Are you a legalist?  This question is asked, and at times I wonder if those asking the question realize the meaning of the word.  Let’s do some brief defining of the term “legalist”.  First the root word “legal” means: “of or relating to law”. Using my Webster’s New World College Dictionary we find also that legalism is: “1. strict, often too strict and literal, adherence to law or to a code 2.  the doctrine of salvation by good works.”  Now, ask yourself prior to our examination of some scriptures, “am I a legalist?”

I was reading an article by a man named Ryan Ross.  He stated in his article titled “Part One: Lessons in Legalism” this statement:

“At the time I was an ardent Legalist. I was viewing the Bible through the Legalist's Lens, a system of interpretation that I had been taught in the Church of Christ. The Preachers learned it in Preacher Training School. Whenever they got a new job, they started with a series of lessons on this system so their congregations would be "well grounded." Of course, no preacher called it "the Legalist's Lens;" "legalist" was one of those unfair monikers that Denominationalists stuck on "true Christians." Few preachers even called it a method of interpretation at all. It was called Bible Authority, or The Silence of Scripture, or Biblical Hermeneutics (did I spell that right?), or simply God's Divine Will. Nevertheless, it was always a method of interpretation...the Church of Christ Method. And I believed it. Many people still do.

What made the Legalist's Lens an attractive approach was all the claims made for it. The most important claim was that it constituted "The Only True Method of Understanding The Bible;" a Christian who used this method consistently could be sure that his conclusions were God's conclusions. (Likewise, any other method was said to be of fallible human origin and, if used consistently, would result in total chaos; the Bible would mean anything a person wanted it to mean.) Other claims followed from this one; such as, the method is consistent, honest, and rational; it respects the silence of Scripture, it was wise, and it led to Truth.
All of these claims are false. I could no longer be a Legalist once I discovered this.”

First, I would like to make known that there is no “church of Christ” doctrine?  If there is any then it is a doctrine of men and is completely sinful.  (Mark 7:7) “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”  If we teach the doctrines of men it is vain and we cannot serve Christ by doing so (Galatians 1:10).  Secondly, I too wonder about the men who graduate from preaching school, as they do seem to carry much of their teacher’s opinions into the pulpit.  Yet, I am not a preaching school graduate so the statement made above about church of Christ preachers teaching some doctrine from schools, does not apply to me nor the writing in this article.

The term “Legalist” is generally applied to those who teach and believe that one must do something to get to Heaven.  It is an absolute biblical truth that God’s gift to us of Grace through Jesus Christ is something we have not earned (II Timothy 1:9).  We cannot earn that gift, but we must do something to obtain it.  I like explaining it in simple and plain terms by this example.  A grandmother wills $1,000,000 to her grandchildren.  All they have to do is claim it and it is theirs.  Did they do anything to earn that money?  Obviously, they did nothing to earn the money.  The money was a free gift.  Yet, they had to do something to claim it.  Salvation has been given to all men (Titus 2:11).  Yet, something must be done on our part to claim it.  How can we know?  The bible teaches us so.  (Matthew 7:21) “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”  By Jesus saying this, does that qualify Him as a Legalist?  If so, I want to be one too.  Don’t you?

Dr. Billy Graham teaches that one must accept Jesus as their Savior and pray a prayer and they will be saved.  Our Lord teaches that one must do more.  For example: John 3:1-5 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  Jesus did not just teach baptism here.  He taught several other times.  For example: (Mark 16:15-16) “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”  Jesus also taught that repentance was required (Luke 13:3).  Now, some would call me a legalist for teaching that a person must be baptized.  Was this not what the Lord taught when he said “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”?  Does the fact that Jesus taught more than grace only make Him a legalist?  If so, I want to be one too.  Don’t you?

James wrote that faith without works is dead.  (James 2:19-26) “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?   Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.  Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?  For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”  Does the fact that James taught more than faith only make Him a legalist?  If so, I want to be one too.  Don’t you?

The Apostle Peter, who as the other apostles was guided by the Holy Spirit (John 16:13 and II Peter 1:21), taught more the faith and grace alone (Acts 2:14;38-41, Acts 3:19, Acts 10:47-48, and I Peter 3:20-21).  The Apostle Paul taught more that just faith and grace alone (Acts 16:25-33, Acts 19:1-5, Galatians 3:27, Romans 6:3-5, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 10:10-17).  Philip preached more than just salvation by grace and or faith alone (Acts 8:12-13 and Acts 8:26-39).  Does the fact that Peter, Paul, and Philip taught more than faith and grace only make them legalists?  If so, I want to be one too.  Don’t you?

As much as some people do not want to hear it, God demands obedience to His law.  It is no surprise to true bible believing Christians when they find that the majority of people want religion to be just like their fast food.  You know “your way, right away” just like Burger King promises.  The difference between Burger King and God is that while Burger King serves us, we serve God.  God has put His orders in a book, and he wants it done the right way.  How can we know this?  The Bible tells us so!  God says to be more than hearers, to be doers of the law of Christ (James 1:21-25).  Do you know how a person can show Christ that they love Him?  (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”  Did you know that Christ said that the majority of mankind will not make it to Heaven?  (Matthew 7:13-14) “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (Matthew 22:14) “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Heaven is promised only to those that remain faithful (Revelation 2:10).  Remember, some would say statements like “few will find it” are legalist statements, yet Christ is the one making them.  One of the most impressionable verses along the lines of being strict followers of God’s word is found in James chapter two and verse ten: “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  Does this verse make God a legalist?  If so, I want to be one too.  Don’t you?

(Revelation 22:18-19) “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”  (Deuteronomy 4:2) “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.”  These verses teach clearly that we cannot just make up rules or change rules that God has made.  We must stick to His word and His word alone.  What happened when Nadab and Abihu decided to worship God their own way?  (Leviticus 10:1-2) “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.”  Ryan Ross, the author who was quoted at the beginning of this article also wrote the following:
 

“Hence the term, Legalist. A legalist is "one who makes laws." In this case, he makes laws out of nothing.”

(I Peter 4:11) “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…”

    Among some three hundred figures of speech in the Bible used to illustrate the person and work of Jesus Christ, John contributed several
including the designation, the ALPHA and OMEGA.

     To the Greeks this figure suggested completeness and absolute perfection. We use the same thought in stating that a student has mastered his lesson “from A to Z.” Jesus existed before all things were created. He is today. He will be forever (Heb 13:8). Jesus is co-eternal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit (Jhn 1:1-3).

      Not many people begin reading the Bible with the book Revelation. If they did, they would have no fears about reading the rest of the Bible.
Everything turns out all right for those who love God and serve
Him faithfully (Rev 17:14) ... “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

     As some one has aptly noted: “I don’t know what the future holds ... but I do know who holds the future.” Whenever we have fears
about the future, we would do well to remember that Jesus is the FIRST and the LAST.

     Many, many years ago I asked a question of my grandfather about life and what will happen in the end of time. He pondered a spell and then replied very gently, as he did many times before, “I don’t really know, but, look in the back of the book and you will find that we win!” Brethren, look in the back of the book, we WIN! “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Mike Cornwell, Preacher
Church of Christ at Noble Hill
P. O. Box 642
Brighton, MO 65617