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This article will discuss the Scripture phrase known as the law of liberty found in the book of James.

JAMES 1:22-25:
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 observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect (Torah) LAW OF LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

The law of liberty spoken of in the James 1:22-25 passages refer to the Torah (God’s laws). God’s laws have never been abolished and the law of liberty references obedience to Torah (law) as the means of living freely in liberty from the bondage of sin.

The James 1:22-25 Scripture verses correspond with Romans 2:13.

ROMANS 2:13:
For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the (Torah) law will be justified.

JAMES 2:12-13:
So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the (Torah) LAW OF LIBERTY. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:12-13 speaks of the Torah (law) also, but adds a mercy component in being judged by the Torah (law).

The capstone of the law itself is the mercy shown sinners by the atonement sacrifice of Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ). Yeshua Messiah paid the penalty for our sins so that we may receive grace, for past sins – upon repentance, not so that we have the liberty to sin freely. Yeshua (Jesus) is the capstone of the Torah (law) of liberty that granted grace and mercy to sinners. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) atonement sacrifice for us on the cross was His mercy that triumphed over the judgment that was due to all sinners.

ACTS 4:11-12:
“This is the ‘stone [GRACE THROUGH THE ATONEMENT SACRIFICE OF MESSIAH (CHRIST)] which was rejected by you builders [THE JEWS], which has become the chief cornerstone [OF THE LAW. WITHOUT YESHUA (JESUS), NO ONE CAN BE SAVED BY THE LAW ITSELF].’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 PETER 2:7-8:
Therefore, to you who believe He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone [GRACE THROUGH THE ATONEMENT SACRIFICE OF MESSIAH (CHRIST)] which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone [OF THE LAW. WITHOUT YESHUA (JESUS), NO ONE CAN BE SAVED BY THE LAW ITSELF],” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They [THE GENTILE BELIEVERS] stumble, being disobedient to the word [THE LAW], to which they also were appointed [TO OBEY].

Christian churches have historically taught that aspects of the Torah (law) do not apply to Gentiles, but to the Jews only. This error has been the failure of the great commission.

MATTHEW 28:18-20:
And Yeshua (Jesus) came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Gentiles have been either ignorantly or willfully disobedient to the Torah (law) and have stumbled (sinned) due to this disobedience, which is the mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7).

JAMES 2:13:
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 2:13 corresponds to what Yeshua (Jesus) said concerning judgment and mercy.

MATTHEW 7:1-2:
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

LUKE 6:37:
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

A non-judgmental person who sins freely, but never judges anyone, will still be judged. It is an error in judgment for a person to believe he or she could willfully break God’s laws (sin), never repent, and not be judged. If a person sins freely and willfully, knowing it is sin and refuses to repent, that person will be judged by the law (Romans 2:12).

The law of liberty is not an abolishment of the law, giving us freedom to sin. The law of liberty is obedience to God’s law, which gives us liberty from the bondage of sin.