How does a legalist get into church? Easy, by way of a member. Then all that has to happen is more bad theology until it infects the whole church. These are things we cant tolerate, and we cannot accept within ourself. Things that attack and war against true grace. So, how did the legalists get in, infect the whole church, and why in the world are they even effective? The book of Galatians is the grace-book of the grace Bible. It is by God’s grace we received the truth and it is in the truth we find what grace is and is not.
If a church decides to believe that salvation is by any other than Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, apart from any human effort, that is not a grace-church. Legalism on the other hand is not Bible accuracy. It is by definition something legislated against another. Jesus was and is truth and grace. Upon closer inspection we find in the book of Galatians that the churches of Galatia were all being attacked by the heresy of what we call today legalism. This shouldn’t be confusing, but tradition that is not biblical has really taken a hold on churches in the twentieth and twenty-first century in North America. I really hate how grace and truth has been hijacked by one-liners and extremists. One such extremisms is fundamentalism. Fundamentalists take the scripture, out of context, and react to the culture. Some hold that their church is fundamentalist unashamedly. For them, they believe the term means that they are holding a line of truth straight from the scripture and that line is a direct quote. That may actually be true. They may indeed just not know the origin or definition of fundamentalism. For instance they might be taking it as “the fundamentals of faith”. If that is true, then grand. But there are a vast majority that do not just do that. So many more go beyond and use the scripture as a weapon against others. To combat that, others pull to an equal and opposite extreme by redefining grace as a cart blanch pass to all things sin. No matter how bad, it’s ok… is not at all what Jesus said. In fact, Paul said in Romans chapters 6 and 7, that sin is not to be the definition of the spirit-filled believer. There is now, nor has there ever been, any excuse for sin. We are to confess and forsake (1 John 1).
Having said all of that—Galatians 2.1-7 explains how some like to come in, and spy out how we love and live in a church of grace, in order to enslave people in fear and legalism. I know of few scriptures that more boldly expose the damage of grace-killers. There are those who twist the gospel. They redefine the salvation Jesus has provided. But here we are considering those who spy-to-enslave individuals. Their bullying results in nominal-at-best ‘christian’ (by name only) believers. Fourteen years earlier the apostle Paul had been given a direct revelation from God that he was called to minister especially to the Gentiles. Peter, you may remember, was called to minister especially to the Jews. A question arose as to a Gentile being circumcised in order for him to be a Christian. There were other related and some times unrelated questions as well: ‘Does he need to maintain a certain diet?’; ‘Does he need to fulfill the requirements of the Law?’; ‘Does he need to become converted to Judaism after trusting Christ?’ In other words, was it necessary for Moses and the law to finish off what Christ had begun?
Paul emphatically said no sir! He presented the gospel based on the message of grace alone. It cannot be earned (Ephesians 2.8-9). Of course a bumper crop of Gentiles responded. This caused some of the Jewish believers to get nervous, especially those who held to a more legalistic position of salvation. The reason? They were going to lose their influence. The increase of so many Gentile converts disturbed them much like the Jews in Egypt. The apostle Paul’s response was not so delicate.
Peter had come Antioch with some prominent former leaders of Judaism, like priests and pharisees who had made a profession. Yet, the scripture says here that they were spying out what was happening here in Antioch. So were they really saved? Either wya Peter didnt handle it well. Paul confronted him, and then it sparked the need for a meeting of leaders in Jerusalem of Apostles and Pastors. And so off he went to Jerusalem, where the meeting would be held, taking Barnabas (a circumcised Jew) and Titus (an uncircumcised Gentile). Paul traveled with his case studies in tow. Paul tells us what he did when he arrived in Galatians 2.2— “And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.” He came with an open attitude, but ready for war if necessary. He said, in effect, “Men, I want you to know that I have been teaching the good news of Christ according to grace. Am I right, or do I need to be corrected?” I wasn’t there obviously, but I have to admit I would be a little intimidated. But their answer was, “You’re right. We approve of this message.” But verse 3 of chapter 2 says— “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:” You think the legalists took that sitting down? Nope. In fact, verse 4 and 5 says— “And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.” Paul did not tolerate their disagreement and submit to their legalistic demands. The sneaking legalists were making their move, and he refused to submit to them even for an hour.
The Greek term kataskopos is translated “spy out.” It means “to do reconnoissance, to make a treacherous investigation.” Why? That’s not difficult to answer: To enslave! There were those who not only disliked Paul’s freedom but who also wanted others to live in the same bondage they did. You know that people like that still exist. In verse 4 Paul says they came in: “unawares” they sneaked in. Where? At the time, in a LOT of churches at once. In verse 5 he basically states, “I didn’t submit, so you could remain in the freedom of the Gospel.” When there is a sneaking in of legalism, there will also be the need for those in leadership to stand fast. The strong must defend the weak. Trust me, legalists don’t get the message if you’re unsure and soft with them. No need to be mean-spirited…that’s not demonstrating grace either. But there is the need to be firm.
Fact: There are people who do not want us to be free. They are a workers of Satan perverting the ways of the New Testament. They don’t want us to be free before God, accepted just as we are, by his grace. They don’t want us to be free to express our faith in the world. They want to control us. They themselves refuse to live out their faith openly, but huddle together with a few others and try to get a sense of approval by insisting that everyone looks alike, talks alike and acts alike, thus validating one another’s worth. Sad. They try to enlarge their numbers only on the condition that new members act and talk and behave the way they do. These people infiltrate communities of faith “to spy out our freedom which we have in Christ Jesus”. They find your weak spots and exploit you for ways to control, restrict and reduce the lives of the flock. Without being aware of it, we become anxious about what others will say about us, obsessively concerned about what others think we should do.
Further they are labeled hypocrites. As the last blog post exposed we have even more evidence here in Galatians 2.11-14. These are those who lie and deceive. This text is one of those rare places in the New Testament where two church leaders clashed. The two are Paul, the apostle, and Peter— “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.” (11). Question: Why would Paul rebuke Peter? He tells us in verse 12— “For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.” This whole thing was the blow up which caused the meeting in Jerusalem in the first place. The issue was with who they ate with at the assembly. The members who were mixed in their backgrounds and former religions (“former” being the main thought here) were eating together at their assemblies. The Jews were eating with Gentiles, which Jesus did as well.
This went on until some Jews from Jerusalem visited their church, hearing how God had been blessing them. The ones who visited were some former Pharisees, Priests, etc as I stated earlier. And when they did visit, you could hear it— “Oh, no thanks, I never eat bacon.” I mean, who wouldn’t eat bacon if there was a chance you might could?! Any way, I digress. This was an obvious lie, told by none other than Peter himself. He was hoping the visiting Jews would give him a sign of approval. The problem was that before James and his Jewish friends arrived, Peter could be heard saying to his Gentile cronies, “Sure, I’ll take a little bacon on my kosher salad.” Since then, the jew leaders were there and now he has turned into a hypocrite!
Paul saw through the duplicity and exposed the hypocrisy in Peter. In effect, he scolds the very idea of Peter ‘faking it’ in front of Jews and then turn around and fake it in front of Gentiles. This is a man who was preaching and teaching grace, but not living it. Because out of the other side of his mouth, he was talking law. The problem intensified as others saw their leader and modeled his hypocritical lifestyle in verses 13-14— “And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”
Why would Paul be so strong? Because people take their cues from their leaders. Sheep follow shepherds. And since legalistic hypocrisy never quietly dies on its own, it must be confronted. You want to mess up the minds of your children? Here’s how—guaranteed! Rear them in a legalistic, tight context of external religion, where performance is more important than reality. Fake your faith. Fake your love. And make sure to judge others in front of, or even to, your kids. They already know you’re a hypocrite, now they have a real reason to be one themselves. There are those who sneak around pretending they’re spirituality. They act one way but live another. And you can count on it—emotional and spiritual damage will occur. Chances are good their confusion will lead to worse things later.
By the way, before you’re tempted to think that you’ll never be guilty of hypocrisy, that you’re above that sort of temptation, remember what Paul exposed in this letter to the Galatians. A spiritual leader as strong and stable as Peter fell for it. And with him, many others as well, “even Barnabas.” Legalism is so subtle, so insidious. You are not above the temptation to fall into it. In fact, our flesh craves the popularity, and the judgement of others, at the same time.
It’s especially tempting to those whose temperament tends toward pleasing people. They tend to side with those harassing others behind their back or to their face. Think about it—they tend to please, they know how these others can be if you disagree, so they will try to ‘keep peace’ by playing both sides. Galatians 1.10 says— “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”