The Law of Liberty

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Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at some scripture from James 2:10-13

¹⁰ For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

¹¹ For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

¹³ For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

The Apostle teaches today that if we were to keep the entire law but yet make one small offense, we are guilty of it all. That means if you don’t commit adultery but if you kill somebody you are a transgressor of the law. You are just as guilty as everybody else. That’s why we want to be merciful and forgiving with each other because God is merciful with us.

Luke 18:9-14

⁹ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In the general carnal nature, it’s very easy for people to look down on others. The Pharisee thought that he was very righteous but didn’t recognize the fact that he was just as big of a sinner as the Publican was.

If you sin one little time, you are just as guilty as the rest. Some people just want to believe that they are a better person than others. The beginning of true humility before God is understanding that we are not perfect. Each of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Even in the Old Testament the priest would have to bring in blood not only for the congregation, but for himself and sins that he may have committed. God wants us to be merciful as he is merciful. The Bible teaches us that we can come boldly to the throne of grace.

Mercy is kindness that is shown to somebody else and being of a forgiving nature when they confess their faults. Mercy is compassion and forgiveness that is shown to somebody who it is within one’s power to punish or to harm.

Think about going into a courtroom somewhere where an offender asks for leniency and begs for mercy from a judge. The judge shows them mercy and compassion even though they have the ability to sentence them and punish them. That is the way God wants us to be with each other in the church. Everybody on the face of this earth are sinners and worthy of being punished by God, but He shows us compassion.

Mercy is compassion or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender or an enemy. It’s to have compassion or pity.

Once again everybody is a sinner. Everybody in the church is a sinner. Ministers and pastors are sinners. We all have come short of the glory of God. Obviously that doesn’t mean that we want to live in sin anymore or constantly repent from dead works, but rather become faithful and obedient to Christ who died on the cross to take our sins away.

¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

The Liberty that is spoken of here is grace and forgiveness. The Old Testament was referred to as the ministration of condemnation. In the New Testament we have freedom from sin through forgiveness. Liberty In this passage means the quality or state of being forgiven by God. Liberty in the world is defined as freedom from control. That’s not the freedom and liberty we’re speaking of in this passage.

The Liberty that we are speaking about in the scriptures today means complete remission for our sins so that that we can serve him acceptably.

We’re supposed to speak and do as those that will be judged by the law of Liberty. That means God forgives you and you want to be forgiving with others. That is the law by which we will be judged. God completely forgives us and washes our sins away through his precious blood. That is the law of Liberty.

Liberty is not Rebellion against what He taught, it is freedom and forgiveness for our sins so that we can become faithful unto him in all things.

Because you are now under the law of liberty and forgiveness in the New Testament you need to show that forgiveness to other people. If you’re incapable of doing that, God is not going to show them any mercy at all.

Judgement happens when we look at the scriptures and realize the error of our way. We are supposed to judge ourselves. We have to admit our sins to God so that we can have them washed away.

The teachings of Christ show us to treat others the same way that you would want to be treated. You want to be forgiven by God? You need to be forgiving with others when they apologize. God completely forgives us and doesn’t even remember our past.

Luke 6:36

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Be forgiving with others as He is.

Matthew 5:7

Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Matthew 9:13

But go ye and learn what [that] meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice

Many people found it easier to simply bring a sacrifice so yhat they wouldn’t have to be merciful to others. There are people just like this in certain churches today.

They bring money or an offering unto God but they keep things in their hearts against others. They refuse to forgive and be reconciled with others. God wants us to be merciful.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Imagine having a large room in your house and whenever you open up the door, it’s filled up inside with Grace and forgiveness. You can access that room anytime you wish. Grace has been given to us so that we can grow. Grace helps us to change and become better people when we confess our sins. We don’t want to receive God’s grace in vain but use it to grow.

1st Peter 1:3

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

I’ve said it many times but the entrance into the Christian faith is by first admitting that you’re a sinner and confessing your sins to God. Because that is the first step to Christianity, you would think that people would be merciful and forgiving with others, but that is not always the case. God is going to punish those things.

Colossians 3:12-13

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

Forbearance is withholding punishment that is actually due to a person. Forbearance is being forgiving with others.

Luke 6:37

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Lamentations 3:22

 [It is of] the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Look at how much God loves and cares for us. Even while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. The son continues to rise on everybody in the morning. Our God is good to all.

We learned today that there’s the Old Testament law which is called the ministration of condemnation, and the New Testament law which is called the law of Liberty.

There’s judgement and then there is mercy. If you show judgment without any kind of mercy at all, God’s not going to show mercy to you.

Someone who shows mercy is being lenient, compassionate and graceful.

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Jesus died at the cross so that we could be forgiven for our sins. Are you being forgiving with others?

Think about that for today and Lord willing we’ll talk to you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.