The Law of Christ (Gal 6:2)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ - Galatians 6:2

The Bible is clear that Jesus came to set us free (John 8:32, Gal 5:1, + many more) and yet the Bible also tells us there is something called "the Law of Christ."

Don't laws restrict freedom?

How can we be bound to a Law while also being free?

This is one of the central paradoxes of Christianity.

When this paradox is reconciled within our minds, our hearts are plunged deep down into the very core of the Gospel itself.

An analogy may be helpful.

Imagine desiring to play the guitar. You pick it up for the first time and start strumming the strings however which way you want.

Accordingly, the "music" you hear sounds haphazard. It sounds less like music and more like noise.

However, if you place that same guitar into the hands of an expert, the sound you hear will be much different. Your ears will be blessed by a beautiful, harmonious rhythm.

The expert knows that in order to produce real music he must sacrifice his own opinions regarding how to play the guitar and instead submit himself completely to the Law of harmony. In other words, he knows that he must play the guitar a certain "way," in order to achieve the intended result.

The novice maintains his freedom but this freedom leads to slavery - he is unable to play his guitar.

The expert surrenders his freedom and in return he receives true freedom - the ability to create beautiful music.

So it is with life.

But be doers of the logos, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 

For if anyone is a hearer of the logos and not a doer,

he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.

For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty,

and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,

he will be blessed in his doing.

James 1:22-25