King James Bible
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
James commands consistency between words and actions, emphasizing that faith must manifest in both speech and behavior. This dual imperative reflects the practical nature of James's epistle, which consistently argues against faith divorced from deeds. Believers should live with awareness of future accountability before God. This eschatological perspective provides the motivation for ethical living, reminding readers that their present conduct has eternal consequences. This paradoxical phrase refers to the gospel's moral demands that, rather than enslaving, actually free believers to love God and neighbor fully. James echoes his earlier teaching (1:25) that true freedom comes through obedience to God's perfect law fulfilled in Christ.