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University church of Christ

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Legalism

by Keith Sharp

A few years ago a friend of mine who happened to be a college teacher and preacher for the Assemblies of God described me as "legalistic." After that another preacher, a member of the church of Christ, charged in print that I was a "legalist." Still later a young man who had studied with me while he was in the Army in New York returned home to California. The preacher in his home congregation informed him I was a "legalist." Do you get the idea that some folks think I am legalistic?

At this point you may be wondering what a legalist is. Don't bother to look in your Bible. The words "legalism," "legalist," and "legalistic" are nowhere to be found in Scripture.

You could do what I did. I looked up the words in my dictionary. I found that "legalism" means:

"the principles and practices characterizing the theological doctrine of strict conformity to a code of deeds and observances (as the Mosaic law) as a means of justification." (Webster's Third New International Dictionary [unabridged]. 2:1290)

Should we be legalistic? Let's just ask a few questions that pertain to this issue and let the Scriptures answer them.

Are We under Divine Law?

"So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty." (James 2:12)

Does this Mean We Are under
the Law of Moses, the Old Testament?

"But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter." (Romans 7:6)

How Do You Know this is
Talking about the Law of Moses?

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.' But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith'..... Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, but as of one, 'And to your Seed,' who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect." (Galatians 4:10-11,16- 17)

The Law of Moses was given from Mt. Sinai 430 years after God promised Abraham that all families of the earth would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 15:12; Exodus 12:40-41).

Are We to Keep Religious Laws and Creeds
Written by Uninspired Men?

"Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you." (Galatians 2:3-5)

Should We Let People Bind Human Traditions
on Us as Religious Law?

"He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.'" (Mark 7:9)

What about the Law of Christ? Are We under It?

"... not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ...." (I Corinthians 9:21)

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)

Do We Have to Obey the Law of Christ to Be Saved?

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8-9)

"But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:25)

How Much of the Law of Christ
Do We Have to Obey?

"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20)

"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

Does this Mean We Earn Our Salvation?

"'So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, "We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do."' (Luke 17:10)

Now, friends, should we be legalists? If you mean should we keep the law of Moses or follow human creeds or traditions, or can we earn our salvation, the answer is resoundingly "No!" If you mean are we under divine law, the law of Christ, that we must keep it, in fact all of it, to be saved, the answer is emphatically "Yes!"

Don't worry about people calling you derisive names. Just obey Jesus in all things.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21)

Other Articles
Legalism -- The Un-Sin
Accepting Christ
A People of Refuge

 

Should we call others in denominations "our brothers in Christ" and "believers" regardless of their view and of their practice of water baptism? Should we extend fellowship to the denominations?
Click Here to Read and Hear More About this Question

 

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