What Is Legalism?

Legalism is a term which does not occur in the Bible. But the concept is clearly there. In fact, the Bible uses a term which equal to legalism. That term, as we saw in Chapter 1, is "under the law."

But let’s take a closer look at legalism. How is it often practiced? And how do we get set free from it?

What Legalism Is and Isn’t

First of all, legalism is NOT "law." Neither is legalism "works." Legalism isn’t even "works which follow the law." None of those things are legalism, or being "under the law."

Legalism is simply this: USING works -- USING law-keeping of any kind -- to establish or maintain my own righteousness before God.

Now we must get that distinction. It isn’t that I keep laws. A Christian is certainly going to keep God’s moral law. And it isn’t that I do good works. A Christian will do many good works. But I am living "under the law" when I use my obedience, performance, actions, or even attitudes, as a means of making myself righteous – or so I think -- before God.

What we see here is a deception. If I am walking in legalism, I THINK I am keeping myself right with God by my works or by my spiritual accomplishments. But I am NOT. Why? Because If I am in Christ, I am already right with God because of Christ. Thus, I am living a lie to walk otherwise. I am trying to do what for myself what Jesus has already done.

That is why Paul is able to tell the Galatians:

Christ has become of "no effect" for them because they are not relying upon Him. They are relying upon themselves – their works.

Now notice something here: Paul is writing to SAVED people. He is writing to those who, as we saw in the last chapter, had become, "removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:6-7)  He is asking them, "This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Gal. 3:2-3)

The Galatians were Christian people. Paul never questions that. But having been saved "by grace through faith," they had become deceived by false teaching, and had come back "under the law." They were trying to keep themselves in the grace of God by their works. Thus, the means of God’s grace – Jesus Christ – had become of "no effect" to them.

An Issue of Faith

The Galatian church did not have a "works problem." We don’t find Paul correcting them on all kinds of immorality or sin, as he does the Corinthian church. No. They were probably doing as many good works as any other church. But they were having a FAITH problem. Instead of keeping their faith in Christ, they had begun putting their faith in their own works.

Herein we find another way of describing legalism: Putting my faith in my works. Basing my confidence before God on what I do, or don’t do. Thinking that my performance is what God looks at in order to determine His love and grace for me.

The subtle thing about this – and we need to see this clearly – is that to the casual observer, a person who is walking in legalism may seem to be the most wonderful Christian ever! Sure. They do LOTS of good works. And they can usually show you right in the Bible where God SAYS to do them. But – and this cannot be overemphasized – where is their FAITH? That is the question. Indeed, that is the ONLY question.

The incredible Truth is, there are many people who do good works because they DON’T BELIEVE. That’s right. They do not have their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. But they do need SOMETHING to put their trust in. So they do good works. This makes them certain God loves them. But THAT is where their faith is: It is in what they are doing.

God wants us to do good works BECAUSE WE BELIEVE. And if we believe, we will do them. But in that case, we won’t be doing good works in order to make ourselves righteous. We’ll do them because we are righteous. We won’t do good works to get God to love us. We’ll do them because we know we are loved.

Legalism is clearly as issue of faith. Having been saved by grace through faith in Christ, am I to live IN CHRIST by placing my faith in myself? If my works could not save me, can they keep me right with God? Nonsense.

Two Effects of Legalism

A foundational Truth of Christianity is the finality of the Redemption. Those in legalism are trying to finish – by human works – what is already finished in Jesus Christ.

The effects upon us of trying to finish what is already finished usually manifests in one of two ways. The first way is seen in the type of person who lives continually under condemnation and failure. They can never seen to accomplish by their works what they feel they must accomplish. In short, these are the people who rely on their works, but believe they are failing.

The second group are those who think they are succeeding. They actually believe that their works are good enough to commend them to God. Of course, most of these type of people would never say that. But inside themselves, this is how they function.

Thus, the first group are the "downtrodden." They think they are TOO BAD for God's grace.  The second group are the "self-righteous." They think they are TOO GOOD.

Both groups have the same problem.  Both are in legalism.  BOTH groups have placed their faith in their own works.  The "downtrodden," however, have a frustrated faith.  Their works aren't cutting it.  The self-righteous feel secure.  They think their works are just fine, thank you.

So you have two groups. The "downtrodden" take their failures and put them between themselves and God. The "self-righteous" take their supposed obedience and put that between themselves and God. Both are living in unbelief. Both are trying to USE their works to make themselves righteous.

There is usually one thing which BOTH of these types of people do have in common: They are judgmental towards others. They have to be. That is because they have put themselves back under the law, and believe that this is how God judges THEM. So it reflects in the way they relate to others.

Seeing Our Need

There are two things I must see to get free of legalism. First, I must see that I cannot do for myself what Christ has done. Second, I must see the finality of what Christ has done. That will forever cure me of thinking it necessary for me to do it, and will enable me to simply rest in HIM.

The first thing I must see, as mentioned, is that I cannot do for myself what Christ has done. To get me to this place, God may allow me to work myself to exhaustion. Or He may allow His law to slay me. Whatever it takes. It is all part of His promise to lead us into all Truth.

One thing is for sure, if I still think I can finish what Christ has finished, I have not yet seen how spiritually bankrupt I am. This is ironic. It is ironic because we have already seen that a primary purpose God gave His law was to show us what bankrupt sinners we are. But those in legalism are missing that message. Instead of confessing that the law shows them to be sinners, they instead take the law and try to use it to make themselves righteous.

I am only going to stop trying to make myself righteous if I become totally convinced that it is impossible. In effect, I have to be brought to the place where I see that I have nothing I can do about myself. It is then, and only then, that I will drop to my knees and say, "Only by your grace, O Lord."

The law, as mentioned, was given to bring us to this very place. In fact, Paul compares the law to a schoolmaster:

The law brings us to Christ – not through our KEEPING of it – but through it’s instruction to us that we have no hope outside of the grace of God. And if we will allow this "schoolmaster" to teach us this Truth, we will be able to know what it means to embrace the grace of God solely by faith in what Christ has done.

The Finality of the Redemption

The second thing I must see is that the work of Jesus Christ for me is totally finished. Legalism is ME trying to finish what Jesus has already finished – namely, my completeness. My righteousness before God. Therefore, a key to getting free of it is obviously to see the finality of the Redemption.

I have to see that everything necessary for my salvation – and for living the Christian life – is finished. It is given to me in Christ. If I have received Jesus Christ then I have received all that God has to give!

Paul says this. He says,

If we have been born again, a new creation in Christ Jesus, then we have a new identity. But again, not merely as a label which God legally pastes on our forehead. No. We have in us a new life – we have the resurrection life of Jesus Christ in us through the power of the Holy Spirit. And according to Paul, this makes us COMPLETE IN JESUS CHRIST.

Practically speaking, this means we have all the equipment necessary to live the Christian life. Thus, we obey God, not to make ourselves right with Him, but as the "living out" of our new identity. Our works, rather than keep us born again, are because we ARE born again.

We need to get it settled. The Redemption is FINISHED. We cannot finish it. Indeed, we must not try to finish it. We must believe, received, and walk in it.

Paul tells the Colossians how to do this:

Notice that everything Paul says in this passage is predicated upon his opening statement: IF you are risen with Christ. In other words, IF you have new life within you. He does NOT say to do those things to GET COMPLETE in Christ. Rather, he says to do them BECAUSE they are complete.

Freedom from legalism is not possible unless we see the finality of the Redemption in Jesus Christ. But if we do see it, it is the Truth which will set us free.

In the final analysis, legalism is UNBELIEF. I don’t believe it is finished. Thus I try to do for ME what Christ has already done. It keeps us from walking in, and experiencing the fullness of the grace of God. May God deliver us from this error.