Free in the Perfection of Christ – The Law of Liberty (22)

Free in the Perfection of Christ

The Law of Liberty (22)

Readers will gain a better perspective on the main teaching of this series by reading The Ground for Christian Ethics, by T. M. Go to www.MyParuchia.com, click Publications, then click Waxed Tablet, and scroll down until you see this little volume.

The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul… Psalm 19:7

James referred to the Law of God as the “law of liberty.” We have seen how the Law liberates us as people to be all that God intends us to be in soul and body, growing in grace and sanctification, that we might be pleasing to Him in all things. The Law liberates us from our natural sinful propensities so that, as we learn and obey the commandments and statutes of God, we may grow into the freedom for which God has adopted us as His sons and daughters (John 8:32).

The same Law that liberates us from our old self also frees us from the wiles of the devil. He is working hard to deprive us of our liberty and to keep us slaves to sin. Ironically, the same Law which, when we were dead in our trespasses and sins, condemned and held us captive, now, in the power of Christ’s Spirit, liberates us into fullness of life (Rom. 8:1-4).

This is so, in the first place, because the Law of God is perfect. It lacks nothing to guide and shape us for holiness and life (Lev. 18:1-5). And, while the devil, that old accuser, may indict and smear us for our many failings and shortcomings, the Law of God teaches us not to be bound by him and his idle threats. Rather, in Jesus Christ, Who fulfilled all the Law of God, we are complete and perfect already; and, in obedience to His Law, we freely acknowledge our many failings and press on to maturity in the Lord.

So we do not need to languish under the guilt and shame with which the devil loves to load us. The same Spirit Who convicts us of sin also comforts and renews us in the Law of God (John 16:8-11; Ezek. 36:26, 27). Jesus has borne our judgment; there is no condemnation for us who stand at peace in Him (Rom. 8:1). Instead, we may freely and happily confess our sins, and, following Jesus, renew our walk in the Law of God unto righteousness, working out our salvation in the power of the indwelling Spirit of Christ (1 John 1:8-2:6; Phil. 2:12, 13; Eph. 3:20).

The devil may still snipe and cajole; but we are free from his wiles and manipulation. The perfect Law of God, as we submit to and seek it, revives our sin-burdened souls in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and the transforming power of the Spirit and Word of God.

Daily meditation in the Law of God helps us along the path of holiness, righteousness, and goodness (Rom. 7:12). Order your copy of The Law of God, a compilation of the Mosaic Law for contemporary believers, and The Ground for Christian Ethics, by T. M. Go to www.MyParuchia.com, click Publications, then click Waxed Tablet, and scroll down until you see these companion volumes.

–

In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore.

T.M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.