Original collection
Legalism / Obedience Is Not Legalism
Biblical obedience is not legalism merely because it takes God's commands seriously. Jesus said, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments,' and Paul spoke of obedience to the faith. Error arises when people seek righteousness through human merit, bind human traditions as divine law, or seek justification through a covenant God has not bound. Grace and obedient faith are not enemies.
Key KJV Scriptures:
Mark 7:6-13; John 14:15; Romans 1:5; Galatians 5:1-6; Ephesians 2:8-10
Key KJV Scriptures: Full Text
19 indexed verses · Showing 1–19. Read each passage in its chapter context.
Mark 7:6 (KJV)
He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
Mark 7:7 (KJV)
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:8 (KJV)
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Mark 7:9 (KJV)
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:10 (KJV)
For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
Mark 7:11 (KJV)
But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
Mark 7:12 (KJV)
And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
Mark 7:13 (KJV)
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
John 14:15 (KJV)
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Romans 1:5 (KJV)
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:2 (KJV)
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Galatians 5:3 (KJV)
For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Galatians 5:4 (KJV)
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:5 (KJV)
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Galatians 5:6 (KJV)
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9 (KJV)
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.