Legalism Part 2

IIntroduction

AReview Legalism Part 1

1The American Heritage Dictionary defines “legalism” as,“Strict, literal adherence to law.”

aMany have attached a negative association with this word.

bSynonyms being words like: Fundamentalist, extremist, fanatic, ultra-conservative, narrow minded, & Phariseeism.

2The term is typically used by those who do not want to hold to Biblical Authority as defined by God’s commands, examples, and implications.

BWe looked in the N.T. and O.T. to find if Legalism was condemned.

1Rather than condemnation, we found the Bible reinforced “strict, literal adherence to law”.

aThat law is the Law of Christ.

2The Bible established that our very lives revolve around obedience to it in our heart and actions.

aThus, if a Christian is a legalist, then God is pleased.

CWe introduced the dictionary.com from Random House Dictionary definition of Legalism: “strict adherence… to law…esp.to the letter rather than the spirit.”

1This definition has to be thrown out because it is flawed and relies on false scriptural interpretation.

aIt relates the term letter to “God’s Law” and spirit to “God’s intent”.

  • Thus the implication is: God doesn’t mean what he says.

DWe examined the scriptures used to support this view, 2 Cor. 3:5-6, Rom. 2:28-29, & Rom. 7:6.

1Paul’s words demonstrated that:

aThe term letter was used for the “Law of Moses”.

bThe term Spirit was used for the spirit delivered ”law of Christ”.

2Far from demonstrating that there is a difference between God’s Word and His intent…

aPaul demonstrated the need for obedience in heart and Action to the Law of Christ.

IIPhariseeism - Anti-Legalists equate Pharisees with the term Legalist.

AWho were the Pharisees?

1Pharisees –Blue Collar or Common People Favored. More liberal interpretation of the first 5 books of the Bible. Involving the traditions and oral teachings (oral torah) associated with scribes and rabbis. In the Roman era, they had no political power, but a great deal of influence.

2Their rise came after the return from captivity in Babylon. They saw themselves as preservers of the Old law. Thus, the reference to them putting themselves in the seat of Moses. They presumed leadership over the people of Israel in their relationship to God.

3The Pharisees are indeed the founders of modern day Judaism.

4Q: Were the Pharisees Legalists?

BCharacteristics of the Pharisees

1Characteristic #1: The Pharisees were confident they were right in their actions.

aAnti-Legalists establish no one can be right.

  • Christians often talk about what is right.
  • Consequently, Anti-legalists call Christians legalists/Pharisees.

bIgnoring why Pharisees felt confidence they were right, why do Christians have this confidence? More importantly, what does the Bible say about confidence in our actions?

  • John 17:17 – Sanctify them in the Truth, Thy Word is truth.

Truth is the Word of God.

  • Joh 8:32 - and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus tells believers they shall know God’s Word.

  • Eph 5:17- Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Paul says we can understand the Word of God.

  • 2Jn 1:1- The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not I only, but also all they that know the truth;

John wrote to Christians who knew the Word of God.

  • 2Ti 3:16-17 - Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

Completion/Perfection by the Word of God should give us confidence.

  • Php 1:27-28 - Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ: that, whether I come and see you or be absent, I may hear of your state, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one soul striving for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing affrighted by the adversaries: which is for them an evident token of perdition, but of your salvation, and that from God;

Paul encourages Confidence in the Word.

cConclusion: The Bible does not condemn a confidence about actions according to Scripture. Thus, in this respect there is nothing for the Anti-Legalist to hang their hat on.

2Characteristic #2 - The Pharisees Did Not Guide All their Actions by Scripture.

aMat 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

  • The Pharisees faltered in obedience to Christ - Christ admonished them for this.

b2Th 1:7-8 - and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus:

  • Disobedience is condemned in scripture.
  • The disobedience of the Pharisees is also in direct conflict with the definition of Legalism.

“Strict literal adherence to the law”.

cConclusion:If Pharisees are to be legalists, then the definition has to change to be a description of those who put aside scripture.

3Characteristic #3 - The Pharisees Followed Traditions of Men.

aMat. 15:1-9 – Jesus admonished this behavior.

bGal 1:9-10 - As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

cConclusion:If the Pharisees are to be legalists, then the definition has to change to be a description of those who follow the traditions of men.

4Characteristic #4– Their heart is far away from Christ.

aMat. 23:5-7 – Motive is praise of men.

bMat. 23:14 – Righteousness for self gain.

cMat. 23:27-28 – Impure on the inside.

dLuke 18:9-14 – Compare themselves to others to promote their righteousness.

eJoh 11:48- If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. – Their concern was themselves.

fConclusion:If the Pharisees are legalists, then the definition has to be changed to one who is prideful, greedy, impure, and uses man as their measure of righteousness.

CAnswering the Question: Are Pharisees Legalists?

1According to our definition of “Strict, literal adherence to the law”, they cannot be.

2If Christians properly fit the term Pharisee, then they would be:

aPutting aside Scripture

bFollowing Traditions of Men

cActing prideful, greedy, impure

dPutting aside the example of Jesus for their lives

3A Christian cannot be both a legalist and a Pharisee.

aCalling a Christian a Pharisee is simply a false, derogatory term.

bMost Christians that I know hold dearly to the scriptures.

  • They believe the scriptures are all that is necessary for life and Godliness.
  • They believe the scriptures guide all of their actions.
  • They have good caring hearts.

4If the definition of Legalism is Phariseeism, we have a situation of the pot calling the kettle black.

aAnti-Legalists would be legalists.

bThose who preach faith only would be legalists.

cThose who believe in additional inspired books would be legalists.

dThose who introduce music and puppets into worship would be legalists.

eThose who preach the social gospel would be legalists.

fThose who believe God didn’t mean what he said would be legalists.

gHowever, these are not legalists.

  • As the Pharisees, they are merely sinners who have strayed from the Word.

IIIAn Additional Twist to the Word Legalism

ADictionary.com (Random House Dictionary) identifies Legalism with the following characteristic:

1“The doctrine that salvation is gained through good works”.

aHa! we have you legalist Church of Christers on this one!

2Numerous denominational websites make this declaration.

aI have never visited a congregation that held this position or taught it.

  • I have been in the church most of my life.
  • I visited congregations all over the United States.
  • I have met preachers from Churches of Christ around the World.
  • None teach or know any that preach salvation by works

3Where does this false accusation come from?

aIt comes from two areas:

  • Establishing Baptism as a command of God.
  • Rejecting faith only as Biblical Teaching.

4Some religions see Baptism as a good work trying to earn salvation.

aThey claim that these actions arenot necessary.

  • Salvation is said to not be contingent on these.
  • If salvation is made contingent upon these, man is said to be trying to earn his salvation.

5What Does the Bible Teach Regarding This?

aChrist wipes out any thought that our actions earn our salvation.

  • Luke 17:10 - 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.'

bWorks earn nothing, however, a failure to do them results in condemnation.

  • Mat 7:26-27 - And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Christians obey because God has commanded and they love Him.

cChrist Offers Salvation as a Free Gift, but there are requirements.

  • Rom 6:23- For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

By implication, sin is put behind here to obtain the free gift.

That is repentance.

Peter says “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins…” He noted there were requirements to meet the free gift.

He never said, they earned it, nor did they have it before baptism.

  1. Some have tried to say this was a spiritual baptism, but this is just historically false.

dScriptural Authority for baptism:

  • Mat. 28:18-20, Mk. 16:16
  • Acts 2:38, 41, Acts 8:36 (“look water what prevents me from being baptized”)
  • Acts 9:18, Acts 10:48 (Cornelius following H.S. Baptism)
  • Acts 16:15,33
  • Act 22:16- And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
  • – List goes on…
  • 2 Pet. 3:21 – And corresponding to that baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
  • A close examination of these verses demonstrates that salvation is not earned, but baptism is a requirement of it.

6We have been utilizing the definition of Legalism as “strict, literal adherence to the law”

aThe law is the law of Christ.

bIf folks call you legalist because you teach salvation by works, are you a legalist?

  • No, you cannot be a legalist, for the Bible does not teach salvation by works.
  • A legalist would only do what the word instructs them.

cThus, we have another false definition for legalism which would include earned salvation.

IVConclusion

ALesson 1

1The Bible encourages legalism as “strict, literal adherence to the law [of Christ]”

2Christ’s Law commands worship and service in heart and by authority.

3This is what a true Church of God follows.

BLesson 2

1Pharisees did not follow God’s commands in heart or authority and were therefore, not legalists.

2Those that teach salvation is earned by works are not legalists for they are not following Scripture.

3Churches following either of these practices are not legalists, nor are they pleasing to God.

CThought Regarding Legalism

1If someone has called you or your congregation legalist:

aThey are either complementing you on faithful following of Scripture, or

bThey are trying to insult you and do not know what a legalist is.

DLesson 3 – Situational Ethics and Legalism