The idea of Legalism sprouts from the seed of pride and self-righteousness. The water that germinates this type of doctrine is the thought that man can be meritorious before God, that he can "earn points" (like frequent flyer miles) by doing something that other men recognize as good. This can be anything from just going to Church faithfully, to donating vast sums of money to a local charity.

Matthew 23:29-31 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets."

The scribes and Pharisees are the patriarchs of Legalism. They felt that by decorating the tombs of the prophets, they would earn special favor in the eyes of God. What they, as well as all Legalists, fail to recognize is that God looks at the heart of man. If the outward action is pretty, man looks at it and praises it. But if the one doing it is sinful, God looks at the action and condemns it.

Legalists believe that certain sins taint you in such a way that God will never seek your salvation. They feel that the Cross is only a means to salvation, not the only way:

Luke 7:36-50 "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."

Biblical scholars believe that the woman who washed Jesus' feet was a common street prostitute, someone so reviled (even by her customers) that it was an offense even to be seen speaking to her. The Pharisee, on seeing the woman washing Jesus' feet with her tears, saw only a whore, someone to be despised. Jesus saw a woman who recognized her lost state, and in bitter tears was repenting her wicked life. The Legalist judged the woman unworthy because she failed to meet up to his own (so he thought) flawless standards. Jesus judged the woman worthy of forgiveness, and a new initiate into the Kingdom of God. Who do you think obtained salvation that day? Certainly not the Pharisee, all puffed up in himself!

Luke 15:2-10 "And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

Heaven waits in rapt anticipation for each man, woman, and child to finally understand that they are totally lost and unable to please God of their own ability. Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross didn't pay the penalty for those who refuse to recognize their own shortcomings. Jesus died for the sinner, for the one who recognizes "I can't please God by myself. I am filthy before you, Lord".

Matthew 19:16-22 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."

The Legalist comes to Jesus, and says, "What can I do to earn eternal life?". Jesus could have told him, "There's nothing you can do, for your works are filthy rags before God. You must accept My work!". But Jesus, our wise Saviour, used the best way possible to teach the Legalist. He told him, in essence, "Obey the Mosaic Law flawlessly". When the young Legalist proudly stated that he was already (visibly) complying with the Law, then Jesus looked into his heart and exposed his lust. He told him to give up all his worldly possessions, and follow Jesus. And with that, the Legalist walked away into damnation. Though a Legalist may be outwardly moral, good, and stable, inwardly he is just as sinful as the poor prostitute. The difference is that the prostitute repented, the Legalist did not.

"Sincerity" will not earn you points with God. If you leave this life without Jesus, you will stand before the Judgment Seat sincerely damned.

Matthew 7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Going to Church doesn't make you a Christian, nor does doing good works in the name of Jesus save you. You are a worker of iniquity, a contributor to this evil system called the devil's world, if you are not in Christ.

Matthew 9:10-13 "And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

In Alcoholics Anonymous, the first step toward recovery is to recognize that you are an alcoholic. In Christianity, the first step toward salvation is to recognize that you are a sinner. Human good works often blind the eyes of the doer, making him think he is superior to all others. The publicans and sinners came to sit down with Jesus because, as a moth is drawn to a light, they saw their destitute condition and wanted to be with the Light of God. Christianity is a living religion, with a living Saviour, an indwelling living Holy Spirit, and comprised of believers who make up a living Body. The central tenet of our relationship with God is faith, not works. The works we produce we produce out of that saving faith:

Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

We live by faith, not by the Law. No Christian Church made up of Spirit filled and Bible believing people should ever issue a handbook of rules and regulations to live by. We live by faith, ever listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit of God.

Proverbs 28:26 " He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

Proverbs 30:12-13 " There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up."

Jeremiah 17:5 "Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."

When I was very young in the Lord I fell in with the Legalistic crowd. I felt that I had reached purity, that I was a prophet among men. I condemned those who fell short of the mark, and witnessed by telling others "You must accept Christ as Saviour and ____ to be saved". The ____ was always filled in with whatever the other person was doing that I felt was out of place. It was always, "AND stop smoking", or "AND stop drinking", or "AND wear modest apparel", or "AND stop swearing". In time I came to realize that by putting stipulations on salvation, I was failing God in two directions:

1. I was trying to create disciples of ME, in MY own image, and
2. I believed that God's saving power was so weak, that it would not bring about a change in those I was witnessing to.

Romans 14:4 "Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand."

God is able to make him stand, not me, nor any other Legalist. He "shall be holden up (in salvation)" without my own brand of "do as I say, because I know best. Those who are Legalistic impose laws and regulations on believers that God would never enforce Himself. A Christian's spiritual growth can be best viewed when you look at a young baby. Who would take a baby out of the womb, and tell him "now stand up, get out, and get a job"? This is idiotic! You take a young baby and impose little or no standards on him until he, by practice, learns to crawl. As time passes you begin toilet training, voice training, and NO training (as in, NO, don't do that!). As there are stages in a baby's growth, so there are stages in a Christian's growth. The Legalist ignores these stages, and superimposes his own human righteous standards on the Christian.

Romans 10:3 " For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

Isaiah 50:11 " Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow."

The sad part is, the Legalist, in ignoring the Law of the Spirit and obeying the self imposed laws of his own righteousness, never reaches maturity in Christ. They are, in effect, walking imbeciles in the Kingdom of God. They never discover the joy of ministry among the Saints, the joy of watching another come to pure salvation in Christ, the joy of unity with the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Revelation 3:17-18 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

When the Legalist enters Heaven (if he, by chance, accepted Christ as Saviour before going into his foolish self-doctrine), he enters rewardless. He lived a life empty for the Saviour, and though he is saved, he has nothing to look back on and rejoice in from his time on earth.

Luke 18:9-14 "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

The Legalist is ineffective, and in fact, pitiful. The sad part is that he doesn't recognize his abject state, until God forces him to recognize it. Don't be the "smoke in God's nose", a filthy annoyance, a self righteous judge of morality. Recognize that we all are lost and undone, but by the Grace of God. We are all worthless chaff that God raised up as sons to Him. We have no self worth, but that which we have through the power of Jesus Christ. In Christ we, the Church, are a magnificent vessel of the Holy Spirit. In ourselves, we are no more powerful than a puff of smoke.

Isaiah 64:6 " But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Isaiah 65:3-5 " A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day."