So speak and so do as through the law of liberty.1
We are to speak and do on account of a general principle of freedom. This word for do, is the same word that is used to refer to doing sin, or practicing sin, and the same used for doing the will of God. We are to do as through the law of liberty, this becomes an outward flow of faith with works. It is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”2 This law of liberty says I have died to elemental principles, that I might live to Christ, by faith. However, there is a law that states faith without works is dead and the law of liberty doesn't surpass the law of love.
The law of liberty states that there is no justification by works of the law, this is through faith in Jesus Christ.4 I am not to rebuild what I tore down.5 The law was a tutor, a manager, a guardian, it was added because of transgressions until the Seed, Christ should come.6 The law could not give Life, it confined all under sin, under guard, kept for the faith that which would be revealed in Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of faith,7 who spoke the words of eternal life. The law was our tutor but now that faith has come we are no longer under a tutor.8
The Law states that I am cursed if I do not continue in all things written in the book of the law.9 No man but Jesus has ever continued in all things of the law. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. Abraham in disbelief brought about a son in the flesh, his belief with Sarah brought a son in the spirit, this is symbolic of bondwoman and freewoman. Ishmael and Isaac, flesh and spirit, Jerusalem now in bondage and the Jerusalem which is above, free, the spiritual Jerusalem mother of us all.10 Under the law the Jews were in bondage to elemental principles, but God sent forth his son to redeem those under the law (not for a future time, no, today, the day of salvation). We are heirs through the Seed, Christ.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.11 The law of freedom states that I am no longer a slave to elemental principles. I am no longer under the law, nor under the curse, Christ became that curse for me, dying on a tree. I am free from these elemental principles of do not touch, handle, taste... If I eat I eat unto the Lord, if I abstain, I abstain for the Lord. Whether I eat or abstain it is for the Lord. While I can drink alcohol and eat pork, I can abstain as into the Lord, I do this unto the Lord. Who am I to pass judgement on my brother, if he abstains or abstains not. Whether I die or live it is before the Lord, whether I abstain or I abstain not, I do it before the Lord. While the law of liberty is at work that frees me from these elemental principles, there is another law that precedes this one, it is the law of love.
The one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it not a forgetful hearer having been but a doer of the work, this one is blessed in the work of him will be.12 This looking intently (derived from para and kupto which introduces someone as very "close beside" and to bend, from kuó (to bend, curve, to be pregnant, swell)). This is intently peering into the fullness that is in Christ, of Grace and Truth. This freedom means I am delivered from obligation, especially from slavery. The perfect law refers to that which is full grown, complete in all its parts, going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal. The end goal is to be like Christ, in the fullness of Him, his love perfects into obedience. We come to know him, his stripes heal us, to know such is to be obedient to his will.11 If I am a hearer only, not a doer, I will not be blessed in doing.13
There is a justification by faith and works. In Christ we are delivered from the enslavement of sinful nature, we are new creations in Christ, now we are under the law of liberty and the law of love. We do not practise sin, it is no longer our nature, we are to do the work, his workmanship, that we were created to do. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.14 If death is without spirit then life is with spirit. If faith without works is dead then faith with works is alive. If faith and spirit then life and works. As the spirit produces life, faith produces works. No spirit, no life. No faith, no works. A good tree produces good fruit, a bad tree produces bad fruit. Perseverance in the law of liberty produces a doer, not a forgetful hearer having been but a doer of the works. These works refer to toil (as an effort or occupation, business), an act, deed, thing done. We are to set about doing God's business, our faith is displayed by our works.
When I am given freedom I still think as a slave, as a slave my identity was in what I did, now it is in what Christ did for me and who I am in him. Part of my new identity as a son is to renew my mind. The way is through faith, intently looking into the love of Christ. I am created for His workmanship, to do the good works he created me to do, without these works my faith is dead. The law of liberty gives me this freedom but I am to be judged under it, by the law of love; I am loving others as Christ loves me, I am merciful, poor in spirit... For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.12 What defiles a person comes from the heart, if my tongue is set about destroying others, I better check my heart, if I am not helping the least of these, orphans and widows, I better check my religion, if I am not making disciples then I better check who I'm following. Jesus said in your unity others will know he is from God and in your love for one another that you are his disciples. Freedom in Christ produces a doer of good works.
The law of love is that I love my brothers as myself. I am to build up others in Christ. The law of Christ carries the burdens of another and is a walk in humility, it is the law of service. Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.6 It basically is derived from the greatest commandments and the golden rule. To love God, others, and to treat others as I would want to be treated. These sum up the law and no other principles override these. Whether I die or live I do before the Lord, he is my righteous judge. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.14
The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Mercy triumphs judgement, the scriptures say. I am to build up the faith of others. If I use the law of liberty to exalt myself over someone weak in the faith, I have broken the law of love. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.15 The ten commandments confine sin against God and our brother. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.16 While there is a principle I should not owe it doesn't override the law of love, because if I hurt the faith of someone who owes me, have I not broken this law of love?
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore. Don't go back to bondage, if you seek justification in the law, you have severed yourself from Christ, you have become slaves again, estranged from Christ, fallen from Grace.17 Legalism is anyone who builds self-righteousness by justification in the works of the law, the scriptures say this is a sin, a transgression.18 After receiving the Spirit, when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed, through faith,19 who has persuaded you that there is some other way? elemental principles have no value in overcoming the flesh. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.20 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.21 Paul would say, castrate these people from the body. The scriptures say, those of the flesh persecute those of the Spirit, the slave will not inherit with the son, nor will bondwoman with freewoman.21 God's people are not under bondage but are freemen, sons, under the law of liberty and love, heirs to the promise.
O God Forgive Us
Freedom
The Law states that I am cursed if I do not continue in all things written in the book of the law.9 No man but Jesus has ever continued in all things of the law. Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him as righteousness. Abraham in disbelief brought about a son in the flesh, his belief with Sarah brought a son in the spirit, this is symbolic of bondwoman and freewoman. Ishmael and Isaac, flesh and spirit, Jerusalem now in bondage and the Jerusalem which is above, free, the spiritual Jerusalem mother of us all.10 Under the law the Jews were in bondage to elemental principles, but God sent forth his son to redeem those under the law (not for a future time, no, today, the day of salvation). We are heirs through the Seed, Christ.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.11 The law of freedom states that I am no longer a slave to elemental principles. I am no longer under the law, nor under the curse, Christ became that curse for me, dying on a tree. I am free from these elemental principles of do not touch, handle, taste... If I eat I eat unto the Lord, if I abstain, I abstain for the Lord. Whether I eat or abstain it is for the Lord. While I can drink alcohol and eat pork, I can abstain as into the Lord, I do this unto the Lord. Who am I to pass judgement on my brother, if he abstains or abstains not. Whether I die or live it is before the Lord, whether I abstain or I abstain not, I do it before the Lord. While the law of liberty is at work that frees me from these elemental principles, there is another law that precedes this one, it is the law of love.
The one having looked intently into the perfect law, that of freedom, and having continued in it not a forgetful hearer having been but a doer of the work, this one is blessed in the work of him will be.12 This looking intently (derived from para and kupto which introduces someone as very "close beside" and to bend, from kuó (to bend, curve, to be pregnant, swell)). This is intently peering into the fullness that is in Christ, of Grace and Truth. This freedom means I am delivered from obligation, especially from slavery. The perfect law refers to that which is full grown, complete in all its parts, going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal. The end goal is to be like Christ, in the fullness of Him, his love perfects into obedience. We come to know him, his stripes heal us, to know such is to be obedient to his will.11 If I am a hearer only, not a doer, I will not be blessed in doing.13
This looking intently into the perfect law of liberty, into the fullness of Christ, this freedom in Grace and Truth, it begins to bend me, I begin to swell, I become impregnated with this fullness. When I continue in it, and live out, practise, do, these works, my faith becomes alive, it is surely not dead. Like a lion, a passion roaring inside me, it comes out.
There is a justification by faith and works. In Christ we are delivered from the enslavement of sinful nature, we are new creations in Christ, now we are under the law of liberty and the law of love. We do not practise sin, it is no longer our nature, we are to do the work, his workmanship, that we were created to do. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.14 If death is without spirit then life is with spirit. If faith without works is dead then faith with works is alive. If faith and spirit then life and works. As the spirit produces life, faith produces works. No spirit, no life. No faith, no works. A good tree produces good fruit, a bad tree produces bad fruit. Perseverance in the law of liberty produces a doer, not a forgetful hearer having been but a doer of the works. These works refer to toil (as an effort or occupation, business), an act, deed, thing done. We are to set about doing God's business, our faith is displayed by our works.
When I am given freedom I still think as a slave, as a slave my identity was in what I did, now it is in what Christ did for me and who I am in him. Part of my new identity as a son is to renew my mind. The way is through faith, intently looking into the love of Christ. I am created for His workmanship, to do the good works he created me to do, without these works my faith is dead. The law of liberty gives me this freedom but I am to be judged under it, by the law of love; I am loving others as Christ loves me, I am merciful, poor in spirit... For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.12 What defiles a person comes from the heart, if my tongue is set about destroying others, I better check my heart, if I am not helping the least of these, orphans and widows, I better check my religion, if I am not making disciples then I better check who I'm following. Jesus said in your unity others will know he is from God and in your love for one another that you are his disciples. Freedom in Christ produces a doer of good works.
The law of love is that I love my brothers as myself. I am to build up others in Christ. The law of Christ carries the burdens of another and is a walk in humility, it is the law of service. Bear you one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.6 It basically is derived from the greatest commandments and the golden rule. To love God, others, and to treat others as I would want to be treated. These sum up the law and no other principles override these. Whether I die or live I do before the Lord, he is my righteous judge. Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to dispute over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.14
The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Mercy triumphs judgement, the scriptures say. I am to build up the faith of others. If I use the law of liberty to exalt myself over someone weak in the faith, I have broken the law of love. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself.15 The ten commandments confine sin against God and our brother. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.16 While there is a principle I should not owe it doesn't override the law of love, because if I hurt the faith of someone who owes me, have I not broken this law of love?
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore. Don't go back to bondage, if you seek justification in the law, you have severed yourself from Christ, you have become slaves again, estranged from Christ, fallen from Grace.17 Legalism is anyone who builds self-righteousness by justification in the works of the law, the scriptures say this is a sin, a transgression.18 After receiving the Spirit, when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed, through faith,19 who has persuaded you that there is some other way? elemental principles have no value in overcoming the flesh. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.20 This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.21 Paul would say, castrate these people from the body. The scriptures say, those of the flesh persecute those of the Spirit, the slave will not inherit with the son, nor will bondwoman with freewoman.21 God's people are not under bondage but are freemen, sons, under the law of liberty and love, heirs to the promise.
O God Forgive Us
Freedom