Legalism

Two forms of Christianity are not attractive. One is legalism, and the other is antinomianism. Legalism is when we are concerned about the rules, but not about the spirit or principles behind them. God, through the Apostle Paul, says, “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). The religious people in Jesus’ day were concerned about keeping the law, but they didn’t have the love of God or the Spirit of God to understand God and his ways. They were trying to earn God’s favour by keeping the law and punishing those who didn’t. They were in the ministry of condemnation. They didn’t recognize God at work in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. They were not receptive to the Spirit. They missed the greatest event in history: Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

Similarly, we can have a lot of Theology today, which is needful, but we must also have the spirituality behind the study of God and truth. As the Bible says, we are to grow in grace and knowledge. (2 Corinthians 8:7) Knowledge of God and truth and receptivity to the Holy Spirit are essential. It is not either or but both and—Theology and Spirituality.

There is a famine in knowing God through his word, which is Theology and in responding to God. As the Bible says,

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it” (Amos 8:11-12)

People listen but do not hear. To hear is to put into practise and respond to God.

The people of God should also be great dispensers of grace or unmerited favour of God to others. It is easy to give grace in the midst of low moral values, but it is quite another matter to extend grace in the midst of truth. Nevertheless, we validate the message by the way of grace is lived out in our lives. People notice when people live by grace.

The legalist focuses more on outward appearances than on the interior life. They are more interested in following rules to appear better rather than loving others as God has loved us. The Pharisees adhered to outward rules, though they twisted them and justified themselves, but they forgot God's way, which is the way of love. This is not unlike today.

Those of us who are Protestants should not just be protesting what isn’t right but living out the gospel of God’s grace. The church above all should be a dispenser of God’s grace. We should see and understand the principles behind the rules and direction given by God. “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17)

Dallas Willard said that there was a greater freedom in teaching in a university rather than in a church setting, because the church and Evangelical and other branches of Christianity are always seeking out heretics that don’t agree with their interpretation of scripture, instead of looking at things from a different point of view and thinking it through.

The antinomian goes to the other extreme and disregards the law. The word antinomian means “without the law.” It is to be without regard to God’s moral law or, at least, to compromise with sin in living the moral law. These people sin that grace may abound. (Romans 6:1-2) This is the approach in which they know they are sinning, but have confidence that God will forgive them. They dishonour God and his values, yet they count on God’s grace.

Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Jesus kept the outward and interior law of love. Of course, he was God in the flesh. None other than him has been without sin. Jesus asked us to follow him. If you want to draw close to God, flee from sin. If you want to have a character that God can entrust his power to, go for the gusto in a relationship with the God of love. “Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The antinomian also practices listening and knowing God’s will but not doing it.

Legalism and antinomianism misrepresent the gospel and dishonour the Lord. We should run from them and to the Lord as the prodigal son ran to the father who was running to him. In the scripture, God says through the Apostle Paul how to live in the Spirit. This is stated in Romans 8. We must move away from self-justification and find the Jesus way.

Jesus properly represented is very attractive and draws people to himself. He is what all people deep down are longing for. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” (John 12:32).