But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)
Lust is the problem. Lust exists in all men whether they are under the Law or have never heard of the Law. The Mosaic law doesn’t bring forth sin. Lust brings forth sin. The Law only served to strengthen and reveal sin. It does not create it.
While we spend so much time focusing on ‘legalism’ as our enemy, it is really only the symptom of the real problem. The real problem isn’t legalism. The real problem is the flesh. Being distracted by legalism and attacking legalism isn’t the answer. The answer is to mortify the deeds of the body by the Spirit!
For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. (Ro 8:13)
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would. (Gal. 5:17)
And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. (Gal. 5:24)
Rather than focus on the Law (a subtle distraction) it is time to live by the Spirit and live above the lusts of the flesh.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom. 8:1)