Why Being Legalistic is Completely Pointless

"And how can we know the Truth? We must remember that the Truth is not merely an idea or a philosophy. The Truth is a Person - the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Jesus did not point men to a religious system; He pointed them to Himself.

True freedom is found in a vital, growing relationship with the Lord Jesus (the living Word of God) has revealed Himself in the Scripture (the written Word of God).

If we want to know Him, if we want to know the Truth, we must devote ourselves to the reading, study and meditation of His Word."

- Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Author of Lies Women Believe)


Alright, so at the risk of sounding like a Biblical scholar (I'm not), I'm dipping my toes into some apologetics for a couple minutes.

Legalism: excessive and improper use of the law
  ("Law" - 10 commandments, laws about holiness found in the Bible, etc.)

In Christianity, this often shows up in three common ways:

(1) Person attempts to keep the Law in order to attain salvation

(2) Person keeps to the law in order to maintain his salvation

(3) A Christian judges other Christians for not keeping certain codes of conduct that he thinks need to be observed


Let's clarify - rules and laws and boundaries are all well and good. It's important to follow them to protect ourselves and others. But here's the basic problem with being a legalistic Christian: it's easy to get hung up thinking that the Truth is a combination of doing the right things:

- Read Bible
- Pray
- Church
- Do everything 'right'


When really, the Truth isn't a list, it is a person. Doing those things - reading your Bible, praying, fellowshipping with other believers - those are all really important to growing your relationship with Christ, but the fact is those are supporting things, not the actual Truth.  A little abstract to put together, maybe yes. But it is so vital that you understand that doing all of those things isn't 'Truth.'

If someone gets caught up in executing a checklist to achieve 'Truth,' they are simply wasting their time trying to create an idea they have of what truth is. Legalism is built off of personal conviction - this puts their faith in terms of what they do directly effecting their being saved and staying saved.

That, my friends, is not Truth.

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free...So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:31-32, 36

"Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way? Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
- John 14:5-6

**Sidenote: Don't try and pull that "This happened forever ago, the Bible can't even be considered in a contemporary society, so the whole truth thing has changed." Go look up Hebrews 13:8. Do it.


The Truth is that Jesus sets you free and gives you salvation, and He doesn't take that away. You can't do anything to earn the Truth - it is a free gift to you. And nothing you can do (or not do) can "lose" your salvation - that is the Truth. That is Jesus.

And that is also why being legalistic is completely pointless. :)

Happy Monday!


(For a little more on apologetics and legalism, you can check out this website where I got some of my definitions from. :) What is Legalism?

Also this Youtube video is an excellent investment of two minutes and fifty-seven seconds of your time. :)

Jesus Christ Offers Freedom From Legalism