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Legalism is Rampant in the Christian Church

Few churches escape the temptation to use legalism to control the members. This problem has existed from the beginning of the church when the Apostle Paul struggled to keep believers from falling back under the Old Testament laws. Judaizers, legalists of the day, tried to make the Gentile believers keep the Jewish commandments of circumcision, the law (Ten Commandments), dietary commandments, and the observance of special days; but the Apostle Paul taught that we are no longer under the law but under grace. Churches, pastors, and "Torah Keepers" who preach justification by keeping the law are blaspheming God. Their justification by legalism and works is a statement to God that Jesus Christ died in vain.

Galatians 2:21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness [comes] through the law, then Christ died in vain."

Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

Galatians 5:2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Scripture clearly tells us to live our lives by the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not by keeping our eyes on the law (Ten Commandments) or on a list of rules. We are to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh.

Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

 The modern day Judaizers in the Christian church are Messianic Jews and those in the "Torah Keeper" movement. Many Christian churches falsely teach that the Ten Commandments apply today. This doctrine is totally baffling, since Scripture written by the Apostle Paul for the church today is clearly against it. They come up with twisted explanations and fall into false teaching. They falsely believe that legalism is the only method possible for a person to resist a sinful lifestyle. These church Pastors, Ministers, and Reverends ignore the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the born-again believer. The Apostle Paul taught that legalism is doomed to failure. Submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit actually fulfills the requirements of the Law.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.