THE ROYAL LAW OF LIBERTY

James 2:8-12: “If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well; but if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if then commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”RFOS 77.2

These who fulfill the law in question “do well,” and are approved of God. This law proceeds from high authority. It is the royal (kingly) law, the law of the great King. It is not the scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” but is according to that scripture (French trans.); and this is true of the law of ten commandments, the last six precepts of which are based on equal love to our neighbor. And two of these commandments are thus quoted in this passage: “For he that said [or that law that said, margin]. Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.” And he who said these things, said also in the same law. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.... The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work.” “For whosoever shall keep the whole law,” says the apostle, “and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Not that he has violated every precept of that law; but he has sinned against the authority that gave the law; he is a transgressor.RFOS 78.1

This is in harmony with the declaration of Christ, that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law. And we will here apply the reasoning of James to the Sabbath: Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou violate the Sabbath, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Finally, the apostle exhorts his readers to so speak and so do as they that shall be judged by this law, which is the law of liberty, because those who keep it are not under the bondage of condemnation; but having the Holy Spirit to help them to do right, they are the free children of the Most High, and having no fear, save that of displeasing him, they walk at liberty, delighting greatly in the way of his commandments.RFOS 78.2