The Perfect Law of Liberty

The Perfect Law of Liberty

“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.” V. 25.

Only he who does what he does out of love can be blessed in what he is doing. He who is allowed to do what he loves to do is blessed. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” John 14:21. Jesus continues to say in the same verse, “And I will . . . manifest Myself to him.” “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Jas. 1:22. The Word is Jesus’ commandments. Hearing them and not doing them is the same as neither loving them nor Him who has given us the Word. There are those who boast of having read the Bible several times; others comfort themselves with going to church and to meetings and with having a knowledge of the Bible, but they do not say anything about doing it. They feel that God’s laws are burdensome; they debate back and forth as to what they are permitted to do or not to do as a Christian. They are not blessed in what they are doing.

What is that “perfect law of liberty”? All the Word of God is the “perfect law of liberty” for the one who loves God and has received the Spirit of Christ. Rom. 8:9. The Spirit of Christ is “the law of the Spirit of life.” This law has “in Christ Jesus . . . made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2. And “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Cor. 3:17-18. Liberty for what? Liberty to look into the glory of the Lord! That is the same as looking into the “perfect law of liberty.” Jesus reveals Himself to those who love Him, and they have the liberty—by the Spirit of the Lord—to be transformed into that same glory.

In Psalm 40:8 we read about Jesus: “I delight to do Your will, O God, and Your law is within My heart.” All of His disciples have the same mind. “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” Ps. 119:18. This is the prayer of those who love Jesus. Depths of glory—all God’s wisdom—are to be found in God’s laws and commandments. The expression “look into” is quite appropriate in this context. Those who do not love Jesus quickly forget what they have heard; they also forget what they looked like.

“So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” Jas. 2:12. Those who do this do not lead a life based on firm rules and regulations. They are in constant development. They love God’s light and judgment. They are built up to be a spiritual house and a royal priesthood. 1 Pet. 2:5, 4:17.