Some legalists are black legalists, and some are red legalists! As we have already noticed, a legalist is one who thinks to earn salvation by keeping the law, or in any other way, apart from Christ.

A black legalist then, is one with a black suit and black tie, black shoes and black socks! He is the one with the long face. He is the conservative legalist, who finds his security in the church standards that he upholds. But he is a legalist, for he has no time for personal fellowship and acquaintance with the Lord Jesus, although he may spend a lot of time studying doctrine and standards and ethics.

A red legalist is one who wears jewelry and goes to the movies and perhaps has a glass of wine now and then. (The analogy comes from the description in Revelation 17 of the woman on the scarlet beast. She

“was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.” Verse 4.

This is only an analogy to make a point; it is not new prophetic truth on the mysteries of the book of Revelation!) The red legalist, then, is the liberal legalist who finds security in the church standards that he has abandoned. The red legalist considers the black legalist to be a legalist, but often fails to realize that he himself is simply a legalist of a different color. For it makes no difference whether you are liberal or conservative; if you have no time to spend in personal relationship and communion with Christ, you are not a Christian.

Sometime parents ask, “But isn’t it better to be a legalist than to be an open sinner? If we can teach our children to obey the law of God externally, won’t that finally lead to the religion of the heart?”

It didn’t for the Pharisees! They were the hardest of all for Christ to reach when He was here on this earth. The converts that they brought into the church were not only as legalistic as their teachers, but Jesus said in Matthew 23:15 that they were twofold more the children of hell than the Pharisees themselves.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” – Matthew 23:15

The Desire of Ages, page 280, states clearly,

“A legal religion can never lead souls to Christ.”

It is impossible to gain salvation by keeping the law.

“He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law is attempting an impossibility.” – Ibid.., 172.

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.” Romans 3:20.

Why emphasize the law, then, if keeping the law cannot save us? Why talk about it or study it at all? If our efforts to keep the law can actually prevent us from coming to Christ for salvation, wouldn’t it be better not to hear about the law at all?

The law has several important and legitimate functions. The law cannot save us, but it can show us our need of salvation. The law cannot change us, but it can show us our need of change. Paul describes the law as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. See Galatians 3:24, 25.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” – Galatians 3:24-25

James calls the law a “looking glass.” James 1:23-25.

“For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” – James 1:23-25

A mirror can show us our need of cleansing, but it cannot cleanse us.

So it is with the law of God. It shows us our sinful condition in order to motivate us to go to Christ for cleansing and restoration. The law can diagnose, but it cannot treat or cure the disease of sin.

The law condemns. And when we recognize our condemnation, we realize our need for pardon.

The law reveals the curse that we are under as lawbreakers, and thereby prepares us to accept the good news that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. See Galatians 3:13.

“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” – Galatians 3:13

And the law is a protector. The law protects the innocent. It also protects the guilty! When we come before the judgment bar {God, we can know clearly whether we are at fault. We don’t have to worry that God will play favorites or judge according to His temporary whim of fancy. He has stated clearly His requirements, and thus both innocent and guilty can know where they stand.

Those who have accepted the righteousness of Christ in place of their own unrighteousness can stand acquited, protected by the law that does not condemn them. The guilty will see clearly their own rejection of God’s grace and will know that they have been fairly tried.

When you look into God’s law, do you find that it condemns you? Then praise the Lord! The time of probation still lingers. It is not too late to allow the law to do its work in bringing you to Christ.