What is legalism?

• A. The belief that law is unnecessary.
• B. An excessive focus on following the letter of the law at the expense of its spirit.
• C. The practice of loving your neighbor.
• D. The end justifies the means.

Answer: (B)

Legalism is an approach to righteousness that treats strict rule-keeping and the literal letter of the law as the basis for right standing with God, rather than trust in God’s grace. It emphasizes external conformity and the precise observance of rules, often at the expense of the spirit, motives, and the heart behind the commands. In Scripture, righteousness comes through faith and the transforming work of the Spirit, not through human merit earned by meticulous observance. Jesus warned against this mindset when rules were prioritized over mercy, justice, and love, showing that the spirit of the law—the intent to love God and neighbor—matters as much as the outward acts. The other options don’t fit because one describes neglecting law entirely, which is not legalism; another makes loving one’s neighbor the focus, which is a good aim but not the defining feature of legalism; and the last speaks to a different ethical stance about means and ends.