So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. James 2.12

The fact that Jesus will get us through the Day of Judgment must not make us complacent in the here and now.

Paul says we must all strive to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7.1). This we do, as we have seen, by learning and obeying God’s Law, looking to Jesus and depending on His Spirit to make us willing and able to do what pleases the Father (Phil. 2.13). If we refuse to do this, if we will not take up the Law of God, God doesn’t simply shrug from on high and say, “Oh well.” He is our Father. He knows what we need. He has given us the rules of the house. And if we will not obey, He will discipline us, and discipline is not pleasant.

But the purpose of God’s discipline is to yield the fruit of righteousness in our lives – that is, to get us back on track with obeying and teaching the Law of God (Heb. 12.7-11). Because that’s when we’re following Jesus, that’s when we’re filled with the Spirit, that’s when we’re being transformed, that’s when we’re learning to love and to serve, and that’s when we’re moving toward the Kingdom greatness our Father in heaven desires for us.

God is very serious about this. He tells us that those who neglect His Law are out of sync with His plan for them. Even their prayers are an abomination if they will not study and obey His Law (Prov. 28.9). God is judging the sinful world even now because of its refusal to acknowledge and worship Him (Rom. 1.18-32). This is the second sense of divine judgment. We may certainly expect that we are not exempt from His judgment – His discipline – when we neglect the Law He has written on our hearts, and which He gave His Spirit to teach us.

Daily reading and meditation in God’s Law is the way of the righteous person (Ps. 1). Hiding the Law in our hearts will help us to walk more fully and joyously in His way (Ps. 119.9-11).

Far from being a chain to confine us, the Law of God is the law of liberty, so that we can really live in Jesus Christ.

The psalmist says that the righteous person meditates day and night in God’s Law (Ps. 1). Would like to get started in this discipline? Order a copy of The Ground for Christian Ethics and The Law of God. The first will explain the importance3 of God’s Law, and guide you in taking up the practice of daily reading and meditation. The second provides all the statutes, precepts, and rules of God’s Law organized under their proper number of the Ten Commandments.