Jump to content
JesusWalk Bible Study Forum

Recommended Posts

On 12/17/2004 at 8:34 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

It is not the mosaic law but the law that brings freedom and liberty, it is what comes within us, the love we have for God and our obedience to Him comes from WHO He is, it is what God did through Jesus to bring salvation to HIs people, it relates to the royal law because as God has so loved us we should also love other people, it brings the new covenant Jesus commanded us, to love one another as He has loved us. We become free knowing that God is our Master and we can trust him in every situation and love make us to rest in Him.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 114
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

(James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions?

The perfect law is "Love your neighbor as yourself". 

How would you define it?

I would define it as you should love others as much as you love yourself. 

How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)?

It relates to the "royal law" as we should love each other as God has loved us. 

In what sense does it bring liberty?

It brings liberty because we no longer have to live under the old law but the new where the law will be put in our minds and written in our hearts.  It is the love that God has placed within us.


 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

The perfect law, the law that gives freedom. When we routinely do that and obey what they see there, they will be blessed in what they do. I would define it as doing what is directed by God's Word (Law) in order receive the freedom we need and desire. It brings freedom and freedom brings bout peace.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Perfect law is love with action. In comparison to the royal law I feel like this is more of the judaic laws that were followed. They both should be followed but in all reality the perfect law supersedes the royal law because it goes beyond our imperfections that are bound to show with the judaic laws-love your neighbor as yourself, this is how Christ was and how we should be.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/18/2004 at 12:04 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

The perfect law that God established gives freedom. Once we are saved, we have a daily choice to live our lives in good holy way or continue doing the things of the old us. The perfect law which encompasses love and forgiveness, needs to be translated into actions in order for it to be shown, portrayed and lived as an example to others. If we are not doing it in tangible ways, then people will not be able to see God at work, on earth, through His people. And this doing of His Word or Law comes from the motivation given in James 2:8 as professed  by Jesus that it's only possible through love that we are able to do anything in life for ourselves and most importantly for others. True hearts, refined by Christ, long to show and spread His love among His people and to the world at large. That's why to profess His love, loving our neighbours (everyone in the world) in actions is connected and the most valuable Christian value. It also helps us to not become hypocrites, or legalists, but the opposite, that is a loving and love giving child of God. Saying I love you, but not embracing it through touch and empathy, is not living the Word. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

       Mathew 22:37 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.            Mathew 22:39 Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.                       These are the perfect law. 

There is no comparison to God's love for us. Because of Love our savior and King Jesus gave his holy blood for us. Love forgives, Love never keeps record of wrong. Love gives life. So prefect love is the perfect law.

All the ten commandments of the Lord come under this perfect law. 

There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. Love is greater than sins. God is love. When we come to Jesus we have liberty.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? It is the law that is given to us when we are born again, so that we may have and live life according to Jesus Christ’s mandate. How would you define it? It is the law of liberty from sin and death through Jesus our Lord and Savior. How does it relate to the "royal law" (James 2:8)? The perfect law frees us from the burdensome Mosaic  law through Jesus Christ, by whose blood He washed away the sins of all men, took them to the grave with Himself Whereat He conquered death at His resurrection. However, in its actualization, the perfect law incorporates the royal law - love thy neighbor as thyself.  In what sense does it bring liberty? It brings us liberty by our reading the Word of truth, not forgetting and doing as it says. In other words, by obeying Christ’s commands

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is this “perfect law” that James mentions?

Love each other as Jesus loves you. 

How would you define it?

Unconditional unselfish love, thinking of others first. What can I do for you. Seeing Jesus in other faces, as Mother Theresa said. 

How does it relate to the “royal law”?

Love your neighbour as yourself. 

In what sense does it bring liberty?

God has chosen us, He has  placed His love within us through Jesus dying on the cross and giving within us His Holy Spirit. His love has been placed in our minds and written on our hearts. Thank You Lord!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q7. (James 1:25)

What is this "perfect law" that James mentions?

The perfect Torah (law) is what was given to Moses.  

How would you define it?

The perfect Law of Liberty can be defined as love. If you love God you will keep His Commandments.  That means you will live righteously.  It will not be done because it is a law but because of love.

You will serve God and Him only (no idols, no taking His Name in vain, meet Him as He desires  -  keeping the Sabbath day holy.)

Honor your parents  (this too shows love)

You will not take what belongs to someone else.  Herein most of the commandments are already covered (you will not: 1) murder -  take someone's life, 2) commit adultery  -  take someone's wife/husband, 3) steal  - take what is not yours,  4) lie/bear false witness  -   in doing so you are taking away someone's freedom, 5)covet   -  desire what is not yours.)

In breaking it up like that it can be seen that the definition of the law is true love.  Love for God and love for your neighbour. 

How does it relate to the "royal law" (James 2:8)?

The 'royal law' is "You shall love your neighbour as yourself".

In what sense does it bring liberty?

If you look into it and continue in it it brings liberty, but it is ineffective if its admonitions are not obeyed through appropriate actions/behaviour.   Loving one's neighbour as unto the Lord causes one to be an agent of God's love and grace towards others. in this way you do not favour one person above another.  You do not despise one and uphold another.  All are treated equally.  By living in this way, you owe no one anything and it does bring with it a sense of freedom/liberty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

James refers to the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that liberated us from Mosaic laws that could not be kept even by the Jews anyway.

Jesus sum up the laws of the prophets into two: …love the Lord your God with all…., and the second he said: love your neighbor as yourself (which James referred to as the Royal law).

The liberty the perfect law brings is that we find new life and new relation with God through the Lord Jesus Christ through faith by grace alone and not by works of circumcision and keeping legalistic Mosaic laws which were not even successfully kept.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
On 12/17/2004 at 1:34 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

According to "Barclay James says there is and ethical law which the Christian must seek to put into action.  That law is to be found first in the Ten Commandments and then in the teaching of Jesus.

James calls that law two things: (1) He calls it the perfect law.  There are three reasons why the law is called perfect. (a) It is God's law, given and revealed by him.  The way of life which Jesus laid down for his followers is in accordance with the will of God.  (b) It is perfect in that it cannot be bettered.  The Christian law is the law of love, and the demand of love can never be satisfied.  We know well, when we love some one, that even though we gave them all the world and served them for a lifetime, we still could not satisfy or deserve their love.  (c) But there is still another sense in which the Christian law is perfect.  The Greek word is teleios which nearly always describes perfection towards some given end.  Now, if a man obeys the law of Christ, he will fulfil the purpose he ought to be and will make the contribution to the world he ought to make.  He will be perfect in the sense that he will, by obeying the law of God, realize his God-given destiny."  Quoted from Barclay

The Royal Law is: "You must love your neighbor as yourself".  If we do not love our neighbor as ourselves we break not only the Royal Law but the Perfect Law as well.  To break one you have broken them all.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/17/2004 at 1:34 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q7. (James 1:25) What is this “perfect law” that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the “royal law” (James 2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

The perfect law is no longer rules and regulations.  It is the perfect law what God has put in our minds and in our hearts as believers.  It is God's love.  It is doing it, the law He has put in our hearts to love one another as He has loved us. When we do this, as He says in His Word,  it is the perfect law of liberty.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
  • 7 months later...

What is this "perfect law" that James mentions? How would you define it? How does it relate to the "royal law" (2:8)? In what sense does it bring liberty?

 

It has been some time since I studied James and this question was and is perplexing. How do I define the perfect law of liberty? Liberty to me means freedom and Jesus came to do away with the Law which is not and never more shall be perfect. However, that Law is and was God's righteous standard. So to live/abide by the perfect law of liberty is to abide in the principles He established. Why does James use two different laws? "perfect law of liberty and the royal law?" Are they the same? Or is that they are the same in how they are lived out? 

Dr Constable says this: "The law to which James referred is the revelation of God’s will contained in Scripture (cf. Matt. 5:17). It is perfect because it is the perfect will of a perfect God." 

I think the key to this dilemma is the word "perfect". To be blessed as he says we must abide in the perfect law and that is God's Word and His Law.  Again Dr. C. says this: "The law to which James referred is the revelation of God’s will contained in Scripture (cf. Matt. 5:17). It is perfect because it is the perfect will of a perfect God." That explains it 'perfectly' to use a pun. 

I am still perplexed by the two terms but just as I often look for a synonym I think this the pattern here. 

Good questions! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...