What is the Law of Liberty?
Notes
Transcript
What is the Law of Liberty?
* Jesus fulfilled the old law and gave us a new law that the New Testament calls the “Law of Christ” in John 13:
Matthew 5:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Jesus was telling his disciples that he came to this earth to fulfill the Law. Jesus satisfied all the requirements of the Law and thus earned the right to free us from the law.
Romans 5:17–21 (KJV 1900)
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is frequently argued that if Jesus did not “abolish” the law, then it must still be binding.
If this were true, such components as the Sabbath-day requirement must be operative still, along with perhaps numerous other elements of the Mosaic Law.
This assumption is grounded in a misunderstanding of the words and intent of this passage.
Christ did not suggest here that the binding nature of the law of Moses would remain forever in effect.
Such a view would contradict everything we learn from the balance of the New Testament (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; Ephesians 2:15)
John 13:34–35 (KJV 1900)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
* In Galations 6:1-2 The apostle Paul calls this “new commandment” that was given to us by Christ the “law of Christ.”
* We find the “law of liberty” first mentioned in James 1:25:
James 1:25 (KJV 1900)
25 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.
James here refers to the Gospel, which although it is called here a law, is not strictly speaking a law comprised of requirements and enforced by sanctions.
Rather, it is a declaration of righteousness and salvation by Christ, an offer of peace and pardon by Him, and a free promise of eternal life through Him. The contradiction of the two terms—“law” and “liberty”—made the point, especially to the Jews, that this was an entirely new way of thinking about both. Paul uses this same technique when he refers to the “law of faith” in Romans 3:27.
The perfect liberty found in Christ fulfills the “perfect law” of the Old Testament because He was the only one who could. Those who come to Him in faith now have freedom from sin’s bondage and are now able to obey God. Christ alone can set us free and give us true liberty (John 8:36).
In this portion of his epistle, James is discussing the sin of showing partiality within the church. He reminds his hearers that to show favoritism towards others is a violation of the command to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus Himself reminded us that all of the law that God gave to Moses could be summed up into one concise principle – to love God with all the heart, soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40).
* The terms “New Commandment”, “Law of Christ,” and “Law of liberty, are used interchangeably in the New Testament. They are all referring to the same “new commandment” that Jesus gave to the disciples as He washed their feet.
John 13:32–35 (KJV 1900)
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
* The law of Christ was given to the disciples at the last supper and is always identified as loving one another:
Galatians 6:1–2 (KJV 1900)
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
* This same “law of Christ” is referred to by the apostle John in I John:
1 John 2:6–11 (KJV 1900)
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. 9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. 10 He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. 11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
2 John 4–6 (KJV 1900)
4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
* This new Law that Jesus established made us free from the Law of sin and death.
Jesus Said:
John 8:36 (KJV 1900)
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:1–2 (KJV 1900)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
* There is a twofold application of the “law of Christ, or “law of liberty” taught in the Scriptures:
We are free and no longer bound by the Old Testament Law, but now we are bound by the New Testament “Law of Christ,” or “Law of Liberty”
Notice the application of this as the apostle Paul writes to the Galatians:
Galatians 5:1–26 (KJV 1900)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. 7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.
13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 6:1–2 (KJV 1900)
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.