Discussion questions on legalism
C. J. Mahaney, The Cross-Centered Life, chapter 3, “Breaking the Rules of Legalism”.
See also John Piper, Set Free by the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
See also C. J. Mahaney, “Interrogating the Legalist Within”, Celebration Mid-South 2003.
“Legalism is fundamentally self-atonement for the purpose of self-glorification.” In light of the cross, and who God is, this is the height of arrogance. We cannot approach legalism casually.
Questions to interrogate your inner legalist and expose your legalism.
Who has bewitched you? (to provoke to see the seriousness of legalism)
Did you receive the Spirit by works of the Law or by hearing with faith? (We were saved not because we were obedient, but because Christ is the object of our faith.)
Having begun by the Spirit, are you now perfected by the flesh? (How we begin is how we continue; the gospel is “never succeeded or supplemented.”)
Practices to pursue to mortify legalism.
Remember the cross (v.1). (Legalism forgets the cross! The answer to legalism is to “look outward and upward; flee to the cross” again and again.)
Recall our conversion (v.2). (Our conversion is not attributable to human achievement.)
Review our hope (vv.4-5). (Our righteousness is secure in heaven forevermore; our righteousness is Jesus Christ himself.)
Discussion questions.
What is legalism?
In what ways are you vulnerable to the daily temptation of legalism?
What does it mean to be justified by faith alone through Christ alone?
How does your conversion experience confirm that you were not justified by the works of the law?
What is your plan to fight “the legalist within” this week?
How can meditating upon the crucified Savior free you from attempts to earn forgiveness for a specific sin?
Discussion points
What is legalism?
Identify areas of legalism in your life.
What activities, disciplines, etc. are an important part of your Christian walk?
Have you allowed any of these to take on a degree of importance such that you feel you “must” do them? Have you allowed them to become requirements that add to the gospel?
[prompting question] Several people have mentioned that they feel self-condemned when they are struggling with sin. Does anybody struggle with self-righteous legalism?
What failings and sins are a source of regret or guilt in your Christian walk?
Have you allowed yourself to be driven by condemnation in these areas, rather than by the reality of your forgiveness in Christ?
[prompting question] Several people have mentioned that they feel self-righteous when they are “doing well”. Does anybody struggle with self-condemning legalism?
If we cannot earn God’s favor, what is the result of our faithfulness and obedience?
God is glorified and is pleased; we receive his blessing, but not His favor, which is already secured for us in his love by the cross.
If our justification means there is no condemnation, what is the result of our sin?
We misrepresent God, and he is displeased and grieved; we may be disciplined by him, but are neither separated from him nor fall from his favor.
What is our self-condemning legalism revealed to be in light of the cross?
What is our self-righteous legalism revealed to be in light of the cross?
Do you view legalism as sin?
Would everyone be comfortable saying you understand the difference between justification and sanctification, and how they relate to each other? If someone examined your life and your heart, would they say you live as though you understand that difference?
Do you see your faithfulness and obedience as gifts from God, secured by the cross and attained by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Do you fight forgiven sin? That is, do you fight sin with confidence that not only are you not condemned because of the cross, but you are empowered by God to overcome?
Identify specific ways that, in the areas you mentioned earlier, you can put away self-righteousness and change your thinking to be more cross-centered.
What specific action can you take when you realize you are exhibiting self-righteousness or self-condemnation?
How can you cultivate a cross-centered outlook?