Legalism and Lordship: What's the Difference?

I have been alarmed at the misunderstanding that persists about the lordship of Christ. I believe that I (and others) have shown that the message of the lordship of Christ is, at least, an essential part of the gospel. Many equate lordship with perfectionism. Some have gone as far to tell me that John MacArthur’s book, The Gospel According to Jesus, demands a perfect submission to Christ from those who desire to be saved. This is simply not the case. So what is the difference between lordship and legalism? I hope to briefly discuss this and clarify for you this issue.

Jesus makes pretty exacting demands upon those who desire to be saved; this is true. He told a man to “go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me" (Mark 10:21). He commanded His disciples and the unbelieving crowds both "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷For what can a man give in return for his life? ³⁸For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:34-38). He also told them “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire” (Mark 943-44). This is the kind of faith Christ demands for salvation. This is true and living faith. For living faith produces works (cf. James 2:17).

Lordship is an essential quality of the Christian life. Submission to Christ is necessary for salvation (in other words, faith in Christ (which produces submission) is necessary for salvation). This does not mean that Christians will be without sin. Christians do still sin. They are counted righteous in Christ, and they are only being made righteous currently in the process known as sanctification. Submission to the Lordship of Christ is submitting to the demands of Scripture upon your life and to the Spirit’s leading (generally through your conscience in personal convictions).

Legalism would be anything that does not fall under the direct commands of Scripture in the New Covenant in Christ’s blood. This would include attempting to obtain righteousness through the practice of the Law. Legalism could include anything from what day you take rest and seek to worship corporately (whether Saturday (for my Seventh Day friends) or Sunday (for most other Christians), though you are to take a day of rest) to what foods you eat (though you should seek to eat healthy, as your body does belong to the Lord). It could include what kind of clothes you wear, how much money you give to the cause of Christ (though giving is a command in Scripture!), what neighborhood you live in, how much television you watch, what holidays you adhere to, how often you go sharing, etc. Legalism is anything that deals with personal conviction and/or preferences (such as which version of the Bible to use).

Legalism is not always bad. Sometimes legalistic issues can fall under issues of Lordship. Such issues include obeying the government (seriously, if you do not pay your taxes, you are not submitting to the lordship of Christ). Issues as to who can be elders and deacons are outlined in Scripture as well (cf. 1 Timothy 3). Being baptized and taking communion are also requisites of the Christian faith. There are many issues that Scripture touches on; and even though adherence to them is legalistic, it is legalistic in submission to the Lordship of Christ. To not submit to Scripture on an issue is to disobey God.

I hope that this very brief synopsis helps to clear up both legalism and lordship. Both do make the demand of perfection upon us; though in lordship there is forgiveness in Christ for those who walk in an upright, repentant manner, while legalism is a demand of merit that does not offer forgiveness for error (that is, legalism that is as it is defined above—personal preference/conviction). We can seek to subject others to issues of Lordship, for that is only proper in correcting them in their sin. On issues of legalism, we can only put forth our ideals as preferences that do not have necessary bearing upon others. Seek to live in submission to Christ day by day; for as the hymn says, “trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”

*All Scripture quoted from the English Standard Version of the Bible, because I’m not a legalist on this matter.