THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW
8 OWE NO ONE ANYTHING EXCEPT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR HE WHO LOVES ANOTHER HAS FULFILLED THE LAW.
9 FOR THE COMMANDMENTS, “You shall not murder’, “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” AND IF THERE IS ANY OTHER COMMANDMENTS, ARE ALL SUMMED UP IN THIS SAYING, NAMELY, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF.”
10 LOVE DOES NO HARM TO NEIGHBOUR; THEREFORE LOVE IS THE FULFILMENT OF THE LAW.”
Romans 13:8-10 (NKJV)
The Scripture in our text urges us not to owe anyone anything, except to love one another (Romans 13:8).
In other words, we owe others love, we have obligation to love other people especially those who are of the household of faith (Romans 13:8; Galatians 6:10).
Love is the fulfilment of the law (Romans 13:10).
If you live in love, express the love of God poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit, you will not need to strive in keeping the old testament law (Romans 5:5). The reason being that, by expressing the love of God deposited in you, you are fulfilling the law (Romans 13:9,10).
If you love your neighbour as yourself you will not do harm to him or her (Romans 13:10).
Love is the new testament law, the new commandment given us by the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 12:30,31).
God wants believers to walk in love, think about others (Philippians 2:1-4).
That is, we should care for our brothers and sisters in Christ—do things by which we may edify and build up other believers in Christ:
15 WE THEN WHO ARE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR WITH THE SCRUPLES [weaknesses] OF THE WEAK, AND NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES. 2 LET EACH OF US PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOUR FOR HIS GOOD, LEADING TO EDIFICATION. 3 FOR EVEN CHRIST DID NOT PLEASE HIMSELF; BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME" (Romans 15:1-3 NKJV).
Meditate or ponder on these Scriptures:
“FOR HE WHO SERVES CHRIST IN THESE THINGS IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD and approved by MEN.”
Romans 14:18 (NKJV)
“PROVIDING HONOURABLE THINGS NOT ONLY IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, but ALSO in the sight of MEN.”
2 Corinthians 8:21 (NKJV)
16 BY THIS WE KNOW LOVE, BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. AND WE ALSO OUGHT TO LAY DOWN OUR LIVES FOR THE BRETHREN.
17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, HOW DOES THE LOVE OF GOD ABIDE IN HIM?
18 MY LITTLE CHILDREN, LET US NOT LOVE WORD OR IN TONGUE, BUT IN DEED AND IN TRUTH."
1 John 3:16–18 (NKJV)
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!