Legalism Part 1
IIntroduction
A “Legalism” is a word which is used today to describe many Christians who believe in Biblical Inspiration and guide their actions only by the Authority of the Bible.
1The word “legalism” or “legalist” is found nowhere in scripture.
BThe American Heritage Dictionary defines “legalism” as, “Strict, literal adherence to law.”
COther terms: Fundamentalist, extremist, fanatic, ultra-conservative, narrow minded, & Phariseeism.
1Hearing these terms, you might think if someone called you a legalist, it is a condemnation.
aOften these terms come from someone in a religious body or the Church.
bThe question is why?
IIThe Bible is a collection of the Words God gave to mankind.
ANo Prophet, not Christ, not the Apostles, claimed these words to originate from them.
1So using God’s Words, let’s see where condemnation for legalism - “Strict, literal adherence to the Law” comes from:
aOld Testament Scripture: Ex. 19:5, Duet. 11:27-28, 13:4-5, I Sam. 12:14-15, Job. 36:11-12, Zec 6:15
bNew Testament Scripture: Mat. 28:18-20, John 8:31-32, Acts 5:29, 10:33, Rom. 6:16, Gal. 1:10, 2 Thess. 1:7-9, Rev. 22:14
2It appears in both Old and New Testament, God desires “Strict, literal adherence to the Law”.
B“But some hold to God’s Word excessively in their life!”
1Is this possible?
2What is the relationship to God’s Word supposed to be?
aDuet. 6:4-9 -
bMatt. 4:4 - Jesus said, "It is written, man shall live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
cJohn 14:15 – “If you love me keep my commandments”
dRom 10:8 - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
e1 Cor. 11:2 - Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
f2 Ti 1:13 - Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
gRev. 22:18-19
3God wants our heart, soul, and mind.
aHow can we grab onto His Word excessively?
bIt is simply impossible.
cIf he wants all, and we give all, how is this wrong?
IIIThe Dictionary.com expanded definition of Legalism
ADictionary.com (Random House Dictionary) defines “Legalism” as strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription,esp.to the letter rather than the spirit.
1The last portion of the definition is without a doubt a religious interpretation
2It is taken from a few of passages in the Bible
a2 Cor. 3:5-6
bRomans 2:28-29
cRomans 7:6
3The religious interpretation from dictionary.com is that letter means “God’s Words” and spirit means “God’s intent”.
aIn other words, God commanded something, but that’s really not what He meant.
4Let’s look at the passages that supposedly teach this.
B2 Corinthians 3:5-6– Paul’s Words to the Corinthians.
1“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God”
aPaul establishes that the apostles are only of note because of God.
2“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament;
aAct 5:42 - And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
bThe apostles taught the world the new covenant of Christ
Gal 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ..
3“not of the letter”
aThe Letter is the Law of Moses
bThe apostles were not ministers of the law of Moses.
4, but of the spirit:
aThe term spirit here is used synonymously for the New Covenant in Christ.
5for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
aRom 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Freedom comes from the New Covenant
Only Death came from the Old Covenant – It was a ministering that killed.
6Consider the verses following 5-6 if you are uncertain about the terms: letter and spirit.
a2 Co 3:7-9 - But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnationbe glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
bThe terms letter, ministration of death, ministration of condemnation are the law of Moses.
cThe terms spirit, ministration of the spirit, and ministration of righteousness are the law of Christ.
7To interpret letter and Spirit in a way in this passage, as to suggest God doesn’t mean what he says is as Guy N. Woods says is “dangerous, doctrinal Heresy”.
CRom 2:28-29 - For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
1Now that we understand Paul’s use of Spirit and Letter from his own definition, this is easy.
aA true follower of God was one in heart and by the spirit, that is the new covenant, Truth.
bThe outward circumcision required in the law of Moses, did not make one a follower of God.
2This passage has nothing to do with giving people the freedom to ignore the law of Christ.
DRom 7:6 - But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter..
1Letter - The law of Moses held us in death, and we are now delivered from it.
2Spirit – Our service is under the New Covenant of Christ, not the law of Moses.
IVClosing
AAnti-Legalists – Those who do not believe in following“Strict, literal adherence to law.”
1Condemn those Christians who use the Bible as the Perfect, Inspired, Guide for their life.
2God’s Word tells man to that He is to be obedient to all He has said.
3That Relationship cannot be overdone, as it requires we are “to live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
BSome have tried to teach the Bible does teach God doesn’t mean what he says
1They go to 2 Corinthians and Romans and misuse the scriptures.
aUnder their definition, letter becomes a term for all of God’s law.
bUnder their definition, spirit becomes a term for God’s intent.
2In reality, the terms are not as the Anti-legalists would have them.
aPaul’s given definition for letter is the Law of Moses.
bHis given definition for spirit is the Law of Christ, the new covenant.
3Thus, the writings of Paul do not encourage in any form, not holding to the precise command of the Law of Christ.
4If Christians are Legalists, according to the Scriptures, they are pleasing to God.
CThere is Much More to Examine Regarding the Term Legalism and the Christian.
1In future lessons we will examine:
aOther twists to the meaning of the term legalism.
bPhariseeism
cWhether or not the Church of Christ practices Salvation by Works.
dSituational Ethics
eThe Relationship between Grace, Freedom, and Bondage.