Legalism | Golden Apples

Vector-style artwork of a cheerful young man crouched beside an open file box, reading a letter with a captivated expression.

Article

Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Many believers unintentionally open someone else’s mail in Scripture—claiming promises or commands never addressed to them. The key is learning the difference between primary application (what it meant to the original audience) and secondary application (what we can learn from it). When we read the Bible’s letters as they were sent, God’s voice grows clearer, not smaller.

$Vector-style illustration of a woman speaking toward a light prism that refracts her words into beams of magenta, indigo, and gold light.$

Article

Words are Bridges

Not every word is a truth-claim. Some, like Paul’s “idol meat,” live in the gray—morally neutral until love decides how to use them. What if pronouns are like that? Not worship, not denial—just language as bridge. Sometimes faithfulness looks less like resistance and more like discernment.

Bold vector-style cartoon illustration of a man, representing Paul, standing protectively in front of a child, angrily swearing at a group of adults. A speech bubble above him contains symbols (#%$!) to represent expletives. The child looks sad and worried, while the group of adults appear upset and hostile. Outlined in thick black lines with flat colors of pink, gold, and dark teal, in a clean sticker-like style.

Article

The Apostle Paul Taught me to Cuss

Did Paul swear in the Bible? He wasn’t afraid of sharp language. He called his old life “skúbalon” (excrement), mocked false teachers with grotesque wordplay, and even echoed ethnic slurs to dismantle them. Like Jesus, he used shocking words to protect truth, expose hypocrisy, and defend God’s people.

Bold Grace Podcast

Galatians and Inclusivity & Legalism

In this episode of BGP, Thani and Grant continue their New Testament overview, diving into the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians. This powerful epistle, often described as Paul’s “angry letter,” addresses the Galatian church’s struggle with legalism, exclusion, and the challenge of walking in the freedom of the gospel. Grant breaks down key themes, including justification before men, the purpose of the law, and the unifying power of love in Christ. They also touch on Paul’s confrontation with Peter and its implications for the early church.

Everything we've ever posted about legalism:

Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Words are Bridges

The Apostle Paul Taught me to Cuss

Galatians and Inclusivity & Legalism

Stay updated with more insights.