The Perfect Law of Liberty Pt1 of 3

Introduction

Because I need to tell you a couple background points first. Back then there was no kindergarten. And back then there were no helicopter parents, and so the first book learning I had was first grade. And so I remember thinking that if this was Mrs. Tipton’s first year, and it was my first year, we were going to get lost. Because I didn’t know where anything was. Because I was new, and I assumed Mrs. Tipton was just as ignorant as I was. So every trip to the lunchroom or to the playground, I just knew we were going to get lost. I didn’t know where anything was. She’s new, she doesn’t know where anything was. But much to my surprise, she knew where everything was. And she was a great teacher.

But another thing I remember about the first grade was a new learning program they implemented in just my class in just the first grade. I’ll never forget it. It was called IPA. And it was a phonetics-based reading program. And what was strange about it is that as first graders, we didn’t learn the alphabet that you learned in the first grade. We learned a phonetic alphabet. Some of the letters were the same, but we had some letters you wouldn’t recognize if I showed them to you. And so we learned a different alphabet. And in that foundational grade, what was intended to be helpful actually set our whole class behind, because then in second grade, my second grade teacher, Mrs. Bridges, it was not her first year. It was her 312th year to teach second grade.

And do you think she bought into ITA? No.

We learned the Sumerian alphabet. No, we did the old alphabet, and so my class was behind. This was a different alphabet than what I learned last year. It was a different way of reading and a different way of approaching everything. And so there was a little bit of a learning curve there. And I’m still trying to make up for that today. Because first grade is so foundational to our learning. What you learn there, the building blocks that you build on on second, third, fifth, twelfth, and even college is based upon those very foundational things. And if you get those foundational things wrong, two negative things can happen. Number one is you are behind your peers. Or it’s also possible that you’re just wrong. And that is certainly true when it comes to the Word of God, doesn’t it?

To our Christianity, to our religion. The foundational things are so important. Now we may see them as so basic and elementary that we don’t want to look at them again. But we need to understand that those foundational, those first grade subjects of the scriptures are important because if we don’t get those right, we’re probably not going to get everything else right. And I think of two things that, in my way of thinking, are the most foundational to our Christianity. That first one is God. You better understand that subject. Now I recognize that because of his deity, of his manifold wisdom, we may not fully grasp and understand everything about God, but we better understand what he wants us to understand about God. And a second foundational part of our Christianity is the Word of God.

And so I want us to begin this morning, something unusual for us. I don’t usually do series of lessons, but we’re going to do a three-part series about the Word of God. Three parts from James chapter 1 in verse 25. Will you open up your New Testaments as we began this series there this morning, and we’ll begin it there for the next three Sunday mornings. And I think this is worthy of our time because it is so foundational. There may be someone listening to us today, watching this worship service, who doesn’t have this foundational understanding of the Word of God. And then for the rest of you who do have that foundational understanding, it will do us well to reinforce that foundation. To go back to the basics to make sure that we want to talk about James chapter 1, verse 25, the perfect law of liberty.

And this three-part series is going to be very simple in the regard that we’re going to take the three key words of that phrase. We’re going to talk about it being perfect. That’s this morning’s lesson. Lord willing, next Sunday morning, we’re going to talk about the aspect of it being a law. In what sense is the New Testament a law, or is it a law? And in what sense is it a law, and in what sense is it a different type of law than that law system of the old covenant. And then lastly, we’ll look at it being a law of liberty. Of how this law, almost paradoxically, is a law that sets us free rather than a law that binds us and enslaves us. That it is the law of liberty.

But let’s begin with the perfect aspect of it. Read with me, James 1, verse 25. Where he says, but he, as in contrast to those who forget the word of God, he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work. This one will be blessed in what he does. The one who will be blessed is one who is a doer of the work or of the word, he will say in this context. And so it stands the reason that this foundational subject is important, isn’t it? And worthy, I think, of our attention. And so let’s talk about this perfect law of liberty and talk about how it is perfect. We understand, don’t we?

James helps us in this context of what this law of liberty is. Look back up in verse 18. He says, speaking of the Father, the giver of every good and perfect gift, of his own will, he brought us forth by the word of truth. That we might be a kind of first fruits of his creature. The perfect law of liberty is the word of truth that God has given to us. Verse 21. He says, therefore, lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls. And so this perfect law of liberty is the word of truth. It’s the word of God, it’s the gospel, as we refer to it and see it in other contexts than the New Testament.

1. Perfect in That It Is Flawless

And James says, it is perfect. I want to offer to you this morning three ways in which the word of God, this law of liberty, is perfect. It is perfect in that it is flawless. Despite what the skeptic and the naysayers may say about the word of God, it is flawless. Not just flawless in the most obvious sense that it’s free from error and contradiction, which it is, and an honest examination will show that. But that it’s flawless in the sense that it does just what God intended it to do. I don’t think we’re sacrilegious. When we say sometimes about some subject or some sermon or some story in the New Testament, I wish I knew more about that. When it said on the day of Pentecost and with many other words, we think, I’d like to know what those other words are.

And I think it’s okay to think that and feel that way. But we ultimately come to the understanding that everything we need is here. This is flawless. Remember, earlier, we’ve alluded to this already. It says of our Father, verse 17 of James chapter 1, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there’s no variation or shadow of turning. We can rest assured if we have that other foundational understanding of God that the word of God, by its very nature, is going to be perfect because he is perfect. And as James argues, he’s the giver of not every good gift, but of every perfect gift as well. And this word is his gift to us.

And is perfect. Turn over to the book of 2 Timothy, chapter 3. It’s perfect because 2 Timothy chapter 3, verse 16 says, all scripture, all scripture is given by inspiration of God. And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now I recognize in that context, Paul had just been talking to Timothy about his upbringing in the Holy Scriptures, which would have been limited to the old covenant. But I think it’s a fallacy of understanding to limit that statement in verse 16 to just the old covenant. We’re going to establish that in one verse in just a moment. That when he says all scripture, it included the holy scriptures that Timothy was brought up in, the Old Testament, but it surely must also include the Scriptures we’re brought up in.

The New Testament. And he says, my translation probably says what your translation says, that it’s given by inspiration. And I know you’ve heard this before, but that literally is saying all scripture is God breathed. God spoke these words.

That there was nothing. There was blackness and darkness and void until what happened? Until God spoke.

And the same can be said spiritually. That spiritually there is darkness and blackness and void until God speaks.

And what he speaks is perfect. Because just as you and I, Jesus talked about, God speaks from the heart. He speaks from his very essence, his very nature, and he is perfect. Turn over the Gospel of John chapter 16. We said that the argument that the logic has to apply, that all scripture is God breathed or by inspiration, must include the New Testament, and I believe John 16, verse 13, will help us come to that conclusion as well as many other important conclusions to our topic this morning. John chapter 16, Jesus is giving in these three chapters really his farewell speech to his disciples. Getting them ready for the important task that he’s given them to do, that is the great commission, go into all the world and preach the gospel.

Why don’t you put yourself in their shoes? In their ill-equipped, slightly ignorant, slightly worldly shoes at this moment. When Jesus gives them that great commission, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Can you imagine how inadequate and unprepared they must have felt? Wait, what? And I don’t mean to be flippant about this, but they may have been thinking, I wish I’d have been taking notes. I don’t remember everything that you told us to say. And if they were honest with themselves, they would say, even some of the things I remember you saying, I don’t really understand them. And you want me to go and teach everybody? And you’re saying you’re going to go away and not be by my side. And so he reassures them in this farewell speech and saying, I’m going to be with you.

Not physically, but I’m not going to leave you as orphans. I’m going to be with you, and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, is going to come to you. Look at John 16, verse 13. Speaking of that helper, the Holy Spirit, he says, however, when he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will tell you things to come. Look at verse 14. He will glorify me. For he will take of what is mine and declare it to you. All things. Again, when Paul says all scripture is inspired of God, it surely must include the all things that Jesus talked about here. The word of God is perfect.

And I want to add this clarification that all of God’s word is perfect. There’s a trend among some to emphasize the words in red. That’s the words that Jesus spoke. And to de-emphasize and downplay the words in black. The words that the apostles spoke. The book of Acts, the epistle. And I don’t want to be misunderstood. And so I’m just going to say it plainly. That’s dead wrong. Because Jesus said to those apostles, He, the Holy Spirit, is going to guide you into all truth, and he will glorify me. And so, in some sense, with rare exceptions, because sometimes we have the words of Satan even recorded in our Bibles, but with those rare exceptions, every word of the New Testament should be in red. Because they’re all the words of Christ, and they carry the same weight.

2. It’s Perfect and Then It’s Complete

I want to issue that warning even stronger. Again, I see this trend that some say, well, Jesus didn’t say anything about that. Meaning, I look at the words in red in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and Jesus didn’t address that subject. And so Jesus didn’t say anything about that. Yes, he did. When the Holy Spirit glorified Jesus in inspiring the apostle Paul, and Paul said something about it, Jesus said something about it. All things will be delivered unto you. The word of God’s perfect and that is flawless. It’s perfect and then it’s complete. It’s everything we have. We need nothing else. We used to have these mantras that the Bible and the Bible alone, no creed books, no declarations, no confessions of faith written by men.

All we need is the word of God. I hope we haven’t lost that understanding. Because this is all that we need. And it’s complete. Look at the warning. There’s several of these types of warnings, but look at in the book of Proverbs, chapter 30. Proverbs 30. Look at this warning. It’s a warning that God gave through Moses in the book of Deuteronomy. It’s a warning that Jesus gave to John in the revelation. But this will suffice for our study this morning. Proverbs 30, look at verses 5 and 6. Every word of God is pure. He is a shield to those who put their trust into him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and be found a liar.

And so let’s get down to the basics. We have everything we need in the Word of God. Since this is God’s God breathed testimony. There are two things, there’s more than two.

But we’re talking about two things we should never do to God’s breathed word. Number one, we should not add anything to it. That’s not a minor offense. That is blasphemy. For me to dare say, and this is what we’re saying when we add anything to the word of God. For me to dare say, God, let me help you. You forgot something. And me and my wisdom and my brilliance will step in, God, and supply that which you were lacking. That’s what we’re saying. We may not ever verbalize those words, but that’s exactly the message we’re sending when we add anything to the word of God. On any subject. When it comes to the work, the worship of the New Testament church. When it comes to what I must do in order to be saved and to be a Christian, it’s there.

And so I should never add anything to it, and it’s just as objectionable, isn’t it? To take something away from it. I had a preacher friend years ago. Dare I say, back when preachers were a little bolder than they are now, maybe. And he’s having a Bible study with a man, and he anticipated that an objection would come up, an objection to baptism. And so he intentionally found, I’m not necessarily advocating this practice. Please let me state this. I kind of like it, but I’m not exactly advocating that you do this. So he found an old pew Bible at the church building that was falling apart. And so he took that to the Bible study. And when he got to that passage of Scripture in Mark chapter 16, it said, He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believes not shall be condemned.

His anticipation was correct, and the person said, Well, you know, I don’t think that even belongs in the Bible. And so my friend dramatically licked his finger. This was back before we were wearing masks. Dramatically licked his finger and took that page of the Bible and just ripped it out. And wadted it up and threw it across the room. And then said, Any other pages you want to rip out before we move on? That’s a little bold, but it gets the point across, doesn’t it? We don’t add anything to it, and how dare we say the old analogy is that our Christianity, our relationship to God’s not a cafeteria. Where you can go down the line and have a little of this and a little of that and a little of that, but skip over the broccoli and Brussels sprouts because we don’t like those.

3. It Is Final

It’s all or nothing. The Word of God is complete. And it must be treated as complete. And then lastly, it’s the perfect law of liberty because it is flawless, it is complete, and it is final. Though we offer no predictions with specificity of the timing of this, we know that we live at the end of history. There’s no other era coming than the Christian era. The patriarchal period always pointed to something else. The Mosaic period certainly pointed to a new time in history. But the Christian era and all scripture related to it makes it clear that we’re living in the final age. There’s no more revelation. God speaks to you today, undeniably, but he does so through his word.

Notice how the Hebrew writer begins in contrasting that old covenant, that old communication, which wasn’t the final, with this new communication that is the final. Hebrews 1, verse 1, he says, God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom he is appointed heir of all things, through whom he also made the world. He spoke in times past and in various ways and in various times. Piece by piece, the information was given. And we never had a complete revelation until now. Until the time of Christ, in the time of the apostles, the time of the New Testament. But now it’s not just complete, it’s not just flawless, but it’s final.

And he has spoken to us by his son. If you remember the argument of the book of Hebrews, the Son is superior to both the angels, to Moses, and every other messenger or servant that has come along. But now he has spoken to us by his son. That by itself argues the finality, doesn’t it? To borrow the old saying, he saved the best for last. What other messenger would be sent to supersede and to supplant the words of Jesus Christ. Final.

Conclusion

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t truth in the Old Testament. It doesn’t mean there wasn’t grace in the New Testament. But what it means is, is that the finality, the fulfillment of grace and truth is found in Jesus Christ, the Son, the final messenger of the final message. Grace and truth are consummated and fulfilled in Him and in this message. When you open up your Bibles, you’re opening up God’s breath. God’s communication to you. And if we have that other foundational understanding of God and of the perfection of his nature, we’re not surprised that what came forth from the Father of lights is a good and a perfect gift. The question is, will I treat it as the perfect law of liberty that it is? Will I respect it?

Will I read it and study it and receive it into my heart? And will I do what it says, whether I like it, agree with it, or not? Will I accept this word? And as James said in our original context there in chapter one, and he reinforces that in chapter two, will I be a doer of the word and not a hearer only? Would you obey the gospel this morning? Would you come to this perfect law of liberty and bow before him and worship him and offer your allegiance and your obedience this very morning? Why? Because he said so. And that’s all I need to know. If you need to render obedience to the gospel in any way this morning, why not come? As together we stand and together sing.

What will it be?