June
26, 2003
THE
LAW OF LIBERTY
"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" (James 1:25,
NKJV).
James
considered the Law of God to be the "perfect law of liberty."
Liberty and freedom go hand in hand. Jesus said, "If
the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed... If you
love Me, keep My commandments" (John 8:36; 14:15).
What does freedom and liberty have to do with keeping God's
commandments?
Paul
admonished, "Stand fast - in the liberty by which Christ
has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke
of bondage... For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;
only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but
through love serve one another" (Galatians 5:1, 13).
And then Paul talks about the "works of the flesh"
and lists works that are forbidden by the law of God. Then
he compares the works of the flesh with the fruits of the
Spirit against which, he says, there is no law (see Galatians
5:23).
The Law
of God is God's standard and values that lead us to freedom.
Paul stated, "The law was our schoolmaster to bring us
to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after
that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"
(Galatians 3:24-26, KJV). Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly.
"The law of the Lord is perfect" (Psalms 19:70).
And God's Spirit leads us in accordance with His standards.
This
perfect law, like a schoolmaster or a tutor, teaches us the
ways of God. When Jesus came, He modeled for us the way of
life. He is "the way, the truth,
and the life" (John 14:6). He is the One who gives
us freedom and liberty, based on His "perfect law of
liberty."
However,
the law cannot save us. It is a standard engraved on stone.
His promise to us is "I will give them one heart, and
I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart
out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they
may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them;
and they shall be My people, and I will be their God. But
as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable
things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds
on their own heads" (Ezekiel 11:19-21).
With
God, there is no confusion. His ways are just and pure and
good. His standards and principles are for our benefit and
safety. In Christ there is safety, liberty and freedom. May
you experience His freedom and liberty!
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