Hi Friends,

Today we will look at two extreme views regarding biblical law, which are legalism and antinomianism (lawlessness). While I believe the vast majority of believers fall somewhere in-between these two extremes, I have faced many situations where my brothers and sisters have been accused of one or the other.

We are going to examine these extremes in hopes of pointing us towards the peaceable truth, one which we can hopefully rally around as a means of unity within Jesus’ body.

What is the Law?

As followers of Jesus, what should be our relationship to the Law?

Is Law-obedience legalism?

Is rejection of Mosaic Law an expression of lawlessness taking root in the body of Christ?

These are questions early Chrsitians wrestled with, and questions we are still asking in our own generation. Throughout our history we have run the gamut of extremes in our answers to these questions.

On one hand, there is the error of Legalism. Legalism means to emphasize or give preference to legal assurances or obedience to biblical laws as a means of obtaining salvation. Obedience to God’s commands is a good thing, however placing our hope in a transactional posture of “obedience in exchange for saving grace” is not a good thing.

Very few people that I have personally met, who have been accused of legalism, actually believe in works-based salvation. True legalism is far more rare than many of us may assume.

In my personal circles, I have found that some who emphasize discipleship according to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) are often accused by some Christians as being legalists. I also have friends who participate in Messianic communities, and they also receive this same accusation of legalism on a regular basis.

While we may or may not agree with a fellow believer’s application of the biblical commands or laws, we do need to be careful in our evaluation of another man’s servant. (Romans 14)

In my personal experiences, I have only been faced with a few extreme cases where a brother or sister in the faith has actually expressed that their salvation hinges upon legalistic obedience. I am refreshed to hear on almost every occasion that their hope for salvation in Jesus Christ is not based on their works or human ability.

Though true legalism is a stumbling block that can lead to individuals putting their hope in something other than Jesus Christ, we also need to recognize that we were also saved for the purpose of good works, which will lead other people to give glory to God.

We are called by God in our salvation to lead others into the fellowship through good works such as caring for the oppressed, meeting people’s basic needs, praying for, and serving others in a multitude of ways. (Matthew 6)

We lead others into fellowship with God by teaching them the Scriptures and to obey Jesus’ commands. We lead people into fellowship with God by demonstrating to others how to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. We lead others into fellowship by sharing the Lord’s Supper with them and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All of these works mentioned above require us to “do something” with our faith.

Let us consider what Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2: 8-10 NIV

The simplicity of the gospel demands that our faith speak through actions and obedience to God. There is in fact a religion approved by our God and Father of lights, and we must be warned that a faith without works leads to faithlessness devoid of grace and a hardened heart devoid of charity.

Legalism (others may use terms like “religion”, “religiosity”, or “elitism”) has the capability of leading us astray. Even so, the opposite reaction to legalism, which we will address in a minute, will also lead people astray.

In contrast to legalism, is an error called Antinomianism. Antinomianism, which comes from the Latin “against the law” means to trivialize or undervalue biblical commands and law. It teaches that because we are under God’s grace, we are no longer under any obligation to be obedient to God’s laws. In the most extreme cases, those who hold to this view will teach that justification by faith and full/complete sanctification (the process of being made mature in holiness) happen at the same moment we are born again through faith in Jesus. This is the vital error of those who hold to true antinomianism. The truth of the matter is that we are justified completely and wholly when we come to faith in Christ Jesus, however sanctification is a process of renewal which takes place throughout our lives as we follow Jesus.

Justification requires faith. Sanctification requires putting our faith to work. True antinomianism (sometimes called “cheap grace” or “lawlessness”) denies the process of sanctification.

True legalism and antinomianism (I will use the term “lawlessness” going forward) are both errors, and both have the potential to derail purity and simplicity of devotion to Jesus.

Earlier, I wrote that I personally know very few people who are true legalists. When comparing the two, lawlessness is by far the more prevalent issue we are standing up against in Christianity today. Jesus warns us of increased lawlessness in Matthew 24. John defines lawlessness in 1 John 3. The apostle Paul on many occasions warns us against lawlessness. In fact, the nearer we are to the return of Jesus, the more we can be assured that the spirit of lawlessness is abounding and maturing in our midst.

Let’s ask ourselves a couple questions.

What manner of lawlessness did our Savior and His apostles speak?

Or, what is the biblical “law” that we are being warned not to reject?

Many people are conditioned to believe that there is only one “Law” in the Scriptures, and when the average person references the law they are typically referring to Mosaic Law. This is a convenient misunderstanding for those who promote lawlessness, because it allows false teachers and wolves to “cherry pick” passages from the New Testament to build their argument.

Usually, we are instructed by these wolves that the “law” has been fully abolished under grace, and thus, the law is of no effect in our lives today. They may even go so far as to claim that those who hold a high regard for law are actually “departing from grace”. This is a very antichrist manner in which to view the Scriptures.

Generically speaking, the Law of Scripture is the Torah, or Pentateuch (meaning the first five books of the Bible). This means that Genesis 1:1 is just as much biblical law as the ten commandments are biblical law. Some aspects of biblical law apply universally to all people, such as the commands which God gave to Noah in Genesis 9. Other aspects of biblical law, such as in Numbers 3 & 4, apply specifically to the Levites, and do not have an application beyond the tribe of Levi, much less any Gentile (non-Jewish) follower of Jesus today.

In Acts 15, the apostles decided which aspects of the law specifically apply to Gentiles who are seeking to become part of the community of Jesus. This does not mean that these are the only commands which apply to Gentile believers, however these are the “first steps” Gentiles are asked to take as they embrace the process of joining the holy community of the faith. In fact, the New Testament contains roughly 1,050 commands that Christians are instructed to obey. Teaching one another these commands is one of the primary goals of the Great Commission.

Part of determining which laws pertain to which people, how they apply, and how they are to be obeyed, is actually one of the ministries of the body of Jesus on the earth. For instance, if the whole law were to be abolished, it would now be considered “lawful” to murder people, or to commit homosexuality. If the whole law were abolished, as some might say, it would mean that there would be no civil law upon which to govern future Messianic Israel. (By the way, this is the logic some have used in an attempt to erase Jewish identity and culture from the earth.) If the whole law were abolished, idolatry would be permissible, sexual immorality celebrated, and usury considered an ethical means of financial gain.

The point is, it is actually important for us to understand which laws, commands, and precepts apply to us as individuals and which ones apply to us as a community. The bible is full of laws that apply to you, individually speaking, and is full of laws that do not apply to you. This is why, when we relate to the law as a community of believers, we must do so in a spirit of mercy and grace.

Should we stumble in any manner of the law, we are now convicted by the law as a transgressor. If it were not for God’s mercy, every one of us would be held under the consequences of our transgressions forever. We cannot undo a disobedience that has occured. We may be able to make restitution for our sin, however there is no liberty from the consequences of sin without forgiveness. Furthermore, the wages of sin is death. Forgiveness of sins allows for the penalty of sin to transfer to another. Praise God, for He delights in mercy and forgiveness, providing the life of His Son. His blood sacrifice on a Roman cross became the propitiation of sins (that is, the fulfillment of God’s justice, which was satisfied through Jesus paying the penalty of sin with His own death).

Yet God still gives us even greater grace. In being set free from the consequences of the law’s custodianship, on what logic can we conclude that being “let out of jail” equates to being set free to commit the same transgression that put us in jail to begin with?

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all need grace, and no measure of law obedience can earn your redemption. Even so, Jesus told sinners to “go, and sin no more.” Salvation through the redeeming blood of Jesus is not a license to live however we want to live.

On these matters, James encourages us to speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

Paul encourages us to embrace the fruit of the Holy Spirit, because against these, there is no law. I believe this to mean that there is no biblical law that opposes the fruit of the Spirit.

Here is the conclusion of the matter: Should someone emphasize that all believers are called to obey the whole law, with no distinction, we should be wary of such emphasis. Not even Moses commanded this of the Israelites. The commands which God gave to Moses were sometimes directed towards specific groups of people, not applicable to the whole community, while other laws remained universal to all. Even so, should someone emphasize that all believers are called to reject the law on account to God’s  grace, we should be wary of such emphasis. Jesus tells us that lawlessness is the result of one’s love growing cold.

Should anyone remain between these two extremes, let them continue to fellowship with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus’ community. Exhort one another to keep reading the Scriptures for truth and clarity, and let them serve others with charitable deeds.

At the heart of this debate is a command from Jesus, where He quotes Mosaic law:

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22: 34-40 NIV

J. S. Marek