FROM LEGALISM TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
Bill Becker
Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.
For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the
righteousness of God.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Romans 10:1-4)
Paul’s eloquent appeal for his countrymen is more than passing sentiment, it
voices the shattered expectations of legalism. The events which led Saul of Tarsus to
“submit to God’s righteousness” began on the Damascus road while delivering Christians
to persecution out of a desire to please God. God granted grace to Saul because his sins
were due to misguided zeal arising out of ignorance and unbelief, not insincerity:
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:12-14)
Should we conclude from this that people outside “the righteousness of God,” though
sincere, receive God’s mercy in the same way as did Saul? The answer to this large
question is “Yes!”
Insistence of denominational friends aside, Saul’s sins were not forgiven on the road to
Damascus. The story of his conversion illustrates that fact. When the light shone round
about Saul he heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul did
not “pray the sinner’s prayer;” rather, he asked, “Who are You, Lord?” Notice, please, this
was a question (Acts 9:5)! Jesus answered that question (Acts 22:8) and Saul learns he had
been persecuting Christ! What an improbable contradiction for Saul! His actions, while in
“all good conscience” (Acts 23:1), had indeed been out of ignorance and unbelief. But no
longer! Believing Christ to be the Lord, Saul now asks “Lord, what do you want me to
do?” (Acts 9:6; 22:10). Notice, please, this question acknowledges (confesses) that Christ
is Lord and inquires what the Lord wants him to do! This declaration was in the presence
of others, some of whom were Christians. Furthermore, answer to this inquiry would lead
him out of religious tradition(s), ignorance and unbelief. He goes to Damascus to learn
what he “must do” and remains in prayer for three days, “eating and drinking nothing”
(Acts 9:9). This reflects the state of Saul’s mind. Why is he not rejoicing over the grace of
God and His forgiveness? Saul’s mind-set is one of remorse (repentance), not one whose
sins have been blotted out and who enjoys “the times of refreshing from the presence of the
Lord” (Acts 3:19).
Ananias informs Saul he is to be God’s “chosen vessel” but concludes by saying, “Why are
you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the
Lord” (Acts 22:16). Saul, who now believes Christ is Lord; Saul, who confessed Him
before men; Saul, whose penitence led him to pray for three days, is now asked to submit
to God for forgiveness. What should he do? Should he be baptized “to wash away his
sins”? Would that be “legalism” or “submitting to the righteousness of God”? Paul
submits! Now he takes food! Now he is found “preaching the Christ” in the synagogues of
Damascus (Acts 9:20)! Now he rejoices! He speaks of his conversion often, particularly to
his Jewish brethren, for he knows first hand their legalistic plight. “You,” Paul would say,
“must submit to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).
Have we yet learned that unless we submit to the righteousness of God we are trying to
establish our own righteousness? “Yes,” comes the quick reply, “we know legalism is not
a substitute for the righteousness of God.” But neither is the “Sinner’s Prayer.” Neither is
the doctrine of “good- works-will-get-me-to-heaven.” Neither is acceptance of a “multi-
faith God” or the traditions of men or sectarianism. All are doomed to the same miserable
end for these are not “the righteousness of God.”
Paul’s baptism was a matter of trust. He had faith that, here, God was at work– not man!
He trusted that God would “wash away his sins” for it is here, and only here, he is found
“calling on the name of the Lord.” We began by asking if those who, like Saul of Tarsus,
are outside the righteousness of God, though sincere, receive God’s mercy in the same
way as did Saul? The answer to this large question is “Yes!”
