The beauty of the Bible is that they never contradict each other.  Biblical Laws can be easy to understand – “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), while others seem to go against human nature – “Love your enemy” (Matthew 5:43).  Whether the rules make sense to man or not, we are commissioned to follow them.  Legalists take this commission to the next level and claim in them can be found salvation.

The belief that salvation can be found in the Law is a fallacy.  In the third chapter of the book of Galatians, Paul scolds the Galatians for their legalism.  He asks with zeal, “Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard?”  The Spirit was obviously at work in their community and had been shown in many miracles; however, the Galatians continued to argue the absolute necessity of the Law.  Paul warns the Galatians and goes as far as to say, “All who rely in observing the law are under a curse” (Galatians 3:10).  He gives an Old Testament reference, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” This sharp point must have proven his case against the illusions of legalism but Paul continues with an example of Abraham to pierce their layers of arguments.

Abraham was accepted as a righteous man; however, the laws of Moses, which the Galatians kept religiously, had not been recorded until 430 years later.  How could Abraham be righteous if he was not following the Mosaic Laws?  Paul explains the covenant God created with Abraham, that “The righteous will live by faith,” was fulfilled not only through Moses but also in Christ.  Abraham was righteous because he believed; we too are righteous because we believe, not because we follow Laws. On the other hand, this is not an excuse to discard God’s Laws completely.  One might say, “If I am cursed for following the Laws, I won’t follow any at all (or maybe just those that make sense to me).”  The scripture says, “All who RELY in observing the law..”  It is obvious the Galatians were missing a crucial element.  They were following God’s Laws and living according to the principles of the Old Testament, but they did not acknowledge the importance of Christ.  One might then say, “Well I have Jesus, I don’t need all of these rules.”  This is true in essence, but empty in principle.

If someone truly believes Christ died for his sins and has been baptized, it is my interpretation of the scriptures and strong belief that it does not end here.  On the contrary, this is where it begins!  I believe once someone has the Holy Spirit, they will have a desire to follow all of God’s Commandments.  Salvation is not necessarily a completion of all of God’s Laws, but with Salvation comes a desire to know and follow His Laws.

One must be careful, however, not to judge others.  It is not Man’s responsibility to say, “You don’t follow these certain rules, Christians are supposed to keep these rules, you’re not a Christian.”  Man’s perception of a follower of Christ has become tragically skewed by legalism.  Although we know there are certain characteristics of someone who knows the truth, the absence of a few of these characteristics does not allow us to make judgments on the faith of these people.  We must continually remind ourselves where the heart of salvation is kept.

The Laws of the Bible are direct commandments to each and every one of us.  Those who choose to follow them exhibit a character that can be found in a Christian.  Be weary of legalism and the path it follows.  One must find a balance in his life, following the Laws of God without forgetting the essential ingredient of Christ’s sacrifice.