Page 50 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

Study Section 8: Jesus comes under Persecution

8.1 Connect

Charles Swindoll writes in his commentary that legalism is an enemy. I declare that not just on the
basis of Scripture; I have discovered its spirit – smothering capacity through experience. As a
young believer seeking companions to share my spiritual journey, I found myself surrounded by a
group of legalists and, without realizing it, I began to embrace their views. I started gauging the
quality of my spiritual life and the lives of others by list of do’s and don’ts, measuring everyone’s
worth in terms of performance and achievement. I wanted to pursue spiritual excellence, but I thought I could
do it on my terms, as though righteousness depended completely up on my efforts. Instead of experiencing
greater joy in my relationship with Christ, I became critical and judgmental. I gradually turned into a harsh,
negative, rigid spirit. Freedom was gone. Worship was flat. Service was drudgery. I didn’t realize it at the time,
but that environment of legalism was smothering me. Because legalism is a subtle, silent killer, we need to
understand our enemy before we confront it. We need to know what it is, how it appears, and why it is wrong.

8.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to clearly define what legalism is and why it is such a dangerous
attitude to develop.

2. The student should be able to describe how Jesus is equal to God in several ways.

3. The student should be able to distinguish the differences between the “oncological Trinity” and the
“economic Trinity”?

8.3 The Persecuted Jesus - John 5:1 – 16

What is legalism?
Legalism is the establishment of
standards carefully selected by people
for the purpose of celebrating human
achievement under the guise of pleasing God.
Legalism is righteousness as defined by humans, who
frequently cite God as the source of the standard. In
reality, the standards come from culture, tradition,
and most frequently the personal preferences of
those who maintain positions of power or influence.
Legalism is based on lists (legalist love their lists!). If
you do keep every item on the list of do’s and don’ts,
you are deemed spiritually acceptable. But if you
don’t follow the prescribed standard, you are judged
unworthy of God’s favor and others approval.
Naturally, the legalist always think they know how
God judges and they are more than willing to act on
His behalf.
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