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The Lure of Legalism
Being a Christian is about accepting God’s grace and faithfully living for God – let that be the standard for yourself and others.
Being a Christian is about accepting God’s grace and faithfully living for God – let that be the standard for yourself and others.
Galatians 2:1-5Galatians 2:1-5
• The Gentile Christians do NOT need to be circumciced.
• God’s approval – they have the Holy Spirit.
• The Gentile Christians do NOT need to be circumciced.
• God’s approval – they have the Holy Spirit.
Diaspora Struggle:Diaspora Struggle:
• “Hebraic” Jews – continued to live exactly by the cultural laws of the Old Testament.
• “Hellenistic” Jews – lived the moral code of the OT, but dressed like Greeks, and some other customs.
• Gentile converts – got circumcised and became culturally Jewish.
• Gentile “God-fearers” – obeyed the moral laws, but not the cultural laws.
• “Hebraic” Jews – continued to live exactly by the cultural laws of the Old Testament.
• “Hellenistic” Jews – lived the moral code of the OT, but dressed like Greeks, and some other customs.
• Gentile converts – got circumcised and became culturally Jewish.
• Gentile “God-fearers” – obeyed the moral laws, but not the cultural laws.
Galatians 2:1-5Galatians 2:1-5
• You do not need to be culturally Jewish to be FULLY Christian. (Cf. 3:28)
• God has FULLY accepted (“justified”) everyone who comes to Him through Jesus.
1. Beware of cultural legalism.
• You do not need to be culturally Jewish to be FULLY Christian. (Cf. 3:28)
• God has FULLY accepted (“justified”) everyone who comes to Him through Jesus.
1. Beware of cultural legalism.
Galatians 2:6-10Galatians 2:6-10
• Keep preaching – GO!• Continue to care for the poor.
• Keep preaching – GO!• Continue to care for the poor.
Galatians 2:11-14Galatians 2:11-14
• The food laws are not binding anymore – even for Jews.
• Problem – Peter is either saying:– The Cross was not necessary.– The Cross was not enough.
2. Lose legalism before you confront others.
• The food laws are not binding anymore – even for Jews.
• Problem – Peter is either saying:– The Cross was not necessary.– The Cross was not enough.
2. Lose legalism before you confront others.
Galatians 2:11-14Galatians 2:11-14
2. Lose legalism before you confront others.• Only confront on a key issue.• “On the essentials unity, on the non-
essentials freedom, in all things love.” (Augustine)
• Freedom for a Christian does not mean we do everything we want – it means God has set us free from our own desires to faithfully live for Christ, fully devoted followers.
2. Lose legalism before you confront others.• Only confront on a key issue.• “On the essentials unity, on the non-
essentials freedom, in all things love.” (Augustine)
• Freedom for a Christian does not mean we do everything we want – it means God has set us free from our own desires to faithfully live for Christ, fully devoted followers.
Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21• Cultural laws not for Gentiles (circumcision,
food, calendar) – they are fully accepted by God.
• Those laws also not binding on Jews now – a new covenant in Jesus – living in the Holy Spirit.
• The rules themselves are not how we are right with God – God accepts us by His grace, and we live right with Him out of love, following the Holy Spirit.
• Cultural laws not for Gentiles (circumcision, food, calendar) – they are fully accepted by God.
• Those laws also not binding on Jews now – a new covenant in Jesus – living in the Holy Spirit.
• The rules themselves are not how we are right with God – God accepts us by His grace, and we live right with Him out of love, following the Holy Spirit.
Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21
• “Works of the Law”– Specifically circumcision, food, calendar.– Generally to all effort to earn God’s
acceptance.
• We do need to obey – a response of love.
• The Judaizing Christians in Galatia – turning God’s love into legalism.
• “Works of the Law”– Specifically circumcision, food, calendar.– Generally to all effort to earn God’s
acceptance.
• We do need to obey – a response of love.
• The Judaizing Christians in Galatia – turning God’s love into legalism.
Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21
• “For through law I died in law, so that I might live in God!” (v.19)
• My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2:20
• “For through law I died in law, so that I might live in God!” (v.19)
• My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2:20
Galatians 2:15-21Galatians 2:15-21
3. Surrender your self-legalism to God’s grace.
• Accept His Acceptance.• God is not a legalist – we are.• God’s dream for us and others – more
life, joy, peace, freedom, love!
3. Surrender your self-legalism to God’s grace.
• Accept His Acceptance.• God is not a legalist – we are.• God’s dream for us and others – more
life, joy, peace, freedom, love!
