Legalism

The term "legality" means accuracy in accordance to established law. Sounds like something positive or beneficial right? Or for some of you...it sounds like I just spoke a foreign language.

First we understand there are laws relating man to man (as in the many laws of Moses), and then Laws dealing with man's relationship to God and also God with man. Don't misinterpret what I'm about to say, Legalism in itself isn't wrong. Paul actually used the law as a finger to point the religious sects of his day to Christ, who himself became the fulfillment of God's law and completion of man's reconciliation to God through his life and death.

Only God himself (through Christ) could ever fulfill these legalistic laws, obey these laws, and thereby remove the laws' consequences toward believers. The Pharisees could never accomplish this goal. They tried for thousands of years and the religious leaders of today won't succeed either.

The power of the law (spiritually)was meant to validate a person's spiritual death. Like a spiritual death certificate made valid only by a physician's signature. In this case God being the Supreme Doctor of this declaration, knowing and writing the letter of that law. In more Lamens terms, God's a Doctor and he writes a perscription for us to live by.

The legalist of today forget much of Christ's teaching and His revelation of the law. There are those who would plead the Law so high, that it would seem insurmountable, even in the shadow of the cross. Hence, many of my generation are so overpowered by the evidence of Law and conscience, they never seek reconciliation because it simply overwhelms them. They may never receive Salvation's message of Grace because of the drone of legalistic religious order and the loud trumpeting of Law's loud condemnation. Or they may understand God's gift of salvation, but never will be able to effectivly convey that message because they are caught up in the legality of it all. Certainly the law is important and plays a critical role in a Christian's life, but it is to reveal our condition, never meant to be lived by or dwelt under.

So I believe the problem is this: we confuse the Law with Doctrine. Grace does not excuse the Law or ignore it, neither does it violate its principles. It overpowers it with a greater law: the Law of Grace. Much in the same way aerodynamics does not negate the law of gravity, it simply supersedes it with a greater law that lifts planes and people off the groung. While some view the rules of the Old Testament and the New Testament Church as a guidebook to live by, we know this in itself is not a bad thing when kept in its scriptural place. However many of us seem to have lost the true picture imaged by the New Testament, and therewith miss the intent and spirit of the law.

Paul used balance and perspective of them both. "The letter of the Law kills, but the Spirit giveth Life." To use one or the other in imbalance to the other has always been the glue of error whereby many in the early churches fell to legalism. Remember Paul's issue of physical circumcism verses circumcisim of the heart?

To expose error is good. But to expose it under the harsh light of legalism without the balance of Grace (Love) would do a huge injustice to the heart of Christ. Remember, Grace was always preached as the weightier Law, not ignored just overpowered and given a new light under which to view Doctrine. We should all be humbled in heartfelt thanks for the way God, the Righteous Judge, tips the scales toward Grace. For Grace is surely the heart of Christ who is full of Grace AND Truth.