The basic premise of Legalism vs. Faith is: legalism is the human tendency to reduce religion to a set of rules to follow and behaviors to perform. Legalism is about rules, rituals and rewards, not about reliance, trust and gratitude, the values that describe a healthy relationship with God.

This book also offers a historical background on the development of the formal legalistic system that defined the Pharisees, and a detailed look into the attitudes, values and motivations that separate a life of faith from a life of merely following rules.