Can you explain the "perfect law of liberty"?
Introduction. James wrote: "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed" (Jas. 1: 25).
Law and liberty are not mutually exclusive. As a rule, many religious groups teach we are under a system of grace and liberty today. Hence, they claim obedience to law is not required in order to be saved. It is true we are in fact under grace and liberty (Eph. 2: 8-9; Jas. 1: 25). However, the scriptures teach obedience to law is required (Heb. 5: 8-9). To be precise, we are not under "the law" (the Law of Moses per Exodus/etc.), but under "law to Christ" (1 Cor. 9: 21). Therefore, we read of "the law of Christ" (Gal. 6: 2). Reflecting the concept of law and obedience, Jesus asked a pivotal question, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6: 46). Also, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14: 15; cf. 1 John 5: 3).
We are not simply under law. The essential difference between the Jew under the Law of Moses and the Christian under the law of Christ is that the only way for the Jew to have been justified in the absence of grace (John 1: 17) was flawless obedience (earning salvation, Rom. 4: 1-8; 11: 6). We cannot merit our salvation because "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3: 23). No amount of animal sacrifice, good deeds, etc. could result in being forgiven and reconciled back to God (Heb. 10). But God's grace through Jesus' sacrifice offers the means to have our sins (disobedience of law) forgiven when coupled with our repentance and striving for faithful obedience (Acts 20:21; 1 John 1:5-2:6; James 2:14-26).
Christ's law is a perfect law of liberty. It is perfect or complete in that it is a system which contains laws and commandments which are not grievous, and yet, it is a system of grace and liberty (1 John 5: 3; Gal, 5: 1-13). We have liberty from sin when we obey it (Acts 2: 38; Rom. 6: 1-12). Christ's system is the ideal combination of law and liberty.
Law and liberty are not mutually exclusive. As a rule, many religious groups teach we are under a system of grace and liberty today. Hence, they claim obedience to law is not required in order to be saved. It is true we are in fact under grace and liberty (Eph. 2: 8-9; Jas. 1: 25). However, the scriptures teach obedience to law is required (Heb. 5: 8-9). To be precise, we are not under "the law" (the Law of Moses per Exodus/etc.), but under "law to Christ" (1 Cor. 9: 21). Therefore, we read of "the law of Christ" (Gal. 6: 2). Reflecting the concept of law and obedience, Jesus asked a pivotal question, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6: 46). Also, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14: 15; cf. 1 John 5: 3).
We are not simply under law. The essential difference between the Jew under the Law of Moses and the Christian under the law of Christ is that the only way for the Jew to have been justified in the absence of grace (John 1: 17) was flawless obedience (earning salvation, Rom. 4: 1-8; 11: 6). We cannot merit our salvation because "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom 3: 23). No amount of animal sacrifice, good deeds, etc. could result in being forgiven and reconciled back to God (Heb. 10). But God's grace through Jesus' sacrifice offers the means to have our sins (disobedience of law) forgiven when coupled with our repentance and striving for faithful obedience (Acts 20:21; 1 John 1:5-2:6; James 2:14-26).
Christ's law is a perfect law of liberty. It is perfect or complete in that it is a system which contains laws and commandments which are not grievous, and yet, it is a system of grace and liberty (1 John 5: 3; Gal, 5: 1-13). We have liberty from sin when we obey it (Acts 2: 38; Rom. 6: 1-12). Christ's system is the ideal combination of law and liberty.