Was the Legalistic Spirit Present in New Testament Times?
The first instance that comes to my mind is found in (Mark 9:38-40 NKJV) Where John said, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” {39} But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. {40} “For he who is not against us is on our side.” I think of this is a case where John had a sectarian spirit, and Jesus is correcting him as He says, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. {40} “For he who is not against us is on our side.” This was clearly a case of someone wanting to do good, and even doing it in Jesus name, but that was not good enough for John because they were not part of their group. That was John’s thinking, but it clearly did not meet the approval of Jesus. The Case of Corinth: The church at Corinth had a very divisive, party spirit. In 1 Cor 1:11-12 (NKJV), Paul
