Slawomir Gromadzki
Legalism refers to futile attempts to earn salvation by one’s own performance which is impossible (Gal 3:10). Therefore, the salvation of a sinner is entirely a free gift from God. This salvation of the entire sinful human race was already accomplished 2000 years ago by God’s Son. This salvation is made effective through faith. The fruit of receiving this grace is good works (Ephesians 2:10). But good deeds do not contribute to our salvation. They are just a result of accepting the free forgiveness and salvation and the working of the indwelling Spirit of God.
THREE CONCEPTS OF LOVE HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THREE CONCEPTS OF THE GOSPEL:
I. Salvation by works. This “gospel” is based on self-love, i.e., human beings must save themselves by pleasing God through good works. This is legalism, and it is the basis of all non-Christian religions.
II. Salvation by faith plus works (Galatianism). This “gospel” is based on a combination of self-love and self-sacrificing love, i.e., we must first show by our good works that we want to be saved, then God will meet us halfway and save us. The “gospel” of faith plus works is at the heart of Roman Catholic theology; it is a subtle form of legalism.
III. Salvation by grace alone. This gospel is based on self-sacrificing love (agape); that is, while we were helpless, ungodly sinners, God demonstrated His love for us through the death of Jesus Christ, and that death fully reconciled us to Him. This is the clear teaching of the New Testament (John 3:16; Romans 5:6-10; Ephesians 2:1-6; 1 Timothy 1:15).
Galatians 3:10 “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them’.”
Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Galatians 5:4 “You have become alienated from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.”
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.”
Romans 8:1-4 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 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, so that the righteous requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.”
Hebrews 4:9-10 “There remains therefore a rest (Gr. “sabbatismos” = keeping of the Sabbath) for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
NOTE: Here Paul tells the legalistic Jews and modern legalists that they must accept the gift of eternal rest (symbolized by Sabbath rest) by ceasing from trying to obtain that eternal rest by their own works (legalism). Today, if we keep the Sabbath in order to gain salvation, we lie and commit a horrible sin because by keeping the Sabbath we should manifest that we have already accepted the gift of eternal rest by faith alone and that we ceased from trying to gain that rest (salvation) by good works.
Revelation 3:15-19 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garment, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
NOTE: If “hot” is works of faith, and “cold” is works of the flesh, then “lukewarm” would be what kind of works? Works of law (legalism) (source). Jesus has to “vomit” all legalists because of Gal 3:10 and Gal 2:16.
“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the … counsel … to the Laodiceans… Some will … rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.” Testimonies For The Church 1:181 (1857)
Revelation 19:7-8 “The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride (His true church) has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. The fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people“.
NOTE: The fine linen (the wedding garment) which stands for the righteous deeds of the saints (imparted righteousness) “was given her to wear” (v. 8), which means that this imparted righteousness (sanctification) was received by the church from Christ by faith.
Revelation 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”
NOTE:
Whenever we use selfish motives — like fear of the judgment or desire for reward — to get our people to keep God’s law or do good works, we are no different than any pagan or non-Christian religion. The principle of self belongs to Satan and this evil world. That is why all man-made religions are based on salvation by works. God’s ways are the very opposite [Isaiah 55:8-9]. The principle of self was introduced by Lucifer, and he passed that principle onto the human race at the Fall [Isaiah 53:6; Philippians 2:21]. In contrast, God’s kingdom is established on the principle of selfless agape love. This selfless unconditional love is the basis of our salvation as well as Christian living [Matthew 5:43-48; 1 Corinthians 13:1-5]. God’s love has no self in it: it seeketh not its own. When we appeal to man’s selfish nature in trying to get our people to keep the law or do good works, no matter how sincere or good our intentions are, we are actually upholding Satan’s kingdom and contradicting the true gospel motivation to live the Christians life [2 Corinthians 5:14-15; John 13:34-35]
EGW on Legalism (Salvation By Works)
“If you would gather together everything that is good and holy and noble and lovely in man and then present the subject to the angels of God as acting a part in the salvation of the human soul or in merit, the proposition would be rejected as treason.” Faith and Works, p. 24
“There is not a point that needs to be repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.” Faith and Works, 18,19
“There is not a point that needs to be repeated more frequently, or established more firmly in the minds of all than the impossibility of fallen man meriting anything by his own best good works. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.” Faith and Works, 18,19
“He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.” — Steps to Christ, p. 60
“As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God.” — Review and Herald, March 11, 1890
“A legal religion is insufficient to bring the soul into harmony with God. The hard, rigid orthodoxy of the Pharisees, destitute of contrition, tenderness, or love, was only a stumbling block to sinners.” — Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 53
“The danger has been presented to me again and again of erecting a human standard, of drifting into legalism, of working out their own righteousness, instead of the righteousness of Christ.” — Faith and Works, p. 91
“Our works in and of themselves have no merit. When we have done all that it is possible for us to do, we are to count ourselves as unprofitable servants. We deserve no thanks from God.” — That I May Know Him, p. 246
“There is no safety for us, even for an hour, while we are trusting to our own works. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.” — Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 341
“Legalism is a cold, dead, heartless thing. It is the form of godliness without the power.” — The Signs of the Times, November 24, 1890