Saturday, September 9, 2023

Romans 13:8-14: Love Fulfills The Law, I Fulfill The Law

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. - Romans 13:8-14

"Love does no harm to a neighbor: Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." Jesus said, "I have not come to abolish them [the law and prophets] but to fulfill them." (Matthew 5:17b) "Love" fulfills the law. "I [Jesus]" fulfill the law. Therefore Jesus is love. Pretty basic syllogism. 

Just like driving laws. There are lots of ways of driving that comply with all posted speed limits but still fall afoul of the Basic Speed Law of driving: "You may never drive faster than is safe for the current road conditions." That's a negative law. 

But I think that love is not simply refraining the bad to a neighbor, but also involves doing good to a neighbor. For example: "It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Cor. 13:7) 

Paul wants to point out that the Law--all the rules and commands--so heavily praised by Psalm 119 and elsewhere--are not an end goal-some sort of checklist that, once completed, gets us on God's good side. Rather they are as a means and a guide to an end--loving our neighbor. 

Am I looking for an excuse to "not harm" but also "not help"?

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