The Dangers of Legalism Galatians 3 1 3

The Dangers of Legalism Galatians 3: 1 -3

Galatians 3: 1 -3 – “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? ”

Galatians 5: 15 – “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ”

Legalism believes that we can earn or keep God’s favor by what we do

“Legalism is a Christian heresy” – Steve Reynolds

I. Legalism Promotes Unbiblical Standards (Mark 7: 1 -13) - Legalism: Taking something, that cannot bring or keep favor with God, and making it binding on yourself and others

II. Legalism Promotes Performance - Legalism is the earning and keeping of God’s favor based on our performance Isaiah 64: 6 – “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. ”

II. Legalism Promotes Performance - Legalism is the earning and keeping of God’s favor based on our performance Philippians 3: 1 -10 The next time you sin, run to Christ and realize what is done

III. Legalism Promotes Division Galatians 5: 15 – “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. ”

III. Legalism Promotes Division - There is a connection between legalism and strife - With the absence of the gospel, you have the presence of strife

III. Legalism Promotes Division - “Legalism is a system that thrives on personal performance, personal supremacy, and sadly the trampling of others. It ruthlessly squashes grace, mercy, and humility. ”

IV. Legalism Demotes Jesus - “To cling to personal merit through doing things, demotes Jesus from His place of supremacy” - What Christ did was sufficient for salvation and for security.

Colossians 2: 8 -10 – “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ”