Many a child of God is reproached as being legal, and narrow-minded, on account of a decision, born of grateful, heartfelt desire, to humbly "wholly follow the Lord" (Josh. 14:8,9,14), and a decided refusal of the "very appearance of evil," in joining with worldlings 'in their, so-called, "innocent pleasures," and other pursuits.
Legality is opposed to grace and its teachings. From Titus 2:11-14 we learn the holy character of grace, producing fruits far removed from legality's denial that the blood of the cross alone possesses atoning value that sets the believer before God in perfect righteousness and acceptance in Christ. Let us consider how far removed devotion is from legality. Following true conversion, the soul, settled as to being saved by grace alone, enters upon sacred experiences, such as communion (1 John 1:3; 1" Cor. 1:9), friendship (John IS:14), and faithfulness (Luke 19:17; 1 Cor. 4:2). These, however diligently and earnestly sought after, cannot be termed legal.
Communion is the delight of sharing with our Lord that which He enjoys, and hearty agreement with Him in all His desires, finding our joy in His company-intent on pleasing Him-privileged to gladden Him, with our hearts made happy in the sense of His approbation. Legality has no place in such fellowship. Communion leads us to realize that there can be no Home feeling for the Christian here. The fact that we are "strangers" with Him leads us to view all that the world presents with His eyes; very soon He will judge it, meanwhile it is no legality for us to shun it.
Friendship for Christ and obedience are linked together. If we "obey" Him and His Word the world will not want us; nor could we walk with the unsaved, for lack of agreement would part us from them. "Me it hateth" the Lord says of the world; out of friendship for Him we walk apart, and refuse intimacy with worldlings because of their treatment of our dearest Friend, for where He is unwelcome, we should be found unwelcome too. We must choose between the worldling's friendship or friendship for Christ. The Lord is treated as not wanted, so will the world treat His friends who dare to manifest their friendship by "doing whatsoever He has commanded." His commands, such as 1 John 2:15; Col. 3:17, 23 and 1 Cor. 6:19, 20, test which friendship we value. Evading the consequences of devoted obedience, the luke-warmness He rebukes so chills friendship that its profession becomes nauseous to Him. The friendship that cleaves to Him and to His Word has no legality about it.
Faithfulness is evidenced by walking in the footsteps of our Divine Master and Lord, who has left us an example. Where we cannot trace His footsteps, we should not go, and our refusal to forfeit His company for the companionship of the unsaved,.or participation in their pursuits or pleasures, cannot be termed legal. The Lord Jesus has given us a whole heart-we ought not to give Him anything less in return. To "esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than Egypt's treasures," is not legality. Conformity to 1 Thess. 4:1 is not legality, for who dares to condemn the heart bent on "pleasing God?" Since "the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not," popularity with worldlings would be to our shame and the Lord's dishonor. The Lord Jesus has made us personally His objects and He looks for it that we make Him ours. -E. J. Checkley.