What is Legalism?

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is a gift of God. Ye are saved when you recognize you're a sinner and you repent of your sins and trust in Jesus to be saved. Salvation is from the Lord. . . plus nothing. . . minus nothing. Grace is unmerited favor toward God which no man can earn. If you add to salvation, then it becomes legalism. What is legalism? Legalism is adding to salvation, whether by works, or doing certain rituals, or whatever. In other words, it's a salvation with human merit. That's a false salvation. The Bible says God will share his glory with no man. Salvation is a result of the finished work of Christ.

The term "legalism" has been misconstrued among some of our fundamental and evangelical circles. Many of them will call a church or preacher legalist if he preaches outward separation and says that Christians shouldn't engage in certain types of activity because it's worldly and sinful. Many fundamental preachers have been labeled a legalist for preaching against various types of apparel that Christians shouldn't wear or certain types of music a Christian shouldn't listen to. However, that's not legalism. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship created unto Christ Jesus for good works." There are certain types of activity Christians shouldn't engage in because it would hinder us from being what Christ wants us to be. The Bible warns us to flee from youthful lusts and the appearance of evil. Men of God should preach against things of the world that would hinder our testimony and our walk with God.

It's true that a church can be inundated with standards to the point that they're nothing but pharisees and full of dead mens' bones. We are to watch out for that. As important as it is to preach outward separation, there's other aspects of the Bible that are to be preached as well. The inward sins of the heart is the biggest problem among many church goers today. The whole counsel of the word is to be preached. There has to be a balance. If the people in the church fall in love with the Lord that will solve the problem when it comes to standards.

Legalism can be a number of things. Legalism perverts the Gospel because it's saying that Christ's death on the cross wasn't sufficient in paying the debt for man. The Apostle Paul stated in Galatians 1:6-7, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you unto the grace of Christ unto another gospel. Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the Gospel of Christ." The Judaizers from Galatia had perverted the Gospel and the Apostle Paul had to address that in his letter to the Galatians. He stated the Gospel hasn't changed. He issued this warning twice and said in Galatians 1:8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." That's very stern language. He repeated it again. Anything that labels itself a gospel that preaches a salvation that adds to grace is heresy. That's very serious. That totally undermines everything Jesus did on the Christ for us sinners. If we could add to salvation, Christ's death on the cross would've been in vain. That's why God condemns heretics.

From dawn of the early church to the present, Satan has used religious groups to pervert the Gospel. The Catholic church has taught a salvation by works since its inception. The Church of Christ believes water baptism saves a person. We label that group "waterdogs". There's a group that teach the false doctrine of "sinless perfection" that believe some people aren't born without sin and if they never sin, then they don't have to go through Christ to be saved. That's all heresy. Nothing apart from what Jesus did on the cross will save anybody. Salvation is a free gift and you can't do anything to earn it. Works won't save you, reciting prayers won't save you, living a monastic life won't save you, only Jesus will. He's already paid the debt at Calvary. All we're to do is to repent of our sin and receive Christ as Savior and Lord. Nothing else will accomplish the task. It's a free gift no man can earn. Anything else that's added to salvation is LEGALISM!