Surely legality is not a lovely trait. It is not easy to avoid, as it is native to the flesh. The flesh resents what is most needed for the conscience—self-judgment.
Legality is unjudged, self-righteous exaction, whether it is severity on others or on oneself, for the sake of glorying.
We see it in its ugly form in Matt. 18:2828But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. (Matthew 18:28), "He laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest!" On the other hand, in Luke 18:11, 1211The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:11‑12) we see it in the self-righteous Pharisee, who was so satisfied that he was superior to gross sinners.
Legality is the opposite to grace. It magnifies self instead of Christ. It is the old nature attempting to regulate the old nature-ofttimes employing scripture. It can "strain at a gnat" and see the "mote" in the eye of someone else.
Law is a code of fixed rules to govern conduct, requiring strict obedience and condemning disobedience.
Perfect was the letter of the law of Moses engraven in stone, but it could not impart life, justify, or restore the saint. Grace, and not legalism, can restore the soul, as grace has power to attract, while legality repels.
"The whip and the scourge may be righteous, but there is no winning the heart with these....mere righteous dealing...will not work the restoration of souls,...will not soften hearts." -J. N. D. On the other hand Mr. Darby also said that "conscience is the doorway of understanding in the things of God". Therefore it must ever be the love and grace and faithfulness of Christ that alone can win the erring.
Why are we told to "Despise not prophesyings" along with the negative admonition "Abstain from all appearance of evil"? (1 Thess. 5:20, 2220Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20)
22Abstain from all appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)). It is because God ever raises up prophets to speak faithfully to the consciences of His wayward people.
But the renewed man wants his heart and his conscience searched by the word of God according to Heb. 4:1212For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) and Psa. 139:23,2423Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23‑24). "We learn to obey by judging our reluctance "W.K. How true!
In 1 Cor. 14, where edification is mentioned seven times, the apostle twelve times stresses the value of prophesying. In all ministry that is of God the conscience must receive it as such and apply it to oneself. It is a false but popular notion that only "positive truth" is edifying. This sounds nice. It is also said, "We need balanced truth," to make it sound more commendable. Subtle are the tendencies, as our state sinks lower, to resist the most needed truth for our consciences. A Laodicean complacency finds it disagreeable, unpleasant, unpalatable, unwelcome, unpopular and unbearable. Lullabying, ear-tickling, "smooth things" are preferred. It is taking sides with evil to stifle the exposing of our Christ-dishonoring, worldly abominations. Furthermore it defeats humbling ourselves for His glory and our eternal blessing. The flesh in the Christian remains sinful flesh and is ever ready to turn the grace of God into license, self-pleasing and worldliness It is sad to see the present-day tendency to brand the faithful application of God's word "legality", "faultfinding", "harping", or "negative truth". It's not easy to judge my wanting my own way. The flesh in the Christian ever evades the responsibilities that accompany the blessings of grace. Are we not to manifest the grace and truth practically as to our state, by heart devotedness to Christ and separation from the world? "The grace of God... teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope... our Savior, Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity" (Titus 2:11-1411For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:11‑14)). Grace teaches us to say NO as well as teaching us these blessed things.
"The believer is not saved in order that he may enjoy the world, but that he may get done with it entirely....
The combination of evangelical truth with worldliness, ease and self-indulgence... a mere apprehension of standing, without any earnest dealing with the practical state... It is not an agreeable task to call attention to practical evils—to urge the solemn duty of self-judgment."—"Legality and Levity", by C. H. M., Miscellaneous Writings, Vol. 6.
"It is one thing to have the blood of Christ sprinkled on the conscience, and another thing to have ... the cross of Christ applied, in a practical way, to our whole course and character.... Using very high-flown language about grace, talking loudly against legality... There is a tendency to separate the passover from the feast of unleavened bread—to rest in the fact of being delivered from judgment and forget the roasted lamb, the bread of holiness, and the bread of affliction. They never can be separated... 'Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.'"—C. H.M., Notes on Deuteronomy, chap. 16, pp. 228-230. Loose Christians dislike corrective truth, the more it is needed.
The precious truth of our standing in Christ combined with looseness suits the flesh and the devil, but not God. Unless "the love of Christ constrains us" we shall "live unto ourselves", "please ourselves", do our own will and be "conformed to the world".
"Inasmuch as our privileges are higher, His claims upon our hearty and unreserved obedience are also higher....then let us ever bear in mind—yea, let us have it deep, deep down in our hearts—that according to our privileges are our obligations. Let us not refuse the wholesome word obligation as though it had a legal ring about it. Far from it; it would be utterly impossible to conceive anything further removed from all thought of legality than the obligations which flow out of the Christian's position. It is a very serious mistake to be continually raising the cry of, Legal! Legal! whenever the holy responsibilities of our position are pressed upon us... exhortations which the Holy Spirit addresses to us as to our obligations." —C.H.M.
Only by walking in the Spirit, in communion, in "the perfect law of liberty" (James 1:2525But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25)), do we "delight to do Thy will" (Psa. 40:88I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8)). "I will run the way of Thy commandments when Thou shalt enlarge my heart" (Psa. 119:3232I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:32)). "If Christ is not the motive, it is all good for nothing"—J. N. D. "When the sense of grace is diminished we decline in practice," become carnal and legal.
The Epistle to the Galatians provides the antidote for legality, and that is grace, the grace of Christ. "Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world." "God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world" (Gal. 1:4; 6:144Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4)
14But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)). "Be not conformed to the world" (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)). The present day practice of disregarding this is alarming and most dishonoring to our blessed Savior and Lord. Deliberate disobedience is glaringly testifying to our face. "Women adorn themselves in modest apparel" (1 Tim. 2:99In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (1 Timothy 2:9)), "discreet, chaste" (Titus 2:55To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:5)), "that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear" (Rev. 3:1818I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)). Some even dare to call it legality to mention these holy truths.
What plainer evidence of a lukewarm state can there possibly be than this deliberate disregard of Christ's word?—"vessels" that "dishonor" Him by these abominations? Vulgar exposure resents the voice of "the Faithful and True Witness", Who is speaking loudly, "rebuking", "chastening", "knocking"! The "over-corner" of this deplorable state "hears" and "repents" (Rev. 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)).
While all the redeemed will be translated to glory, mere profession will be "spued out". The gospel opportunity will be "cut off" (Rom. 11:2222Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22)), neglecters “judged" (2 Thess. 2:1212That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:12), J. N.D. transl.), tares "burned" (Matt. 13:3030Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:30)), "cast into outer darkness" (Matt. 22:1313Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:13)), "tormented... forever and ever" (Rev. 14:10, 1110The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. (Revelation 14:10‑11)).
What then are we to conclude as to "legality", "negative truth", "harping" and "fault-finding"? Was it not God speaking through His prophets, appealing, warning, reproving and declaring? He was longsuffering in bearing with their waywardness. Jeremiah wept much during the forty-one years he faithfully testified against Judah and Jerusalem. To these most privileged people on earth he had to tell them about fifty times "Ye hearkened not"! Was he popular? If his faithfulness was met with the charge of "harping"—wishing to silence him—God was continually bidding him to "go", "speak", "declare", "cry", "proclaim". Ezekiel likewise was sent, and to declare their "abominations", 49 times! God told him to "speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear" (Ezek. 2:77And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. (Ezekiel 2:7)). The Lord Jesus Christ wept over Jerusalem, where they crucified Him. Faithful Stephen, a man "full of grace" (Acts 6:88And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. (Acts 6:8), J.N. D. transl.), boldly rehearsed Israel's history to them, for which they stoned him to death. Paul, the chosen vessel to reveal God's grace in Christ to the nations and to the church, was forsaken by most Christians. To the legal Galatians he wrote, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" (Gal. 4:1616Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? (Galatians 4:16)). For these "last days" he urges us to "proclaim the word; be urgent in season and out of season, convict, rebuke, encourage, with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time shall be when they will not hear sound teaching; but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they will turn away their ears from the truth" (2 Tim. 4:2-42Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:2‑4), J. N. D. transl.). It is because of this very thing that we, too, "sigh and cry", and pray that some will take heed. —A. C. B.
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