Paul knew legalism. He had lived it. Before his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road, Paul (then Saul) was a zealous Pharisee, meticulously following the law. He believed righteousness was earned through strict obedience. But when Jesus met him in his blindness, Paul came face to face with grace—a force stronger than self-righteousness.

That moment changed everything. Yet, even after his transformation, Paul spent much of his ministry fighting the same battle: the human tendency to turn faith into a system of rules rather than a relationship with Christ.

The Trap of Legalism

Legalism isn’t just an old religious problem—it’s a modern one, too. It’s the idea that we must perform, behave, and check all the right boxes to stay in God’s good graces. It tells us that our worth is measured by how well we adhere to the “rules,” even if those rules aren’t ones Jesus gave us.

The early church struggled with this. Some insisted that faith alone wasn’t enough—certain rituals and practices still had to be observed (Acts 15). Paul pushed back hard:

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).

Legalism always leads to slavery—to an exhausting cycle of trying harder, doing more, and never feeling like it’s enough. It creates spiritual pride in some and deep discouragement in others.

The Beauty of Grace

Grace is the invitation to live freely under the righteousness of Christ. It is not permission to live recklessly, but a call to live fully—to walk in the Spirit rather than in self-reliance.

After his conversion, Paul didn’t set out to prove himself through more religious effort. Instead, he spent years in quiet preparation, learning to live by the Spirit rather than the law. And when he emerged, his message was clear: Jesus is enough.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Grace is a gift, not a transaction. It cannot be earned, only received.

Put It Into Practice

Breaking Free from Legalism

If you find yourself stuck in performance-based faith, here are ways to step into grace:

• Recognize legalism’s signs. Are you exhausted trying to “do enough” for God?

• Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Jesus’ sacrifice is enough.

• Embrace spiritual disciplines as grace, not duty. Reading Scripture, prayer, and fasting are invitations, not checklists.

• Surround yourself with grace-filled community. Find people who encourage without unnecessary burdens.

• Rest in God’s love. Your identity is not in what you do but in what Christ has done.

Paul never stopped defending grace. He knew firsthand that trying to earn God’s approval was a dead-end road. But he also knew that when you truly understand grace, it changes everything.

Legalism says, Do more. Grace says, It is finished.

May we live in that freedom today.