"So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty" (James 2:12).
Federal Visionists love this verse because they think it shows a positive use of the law, as if “the law of liberty” refers to the law setting us free. However, there is no reason to take James to mean this.
The Reformed faith has always taught that the law only brings us a knowledge of sin (Romans 3:19-20). In no way does the law set us free. This is the path to legalism!
Notice, too, that this comes just before James 2:14-26, where James makes some rather unguarded statements about justification. Remember that James is not a systematic theologian. He writes on a practical level. Thus, the Reformed faith has rightly disregarded James when it comes to systematic theology.
