Legalism is a term used to describe a doctrinal position emphasizing a system of rules and regulations for achieving both salvation and spiritual growth. Legalists believe in and demand a strict literal adherence to rules and ritual especially as a way to salvation. The Bible does have quite a bit to say about legalism.
The core problem with legalism is that it represents an improper understanding of the relationship between law and grace. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is God’s free gift to us, not something we earn by keeping rules.
At the same time, God does have moral standards He expects us to live by. Obedience is important to the Christian life, and Scripture gives us scores of specific commands we are called to follow. But keeping rules does not save us, nor does rule keeping instantly make us more like Christ. Becoming like Christ involves a lifelong process of being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). A mind focused on rule keeping can lead to pride, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy.
The New Testament makes it clear that legalism is incompatible with Christianity. The clearest example is found in the book of Galatians. The Galatians had been saved by faith but were then being influenced by Jewish legalists who told them they had to keep the Old Testament law to truly be right with God. The apostle Paul responds forcefully:
“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Galatians 3:2–3).
Paul calls legalism “a different gospel,” proclaiming that the Galatians had fallen away from the true gospel of grace by embracing legalism (Galatians 1:6–9). The rest of Galatians is an extended defense of salvation by faith alone and not human effort.
Other New Testament writers affirm that legalism is incompatible with Christianity:
“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). James makes the point that the only way to be justified by the law is to keep it perfectly, down to the last detail. Since no one can do this, we need the grace found only in Christ.
“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). Knowledge of what God wants is useless unless it motivates us to apply that knowledge to our lives.
“You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4). Again, a clear statement that faith and legalism are mutually exclusive.
Does this mean God does not care about obedience or holiness? Not at all. We are still called to obedience:
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22). Obedience flows from a heart transformed by God, not external rule keeping.
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Note the balance: We must make every effort, but our efforts do not earn salvation.
Jesus and the apostles addressed specific forms of legalism in Scripture:
1. Reliance on rituals over internal heart change
The Gospels record numerous clashes between Jesus and the Pharisees over legalism. The Pharisees were the rule keepers of the day, but Jesus accused them of emphasizing external obedience to the law over inward heart transformation:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean” (Matthew 23:25–26).
True discipleship requires our hearts to be changed, not just adherence to rituals:
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8–9).
2. Adding rules not expressly commanded by God
The Pharisees were also guilty of binding people with human regulations not actually found in Scripture:
“And he said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men’” (Mark 7:6–8).
We must be careful as Christians not to pass judgment on others over disputable matters not forbidden in Scripture:
“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God” (Romans 14:5–6).
3. Dependence on works over faith
As previously noted, the book of Galatians provides an emphatic denouncement of the view that our works contribute to our salvation. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9). Good works are a natural result of salvation but play no role in earning it.
Romans 4:1-5 clearly distinguishes between the concepts of justification by law (through works) and justification by faith:
“What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.’ Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.”
Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace. When we embrace legalism, we essentially slap God in the face and insist on contributing our good deeds to earn His favor. Our righteous works are described in Scripture as “filthy rags” before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6).
4. Focus on outer appearance over the inner being
Legalists focus externally on keeping up appearances through their strict adherence to the “right” behaviors. But God is concerned about our hearts and inner being. This was Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees:
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:27–28).
We cannot earn salvation or grow closer to God through surface level obedience and rule keeping. God wants to transform us from within:
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature .  .  . For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7).
Legalists may look righteous on the outside, but inwardly they struggle with sin like everyone else. Only the transforming power of the Holy Spirit can change our hearts.
5. Judging others over disputable matters
Legalistic believers often promote their personal convictions on gray areas not directly addressed in Scripture as universal rules for everyone else. But the Bible warns against passing judgment on others over disputable matters not forbidden in Scripture:
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. .  .  . Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:1–5).
“Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Romans 14:13).
While disputable matters are important to the legalist, Paul reminds us that the kingdom of God is not defined by religious dos and don’ts:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Legalism Today
While the term “legalism” does not appear in the Bible, it accurately summarizes a theological error addressed repeatedly in Scripture. Legalism crops up in churches whenever there is a lack of understanding regarding the interplay between law and grace.
Legalism can take many forms. Sometimes there is an overemphasis on keeping external rules and rituals while neglecting inward transformation. Believers may also start holding everyone else to the convictions God has given them personally. This can cover any number of issues not expressly forbidden or commanded in Scripture—whether it be drinking alcohol, dancing, going to the movies, styles of music and dress, or any number of disputable matters.
It is good to have biblical convictions and seek to live by them. But the danger of legalism comes when we start judging others who do not share the same convictions. Or when we impose rules on others not commanded in Scripture. Even worse is creating extrabiblical rules as prerequisites for a relationship with God.
The path to overcoming legalism begins with understanding that our standing before God depends on Jesus’ righteousness alone, not our own good works. When God looks at us, He sees the holiness of Christ, who lived the perfect life we could not live and took our punishment so we could be forgiven. The more we focus on grace, the less we will be inclined toward legalism.
Obedience flows naturally from those who have experienced God’s grace—not to earn God’s favor, but out of gratitude for freely receiving what we do not deserve. As believers, we obey out of love, not obligation. Obedience is a means to the end of becoming more like Jesus, not a path to salvation.
Understanding grace correctly frees us from both rule-based legalism and disobedient license—the ditch on the other side of the road. As believers, we no longer have to keep a checklist of rules to make us feel good about ourselves or try to control others’ behavior. But at the same time, understanding grace correctly motivates us toward Christlike living.
While legalism is a problem in churches, so too is antinomianism, the belief that grace exempts Christians from any moral law or code of conduct. But Scripture makes it clear that our salvation results in a changed life evidenced by good works and obedience, albeit from a transformed heart.
In summary, legalism attempts to secure salvation or Christian growth through strict adherence to rules. But we are not made right with God by following rules; we are saved by His grace received through faith alone. Our obedience flows from having experienced this transforming grace personally. Grace is the only path to freedom from legalism’s corrosive effects.