Legalism vs. Freedom

Legalism is a four letter word in Christianity. If you want to exasperate another Christian, just call him a legalist. Fire will shoot from his eyes and smoke from his nose and ears. Nobody wants to be called a legalist.

But…

Many people are legalists whether they like it or not. They hold to the idea of Christ plus some level of obedience is necessary to be saved or at least to be in God’s good graces. Other people are uber-liberalists, holding that since the Law is impossible to keep it must be irrelevant.

Must we keep the Law or are we not held to the standard of the Law?

There is a Christian song that used to be popular called, “I have Decided.” It was done by two Christian artists and each did the song a little differently. In one version there was a line that said, “Being good is just a fable, I just can`t `cause I`m not able. I`m gonna leave it to the Lord..” The other said, “I know I can ‘cause He is able.” The other version said, “Being good is not a fable. I know I can ‘cause He is able. I’m gonna leave it to the Lord.”

One of those versions is legalistic; one is not. Can you tell which one is which?

One school of thought teaches that Christians are unable to keep the Law, but that the Law has been fulfilled by Christ.

The other school of thought holds that we cannot keep the Law in our own power, but Christ can enable us to live up to its expectations. To be "good" Christians we must be obedient to the Law (usually meaning the Law of Moses).

Did you understand the difference in the two ideas? One recognizes the depravity of man, the other the power of God to make us act right. Is there a meeting ground? Is there room for both ideas?

Under the Old Covenant, keeping the Law was deemed necessary, but often overlooked is the fact that keeping the Law was impossible, even in Old Testament times. That is why it was necessary to make blood offerings to God. Then Jeremiah came along declaring that the Law would be written on our hearts when the New Covenant came into being (Jeremiah 31:33).

Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the New Covenant and Hebrews chapters 6-10 give us a complete description of what the New Covenant is all about. It reiterates the idea that the Law would be written in our hearts.

Galatians 3:13 tells us that we have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. Romans 8:3 says that God has done what was impossible for the Law to do. The end theosophy is that God sees us as perfect in the eyes of Christ.

Does this mean that we have the Law at our hands at all times? When we need it, does it just naturally occur in our minds so that we can apply it to any given situation?

Actually, it means that if we know Christ, the Holy Spirit enables us at any given moment to know right from wrong. What we do with that knowledge is up to us, but if we are walking in the Spirit, we will do what we know is right.

The question is often asked, “Is such-and-such a sin?” If you have to ask, it probably is. The truth is that absolutely anything we think, say or do is a sin if it is not dead center in God’s will. By that standard, we are all sinners and everything we do falls short of God’s glory and acceptance. It turns out that by the natural powers of our own free choice we cannot begin the sincere and true obedience we owe the Law.

In the final analysis, our obedience, however imperfect is pleasing to God, not because it satisfies the Law, but because it proceeds from faith in Christ and walking in fellowship with Him.

ADDENDUM: I just read a related post over at Pyromaniacs. It is an interesting re-post but seems to legalistically reject legalism. Maybe it's only me.