Love and the Law

INTRO

Love is king among the virtues of Christianity.

Transition: this section looks back and it looks forward.

I. THE IMPERATIVE OF LOVE (v. 8).

A. “Owe nothing to no one.”

B. Love is a debt we owe to all.

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE (vv. 8a-9).

A. It fulfills the law (v. 8a). Perfect tense – he who loves has already fulfilled the law through his love and continues to fulfill the law by his on-going love. When love begins the fulfillment of the law begins and it continues as long as love reigns in our hearts.

Perfect obedience is not in view here – a general characteristic of the believer’s life.

B. The second table of the law is summed up by the royal law (v. 9).

1) The Decalogue -

2) “is summed up” –

3) by the Royal Law -

Love delights in obedience. John 14:15; 1John 5:3.

III. THE IMPACT OF LOVE (v. 10).

A. Love does no wrong to a neighbor.

B. Love is the fulness of the law.

IV. THE IMPLICATIONS OF LOVE.

A. Love does not nullify the law of God?

B. Love needs the law to define it.

C. No self love taught here as found in psychology.

D. The law of love should guide us as Christians.

CONCLUSION

Alan Conner

Alan Conner was born and raised in Duncan, Oklahoma. He attended the University of Oklahoma where he earned a B.A. degree. During his college years he came to know Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and embraced the reformed doctrines of salvation. He then attended Dallas Theological Seminary and graduated in 1979 with a Th.M. degree. After seminary, in 1980, he married his wife Patti and they have been blessed with two children. Alan was involved in church planting ministries from 1980-88 and then was one of the founding elders for Northwest Bible Church in the fall of 1988.