The perfect Law of Liberty, what does this mean?

"Jam 1:25 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."Is this talking about the 10 commandments? It seems to be considering it goes on to say this: "Jam 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Jam 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."I ask this question only because some bible pastors I know and respect have told me completely differently in the past. I guess pastors aren't exempt from cherry picking their favorite beliefs and throwing out what they don't like. I want to believe that most pastors are diligent enough in their studies to not do this but haven't found it to be so. I could be wrong on this and please correct me if I am. Any thoughts?

I want to believe that most pastors are diligent enough in their studies to not do this but haven't found it to be so. I could be wrong on this and please correct me if I am. Any thoughts?I think you are asking a very fair question. Every man has his limitations. I think God permits that in order that we will not be tempted to lean on any man - but rather on God who will shine his truth on us if we seek him diligently. We are taught to study the word ourselves, and not merely lean on man's interpretation.James 2:8 states the royal law, "Love your neighbor as yourself" If you study 1 John, I think the meaning will deepen for you. He talks about "the command"Also, you might enjoy a word study on "freedom" (liberty). Find out where it is used in other parts of Scripture, what it means, and what we can expect of the "freedom" God has promised us. A question pops into my mind: "How does Christ's freedom, or the law of liberty help me love my neighbor the way God wants me to? Also a few other references to the law: Romans 13:8 - 10 Jesus also refers to the greatest commandment.I find it amazing that Scripture is very clear what law we are to be following. It is not religous laws but love for God and fellow man. I John 5:3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4for everyone born of God overcomes the world. Diane

I'm not a bible answer man but I would like to add to the good comments that the others have made. From my own studies on this scripture I have found this.In 2 Cor. 3:17 it say Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.One of the definitions in the Greek for the word liberty is...to have the freedom to live as one should live and not as one wants to live. In other words when we become Christians the Holy Spirit lives in us to will and to do for His good pleasure and He gives us the freedom from the law of sin and death to live as we should to please God and not live as our flesh wants to live.And then in verses 18 of 2 Cor in talks about beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and being transformed into His image.Then in James 1:21-27 it talks about us being doers of the word and if we are not doers of the word but only hearer it is like we are looking at our natural face in a mirror.In James 1:25 basically says that the one who is a doer of the word is the one who is abiding in the perfect law...the law of liberty.Going on in James then to the next chapter to the verse you asked about then talks about us being judged by that law of liberty. We will be judged by the truth that the Holy Spirit gave us the power and the will to obey and do Gods word and to live as we should live, to please God and not our flesh.This will begin and be demonstrated in the first command as loving God with all heart and our neighbor as ourselves.I hope this makes sense. That is how the Lord gave me understanding of these scriptures. If I'm wrong or incorrect in some way I am open to correction and trust the Lord will reveal differently if so.God bless,Mike

James 2:8 states the royal law, "Love your neighbor as yourself" Here's another key verseGal. 5:14 (KJVS) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The Greek form of the verb means that 'thou shalt love', as used in James 2:8 and in Gal 5:14, is literally 'one word' - AgapeEseis is the The phrase 'royal law' may have to do with its nature and extent. This is not just a local law or one of occasional application but one which has 'imperial authority' and is applicable at all times and places and to all people. There are never any mitigating or extenuating circumstances, in every possible context... thou shalt love...

Br or Sis LS wrote:When you read Romans 7 and 8 you will discover there how Paul regards the "SPIRIT of LIFE" and "SIN and DEATH" as a law;This is the essence of the law that frees.Rom. 8:12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. If one carefully reads this section of Scripture and then compares it to the Scripture in James you will see that both men are teaching the same principle. One must follow the word and by doing so one will put to death the deeds of the flesh and thus will live. The only way one can achieve death, thus freedom from the bondage of sin, is by following the Holy Spirit. Now how one begins to understand the things of the Spirit by obeying the word, now that is the mystery that everyone must experience for themselves. The substance of this mystery replaces the hopes of the flesh with the hopes of the kingdom. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”Jesus wants all to "learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart." For those who find Him to be the gentle and lowly teacher, their hearts will cry out Abba Father. This is the perfect law that frees us from the bondage of sin, bondage to the flesh, and bondage to the carnal mind.In ChristJeff

This is the perfect law that frees us from the bondage of sin, bondage to the flesh, and bondage to the carnal mind.I John 5:3This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensomeI love the consistency of scripture. No matter where you turn, the message of freedom arises. Through our new life in Christ, we don't have to live by the laws that govern our conscience: ex: I should do this, or else I may get rejectedI need to.... (some kind of religious law) I wish I couldI should haveI feel badly because I didn'tI feel guilty because I can't.... What kind of a Christian life is that??? It is a self-absorbed life, filled with bondages to laws that require more than a person can handle. On the contrary, Christ's laws are not burnensome. Through Christ we are free to lay our lives down for our brother. We are free to let go, even to die. And think of the freedom when we don't have to cling to our egos, our pride, our self-righeousness, our need to be right, our earthly loyalties, the praises of others .... Diane

{Quote} JeffThe only way one can achieve death, thus freedom from the bondage of sin, is by following the Holy Spirit{Quote} DianeI love the consistency of scripture. No matter where you turn, the message of freedom arises.………………………………………………………………………………………………We have left the land of Egypt. At the Passover, the blood was applied to the door of our residence. Now we have clean escaped from Pharaoh and those cruel taskmasters who controlled us for so long. We are free!At the other side of the Red Sea we watched as our accusers were drowned in the sea. We watched as our past sins died in those waters. We sang the song of the redeemed.Now we continue on following a fire by night and a cloud by day knowing that there are enemies ahead that want to put us back in bondage again. These enemies of sin want to take our liberty away and force us to be in the bondage of these enemies lusts. These enemies want to steal our song, steal our confession of Jesus, and steal our praise to God. These enemies want to make us captives again.In all that is ahead, we can take solace in knowing it is the Lord’s battle we are fighting. There is nothing to hard for him. None of the enemies weapons will prosper against us as we follow the Lord’s direction. Little by little we will defeat the enemies of our lives and we become more than conquers through Jesus Christ.

Little by little we will defeat the enemies of our lives and we become more than conquers through Jesus Christ.Amen, Amen, Brother, Not by might, not by power, not by name it claim it, not by mere proclamation, not by our words, but by OUR LIVES, as we become less and Christ becomes more. And this victory is not for any other than those who are truly born of God, annointed with his Spirit. 1 Jn. 2:27(I know you already know this. I add it as a reaction to this universal inclusive language that I keep on hearing.) Diane

The law of liberty is greater than the law of condemnation. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life everlasting.Which one of us can say that we are innocent of breaking God's law? Have'nt we all broken His commandments? Haven't we all lied, stolen, looked with lust (adultery of the heart - Matt. 5:28), and blasphemed?If we are guilty of offending God, then we carry the sentence of death, not just physically but spiritually (Ezek. 18:20) It's like stepping off a tall building - the law of gravity takes effect. But if you throw a bird off the top of a tall building, some other law takes effect when it begins to beat its wings in the air: the law of aerodynamics, which, in effect, overcomes the law of gravity.Without Christ, we are condemned, and that is why Christ didn't come into the world to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17.) When a person dies to self and becomes born again in Him, the law of liberty (freedom) in Christ overcomes the law of condemnation. Hallelujah!-Chris

Amen Brother Frank. (this was posted in a parrallel thread)This is the truth. Yet, many, while they profess this truth never come to walk the narrow path that leads to life. Yes the law of liberty comes by following the narrow path that the Spirit of God points to. Jesus warned;Matt. 7:23 And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’In ChristJeff

Hi everyone! Thanks for the input. I hope I'm not being narrowly focused but I was more interested in what it means in the context of the surrounding verses. Like what was James trying to say? I understand the spiritual ideas that ya'll are trying to make with corresponding passages in other books. But isn't James trying to make the point that the Law or 10 commandments should be looked at as a "Law of liberty" for the Christian? My question is within the context of the passage in James. I realize that similar ideas can be found out elsewhere but I am just trying to get a better idea on what James is talking about.

If anyone is interested especially those who have commented already. I'm curious as to why no one seems to believe that James was talking about the 10 commandments? It could be that you do agree that maybe that is what he is doing but some of the comments are so round about what my direct question is that I am not sure if you decided half way, all the way or not at all with my opinion on the matter. I'm not trying to pigeon hole anyone into a doctrinal position if they agree that he probably was speaking about the 10 commandments. I'm just very interested on if he isn't speaking of the 10 commandments as the "law of liberty" why he references them as if that is what he is doing? James speaks about the 10 commandments which is the "letter" and he ties it with "the spirit of the law" by saying "the law of liberty". So isn't he just trying to get us Christians who have a problem with professing faith but not having works to see the commands in a good light? One reason I ask this question is because he goes on to say, "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."Why would he say this if he wasn't making a point referring to the 10 commandments?Even if the answer is yes I don't think this differs with some of the spiritual things ya'll have said about the Christian life in the comments so far. I'm not looking for anything too profound just want to make sure I'm interpreting it right by thinking he is talking about the 10 commandments. If I'm not feel free to be direct and to the point on why not.

ElsiAren wrote: I'm just very interested on if he isn't speaking of the 10 commandments as the "law of liberty" why he references them as if that is what he is doing?Paul writes:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. The law is spiritual. The ten commandments define the precepts of God's world to man. Yet, knowing the letter does not enable one to enter into this law of liberty. We are carnal in thought and understanding. Our sum totall of what we know is based on what we have experienced. This experience is gained from Satan's domain. Yet, God's law, was given to man to condemn not to save. So that man might call out to the Lord of the Sabbath and enter into the only means by which man is given understanding that frees him from the requirements of God's law. The first 4 commandments deal with our relationship with God. The last 6 commandments deal with our relationship with man. Jesus summed the 10 commandments up in these two precepts. Love God with your whole heart, mind, strength and the second, love one another. Jesus directs those who hear His voice in the ways of the Spirit that imparts to us HOW to love God, and HOW to love one another. Without the Spirit's direction, man according to his carnal means is hopelessly ensnared by the futility of his own mind. It is only the mind of Christ that frees us from our own corruption. It is obeying Christ's commands that teaches us how to love God and one another. It is this means by which we are freed from the condemnation of the written letter.In ChristJeff

Hey Rookie, I agree with you that the word of God does teach us "How" to do these things. I'm trying to be as unspiritual as possible when I ask my questions. I agree with most everyones spiritual ideas regarding the law and the spiritual walk of the believer. That being said....Wasn't James referencing the 10 commandments when he was speaking of the law of liberty?And no I am not saying that a Christian is one who keeps the letter of the law. No I am definitely not saying that. To be clear, No I am not saying that a Christian is one who lives the letter of the law. And yes I agree a Christian is one who lives by the Spirit.So I ask the question again....Wasn't James referencing the 10 commandments when he was speaking of the law of liberty?

Matt. 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.Yes, James is speaking of the 10 commandments. In ChristJeff