Aleethia!

This post is part of a teaching series on the book of Colossians. All of the lessons in this series can be found here. In the first lesson we outlined the book. In each subsequent lesson we look at one small section of the outline and seek to answer five questions concerning the text.

In the last lesson we say Paul dealing with the underlying philosophy of gnosticism that was held by the false teachers at Colossae. Now Paul begins to deal with specific teachings and practices that had grown out of that philosophy. In these two verses, the issue is legalism.

What is legalism? The word literally means “excessive adherence to law or formula.”

I see two courses of action that I would define as legalism for Christians.

Regarding salvation - thinking that our adherence to, or keeping of, the Law is what merits our salvation. This is self-righteousness, self-earned righteousness. This is what the Pharisees did that Jesus called them out for. They made sure to keep strict outward laws, but their hearts were wicked and unregenerate. They thought they were better than others because of their works. John Piper says that legalism occurs when people turn the commandments into a job description whose payment (wages) is salvation. ¹

Adding man-made laws to God’s Law and insisting on the keeping of them, for either salvation or church membership. This would include churches that will only allow you to be a member if you promise not to drink, or dance, or play cards, or that (if you are a girl) you will not wear pants (at least not to church). Or even if these things are not formally part of the church membership, they look down on, condemn, or withdraw fellowship, from those who do these things.

Aside from man-made regulations, we know that our salvation is not dependent on our keeping the law, it is dependent on Jesus having kept the law for us. Once we are saved, by grace not works, what is our relationship with God’s Law supposed to look like? › Continue reading