Question: Is keeping the “law” not “Legalism”?        Answer: If we are serious about following God we must put all effort into understanding His way of life for us on earth as there is no second chance after death when sat_n’s deceits are shown.   The master counterfeiter has deceived many of God’s people as he did from the beginning with Eve. Not by telling her to eat the apple, disobey God; but by impressing another way to look at God’s command rather than literally.  To use her own reasoning, rational etc. so that “when she saw…(Gen 3:6)”, she persuaded herself and Adam to eat the apple and disobey God. Today when attempting to

decode Christians from the false theology rational they have been fed, it generally comes down to “I don’t think, I can’t see, I, I, I rather than what God plainly said “thou shalt do this, thou shalt not do this.

One angle of the deceiver is to teach it is not the “doing” but the heart, spirit, principle etc of the command as if one can project manage, catch a fish, fly a plane or do any other activity simply by thought without the doing action! 

One deceit is to call obedience to God’s commandments “legalism”, a non scriptural word and a concept that did not exist among God’s people, in the Old Testament or Hebrew. Hence, many Christians are still following traditions of men by not knowing who or when first implanted that word or concept into Christianity; yet quote and believe it.

Today’s legal system (criminal & civil) includes disobedient juveniles, adultery, divorce, theft and murder. All these are covered in the ten commandments of Exodus 20.
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. (above traditions).
Another accusation levied against law keepers is of being too legalistic, adhering to the Law. Is it legalistic for all to stop at red traffic lights? If drivers did not there would be chaos and fatalities. Or discard the laws relating to murder and stealing?

The Law is there to bring us to Christ in this and the next life. I am aware the law itself cannot save us; that is not its purpose; but it is by what we measure our actions. It defines and gives knowledge of sin (Rom 7:7). Where there is no law there is no transgression (Rom 4:15). Transgressing the law is therefore sinning, being unrighteous (Rom 4:15). Those who call keeping the law legalistic would change their mind if all they owned was taken. Or cars smashed in to theirs while going through a red light. No law, no transgression, no wrong doing, no need for a saviour or His mercy! Laws keep order for all. Similar to the motorist driving code which we have to learn, pass and abide by to get a driving license. At first learning to drive is a mental struggle with hand and eye coordination to control the dangerous car and drive in safety for all. Once we have mastered the act, we no longer find it a struggle to keep within the law. We automatically drive the car and coordinate our hands and feet. However, if on occasion you break one of the rules, you may see a police car pull you over and remind you of the law which you broke. (Gal 3:24-5). Faith is the same, yet higher than the law in the sense the law are the regulations which once you know how they work you have faith in them. Thousand of people risk their lives in aeroplanes, bungy jumping and other pursuits. They have faith in the laws of physics etc. They may not be mathematicians; but take faith in the calculations of those who are. The law gave them the faith to risk their lives. Others who do not have faith in the laws are afraid to fly in aeroplanes or jump off a bridge with elastic tied to their feet.

Some are taught they are free from the bondage of the law.  A negative spin is put on the law to turn people against it. This is not a new trick, it happened during the historic merger between Rome’s pagan religion and Christians. There is a positive side to this binding concept. Before given the law, God's people were in bondage in Egypt.  He took them out and gave them freedom from worldly slaverly through adherence to \his righteous living instructions.  When the Jews in Exodus marked their door posts, they were bound under God’s promise and protection. Similarly a person is protected by the legal system under which they are bound. Thus being bound by the law has its positive benefits of protection. God calls law keepers “my people” and thus protects them from the second death of Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, (i.e. law breakers) shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

I think Romans 2:13-15 and James 2 explain it well (for James see “Faith” section of the book Have I Got It Right God). First Romans. “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;”. The commandments and laws are for those who need it not those with the right heart who would do the correct thing whether there is a law or not. An easier to understand comparison is one akin to drugs, drinking or smoking which we know are bad for our bodies. Some people abstain from these acts for the right reasons; because it is harmful. Others do them because the law permits. But if the law was to be changed and abolish the acts, some who use to do them would stop due to their illegal nature and legal consequences. They need a law to make them do what the others were doing from the heart. After a period of time the ex drinkers, smokers, etc may see the benefit to their bodies, health etc so that even if the law later re-permits them to smoke or drink, they now choose not to for the right reasons just like the others who abstained from the outset. The law was a schoolmaster to bring the abusers to the benefit and knowledge of the sin; but once the knowledge acquired and understood they can perform the same act through believe rather than the written law. Both groups of people now perform the same act of abstention or obedience. Just that the weaker needed the law and the stronger acted from the heart (Galatians 3:24-25). However, whether the law exist or not, wrong doing is wrong doing.

The word generally translated as “Law” = “the way” which appears too many times in the Bible to list; but some being Genesis 18:19; Ex 18:20; Deu 11:28. The coming of the promised Messiah did not alter “the way” by one jot (Matt 5:17; 7:14);. Jesus said He is the WAY (Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: ). He is the way, the Law, manifested in flesh.

The commandments and ALL of them unaltered, detail the WAY of God. 1Ti 1:9 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, 1Ti 1:10 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;
Exo 18:20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
In Matt 19:17 Jesus directs if we are to enter into life (get rest), we are to keep His fathers commandments. Joh 10:27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Joh 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour”. Psa 40:7-8 “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart”. Jesus was heading to His father in heaven by doing His will, using the laws and commandments as His guide. Jesus confirmed He had not come to destroy or change the “Law”. In fact, He came to magnify it. Show how it is to be kept. Shine a light on it and make it clear through clarification and examples. Isa 42:12 “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable”.

Yahshua (or Jesus to most) was the living Law. Scripture speaks of their attributes in the same way. Truth (Joh 14:6, Psalm 119:142), holy (Acts 4:27, Rom 7:12), perfect (Heb 5:9, psalm 19:7) righteous (1 Cor 1:30, Psa119:172), light (Joh 8:12, Pro 6:23), just (Acts 22:14, Rom 7:12), abide in forever (Joh 8:35, Psa 111:7-8), should be in the heart (Eph 3:17, Psa 40:8), gives freedom, no condemnation and liberty (Rom 8:1, James 2:12. Rejecting the Law is rejecting Jesus (and visa versa), which brings wrath (Joh 3:36, Neh 13:18). Jesus was pure; in Him was no sin. 1 Joh 3:4 defines sin as transgression of the Law, going against Jesus; “whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”. Therefore, how can any Christian professing to follow Christ think they are no longer under the law (The Way); under Jesus’ directive. That they are now free to commit sin against God and man (Rom 7:7)? What is the reward or wages of sin, breaking the Law, going against God or Jesus? Death not rest (Rom 6:23)! Separation from God. So if you wish to “rest” in Jesus, keep ALL His and His father’s commandments. Whether you get to heaven in obedience to the Law or faith in Jesus; following for what he stands, do as he did.

Thus if there is any of the commandments you are not keeping, even one, it means you do not yet know Christ, only possibly, part of Him. 1 Joh 2:3-4 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
When one understands the prophesy of Dan 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: (i.e. try change the way) and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time”. Note the deceiver deceives the whole world and gets them to worship the beast etc through deceit that Jesus changed the Law / way. With the spin of apparent angels of light, “sin” “transgression of the Law” (1Jhn 3:4) is portrayed as freedom.

As to those who teach the law has been changed, cancelled etc 1Ti 1:7 “Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm”. These are false pastors teachers etc thinking (desiring to be) they are teachers but frankly do not know what they are talking about (understanding neither what they say nor affirm). See topic “sat_n’s Paralell Christian system” an extract of which is:
As said in the introduction, satan, the master deceiver, has a parallel Christian system with that of the true system of Jehovah God “who art in heaven”, the creator of all things. To God and God alone should be directed our praise and worship. His system is loving, fair and open to build up and save us while not imposing on our freewill. The deceiver’s, is deceitful, bullying, working like a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8) to destroy you life by any means. For satn to exalt himself as god he desires and needs us to worship him. Maybe he thinks he can dethrone God. As an English saying goes “possession is 9/10th of the law. Possibly satan feels by gaining our worship he becomes god if not in theory at least by our practice and worship.
Satan’s false worship system (a counterfeit of Yahweh’s the real one).
GOD Thessalonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he (satan) as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. I.e. satan putting himself in position as if he is the real God.

CHRIST Mark 13:22For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect (same as Matt 24:24) , Matt 24:5 for many shall come in my name saying, I am Christ and shall deceive many. Jer 14:14 The Lord said, the prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not neither have I commanded them, neither spake onto them, they prophesy onto you false vision and divination, and a thing of naught, and the deceit of their heart. See also Jer 23:13-14, 21, 31-32 “For both prophet and priests are profane, yea in my house have I found their wickedness saith the Lord…): If satan cannot stop the true message reaching you, he will distraught it. In Acts 23:12, satan tried to use the church against Paul to stop his testimony and teachings getting out. Fighting like with like (i.e. fire with fire). Today we have Christian Spiritualist churches offering contact with the dead etc when the bible clearly states i.e. in Leviticus 20:27 “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them”. , Zech 10:2. Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep clothing.24:11many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many. See also Luke 6:26.Rev 19:20 “and the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had mark of beast and worshiped his image. 2 Corn 11:14-15 and no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light; therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their works.: A test of God’s prophets is not only must their prophesies come true (not by guess or being vague) but they must also coincide with all prior revelations and scripture. In N.T. Paul and John taught that the content of the message already received was the standard by which to judge any new message even if it came from an angel (Gal 1:8) or a spirit masquerading as God’s Spirit (Eze 13:3). 

PASTORS / TEACHERS2 Corn 15: 11.13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. Jer 2:8 “the priest said not, where is the Lord? And they that handled the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit .Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. Jer 22:22 “the wind shall eat up all thy pastors” Jer 23:1-2 Woe be onto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord. 2 Tim 4:3-4, Isaiah 43:27 Thy teachers have transgressed against me, 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets among the people, as there shall be false teachers 2:3 and through covetousness shall with feigned wordsmake merchandise of you i.e. being good speakers and sales men sell you to the devil knowingly or in ignorance. Some kings installed priests for a fee or their own purpose (i.e. 1 Kings 13:33), just like sorcerer in Acts 8:9 and 19 who wanted to buy gift of the holy ghost for a price. See also Micah 3:11.