Legalism

Legalism: Isa. 64:6, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...”  If I try to impress God with my works, He discards them as filthy rags.

The greatest distortion to Grace is religious legalism. God’s plan is a Grace plan.  God the Father does the work, man receives the benefit.  God receives the glory for His own works; man receives no glory.

Religion and Legalism are Satan’s Ace and King of trump, the primary means by which he “blinds the minds of those who seek Christ” and which are included in Eph. 4:14 as part of “...every wind of doctrine, sleight of men, cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.”  By these means, Satan tries to disrupt the plan of God and blind people to Grace principles.

Religion is any system in which man by his own efforts tries to earn the approval of God.

Legalism is a religious system that teaches that a person can do something to earn or merit salvation or blessing from God.

The person in legalism is described as “foolish”, meaning “not understanding.”  Legalism is one of the greatest robbers of Christian benefits; it robs people of their understanding of the Word of God and all of the benefits of the Grace life.