PSA: Difference between Legalism and the Gospel
Beloved,
Satan is ever ready to steal a march on us in our groggy state. Due to recent posts conflating legalism and the mystery of the Gospel, I wanted to give a breakdown with Scripture for those who are of the right Spirit to receive it. Bless you all!
Legalism says, “I obey so that God will accept me.”
Galatians 2:16 KJV: “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ... for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
Romans 3:20 KJV: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Ephesians 2:8 to 9 KJV: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Titus 3:5 KJV: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
The gospel says, “God accepts me in Christ, and Christ in me produces obedience.”
Ephesians 1:6 KJV: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Galatians 2:20 KJV: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”
John 15:5 KJV: “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Philippians 2:13 KJV: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Legalism says, “My law keeping makes me righteous.”
Philippians 3:9 KJV: “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ.”
Romans 10:3 to 4 KJV: “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. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Galatians 3:21 KJV: “for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.”
The gospel says, “Christ is my righteousness, and His righteousness is revealed in a transformed life.”
1 Corinthians 1:30 KJV: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
Jeremiah 23:6 KJV: “And this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Romans 8:4 KJV: “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
1 John 3:7 KJV: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”
Legalism says, “I can overcome sin by effort, discipline, and rule keeping.”
John 15:5 KJV: “for without me ye can do nothing.”
Romans 7:18 KJV: “For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.”
Romans 7:24 KJV: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”
Colossians 2:20 to 23 KJV warns against man made ordinances and self imposed religion, saying they have “a shew of wisdom” but are “not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
The gospel says, “Without Christ I can do nothing, but through abiding in Him, His Spirit fulfills righteousness in me.”
John 15:4 to 5 KJV: “Abide in me, and I in you... He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
Romans 8:2 to 4 KJV: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death... That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:16 KJV: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image... even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Hebrews 8:10 KJV: “I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.”
Summary
Both the Gospel and legalism concern obedience to God’s law, and this is why many conflate the two. But legalism says, “I will become righteous by my own effort and law keeping.” The Gospel says, “By full surrender, I receive Christ by faith; He saves me, abides in me, and the evidence of that salvation is the law being fulfilled in me, yet not I, but Christ."
"Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother." - 1Jn 3:6-10
Revelation 20:12 KJV: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”
Revelation 22:12 KJV: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
There is no tension when you understand rightly the flow and you stop doubting the power of God to fulfill His will in us. This is EXACTLY why Paul says:
For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." - Romans 3:3-4
Israel had the oracle, but they exercised unbelief two ways, they did not truly keep the law, and they tried to establish righteousness by their own works instead of receiving it by faith. Thats modern day Adventism for a lot of us. We have the oracles, but we lack the unbelief allow us the liberty of the law. Shall our unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar."
“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”- Matthew 13:9
