This is Love

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul spoke of the attributes of love. In 2 John 6, John spoke of what love is:

2 John 5-6,

5 And now I ask you, lady, not as writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

We can see by these Scriptures that if we walk according to our Lord’s commandments, we are walking in love. And in so doing, the attributes of love will emanate from us and thereby illuminate the surrounding darkness, as Jesus said —

Matthew 5:14-16,

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15 “Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”

Notice Jesus is saying we are the light of the world and we are to let our light shine before men. He then said He did not come to abolish the Law, He came to fulfill it.

Now consider what Paul said in Romans 13:8-10,

8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

9 For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Dear ones, Jesus did not abolish the Law, He fulfilled it. The law still exists for the lawless, but it finds fulfillment in us as it did in Jesus, because we walk in love through Jesus. The love of God has been poured out within our hearts as Paul so eloquently wrote:

Romans 5:1-5,

1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

If we walk according to the Lord’s commandments we are walking in love, and the law is fulfilled in us, for it is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives in us.

May the Lord bless each of you and give you an understanding of the depths of His love and immeasurable concern for both you and your neighbors.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

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Published by Jon David Banks