The Perfect Law of Liberty
Introduction:
For many in the world, “law” is a dirty word, a bad
word. They see law as something that takes away their
freedom, their liberty to live as they please. But,
just for a moment, try to imagine our world today
without law. Chaos would reign. Murder, rape, stealing,
would be rampant. No one would be safe. Civilization
would break down. So law is good for us; it protects
us.
The inspired writer James informs us about the
importance of the “perfect law of liberty.” (James
1:25) We are told to look, to look intently, and to
stoop over with our head bent forward to see something
carefully and accurately. The idea is to focus all of
our attention so we can inspect it carefully. So what
lessons can be learn about the “perfect law of liberty”?
Text:
James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law
of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful
hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed
in what he does.”
NKJV
Body:
I.
It Is a Law
·
In the prior
verses 21-24, James is discussing the word,
the Word of God, Scripture. James calls this a law
because it is the authoritative body of divine truth
which is the basis for the Christian faith. It is our
rule of action, our standard of conduct. A Christian’s
life is to be regulated today by the gospel, the New
Testament.
·
Some say that today we are not under law, but under
grace. While it’s true we are not under the Law of
Moses, (Ephesians 2:15-16) we are under law because if
we weren’t, there would be no sin. (I John 3:4)
This law is binding upon all men. (Titus 2:11)
·
This law is elsewhere called the “law of Christ”
(Galatians 6:2),
the "royal law" (James
2:8) and the “law of the spirit of life.
(Romans 8:1-2)
II.
It Is Perfect
·
The gospel is complete and whole, lacking nothing. (II
Timothy 3:16) It is sufficient and comprehensive. All
truth has been fully revealed. (Jude 3,
I Corinthians
13:10)
·
This law is also perfect because it originates from a
perfect God. The perfect Lawgiver cannot be bettered.
It is without error and perfect for all situations and
all circumstances. Note
Psalm 19:7-11. God’s Word has
the power to turn sinners to a holy God. It is sure and
steadfast and capable of making us wise. This perfect
law cannot be improved upon in any way. Any tampering
by man will destroy its perfection. (Revelation
22:18-19)
III.
It’s the Law of Liberty
·
It is freedom from the bondage of the Law of Moses.
(Galatians 5:1) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by
which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangles
again with a yoke of bondage.”
NKJV
(Acts 15:4-5,
10,
Romans 8:2)
The law of Moses was incapable of the justification of
sinners (Acts
13:39).
·
It is freedom from the bondage of sin. (Romans 6:16-19,
20-22) All who are under the tyranny of lust or anger
or hate are slaves while all who live with the law are
truly free. (John 8:34-36)
·
This liberty is not a license to sin, to live anyway
that one desires. (Galatians
5:13,
1 Peter 2:16,
Romans 6:1-2) True liberty is
living as we should, not as we please. It influences us
to serve and obey God not out of compulsion, but out of
love. Men are truly free when they want to do what they
ought to do. (II Corinthians 10:5)
·
The law of liberty is contrasted with the law of
Moses.
Galatians 6:18, "Everyone that heareth these words of
mine and doeth them not ... like the foolish man who
built his house on the sand ... great was the fall
thereof (Matthew 7:26-27). This is a call to obey all of
what Jesus taught. But, is not the Law of Christ a "law
of liberty" in comparison with the Law of Moses? To be
sure it is.
-
All of the vast
ceremonial, with its physical sacrifices,
presentations upon certain days, and intricate,
elaborate procedures for every conceivable kind of
violation is gone.
-
The subjection to a
priesthood of men, which was a part of the old law,
has been taken away (Hebrews
9).
-
There is forgiveness
of violations under the New, but there was none
under the Old (Hebrews
10:4).
-
Not any of the
morality, integrity, honesty, truthfulness,
sobriety, chastity, etc., that were required under
the law of Moses have been relaxed under Christ. The
notion that Christianity has a looser moral code
than Judaism is ridiculous; and yet that is the
understanding some have regarding the wonderful
"freedom in Christ." Such is a fatal delusion. If
Christ came into the world in order to relax the
will of God regarding what is or is not
righteousness then it must follow that He died so
that we would be free to sin as we please, (Romans
6:15-16). As a matter of truth, the
morality of Christ is a higher, stricter and tighter
code than Judaism ever was, as specifically
elaborated in the
Sermon on the Mount.
-
This undeniable truth
sends shudders of apprehension through those who see
it and draw back and cry, "Impossible! Who can be
perfect? Where is any possible ground of
confidence?" Despite the higher level of
morality required of Christians, and despite the
specific commandments of both a positive and
negative nature which abound in Christian doctrine,
and despite the fact that no salvation of any kind
is promised to them who "obey
not the gospel," (2
Thessalonians 1:8), there is, nevertheless, the
solid ground of absolute trust and confidence "in
Christ." The forgiveness provided under the law of
Christ is operative on a constant and continual
basis, "cleansing us of all unrighteousness" (1
John 1:7-9). There are two questions that
if answered affirmatively will bestow full
confidence in the Christian. "Am I in Christ?" (Romans
8:1), and "Shall I be found in him?" (2
Peter 3:14). Our confidence is not found
in our own success as to meeting God's standards,
but it is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Conclusion:
Our text,
James 1:25, reveals that the one who continues
in the perfect law of liberty and is a doer of the work,
will be blessed in what he does. (Psalm 19:11)
“Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping
them there is great reward.”
NKJV
(John 13:17) “If you know these things, blessed
are you if you do them.”
NKJV
(Revelation 14:12-13) “Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God
and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, Write Blessed are the dead
who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labors, and their works
follow them.”
NKJV
The blessed are singularly favored by God.
Bobby Stafford
February 1, 2015
The
church of Christ
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