the rule of that law.
Furthermore, it is not legalistic to adhere to that law. Matthew 7:21 records Jesus saying that one must obey the Father to please Him. Hebrews 5:7-8 makes reference to Christ Himself being obedient to the Father’s will, saving those who obey Him. James 1:25 calls on us to look into the perfect law of God and then actually obey it.
In John 12:42, Jesus is among people scared to confess belief in Christ, and, in verse 48, He says that His words will judge those who reject Him. II John 9 claims that whoever does not abide in Christ’s teachings does not have God. II Thessalonians 1:7-8 contains perhaps the most severe warning: “…inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” It is not enough to simply acknowledge God. He has a law that must be followed, and it is not legalistic to believe disobedience will separate us from Him.
Legalism Versus Humble Obedience
Legalism is believing that man can be saved apart from God’s grace. The first ten verses of Ephesians 2 addresses the helpless nature from which God saved us, being dead in trespasses, and having been saved through grace. That salvation cannot come from ourselves. It is from God. Romans 3:23-24 reinforce this, that we are all helpless before God and that we are saved by grace through the propitiation of our Lord Christ. He is our mercy seat. To believe we can be saved through anything but God’s kindness, love, and mercy, runs contrary to God’s word.
While we must be obedient servants, we cannot earn salvation through that obedience. We obey because of hope and salvation in Christ. Romans 5:76-11 reminds us of how undeserving we are of Christ’s sacrifice and salvation in Him. While we were enemies, God reconciled us to Him, and nothing we can do could bridge that gap of ourselves. Luke 17:7-10 reminds us that a servant’s work is never done and to view our service to God as no more that that which we should do because of our role as servants. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:4-5 remind us that obedience is nothing to glory in, for our service is a response to mercy. Obedience is not about being deserving; it is a grateful response to grace.
Harmonizing Law and Grace
We cannot believe we earn our salvation. We cannot remove grace and mercy from our salvation. All pride is erased, for our good works do not come from ourselves, but they come from the will of God, works for humble servants to gratefully perform. Luke 18:9-14 tells the story of two supplicants before God. Both believe in God’s law and believe it must be obeyed. The difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector is one of attitude. The Pharisee feels God should favor him because of his meritorious works. The tax collector submits humbly.
This then is how we harmonize law and grace. The proper response to law is obedience. The proper response to grace is faith and trust. His law and His grace are inseparable. John 1:17 tells us grace and truth both come from Christ. Acts 14:3 records Paul and Barnabas preaching a law of grace, and chapter 20:24 of the same book quotes Paul speaking of “the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” We are saved by grace, and we must be obedient to His word, trusting wholly in Him and sacrificing all reliance on self in that obedience and in accepting His grace.
lesson by Tim Smelser
Law-Abiding Versus Legalism
The Bible does teach that we should believe in God’s law and the importance thereof. Romans 3:25-27 speaks of a law of faith under which New Testament Christians live, and chapter 8:1-2 of the same book also refers to the “law of the Spirit of life.” I Corinthians 9:20-21 has Paul writing that he is under law to Christ, and Hebrews 8:10 reveals that God’s law should be written upon our hearts. Finally, James 2:12 says we are judged by a law of liberty. There is no question in the minds of the New Testament writers that God has a law, and it is not legalistic to believe in the rule of that law.
Furthermore, it is not legalistic to adhere to that law. Matthew 7:21 records Jesus saying that one must obey the Father to please Him. Hebrews 5:7-8 makes reference to Christ Himself being obedient to the Father’s will, saving those who obey Him. James 1:25 calls on us to look into the perfect law of God and then actually obey it.
In John 12:42, Jesus is among people scared to confess belief in Christ, and, in verse 48, He says that His words will judge those who reject Him. II John 9 claims that whoever does not abide in Christ’s teachings does not have God. II Thessalonians 1:7-8 contains perhaps the most severe warning: “…inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” It is not enough to simply acknowledge God. He has a law that must be followed, and it is not legalistic to believe disobedience will separate us from Him.
Legalism Versus Humble Obedience
Legalism is believing that man can be saved apart from God’s grace. The first ten verses of Ephesians 2 addresses the helpless nature from which God saved us, being dead in trespasses, and having been saved through grace. That salvation cannot come from ourselves. It is from God. Romans 3:23-24 reinforce this, that we are all helpless before God and that we are saved by grace through the propitiation of our Lord Christ. He is our mercy seat. To believe we can be saved through anything but God’s kindness, love, and mercy, runs contrary to God’s word.
While we must be obedient servants, we cannot earn salvation through that obedience. We obey because of hope and salvation in Christ. Romans 5:76-11 reminds us of how undeserving we are of Christ’s sacrifice and salvation in Him. While we were enemies, God reconciled us to Him, and nothing we can do could bridge that gap of ourselves. Luke 17:7-10 reminds us that a servant’s work is never done and to view our service to God as no more that that which we should do because of our role as servants. Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:4-5 remind us that obedience is nothing to glory in, for our service is a response to mercy. Obedience is not about being deserving; it is a grateful response to grace.
Harmonizing Law and Grace
We cannot believe we earn our salvation. We cannot remove grace and mercy from our salvation. All pride is erased, for our good works do not come from ourselves, but they come from the will of God, works for humble servants to gratefully perform. Luke 18:9-14 tells the story of two supplicants before God. Both believe in God’s law and believe it must be obeyed. The difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector is one of attitude. The Pharisee feels God should favor him because of his meritorious works. The tax collector submits humbly.
This then is how we harmonize law and grace. The proper response to law is obedience. The proper response to grace is faith and trust. His law and His grace are inseparable. John 1:17 tells us grace and truth both come from Christ. Acts 14:3 records Paul and Barnabas preaching a law of grace, and chapter 20:24 of the same book quotes Paul speaking of “the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” We are saved by grace, and we must be obedient to His word, trusting wholly in Him and sacrificing all reliance on self in that obedience and in accepting His grace.
lesson by Tim Smelser
