I need continual reminders that I am sustained by of the
grace of God. Otherwise, I begin to take the Gospel for granted. It’s the Word
of God that provides this reminder. How? One way the Word performs its task is
through the New Testament law, the moral teachings of Jesus and His Apostles,
the Law of Liberty:
·
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one
point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit
adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do
murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those
who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to
one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:10-13 ESV)
Ordinarily, the Law kills, even when we mess-up only once, but
when accompanied by the grace of forgiveness, it provides the instruction that
I need. It teaches me to not be too quick to judge, because God is not quick to
judge me for our many failures to keep this Law. In fact, grace removes all
condemnation (Romans 8:1) It also reminds me of the grace which enables us to
stand confidently before God and a world that hates the light.
The Law reminds us who we are and our need for the Savior.
Therefore James warned that we have to be doers of this Law:
·
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he
is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks
at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who
looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer
who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25
(ESV)
If we persevere in doing the Law, we will continue to see
who we really are. How? The Law serves as a mirror showing us ourselves, our
faults, and our continual need for His mercy.
I have a tendency to become unforgiving of my wife. However,
the Law graciously reminds me that I have no right to withhold forgiveness. It
beckons me to hold up its mirror to show me who I am and humbles me.
If we walk away from the Law, we will forget about our need
for mercy. We forget about our moral failures and also the One who paid the
price for them. Instead of gratefulness for our Savior, we become hardened to
Him and to others. The Law of Liberty is a vital part of our training.
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