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"Legalism" is not a word found in Scripture. However, there are several false teachings that have traditionally been labeled legalism. Three are listed below. The first two promote a prohibited use of the Mosaic Law. The third inappropriately promotes an additional body of regulation supposedly enhancing the Mosaic Law. Don Veinot, Joy Veinot & Ron Henzel also add a fourth type of legalism, keeping the letter of the law without keeping the spirit of the law (A Matter of Basic Principles, Springfield, MO: 21th Century Press, 2002, page 122):

1. A person must keep the Mosaic Law to be saved.

One purpose of the Epistle to the Galatians was to reject this type of legalism. Paul told the Galatian church to reject the doctrine of false teachers that they were justified in Christ through keeping the Mosaic Law (Galatians 1:1-2:21).

• "I have confidence in you in the Lord, that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is (Galatians 5:10)."

• "(6) I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; (7) which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (8) But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9)."

• "(14) But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all. 'If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? (15) We are Jews by nature, and not sinners from among the Gentiles; (16) nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified. . . . (19) For through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God. (20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. (21) I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly (Galatians 2:14-21).'"

There are other passages that teach that one is not saved by keeping the Mosaic Law. Here are some:

• "You search the [Old Testament] Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; . . . (John 5:39).

• "Through him [the Lord Jesus Christ] everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses (Acts 13:39)."

• ". . . no one will be declared righteous [justified] in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin (Romans 3:20)."

Other passages teach that the only authorized use of the Mosaic Law with respect to salvation is to convince mankind that they are sinners. Once so convinced, some may be prepared to trust in Christ and His cross work for salvation. Romans 3:20, above, is one of these passages and here are others:

• ". . . the Law has become our tutor to lead to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (25) But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3:24-25)."

• ".We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. (9) We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, (10) for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine . . . (1 Timothy 1:8-10)."

2. The Mosaic Law is to be kept by Christians.

For Christians, the New Covenant has replaced the Mosaic Law, which is the Old Covenant. Christians are to keep the New Covenant, not the Old.

1. The Codes

God is absolutely holy. From time to time He has provided groups of people with codes of law that are appropriate for the plan that He has for each group. These codes have similarities that often reflect God's unchangeable holiness. But there are also differences that often reflect progress in salvation history and the special circumstances of the recipients. Here is a list of some of the codes:

• There must have been a code(s) that established a sacrificial system and standards of morality between the fall and Mount Sinai. For example, see Genesis 4:3-7; 8:20; 9:4-6; 13:4, 13; 14:10. But its existence can only be inferred, as the Bible provides no formal presentation of such a law code(s).

• Able sacrificed.

• Cain knew he would be accepted if he provided an animal sacrifice.

• Noah left the ark and sacrificed clean animals.

• Abram built altars.

• Men of Sodom sinned against the Lord.

• We have documents that record the code given to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (e.g., Exodus 19:1-40:38; Leviticus 1:1-27:34; Deuteronomy 4:44-26:19). This is the Mosaic Law.

• The Sermon on the Mount is a code given to those who hoped to enter the Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 5:1-8:1; Luke 6:20-7:10). See SOM.html.

• Another code, the New Covenant, is written on the hearts of those to whom it applies (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Thus, there is theoretically no need for a written version. Nevertheless, those currently under the New Covenant are given a written code found scattered throughout the Epistles and selected passages in the Gospels. This supplemental, written code may be temporary until its recipients are glorified and have no drive to sin. The New Covenant survives through eternity future (Jeremiah 31:34-37; 32:40; 50:5; Ezekiel 16:60; 37:26). Its written code is given several names: the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2), the Law of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2), the Perfect Law (James 1:25), and the Law of Liberty (James 1:25; 2:12).

• Citizens of the Messianic Kingdom will be the recipients of a code. A ceremonial code is found in Ezekiel 40:1-48:35.

2. For Christians, the New Covenant Has Replaced the Old Covenant

Perhaps because the Old Covenant, the Mosaic Law, is the most frequently mentioned of the codes in the Bible, it often has been given an exaggerated place in Christianity. Furthermore, many Christians are ignorant of the New Covenant. But, for Christians, the New Covenant has replaced the Old Covenant.

• The New Covenant came into force during our Lord's sacrifice of Himself on the cross:

• The New Covenant replaces the Entire Old Covenant, the Mosaic Law not just a portion of it:

*Frederick William Danker and Walter Bauer, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Christian Literature, 3rd ed., Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2000, page 289.

• Some teach that parts of the Mosaic Law have been terminated while other parts continue in effect. Often the ceremonial part is thought to have been replaced but the moral part is thought to continue. However, no passage of Scripture states this theory. Furthermore, the chart above shows that the context of the passages teaching the cessation of the Old Covenant for Christians include both ceremonial and moral regulations.

 

3. Christians are to keep a Talmudic-like set of regulations.

There is a tendency to "enhance" a code of law God by introducing other bodies of regulations.

1. This tendency is found among the Jewish leaders according to the Gospels. While Jesus instructed the multitudes to follow the scribes and Pharisees when they taught the Mosaic Law (the New Covenant had not yet been activated by His death), He condemned them for the advantages they gained by generating modifications of the Law (Matthew 23:1-4). Their enhancements of the Law had only the authority of man behind them--not the authority of God (Matthew 15:3; Mark 7:7-9). The modifications were sometimes called traditions and precepts of men. They had the following effects:

1. Some modifications made life for the multitudes too difficult (Matthew 23:4, 13).

2. The purpose of some of the modifications was to disguise evil persons on the way to hell, as righteous (Matthew 23:5-15). The regulations gave the scribes and Pharisees a veneer of righteousness with which to impress those with whom they had contact (verse 5).

For example, Exodus 13:1-16 provides ceremonies that would motivate the participants to keep the Mosaic Law because they were reminded that the law Giver took them out of Egypt (verses 3, 8-9, 14-15). As part of one of the ceremonies, they were to wear phylacteries (verses 9, 16), small boxes that contained portions of Scripture, on their foreheads and arms. These ceremonies were also given as part of the Mosaic Law in Deuteronomy 6:6-8; 11:18.

The scribes and the Pharisees developed a modification to the Mosaic Law that only applied to them. The regulation size phylacteries were replaced by oversized phylacteries so that they would appear very pious to their charges (Matthew 23:5) even though their hearts were wicked (verses 25-33) and they were on their way to hell (verse 15).

See also Matthew 15:8-11, 17-20; Mark 7:6, 14-23.

3. Some modifications redirected the purposes of the Mosaic Law.

• In the phylacteries example above, their use under the Law was modified so that the scribes and the Pharisees could engage in self-glorification rather than engage in giving glory to God for the Exodus.

• In various portions of the Mosaic Law, oaths were specified in order to bind the parties to a particular course of action (e.g., Exodus 22:10-11; Numbers 5:11-31; Deuteronomy 6:13). Penalties were provided for false oaths (e.g., Leviticus 6:2-7; 19:12; Numbers 5:21).

But the scribes and Pharisees modified the Law by providing for binding and non-binding oaths (Matthew 23:16-22). They could fool their victims by taking non-binding oaths and take advantage. They could swear by the Temple or its altar and back out of the agreement. But if they swore by the gold in the Temple or the offering on the altar, the agreement was binding.

• The Pharisees and teachers of the Law diverted support (honor) for their parents that was required by the Law (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) to their own use (Matthew 15:3-7; Mark 7:9-13).

• A purpose of the Mosaic Law was to promote law, justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). While the scribes and Pharisees kept it in an exaggerated fashion, they did not incorporate these real purposes (verse 23-24).

2. Ultimately, the enhancements of the Mosaic Law were collected into a book called the Talmud. It is believed that the Pharisees began collecting the regulations found in this book (W. White, Jr., Talmud, The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1975, volume 5, page 590). The expansion of the Talmud ended around AD 495 (ibid., page 593). Some Jews believe the Talmud is infallible like the Torah (for an example of such a Jew, see http://www.shaareyzedek.com/Leadership/Student%20Rabbi%20Oren%20Hayon.htm, no date published, viewed October 10, 2003). Today a Talmud is the size of a set of encyclopedias and could cost as much as $800 to purchase (http://www.jasher.com/Btalmud.htm, no date published, viewed October 10, 2003). Not all the Talmud is as brash as the modification of the Mosaic Law authored by the Pharisees and mentioned in the Gospels. But all of the enhancements of the Talmud are just the traditions of men and are condemned by God (see paragraph A above).

3. Not all Christians have been able to thwart the temptation to write a Christian Talmud.

According to Don Veinot and Ron Henzel, Bill Gothard has created an Evangelical Talmud (.http://www.midwestoutreach.org/02-Information/02-OnlineReference/04-Etc/01-TheJournal/Volume3/No4-BillGothardsEvangelicalTalmudPt1.html).

A number of Talmud like regulations taught by Gothard are revealed in Don Veinot, Joy Veinot & Ron Henzel, A Matter of Basic Principles, Bill Gothard & the Christian Life (MBP), Springfield, MO: 21th Century Press, 2002.

• While grace for salvation is unmerited, Gothard taught that grace for sanctification is merited: "In the Old Testament, those who found grace possessed qualities that merited God's favor (http://billgotharddiscussion.com/grace.htm, page updated July 16, 2002, viewed November 29, 2002)." Later in this paper, Gothard spoke of "The Faulty Definition of 'Unmerited Favor (ibid).'"

Gothard was not unlike the Pharisees (paragraph A3, above) who introduced laws that reversed the Mosaic Law. However, in Gothard's case he reversed the Law of Christ, the New Covenant.

A later web page incorporated extensive revisions to Gothard's earlier paper. See http://billgothard.com/topics/grace_a_definition.php, no date published, viewed October 10, 2003. In it he stated: "The free gift of God's grace interacts with the gift of faith for salvation and righteous works." In this page he never indicated that grace is merited. But reviewers are not sure if his teaching has changed or if he has used new wording less probable of drawing flack while preserving his previous doctrine. Time will tell.

In any case, Scripture teaches that grace in sanctification is not the same thing as merit received by keeping the Law (Romans 6:14). God's unmerited favor is available both in justification and in sanctification (Titus 2:11-12).

MBP dealt with Gothard's teaching on grace in chapter 5, pages 139-163.

• Gothard endorsed circumcision as a spiritually beneficial ceremony for Christians:

"The command to circumcise is strongly stated and reinforced throughout Scripture. Although circumcision is not necessary for salvation, many health benefits result from the procedure. How to Make Wise Decisions on Circumcision discusses Scriptural reasons for circumcision, health benefits of the procedure, and elements of a Scriptural circumcision ceremony (http://www.iblp.org/mtia/careseries1_11-15.html, copyrighted 2003, viewed July 23, 2003)."

Later in the advertisement he indicated that there is a relationship between circumcision and moral purity.

This is an example of a law added by Gothard to the Law of Christ that reverses the Code provided by God to the Church. Quite the opposite of Gothard's teaching is stated by Paul: "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing (1 Corinthians 7:19)." Paul places a curse on those who preached that Christians should be circumcised, "As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves (Galatians 5:12)." The Apostle believed that, for Christians, there is no relationship between circumcision and moral purity.

While this publication was being advertised to Gothard disciples, a more acceptable teaching of his views on circumcision became available on the Internet: http://www.billgothard.com/topics/circumcision.php, no publishing date, viewed June 7, 2002. In it he stated, "Circumcision is not required of believers for salvation. . . . Neither is circumcision required for achieving the righteousness of the Law or the sanctification of the believer." However, he strongly continues to teach that there are health benefits of circumcision . . . a viewpoint not shared by doctors this writer has consulted.

During 2003, the webmaster of www.SpiritualInsightsPage.org responded to the 2003 advertisement but did not receive the promised product. Instead he was sent The Origin and Potential Health Benefits of Circumcision, Basic Care Bulletin 11, Oak Brook, IL: Medical Training Institute of America, rev. 4/00. In the pamphlet, Gothard spent several pages recommending circumcision on medical grounds (pages 4-10). On page 11, he made a case that circumcision was Biblically applied to a group greater than the nation of Israel. But in his conclusion, he again said, "Circumcision is not required of believers for salvation. . . . Neither is circumcision required for achieving the righteousness of the Law or the sanctification of the believer (page 13)." While Gothard improperly implied that Christians are still under the Mosaic Law, he did teach that circumcision does not promote sanctification.

 

4. Lawful Uses of the Mosaic Law

A Christian should study the Old Covenant. 2 Timothy 3:16 says:

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (17) so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

To Timothy, "all Scripture" meant the Old Testament plus whatever was available of the New Testament in his day. By the time Paul penned 2 Timothy, the New Testament books of James, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Mark, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans, Luke, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, Philemon, Acts, Matthew, 1 Timothy, 1 Peter, and Titus had all been written (Charles Caldwell Ryrie, The Ryrie Study Bible, New American Standard Translation, Chicago: Moody Press, 1978, page 1440).

First Timothy obviously had reached Timothy since he was the addressee. Because Timothy was an intimate of Paul, he probably had access to all of Paul's previous writings. A portion of Luke 10:7 is quoted in 1 Timothy 5:18.

So it would not be correct to say that, since 2 Timothy 3:16 refers to the Old Testament, a Christian must still be under the law. Rather, the Law must be seen in the context of the Old Testament and what was available of the New Testament, which by this time contained enough of the Scriptures listed above to teach that the New Covenant was activated at the time of our Lord's crucifixion and that the New Covenant replaced the Old.

Remember that Paul called his fellow apostles "ministers of a new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6)" not ministers of the Old Covenant. And the Apostle Paul also placed a curse on Christians of his day who tried to remain under the Old Covenant:

"How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the [new] covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29-31)."

Nevertheless, the Old Covenant is profitable to Christians. The Old Covenant provides important inputs to the doctrines of the Trinity, angels, man, sin, future events, and so forth. It helps provide the history and the need that leads up to the sacrifice of our Lord and the institution of the New Covenant. It provides narrative, proverbs, and poetry that illustrate truths under the New Covenant. Some of the details of the Old Covenant have been incorporated into the New. The Law is good, if one uses it properly (1 Timothy 1:8). The Old Covenant should not be used as the predominate code for Christians.

5. Applications to Christians

1. First consider these two cases:

1. First Case: Adultery

The preacher teaches that God wants husbands to be faithful to their wives. Is the preacher a legalist?

Answer: No, the preacher is not a legalist. He is a faithful teacher of the New Covenant (e.g., 1 Corinthians 6:9-20; Galatians 5:20).

2. Second Case: Tongue Piercing

The preacher teaches that Leviticus 19:28 teaches that Christians cannot have their tongues pierced. Is the preacher a legalist?

Answer: This preacher is a legalist on several of the grounds listed above. Consider the steps in putting together this teaching:

Moses, inspired by God, requires that citizens of the nation of Israel not get their flesh cut for the dead [Leviticus 19:28; apparently a practice of citizens of nations that Israel has or will soon meet].

Other types of cutting of the flesh are encouraged by Moses (piercing the ear of a servant who does not want to leave his master, Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:17; circumcision, Leviticus 12:3).

An Old Covenant regulation that applies exclusively to Israel is applied to the Church under the New Covenant (Type II Legalism, above.)

The purpose of the cutting in Leviticus, for the dead, is dropped.

The allowance for some cuttings is forgotten.

A regulation is devised to apply to all cuttings.

The resultant regulation is applied to modern piercing of the tongue (Type III Legalism, above).

Freddie, a teen at Chaos Bible Church who reads his Bible every day, leads a moral life, and is active in his young people's group, is removed as pianist during the worship meeting because his pierced tongue violates the new regulation.

Of course a parent should keep his child from obtaining a tongue piercing on the grounds that there are health risks (e.g., Researchers Find Tongue Piercing Could Lead to Gum and Tooth Problems . . ., American Academy of Periodontology, http://www.perio.org/consumer/piercing02.htm, dated March 22, 2002; viewed October 10, 2003)!

2. Some Biblical Guidelines:

Reference	Scripture	Biblical Guidelines
James 1:22-25; 2:12	"(1:25) But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does."	The New Covenant Code Promotes Liberty. Christians Must Keep the New Covenant Code.
2 Corinthians 3:17	"(14) . . . until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. (17) . . . where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."	There is more liberty under the New Covenant than under the Old Covenant.
Galatians 2:4	". . . it is because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage."	Legalists will attempt to bring Christians into bondage.
2 Peter 2:19	". . . promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; . . . "	Libertines will attempt to take Christians from liberty to license.
1 Corinthians 8:9	". . . take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak."	Christians should not allow their liberty to wound the conscience of an immature believer.

© 2004, Ken Bowles -- January 26, 2004, Edition

Biblical Quotes are from the New American Standard Version and the New International Version.

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