For he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.
Romans 13:8
Jesus put the law in its simplest terms when He said "Treat others as you would have them treat you" (Matt 7:12). Many people hold that the law of God was old testament only, it has some good ideas in it but it doesn't matter if it is followed or not. However Jesus stated that He did not come to do away with the law, but rather to fulfill it (fill it, or restore it to it's true sense). The religious teachers of the day had perverted the meaning of the law, and much of the sermon on the mount deals with this.
There is no one who wants to be lied to, or have their belongings stolen from them, their spouse cheating on them, goods coveted, to be the victim of hate and murder. We all want our children to respect and obey us. It is not hard to see what Jesus meant when He stated the golden rule!
In Romans 13:8-10, Paul tells us that the commandments are summed up in the rule "Love your neighbor as yourself." He goes on to say that love does no harm to to its neighbor and is the fulfilling of the law.
Throughout the new testament we are shown the importance of love, we are told over and over to show love to one another, We are shown that true faith works by love and establishes the law. This love is produced in us as we yield to the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I encourage each one of us to love deeply from the heart, as we let Jesus live through us each day!
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