Legalism and antinomianism (“anti-lawism”) are twin heresies. Antinomians are against all laws, rules and regulations. Whereas antinomianism denies the significance of law, legalism exalts law above grace. Legalism is basically the idea of living by rules – controlling life by laws and regulations. Laws and regulations have its place, but legalism is the wrong use of laws.

In the early church legalism was a major heresy both in relation to salvation and sanctification. Some legalists taught that the gospel plus the works of the law are necessary for salvation. Others taught that though we are saved through faith in Christ, sanctification is a matter of submitting to certain rules and regulations. It was the doctrine of sanctification by keeping rules rather than by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in us. Judaist legalists sought to enslave the church to legalism (Galatians 2) by teaching that salvation and sanctification are earned by keeping the law.

The Pharisees during Jesus’ day were specialists in legalism. They were legalistic, judgmental, opinionated, harsh, and ungracious with those who don’t keep their rules. This is the reason that they had several confrontational moments with Jesus. He rebuked their legalism and highlighted it as a fatal failure of their religion. In the Pharisaic religion the question was not about the law of God, but the rules and regulations they added to the law. Their traditions were raised to a status equal to the law of God.
The legalistic religious types of Jesus’ day didn’t vanish. We can see them in the pews and pulpits of the churches today. Human traditions, cultural practices, personal preferences are all interpreted as the Word of God and imposed upon people robbing them of their liberty. Legalism puts chains on people where God had left them free. Legalists judge and measure others by their own set of rules. It is always an accusation against someone else. According to legalism, the more rules we keep, the better we are. We are good every time we conform to the rules. Others are bad every time they break our rules. Legalists always take pride in their list of rules and try to give the impression that these rules are a part of the Word of God. Then to establish it they twist the Scriptures. Interestingly no one admits that he/she is a legalist. But they may easily admit other sins. Legalism has plagued the church in every generation in all continents and have weakened the testimony of the Gospel. It is another man-made religion.

Another form of legalism is majoring on the minors. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for omitting the weightier matters of the law while they were scrupulous in obeying minor points……..This tendency remain a constant threat to the church. We have a tendency to exalt the supreme level of godliness whatever virtues we possess and downplay our vices as insignificant points. For example, I may view refraining from dancing as a great spiritual strength while considering my covetousness a minor matter” (R.C. Sproul).
Legalism interprets unity as uniformity, promotes dogmatism, turn our experiences into conclusions, our conclusions into convictions, and our convictions into imposition on others. It is also an attempt to create one’s own spirituality. In our attempt to create our own morality and spirituality, we neglect biblical spirituality. Thus legalists easily brand others “unspiritual,” just because they don’t fit their rules.

Legalism often arises as an overreaction to antinomianism. Most of the time the motives may be good. The legalistic system is built on human standards. It warps the teachings of the pure gospel.

What is the cure for legalism? Study the Scriptures and discern whether our rules and regulations align with the truth of God’s Word. Do not try to interpret our preferences, personal standards and communal teachings as the absolutes of the Word. Minimize the rules and maximize the grace of God. Our life in the Spirit (Romans 8) is the foundation of our sanctification. It is energized by the Spirit and sustained by the abundant grace of God.

Christianity is not a list of rules. It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In this relationship there is obedience to divinely prescribed rules. These rules include do’s and don’ts. It never gives us the right or permission to do what is wrong. Obeying commands in God’s Word, doing or not doing certain things for God’s glory is not legalism. It is our responsible response to God’s grace. As believers we grow in faith by keeping God’s holy commands. The gift of God’s grace in our life is always acknowledged and responded by gratitude flowing out of lives transformed by the gospel. In the transformed life, it is our delight and duty to obey His commands.