Page "Legalism (theology)" Paragraph 6

A third common misunderstanding of legalism is the word law.

Law in many places in the Bible refers to the Law of Moses, see also Biblical law in Christianity.

In Galatians the Judaizers were trying to insist that salvation required that a person be circumcised prior to obeying the Law of Christ.

Galatians 2: 16 says, " Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified " ( King James Version ).

The faith here is the Law of Christ and the law here is the Law of Moses.

The legalism of the Judaizers was that obedience to the law of Moses was necessary to be saved.