Resources/Articles
Law & Liberty
Contrary to what many think, there can be no true liberty without law. Lawlessness would result in anarchy, not freedom.
Sporting events, civil government, nature, school, and homes have rules. It would be impossible to think of being a part of any of these and not have a law governing how we are to behave. There are some who dislike the word “law” and have convinced themselves that we are free from God’s rules.
“But he who looks into the 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). In other places, God’s rules are considered the “law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2), “the faith” (Jude 3), and “his commandments” (1 John 5:2,3). Referring to God’s will as the “law of liberty” is not implying a relationship free from law, but it is statutes that demand our obedience so we may be liberated from sin. It is the law which Jesus dedicated with His blood (Matthew 26:28), and to reject the law would be rejection of the blood of Christ.
There must be an understanding of Paul’s words, “for you are no longer under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). If this passage teaches we have no law, then we would have no need for grace, for “where there is no law, there is no transgression” (Romans 4:15). Investigating Romans 4, one will discover a “freedom” from “works” (perfect law keeping), but this does not mean there are no works for us to do (Ephesians 2:100. There is a difference in performing works to earn salvation and obeying Christ whil depending on His grace for our failings. Being “free from law” does not mean there is no law to follow. It means the law of Moses failed in providing us with a means of justification solely through works only. We are now under the law of Christ, which John 1:17 says, “For the law was given unto Moses, but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ.” It does not mean there was no “grace and truth” under the Law of Moses, nor that Christ did not come to bring a “law” but only grace. The truth Jesus brought is the law, rule, or covenant of right and wrong. It is called the gospel. What is revealed within that gospel is God’s grace (Titus 2:11,12). If we read and understand the gospel and obey it, we will be set free (John 8:32).
It is not our motive to decide which rules to obey nor understand thy God gave certain commands. Our efforts should be from a heart of love as 1 John 5:2,3 says: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
