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Legalism is working in our own power, or according to our own rules. But ultimately, legalism
is working to earn God's favor -- do these certain things and you will experience favor
before God; you will be accepted before God.
And that's exactly what is countered here in Galatians 2:1-10. Now remember, this is
important, we don't talk a lot about circumcision today; we don't talk a lot about Jewish laws,
this or that, but I want you to think about this definition here -- right behavior with
wrong belief.
What the Judaisers, don't miss this, what the Judaisers were saying needed to be done
-- be circumcised, follow Jewish laws -- those were not bad things. Be circumcised was important
for the people of God all throughout history up to this point, so that's certainly not
a bad thing.
And following the laws that God had given His people in the Old Testament, is that bad?
No, these are not bad things in and of themselves. But they became bad things when they were
accompanied by a belief that in doing those things, one would be accepted before God,
or have approval before God.
Let me repeat that -- good behaviors became bad things when they were accompanied by a
belief that by doing them you were accepted before God, or had favor before God. Now translate
that a couple of thousand years later into our context.
We're not talking about circumcision or following Jewish laws, but what are the things that
we do -- good things? Maybe a quiet time; Bible study; coming to worship, like you've
done some time; serving people -- good things, these are very good things, they're very good
behaviors to give our lives to.
At the same time, as soon as they are accompanied by the belief that doing those things makes
us more favorable before God, we've missed the point. It's right behavior with wrong
belief, and we have to be careful to avoid legalism, avoid thinking if we've had good
quiet times all week, that we sit in here with more favor before God than the person
sitting next to us who's not prayed all week long.
So we've gotta be careful in good behaviors, good things, not to equate those with a belief
that says that makes me more favored before God than someone else. So that's legalism,
that's the picture in Galatians 2:1-10.