One is when people try to get in good with God by what they do. (Justification by works.)

Another is when people focus on the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law. Basically, that’s when we focus on a list of do’s and don’ts rather than looking at the underlying reasons/issues.

Not with a new believer, but withsome more exposed to American Christianity, I might sarcastically comment that the third variation known as legalism goes like this:

If you don’t like a stance someone else takes regarding holy living, no matter how much they base it on spirit rather the letter and back it up with Scripture–if you don’t like it, you call them a legalist.

{{{Candleman}}}