Is being a Legalist a good thing or a bad thing?

The Bible says in 1 John 3:4: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Isn’t it logical to conclude then that those who oppose Christian Legalism promote sinning?

Transgressing God’s law is what sinning is.

John 8:34-36: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.  And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.  If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

What if someone were to take these verses, walk into a random church, and say that Christian freedom is freedom not to sin- and then proceed to explain that freedom from sinning is freedom not to transgress God’s Law?  

That would only be echoing Bible truth.

Yet as a general rule, I doubt that would be well received.

There is this idea which has taken hold in the minds of a vast multitude of professing Christians that Legalism is a bad thing- something more evil than sin itself.

Yet I also suspect many who are so quick to cry “Legalism” would not be able to provide any definition of legalism at all off the top of their head if they were asked to do so which wasn’t inconsistent or obviously flawed.

The word “Legalism” is of course not found in the Bible.  

I seriously doubt that many who are quick to accuse others of “Legalism” have both considered, and received, that striving to do what God has commanded is not the same as following commandments which are innovations of men.  

Mark 15:1-9: “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.  And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.  For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.  And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not.  And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias (Isaiah) prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”

Who are the Legalists here?  Those who sought to adhere to God’s commandments (Jesus and His disciples) or those who laid aside the commandment of God that they might keep their own tradition (the Pharisees and some of the Scribes whose hearts were obviously distant from the true God)?  

And in light of what is written in the previously quoted passage, is Legalism even a good thing or a bad thing?

Many, since they are both flawed and inconsistent, do indeed teach that everyone involved in Mark 15:1-9 is a Legalist (with the implication that Legalism is a bad thing).

It would be wise though to not even use a term that you have no solid definition of.

You just have to scroll through a few pages of Google results to know that there is no consistent definition among professing Christians of what Legalism is.  

And ironically, many of these definitions in themselves are man-made and involve laying aside the commandment of God.  

Those who oppose Christian rules and duties have made their own rules about this uncertain term “Legalism.”  

They also obviously see it as their duty to enforce their man-made prohibition against the alleged sin of Legalism which they have invented.

They may call those upholding and emphasizing duties Legalism.  Yet if legalism is a bad thing, and that is what they mean by it, they are fools and deceivers.

Matthew 23:1-3: “Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

Hebrews 13:1-6: “Let brotherly love continue.  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.  Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.  Let your conversation (conduct) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

James 3:13-18: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  let him shew out of a good conversation (conduct) his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure (my note- it will therefore sometimes be proper that it is withstand and/or rebuke that which is otherwise), then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Yet those who oppose the terms and conditions of peace with God will oppose those who practice and preach righteousness.  

They may even attempt to vilify them by calling them Legalists (as if that must be a bad thing).

They may call scrupulousness when it comes to obeying the Bible’s rules for order, general proper conduct, and proper appearance Legalism.  Yet if legalism is a bad thing, and that is what they mean by it, they are fools and deceivers.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

1 Timothy 2:8-14: “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.  For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

1 Corinthians 11:1-7: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.  Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.  But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.  Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.”

They may call those who say that you have to prove your love, and demonstrate your faith by your works, Legalists.  Yet if Legalism is a bad thing, and that is what they mean by it, they are fools and deceivers.

Galatians 5:6: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

John 14:21-24: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.”

James 2:14-20: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?  can faith save him?  If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

They may call affirming that receiving the Word of God and walking accordingly as a matter of salvation, Legalism.  Yet if legalism is a bad thing, and that is what they mean by it, they are fools and deceivers.

Matthew 13:36-43: “Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.  He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.  As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.  The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity (that is, anomia- meaning lawlessness); And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

Romans 8:3-4: “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (the Spirit of God).”

Those led by God’s Spirit fulfill the righteousness of His Law through a living faith in Christ.

Romans 8:12-14: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

Revelation 22:14: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Perhaps those who cry “Legalism” mean something else.  

Perhaps they define Legalism as telling Christians to practice Judaism after their release from that obligation (that release is seen in Acts 15; and this is the real issue of the Book of Galatians).

Perhaps they define Legalism as trying to be justified through man-made rules and judging others based on those rules (like the Pharisees and Scribes who opposed Jesus and His disciples).  

In relation to those things, perhaps they define Legalism as an overall attempt to work around God’s appointed means of justification in Jesus Christ and the narrow way of obedience to God by continuing in a living faith in Christ.

And obviously, we have to have such a faith, and endure to the end in such a faith, for acceptance at the end of the road.

Christian justification doesn’t happen without true repentance.

True repentance inherently involves coming into agreement with, and submitting to, God’s Law. 

And Christian justification must be maintained by continuing to relate to God through Jesus’ High Priesthood while continuing into submission to His authority- which is the opposite of going back upon true repentance.

Yet if that is the case, they ought to clarify what they mean by Legalism- or just directly say what they mean without resorting to the term “Legalism.”  

Otherwise, they are practically repeating the great lie of the Serpent in the Garden “Ye shall not surely die” in relation to transgressing God’s commandment.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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