Legalism Defined

Legalism could be defined as any attempt to rely on self effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God. Legalism denies that Christ is completely sufficient for salvation. It is the belief that some additional element of self-effort, merit or faithfulness on our part is necessary to maintain a just standing before God.

This is the idea that we are saved by faith alone but our ultimate salvation depends on our works. Or we are saved by grace but kept by keeping the law. This is not just ignorance of grace but a greater ignorance of the law.