Legalist
What is a “Legalist?” Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives us this concept; [Noun] “(a) an advocate or adherent of moral legalism (b) one that views things from a legal standpoint especially : one that places primary emphasis on legal principles or on the formal structure of governmental institutions” Colins Dictionary gives us this concept; “Strict adherence to the letter of the Law.” Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.” Psalm 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Isaiah 8:20 “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.” Exodus 20:6 “And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:23 “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Deuteronomy 32:46 “And he [Moses] said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.” God expects from his kids perfect obedience, Matthew 5:8 “Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Galatians 6:7-8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
Daniel 7:10 “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Revelation 20:12-13 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” Firstly for one to have a “Judgement,” then there must firstly have been a ‘Law Book’ from which to closely examine each case, so that a righteous Judgement can be recorded against each person of their compliance, or lack thereof, with the rule book, or to their flouting the law and to thus being unlawful and disobedient. 1 Timothy 1:8-10 “But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully; knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;” Quote; “”The mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming; even he, whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be judged who believe not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12, A. R. V. {8T 226}. 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10 “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Quote; “The ancient Israelites had not too much will, –it needs willpower to be a servant of God, –but when they fixed it on the side of self-indulgence, and in opposition to the direct commands of God, it only wrought for their destruction. They placed their will on the side of the first great rebel, and followed his example in complaining of the precepts of Heaven. All murmuring against the law of God is instigated by the lawless one who first created dissatisfaction in the courts of Jehovah, and incited rebellion among the ranks of the angels. {ST, 6/1/1888}
Matthew 12:30 “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Lawless is expounded by Collins dictionary as, Breaking the Law, not having Laws. 1 Timothy :9 “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,” Strongs [459] for ‘Lawless,’ is defined as, “Not subject to the Jewish law, a Gentile, wicked and without law, lawless, transgressor, unlawful, wicked.” Basically, it seems that it is impossible to ever sin; except, you firstly give your permission, a free will decision, to go down that slippery path. I chose to be a ‘Legalist,’ one who respects God by respecting his guidance, his ways and his rules. In this life we can refuse to be under God, and therefore become an ‘Anarchist,’ and ‘Lawless,’ one who follows their own way, one who is selfish and self-centered, and the end thereof is the way of sin, and death, alongside Satan, and his followers of ‘Lawlessness.’ Are you ‘Lawless’ or are you a ‘Legalist?’
