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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
A paradox is similar to an absurdity. In the minds of some, James 2.12 goes beyond an absurdity or a paradox; it is an out and out contradiction! We shall quote the verse here and then address its meaning. “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.”
First, notice that James’ instructions involve both word and deed (speaking and doing). This tandem admonition is consistent with Paul’s command to the believers at Colossae when he wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3.17). Likewise, James’ inspired comments are parallel to those which John penned in his first general epistle; he imposed the following: “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3.18). To put this in the common vernacular, we are not only to talk the talk, we are to walk the walk!
Secondly, the persons being charged in this text “…will be judged.” Those who are to be judged are the erring believers to whom James was writing. They, though believers, are not beyond the authority of law, the judge, or the judgment. Paul expressed the same when he said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5.10). Again this is consistent with what other New Testament passages teach about the judgment. However, it is inconsistent with some of the doctrines of men, those that teach there will be two judgments, one for the believer and one for the unbeliever. James saw only one judgment and only one standard of judgment, i.e. the law of liberty.
Thirdly, some perceive that law and liberty are contradictory. However, James saw no contradiction; he didn’t even see a difficulty! Liberty is guaranteed by law and is in no way contradictory or contrary to law. In the previous chapter (specifically James 1.25), he wrote about the “perfect law of liberty.” If there is a difficulty here, it is only a difficulty in the minds of those who hold to doctrines that are different than those taught by God and His spokespersons! Wherever the doctrine came from (namely, that law and liberty are contradictory), it did not come from God. There is no passage in the Bible that teaches either implicitly or explicitly that such is the case. God honored law from the beginning as a means to guaranteeing liberty. Can God make a perfect law that guarantees freedom yet is not overly restrictive or stringent? To affirm that God cannot do so is to affirm that which the Bible clearly denies. God can do anything within His will – no exceptions! Furthermore, James explicitly identified the gospel as the “perfect law of liberty.” What more evidence does the believer need than this?
As a closing thought for this installment in this miniseries, please consider the gravity of James’ admonition. Some of his brethren had been violating the tenets of the Law of Liberty by showing favoritism to the rich and by showing disdain for the poor. Aside from the express commands of the Gospel, this simply did not make sense! The poor had from of old been the bastion in which the truth always found a honored home. It was the same way when Jesus ministered in person. Things did not change after the church began and spread into the remotest reaches f the earth. This being the case, just why would Christians favor the rich and shun the poor? There simply can be no explanation of this behavior!
Law and liberty are both of God; they are as consistent as His character. Believers cling tenaciously to Law and to Liberty!
Questions:
1. Why would James charge his readers to act and speak according to the law of liberty?
2. What result would follow should they fail to heed his warning?
3. How many final judgments will there be? How many last says will there be?
4. From whence did the doctrine arise that law and liberty are contradictory?
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