THE VICTOR’S MENTALITY 25 (Guarding Your Heart from Legalism & Self-effort)

By God’s grace, we’ll continue from where we left off last week. I’ve been sharing about the breastplate of righteousness, focusing on what it primarily protects—the heart. I’ve also explained what the heart is. Currently, we’re considering four things that can dominate our hearts and influence us and our relationship with God.

In the previous article, I discussed two of these: condemnation and comparison. To catch up, please review that article.

Today, we’ll examine the other two: legalism and self-effort. Before analysing them individually, let’s look at both and understand their similarities and differences. We often use them interchangeably, and yes, they can be, but fundamentally, they are distinct.

Legalism is a root issue—it impacts your theology of acceptance before God.

Self-effort is a fruit issue—it influences your daily Christian practice.

Legalism involves believing you are accepted, righteous, or justified before God based on obeying laws, rules, or traditions, rather than on Christ’s completed work. The mindset is “God accepts me because I obey” or because I have upheld certain standards. It makes salvation and spiritual growth about law-keeping, not grace. In fact, it also judges others who don’t meet their standards. For example, claiming someone isn’t a “true Christian” unless they dress a certain way, worship on a particular day, or observe specific rituals. These are features of a legalistic mindset.

Self-effort, on the other hand, is trying to live the Christian life or please God by relying on your own strength, wisdom, or discipline, instead of on Christ and the Spirit. The mindset is “I can do it if I just try harder.” This often results in burnout and frustration. It can also breed pride when you succeed and condemnation when you fail.

In simple terms, self-effort depends on my own power to live for God. Legalism depends on my own law-keeping to be accepted by God.

As I mentioned earlier, legalism often results in self-effort. For example, if you believe God accepts you based on your performance, you will strive endlessly to perform well. Now, let’s look at the Scriptures as we examine them individually.

3. Legalism (Galatians 3:1-3)

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1-3 NKJV)

As I mentioned earlier, legalism is when the heart attempts to earn what is freely given by grace. We observe a root issue in the church of Galatia, where Paul mentions the cross seven times in that chapter.

What does this tell us? Our hearts can be drawn into legalism when we are not continually reminded of the Lord Jesus as the crucified Lamb through whom we are accepted by the Father. That is what Paul addresses in verse 1. The cross must take a central place in our hearts to resist the deception of legalism that entered among the Galatians. Paul was astounded at their susceptibility—it was hard to understand how they could be deceived despite his efforts in presenting Christ as the crucified Saviour, the sole focus of their faith. He stated, “He clearly portrayed Jesus as the crucified Saviour.”

No wonder he concluded that two things must have happened for them to have fallen into legalism:

1. They must have been bewitched. It could only be some evil enchantment preventing them from living in the truth of the gospel. This bewitching isn’t caused by witches flying at night—it occurs through unskilled preachers and ministers on the pulpit. That’s why we must be cautious about the messages we listen to, or else we’ll be bewitched by doctrines that distract from Christ.

When they tell you your spiritual performance keeps God loving and accepting you, or judge others by rules and regulations rather than grace. When under this influence:

- You start to lose peace—everything feels mechanical and duty-driven. Instead of freedom, you feel pressure and anxiety.

- You no longer enjoy a vibrant relationship in prayer, studying the Word, or serving God—it becomes just an obligation and routine to please Him.

- You begin to do things out of fear of losing your connection with God or the Holy Spirit.

- You work to “feel” righteous, which burdens the Christian life.

Beloved, are these your experiences? Jesus said, “Come unto me, all that are heavy laden, and I shall give rest to your souls.” Your soul can find peace knowing you are already loved and accepted.

The second conclusion Paul reached was that their problem was foolishness. This reflects the state of a legalistic Christian—they are spiritually foolish, lacking spiritual sense. This sense is faith. It is unwise to start from a high point and descend to something low. It is spiritually inconsistent to begin a journey that aims for victory over something else.

Beloved, the cross of Christ has given us victory. Let it become the theme of our hearts. That is true spiritual wisdom.

Beloved, prayerfully meditate on these teachings.

Written by Peter Ayoola Fakeye—PAF