Wesley and Henry on the Gospel Law

In my article The Spirit's Law of Life, I have written about the biblical expression, known as "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus", which is used in the New Testament Scriptures to refer to the rule of life in the Kingdom of God for all those who believe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I call it "the gospel law" or "the gospel rule", which we must obey. As I wrote in that article, there are seven expressions used in the New Testament Scriptures to refer to this gospel rule, and one of them is "the law that gives freedom", which is found in James. He wrote: "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom," (Jas 2:12). 

In today's post, I simply want to share with you a couple of excerpts from the commentaries on that verse by two famous and well-respected English preachers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries -- Matthew Henry and John Wesley, equating "the law of liberty" with the gospel. I hadn't realized that they did so until after I had written that previous article of mine, but now that I have discovered what they wrote, I want to post it here in support of my point.

John Wesley

When I checked, out of curiosity, to see what Wesley had to say about the law of liberty, here is what I found. He wrote:

"So speak and act - In all things. As they that shall be judged - Without respect of persons. By the law of liberty - The gospel; the law of universal love, which alone is perfect freedom. For their transgressions of this, both in word and deed, the wicked shall be condemned; and according to their works, done in obedience to this, the righteous will be rewarded."

Wesley understood that the law of liberty that James spoke about refers to the gospel, saying that it is the law of universal love. I know that it's a foreign concept for most people these days to think of the gospel as a law, but it's biblical, and it alone is perfect freedom, as Wesley stated. He often follows what Matthew Henry said in the century before him, but usually says it in much more concise terms. 

Matthew Henry 

Here is what Matthew Henry believed as I do that the law of liberty is the law of Christ (1 Co 9:21). In his commentary on James 2:12, he wrote:

"James directs Christians to govern and conduct themselves more especially by the law of Christ. So speak and so do as those that shall be judged by the law of liberty, Jas_2:12. This will teach us, not only to be just and impartial, but very compassionate and merciful to the poor; and it will set us perfectly free from all sordid and undue regards to the rich. Observe here, 

1. The gospel is called a law. It has all the requisites of a law: precepts with rewards and punishments annexed; it prescribes duty, as well as administers comfort; and Christ is a king to rule us as well as a prophet to teach us, and a priest to sacrifice and intercede for us. We are under the law to Christ. 

2. It is a law of liberty, and one that we have no reason to complain of as a yoke or burden; for the service of God, according to the gospel, is perfect freedom; it sets us at liberty from all slavish regards, either to the persons or the things of this world. 

3. We must all be judged by this law of liberty. Men's eternal condition will be determined according to the gospel; this is the book that will be opened, when we shall stand before the judgment-seat; there will be no relief to those whom the gospel condemns, nor will any accusation lie against those whom the gospel justifies. 

4. It concerns us therefore so to speak and act now as become those who must shortly be judged by this law of liberty; that is, that we come up to gospel terms, that we make conscience of gospel duties, that we be of a gospel temper, and that our conversation be a gospel conversation, because by this rule we must be judged. 

5. The consideration of our being judged by the gospel should engage us more especially to be merciful in our regards to the poor (Jas_2:13): For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shown no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. Take notice here, (1.) The doom which will be passed upon impenitent sinners at last will be judgment without mercy; there will be no mixtures or allays in the cup of wrath and of trembling, the dregs of which they must drink. (2.) Such as show no mercy now shall find no mercy in the great day. But we may note, on the other hand, (3.) That there will be such as shall become instances of the triumph of mercy, in whom mercy rejoices against judgment: all the children of men, in the last day, will be either vessels of wrath or vessels of mercy. It concerns all to consider among which they shall be found; and let us remember that blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

That was so well stated. Just to recap some of his key points, he wrote, The gospel is called a law, Christ is a king to rule us, and we are under the law of Christ, which is a law of liberty, an easy a yoke and a light burden; for serving God, according to the gospel, is perfect freedom, and we must all be judged by this law of liberty that will determine the eternal condition of all men. Therefore, we must speak and act now as becomes those who must shortly be judged by this law of liberty;

Closing Words

I think that both Henry and Wesley made excellent points, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I hope this has helped to explain and clarify the doctrine of obedience to the gospel that I teach, in accordance with Scripture, as well as the expression "the gospel law", that I wrote about in my article on The Spirit's Law of Life. If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so.

Attribution notice: Scripture quotation taken from the Holy Bible NIV.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, please see The Spirit's Law of Life and Part II to that article, called The Spirit of the Law.  You may also like Law of Love in the New Testament, Led by the Spirit, Is Practical Righteousness a Lost Truth?, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page.  You may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.