You are accepted... You are loved... You are valuable... You are NOT expendable! In a legalistic environment, these are words you rarely, if ever, hear. One of my favorite scriptures is in 2 Corinthians 3:6 where Paul declared that the law (legalism) kills, but the Spirit gives life! Listen to The Message translation of that verse; "The plan wasn't written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It's written with Spirit on spirit, His life on our lives!" A legalistic church or person will turn back to relying on following rules, regulations, or standards to maintain a right standing with God or to prove their holiness (Galatians 4:9). In the book of Galatians, Paul addresses the issue of legalism creeping in to the church. False teachers had infiltrated the Galatia church, and began to teach that believing in Jesus was a means of salvation, but to keep your right standing before God, you needed to keep a set of rules. Paul referred to this teaching as “another gospel”. Paul also said that those who preach this other gospel should be accursed, which literally means to be banned or excommunicated (Galatians 1:9). Anyone who teaches you that by the following of rules or standards, you will be kept in a right standing with God or that you maintain your salvation and worth by works alone, is in fact a false teacher and the Bible explicitly teaches that you should not receive teaching from them. You were saved by faith in the beginning, and you will be saved by faith in the end (Galatians 3:2-3). You will never achieve righteousness by your own works, you are not able to...it is an impossibility! The Bible tells us that our own works are like filthy rags. We must always remember that our righteousness comes by faith in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. The works we do are a natural outpouring of the work that God has done in our hearts. The SYMPTOMS OF LEGALISM below are signs to beware of. Symptoms of Legalism Performance Oriented (Luke 18:9-14) Feeling your standing with God and your appreciation in the church is based on what you’re doing (your ability, anointings, giftings), not the work Jesus finished on the cross. Emphasis on Externals (Matthew 23:27-28, 6:1-6) Prayer, giving, fasting, church attendance, and outreach are done in such a way as to be seen by others. Being Judgmental (Matthew 3:1-2, Luke 18:9-14) Watching and noticing when others “don’t measure up”. Pride and Elitism (Luke 18:9-14) Believing that because you have done more or have higher “standards” or greater "anointings" you have special standing and exclusive rights with God. Extra Biblical Rules and Standards (Matthew 15:9) Adding rules and/or standards beyond that which is addressed clearly in scripture. Condemnation (Romans 8:1, Galatians 3:10) When trying to achieve right standing through works and in the power of your own flesh, you will always fall short. God lets us feel this to drive us into His arms and grace. Imposing Your “Standards” on Others (Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:20-23) Certain things are clearly outlined in scripture, yet other matters are not. Those things NOT clearly out lined in scripture are to be worked out by the individual. When Paul addressed the vegetarians and meat eaters he told them not to impose their standard on each other, nor judge one another (Romans 14:1-3). Majoring on the Minors (Matthew 23:24) This is straining at a gnat & swallowing a camel. Legalistic leaders will make small issues out to be monumental, such as, you weren’t on the outreach team or you didn’t wear a tie. While the big stuff, like being loving and merciful are overlooked. Aggressive Proselytizing (Matthew 23:15) It’s a good thing to be a light on a hill or the salt of the earth, by being a good testimony and sharing the gospel, but it is something different when your aim is mainly recruitment to get people to your church and become what you are. In other words; going through great lengths to make a cookie cutter convert or a carbon copy of your idea of a good disciple instead of a true devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Blind to Their Own Condition (Matthew 23:16) Those who are legalists don’t know it. The Bible says that they are spiritually blind. Reverting Back to the Old Testament Except with a Different Set of Rules (Galatians 3:1-3, Galatians 4:9) Desiring Positions of Authority and Titles (Matthew 23:6-7).