The true definition of Legalism is “salvation by good works, that is, by keeping the law” – this was the Pharisees’ problem. They were steeped in the belief that keeping the Old Testament law got them to heaven – and they were extremely meticulous at keeping the law, at least on the outside. But on the inside, they were hypocrites – “whited sepulchers,” as Jesus said (Matt 23:27).
True legalists miss the fact that we’re saved by God’s grace through faith. There are no good works on our part involved in salvation.
If someone believes like the Pharisees then he can rightly be accused of being a legalist. However, people are sometimes wrongly accused of being legalists because as they seek the truth and make decisions that they believe will help them grow in Christ and draw closer to Him, they may appear to be self-righteous in trying to follow a new set of standards.
Perhaps this is because as we draw closer to Christ, the further we draw away from, separate from, the world and worldliness. Though sometimes they are thought to be one in the same, separation and true legalism are very different.
Christians are told, “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2).
They are also told, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor 6:14-18).
God’s word says “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4). Also 1 John 2:15-17 says, “ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
There is the story of the gentleman who wanted to hire a stagecoach driver to take him over a treacherous mountain pass. He asked three different drivers to determine which one to hire. He asked each of them the same question: “How close can you safely get to the edge of the cliff as we go over the pass?” The first one said, “Sir, I can get within three feet!” The second one said, “Sir, I can get within one foot, maybe even a little closer!” The third one said, “Sir, I’m going to stay as far away from the edge of the cliff as I can! The gentleman said to the third driver, “You’re hired!”
You see, a Christian should not want to see how close he can get to the world (worldliness) and still be a Christian, he should see how close he can get to Christ, which will move him away from the world.
The question is also asked: “If you were dragged into court and accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you!?”
We know that we’re saved by grace through faith. But the Bible also says “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:20). There must be evidence of our faith. When we get saved, we are new creatures in Christ “behold all thing are become new…we are ambassadors (to the world) for Christ” (2 Cor 5:17, 20). We are, “…an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness…” (1 Pet 2:9). We’re not to be oddballs, but different from the world.
Holiness is separation – it means to be set apart. God is holy, He is very much set apart, high above, His creation. But He wants His children to be holy too. “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15, 16). The fact that we are in the end times should spur us even more to live holy and godly lives. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” (2 Peter 3:11).
If our talk, our dress, our actions, our music, our entertainment, everything about us, is just like the world, then we are pretty nigh hopeless as Christians. Jesus told us to be salt – a preservative, a savory spice, and to be light shining in a dark place (Matt 5:13, 16; Eph 5:8), making a difference (Jude 22). We are to show the world, that through Christ, there is a better more abundant life of joy and peace (John 10:10, Ro 15:13), and it’s not by imitating the world.
If one is accused of being a separatist, then he is being accused of being what Christ calls all of us as Christians to be. The difficult part is to live a separated life unto Christ and still be a humble effective witness for Him. God does not call us to separate to a monastery on a mountain nor to a tight clique in the 30–member “Church of the Self-Righteous.” We are to lovingly, yet boldly confront our culture with the powerful truths of the Gospel as the Apostle Paul did his. The culture Paul confronted was just as ungodly as any one today. But to do this we must be different, we can’t just put Christian “window dressing” on all that the world is. Isn’t that what a whited sepulcher is – the very thing Jesus condemned?
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