Some say they are not legalistic because they allow everything and are tolerant of everyone and all that God condemns.
1 Corinthians 5:11-13 "11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
In our day in most church gatherings those who are reviled and excluded are the ones who point out the sin and desire to restore the sinner through repenatance.
The Christian church is legalistic in divorce and remarriage, they defend it as though it is endorsed in the Bible. They judge those who speak about the Bible against divorce and remarriage, and isolate them because they bring the word of God that condemns these acts.
People in the church are calling legalism things that are obedience to the word of God, while they follow the rules and standards of man that God never gave.
It is just like the devil to claim that bad is good and good is bad. His favorite place to be is in the gathering of believers where people love the ear-tickling and accepting sermons that allow sin without consequences.
People are calling it legalistic when we speak the truth of God about things that are accepted by the culture, while following the rules man makes up to control the people.
It is never legalism to seek the truth of God to actually follow it. It is legalism to negate the things of God to embrace man's idea of righteousness that God spoke against in the Bible.
We are literally living in an opposite world, where people often believe the opposite of what God said, even those in many church gatherings.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Difficult Times Will Come
3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."
We know this mentality is in the church because God said in verse 5 "they have a form of godliness," but have denied Christ in the practice of their religion.
Many are religious but not born again, sad to say, and religious and rebellious at the same time.
2 Peter 3:3 "Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires."
Matthew 24:12 "Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold."
We are experiencing almost a total lack of God's love from nearly everyone. The love the world displays is one of serving others to elevate themselves. It is not the love of God because they are dedicated to God and to their brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a self-love that is good to people when they have something to offer, not a pure selfless love.
Jude 1:18 “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”
We can live in peace as we obey God's Word even if others do not. There will not be many who come alongside to support our resolve to obey the Bible, but Christ is enough, and one or two others are gravy.
