THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY
THE epistle written by James gives us a wealth of advice on how the Christian should behave in the face of temptation, adversity, sickness plus the numerous other tricks Satan tries in order to persuade us to commit sin. At the time James was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. The above title is taken from his first chapter verse 25.
To commence his epistle he identifies himself as the writer, to whom he was writing and where they were, in a similar way as we address letters. Chapter 1 verse 1 reads-:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”
Here is a verse of scripture which seems to be a simple preamble, telling us the writer, the recipients and where they were. Normally one would proceed straight to verse two and so on. But, not so fast! Read verse one again.
Hidden in this verse lies a brilliant spiritual lighthouse flashing out a message from Almighty God to all people in time and space. A message of utmost supreme importance, especially for now in this 21st. Century.
This verse emphatically confirms God’s own Word in the truth, yes in all the truth of the numerous bible prophecies, that true Israel, who had existed since c 1730 BC, were in James’ time (and still are now) very much in positive existence, and have not been abandoned by God. James obviously knew that all the twelve tribes were then still in being and that they were abroad, otherwise there would be no point in writing to them. Further, according to these numerous bible prophecies, all twelve tribes are still in existence today in this 21st. Century, as many great and small nations.
The commonly held view that the Jews are the descendants of Israel is not valid. Probably only a relatively small percentage of them are true descendants. Scripture provides clear detail of who were the predecessors of Jewry, most having Edomite ancestry (descendants of Esau)
Jesus would have known who the true Children of Israel were and where they were, a tiny proportion of them being in the Holy Land at that time and the rest scattered abroad as James says. Jesus had told the Jews in Matthew 21:43:
“The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof”
It can be shown that he was referring to true Israel at that time scattered abroad. In Matt 10:6,7 Jesus told the Apostles:
“… go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, And as you go, preach, saying, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.
The word ‘scattered’ infers that many were spread out as regards location. The word lost used by Jesus from the Greek can mean ‘put away in punishment.’ It probably also means that they had lost God, that is that they had ignored, forgotten or deserted Him. Lost also means ‘marred’ meaning, not suitable for the job for which they were intended.
The apostles were to teach Israel about the teachings of Jesus -sometimes called ‘the law of Jesus’– and of course later the gospel of salvation, which is the same as the new covenant God previously promised Israel In Isaiah 61:8 which is repeated in Hebrews 8:8:
“Behold, the days come saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the House of Judah”
The rest of this chapter should be read here. The last four verses are yet, but soon, to be fulfilled.
Subsequently to Matthew 10, Jesus revealed his gospel of salvation for the whole world. But first it would be necessary to reveal the new covenant to Israel so that they could, as witnesses, as the servant nation and as missionaries, spread the gospel to the whole world. History shows that this has been done largely by true Israel descendants in recent centuries.
At the time of James’ writing, some of the Israelites were already in what is now Europe and the British Isles. They were also scattered in the neighbouring countries outside the Holy Land, even as scriptural prophecy, secular history and archeology have confirmed. Today they are spread world wide in many large nations and smaller enclaves. It is of interest to note that the word British is probably derived from the Hebrew word Brith which means ‘covenant’. British could therefore be loosely transliterated as covenant people.
The important message that James reveals is that the continuing existence of Israel proves that Almighty God keeps his promises and his word and never changes his mind, Malachi 3:6 could not be more emphatic:
“For I am the Lord, I CHANGE NOT; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed”:
James’ epistle is a treatise about practical Christian life and how God expects his people to behave. It could be summarised in the saying, “actions speak louder than words”. Such a message as this is most appropriate at this time where we have Israel and the whole world, largely ignoring God. The universal practise of sin and evil and its inevitable subsequent confusion and chaos and mortal death is everywhere. The bible calls this ‘babel’ and ‘babylon’ which mean confusion. Man struggles to overcome this chaos with little success. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 tells us:
“Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day (leading up to the second coming of Jesus the Christ) shall not come, except there come a falling away first “
Paul’s prophecy means the universal practice of sin and of ignoring Almighty God, which is here with us now. Any news media any day confirms this. The return of Jesus the Christ, as the all powerful King, must be very near. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:22:
“.. and except those days (just before the second advent) should be shortened, there should no flesh (mankind) saved; but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened”.
The bible uses the term “elect” with reference to the children of Israel (Isaiah 45:4), the angels (I Timothy 5:21)and to the true church (I Peter 1:2). In this Matthew 24:22 quotation above, it refers to the true Christian believers in the whole world including Israel.The term shortened could have two meanings (1) a reduced number of days or (2) an actual reduction of the length of each day. Have you not noticed how quickly the days are passing by? I am not saying that (1) or (2) is happening, but that it is prophesied. A physicist would say that (1) is impossible. But Jesus says in Matthew 19:26:
“… with God all things are possible”.
In this 21st Century AD, James’ epistle must be considered as a timely warning and a timely reminder to the whole world, but especially to true Israel descendants of today. We must all wake up to the reality of biblical truth. TIme is getting very short, ignore God at your peril. The bible makes it clear that at the second advent of Jesus the Christ the unredeemed sinner may not be able to survive at the appearing of Jesus. Isaiah in chapter 13 verses 11&12 does not pull his punches
“And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity, and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious (rare) than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir”.
The 13th chapter of Isaiah makes terrible reading. I will add only one observation. The bible makes it clear that the cause of our mortal death is always our own sins. We sin if we fail to follow righteousness – all commit sin. The redemption offered to us by believing in the gospel of Jesus the Christ is our only hope.
Our God of supreme and total righteousness, never has and never will depart from absolute truth. His communications with mankind and his word -the holy bible are absolutely free of all falsehood, of that we can be certain.
We will now consider James’ epistle in brief detail. The whole epistle should be read with the following notes. The numbers refer to chapter and verse.
1:1 This is explained above.
1:2 & 3 Resisting temptations tests our faith and brings patience.
1:5-8 Ask God for wisdom with firm faith. Weak unstable faith may result in requests being denied. God upbraideth not, meaning that he is without reproach which means that he does not rebuke us.
1:12 Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation.
1:13-16 Satan, not God tempts us. Sin generates death for the sinner. Do not err.
1:17-21 Good gjfts come from God who never changes. He made us. Be swift to hear God’s word. Be slow to exercise wrath.
1:22-25 Be doers of the word not hearers only. Obey the law of liberty, (see Romans 8:1 & 2) the performance of good works will result.
1:26 Control your tongue, speak no evil.
1:27 Be charitable to afflicted fellow beings and refrain from evil
2:1-9 The faithful in the Lord Jesus must never have respect of persons. We must treat all the same with charity and kindness and love our neighbour as ourselves. As we say, treat all others as we would wish to be treated ourselves.
2:10 If we offend in only one point of law, we are guilty of breaking all.
2: 12-13 Speak and act in accordance with the law of liberty as detailed by Jesus, Paul, James and others. Always show mercy then God may well be merciful to us.
2: 14-20 James asks the question, if a man has faith and not (good) works can his faith save him? In verse 17 he answers the question “faith without works is dead:” Works can be likened to Paul’s ‘charity’ in I Corinthians 13 (to be read). James points out the devil believes in God and trembles and we do well if we believe in God. He concludes by categorically saying “faith without works is dead”.
2:21-26 Abraham’s faith combined with his works and so he was made perfect. Abraham we read believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness. lmputation is an act of God whereby He accounts his own righteousness to the believer (in Christ} which of course results in good works. Again James says, faith without works is dead., in which case, obviously, that faith without works cannot be true faith. Ephesians 2:8-10 helps here:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”:
3: 1-12 James warns us to always be careful to bridle or control our tongue from pronouncing evil. With the tongue we bless God and curse man. James says “out of the same mouth proceedeth blessings and cursings. My bretheren, these things ought not so to be”.
3:13-16 Whoever has wisdom and knowledge, let him use good conversation and perform his works with meekness and wisdom. But if we have bitter envyings and strife in us, our wisdom is not from above but is evil. Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, impartial, without hypocrisy, merciful and easily entreated.
4:1-5 Dissensions, discord, disagreements, wars in our members, and fighting etc. result from evil desire, asking of God selfishly, or evil practise. Such worldliness is alien to Christianity. James goes on to ask, ‘does the scripture speak in vain? does the Holy Spirit in us desire enviously? The answer to which is, of course not.
4:6 God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
4:7-9 Submit to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from us. Draw near to God and he will draw near toyou. Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts.
4:10 Humble yourselves before God and he will raise (support) you.
4:11 & 12 We must not speak evil or condemn one another. In Luke 6-37 Jesus says “Judge not that ye be not judged; condemn not and ye shall not be condemned; forgive and ye shall be forgiven”.
4: 13-16 We should not propose future actions without the proviso, God willing.
4:17 If we know how to do good and fail to do it, we commit sin.
5:1-6 James writes about rich people who behave in a wanton, irresponsible and selfish manner, defrauding others, oppressing the poor, failing to help those in need etc. In Matthew 19-24 Jesus says “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter unto the kingdom of God”. By inference, James pronounces the opposite of these above evils.
5:7-11 We are urged to -: (1) patiently await the (now imminent) second coming of the Lord; (2) not to complain one against another; (3) note the words of the prophets and their example in affliction; (4) remember also that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy.
5: 12 Above all James says, refrain from all swearing.
5: 13-20 James concludes his epistle with detailed instructions about praying in affliction and in sickness. He quotes ‘the prayer of faith shall save the sick’ He states that the fervent supplication of a righteous man availeth much and quotes the prophet Elijah as an example.
As can be seen James has set instructions on how to live our lives. Remember that Jesus in the four gospels, spent a lot of time giving instructions on human behaviour, in effect enlarging on the law of Moses. Jesus made it plain that the law still stood in Matthew 5:17-18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfil… (not) one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled”.
As well as the law, note that Jesus also confirms the prophets, that ALL that they say will be fulfilled. Jesus as well as the apostles and others, added detail and explanations about the law which still applies to us all. Belief in the gospel of salvation frees us from the penalty of breaking the law but not from the need to obey the law.
Doubts have been expressed as to whether James’ ‘works’ particularly in chapter 2, are at variance with Paul’s teaching on the gospel.
CATEGORICALLY NO VARIANCE EXISTS IN SCRIPTURE. Faith means trust and belief in the whole of scripture, that God answers prayers, protects us, strengthens us, heals us, blesses us, loves us and above all redeems us.
James does not exalt works against faith.True faith results, as said above, in God imputing his own righteousness in us. The result of which is among many virtues, the performance of good works. So in this scenario the good works indicate true faith. The meaning of ‘good works’ is not only works of charity and helping others but also our actions, words and thoughts etc.
Finally we come to the last lesson to be learnt from James’ epistle which is probably the most important.
Once we truly believe in the gospel and all our sins are forgiven, what happens next?
We all have specific tasks to do in this life. Jesus’s instructions, Paul’s charity and James’ works and the whole of the rest of the bible shows us the way to lead our lives when God directs us to these tasks. Such tasks may be few or numerous and of small or great effect.
When Jesus healed the impotent man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:14 )he said to him, “SIN NO MORE lest a worst thing come unto thee.” Jesus was not threatening the man, only pointing out that sin breeds adversity and illness. Again in John 8:11, Jesus said unto the woman taken in adultery, “neither do I condemn thee; go and SIN NO MORE”‘ (Both of these incidents show the divine mercy of Jesus). As James says in chapter 1 verse 5 “God upbraideth not”.
Therefore on believing in Christ, are we not also duty bound to SIN NO MORE! of course we are, but without God’s help we will not succeed. We may try not to sin, but we can get caught out by Satan’s subtlety too often. We may not even be aware that we have sinned.
Paul in Romans 7:15-25 deals with this problem, and this important portion of scripture should be carefully read and re-read particularly verses 15-18:
“For that which I do I allow (permit) not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will (do good) is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
We have as it were – two natures within us. The wrong or sinful nature of the flesh, and the right or good nature of the spirit. Each warring against the other. Satan encourages the wrong nature by powerful active temptations. God, the Holy Spirit uses our conscience, or as a result of scriptural teaching, our knowledge of good, or some other means to remind us of what is a right and true path to follow. In Romans 8:1 & 2 Paul states:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are (believe) in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.
This is what James is referring to when he quotes “the perfect law of liberty” in James chapter 1 verse 25.
We are bound to believe and obey this perfect law of liberty. If inadvertently we sin. we must confess our sin to God, repent and trust in his mercy.
As descendants of the Children of Israel, we must remember that God, who instituted our nation(s) of Israel, reminds us in verse 10 of chapter 43 of Isaiah:
“Ye are my witnesses (of the existence and presence of God) saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen”
Further, as we saw above, our nation is instrumental in teaching the gospel of salvation to the rest of mankind. I repeat again that history shows that this has been done and still is being done.
Sadly our nation of Israel has a very bad record of largely and repeatedly ignoring and forgetting Almighty God, even as today yet again. As individual members of Israel, we must remember our duty and responsibilities.
We must personally ensure that our faith in Jesus the Christ and his salvation in the new covenant is absolutely firm.
We are under the glorious law of liberty and are duty bound – with God’s help – to avoid all sin. We must therefore be faithful witnesses for Almighty God, by obeying this law of liberty.
It is appropriate at this point to quote Numbers chapter 6 verses 23 to 27:
“On this wise ye shall bless the children of lsrael, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee and keep thee: The Lord make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee, The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
