"Legalism" is a term frequently
used to describe Bible-believing Christians who are zealous for
pure doctrine and who desire to maintain holy standards of
living in this wicked hour. I am called a "legalist" via e-mail
at least once a day!...
True legalism has a two-fold definition: (1) It is mixing works
with grace for salvation (Galatians 1). (2) It is adding human
tradition to the Word of God (Matt. 15:1-9). The Pharisees
committed both of these errors...
They taught that the way of salvation was by the keeping of the
law, and they made their uninspired tradition authoritative over
people's lives without a biblical basis. The Roman Catholic
Church commits both of these errors today…
For a Bible preacher to proclaim that God's people are to obey
the details of God's Word is not legalism; it is faithfulness to
God (Matt. 28:20; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Titus 2:15). Strict obedience to
God's Word is the way of liberty, not bondage (John 8:31-32).
While we are saved by grace without works, we are saved unto
good works (Eph. 2:8-10). The love of God is to obey His
commandments (1 John 5:3).
- David Cloud (Way of Life
Ministries)
