But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. [James 1:25 NIV]
What does James mean when he talks about the 'perfect law'? How can looking into and observing the perfect law give freedom?
James provides a neat summary of the Christian's relationship to the Word of God. He describes how the Christian should respond to the Bible, the word of God. Firstly, we should look intently into the Bible. We should study it seriously. Jonathan Lamb points out that James uses the same word as we find in the Easter story. You remember that some disciples had been told that Jesus was no longer in the tomb and that He had risen from the dead. They went to the tomb, bent down at the narrow entrance and looked in. They took a long hard look, and then they acted on what they saw. [Jonathan Lamb : Godliness from Head to Toe: An Introduction to the Book of James.] Secondly, reading the Bible should result in a response from us. It is not like studying other books such as works of literature (Shakespeare's plays for example) or a science textbook. Studying the Bible does not just increase our intellectual knowledge: it affects our moral behaviour. It must be followed by obedience. Thirdly, reading the word of God leads to freedom. This needs a bit more time to understand what James is saying here.
We don't readily associate keeping the law with freedom. Law speaks to us about restrictions to our liberty. The laws stop us from doing what we would perhaps want us to do. James is speaking about the word of God especially as revealed in the Old Testament. Here is how the writer of that particularly long psalm speaks about the Law.
I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. [Psalms 119:104-105 NIV]
Notice that understanding God's precepts affects our moral conduct. He is able to discern good from evil because he has gained spiritual understanding and insight from reading the word of God. God's word provides illumination to guide his daily living and also divine guidance on his life choices.
To repeat what has been covered in previous Day Shares, it is absolutely vital for our spiritual wellbeing that we are not only 'hearers of the word' but that it affects our actions and behaviour. God will hold us accountable for our response to the word of God. I must have listened to thousands of sermons or 'expositions of Scripture.' How far have these talks changed my conduct? Over the years I have spent many hours reading and studying the Bible and even engaging in Bible teaching. How much of an impact has all of this made on my life and my character? Am I more like Christ my Saviour now than I was in my teens or my twenties or my thirties? These are all questions I need to answer openly before God. Maybe you could conduct a similar analysis of the impact the word of God has made on your life.
Do we have reverence and respect for the Bible? Do we make it our business to study the word of God for ourselves? Do we prayerfully reflect on what we read so that it affects our everyday behaviour and governs our attitudes and values? Are we reluctant to study the Bible because of the challenges we find in its pages? Do we allow distractions in to our lives which make us reluctant to spend time studying God's word regularly and systematically?
In closing, I need to look at what the verse says about freedom. I want to suggest that James is referring to the freedom from sin that comes from reading the word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. James is not advocating us following a whole set of commandments slavishly. He is not speaking of us following the example of the Pharisees who had literally thousands of restrictions and rules and regulations. They were burdened by having to follow a whole set of rules - do this and don't do that. Instead, he wants us to allow the word of God to mould our character and to give us the power by God's grace to live a victorious Christian life. Here are several passages in the New Testament dealing with the subject of freedom in Christ.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. [Galatians 5:1 NIV] Paul was writing to warn the Galatians about trying to follow all the commandments of the Old Testament law as a way of pleasing God.
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. [Galatians 5:13-15 NIV]
Paul is warning them not to abuse this freedom in Christ as an excuse for indulging the sinful nature (the flesh).
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. [Romans 8:1-2 NIV]
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [John 8:34-36 NIV] We have been set free from the power of sin when we trusted in Jesus as our Saviour and became a child of God and were adopted as sons of God.
Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. [1 Peter 2:16 NIV] Peter is in agreement with Paul and with James that freedom is not a licence to sin with impunity.
Another photo from Aaron Burden on Unsplash
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