Solomon Lecture Series, Lecture 11: Overcoming legalism

The following post contains some highlights from the eleventh lecture in the Solomon Lecture Series, presented by Rev. Paul Travis. The entire lecture series is available, here, at Grace Fellowship International.

Rev. Travis states that legalism has to do with performance. He defines legalism as accepting any belief or conviction that favor with God can be earned. God is not influenced by our behavior, but rather what Christ achieved on the Cross. Acceptance before God is based on God’s grace, Christ’s shed blood, and faith, activated by the Holy Spirit. Adding anything to this formula is legalism.

It is only through God’s grace that we who are in Christ can measure up to God’s standard of holiness. Legalism results from the self being our source of life. It is only through God’s grace that we can live in the power of the Holy Spirit, having Christ as our source life. 

Rev. Travis notes there is a fundamental difference between being driven by the flesh and being led by the Holy Spirit. With legalism, we are in the mode of trying harder, whereas with being led by the Holy Spirit, we are trusting in the sufficiency of Christ. Legalism focuses on external behavior, our performance, and ultimately gives the glory to us. Legalism is not just about obeying laws, rather it is about having an “I can do it myself” or attitude of independence. The legalist believes that God has forgiven him of his sins, but he believes that he is not totally acceptable before God. It brings forth a life of laboring, rushing, worrying, and slaving. You may be suffering from legalism is you display the following symptoms: drivenness, self-righteousness, condemnation, self-glory, control, independence, and judgmentalism. Rev. Travis states that the antidote for legalism is Christ’s work on the Cross where we claim 1) God’s forgiveness for our sins, 2) our birth as children of God, 3) our faith and courage in Christ, and 4) His righteousness instead of ours. In legalism we find ourselves being bound by the law, but through God’s grace we are enabled to have Christ fulfill His will through us.

Rev. Travis believes that we need gracious believers who are serious about standing for the truth and led by the Holy Spirit. He states that “Grace is not about lowering God’s standards; it’s about surrendering to Christ and allowing Him to meet them.” Grace allows us to meet God’s standards of holiness and causes us to love and practice truth. But legalism, with its focus on outward compliance, sets us up for feelings of guilt if we don’t achieve those standards. 

Rev. Travis believes it is important to realize that Christ not only died for our sins, but that we died with Him. Although we still sin, God’s grace allows us to not see the temptation to sin as alluring as it used to be. Being new creations in Christ, we are actually dead to sin and are no longer its slave. Rev. Travis believes that “Many legalists don’t really believe that God wants them to enjoy life; so, they never have an intimate relationship with Him.” In other words, legalism and its associated performance orientation become substitutes for intimacy with God.

Through legalism, our feelings of guilt lead to feelings of shame, which brings about a sense of failure and worthlessness. With legalism, we are more concerned with the opinions of men rather than God’s truth about us. Legalism is bondage to a life of duty, without the freedom of developing a life of knowing Christ intimately. Once we understand our true identity in Christ, shame no longer has its hold on us. Additionally, when yielded to the Holy Spirit, fears fade away.

Unfortunately, legalists have a strong desire to control and domineer other people, trying to bring others into conformity to their beliefs. They believe that this approach pleases God. But it is actually done to prevent their being rejected by people. 

Rev. Travis points out that fear of failure is the primary motivator in ministry. This is truly the product of a legalist mindset. It is a striving for perfectionism. Fortunately, Christ has an answer, and that answer is realizing that we will never be perfect, however, our spiritual identity in Christ is perfect. Legalism, which is based on pride, focuses on rules, results from a life sourced from the flesh, causes us to modify our behavior to try harder, and leads to worldly sorrow and regret. Grace focuses on developing and maintaining relationships, results from a life sourced from the Holy Spirit, helps us to rely on God’s enablement, trusting Him, and leads to Godly sorrow and repentance.

Rev. Travis states that “Legalism is a slave to rules rather than to Christ. It is built on man-made restrictions and regulations. It fails to wholly consider God’s grace. It usually involves people who lack joy and don’t want others to enjoy life either.”

Freedom from legalism requires brokenness, and knowing Christ is the answer, as He will enable us to allow the Holy Spirit to be in charge of our life. As Rev. Travis says, “God has designed everything to be totally dependent upon Him.” And it is through brokenness that God prepares us to fulfill His true purpose in our lives.