Romans 13:10
The Apostle Paul wrote about a love that fulfills the law, that fulfills the commandments of GOD. That love (not the way the world loves or understand the word love) fulfills the law. That means acting through love or acting motivated by love performs fully the law or fully meets the requirement of the law or is the exact expression of the law. It does not mean that love abolished or destroyed or did away with the need to obey the law, as the disciples of the Christmas have being teaching, twisting the meaning of the word 'fulfill' to mean 'put an end to' or 'abolish'.
James, the brother of JESUS CHRIST, taught the same thing.
If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well
Here James was saying that if you really fully perform the requirement of the Royal Law ('fulfill') which is what the Scripture of Truth commands ('according to the Scripture') you would be doing what is right and pleasing to GOD ('doing well').
The New International Version translated it quite appropriately in more contemporary English:
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
The New International Version translated it quite appropriately in more contemporary English:
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
The Apostle John also wrote that love is walking 'according to HIS commandments,' which means performing the commandment is the very expression of love, the performance of love.
This is love that we walk according to HIS commandments.................
2 John 1:6
JESUS CHRIST in HIS three and half year ministry was once asked by a person who wanted to justify himself, which of the many commandments of GOD would a person need to perform in order to receive eternal life. Below was the recorded account:
Now behold, one came and said to Him16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:16 - 23
JESUS CHRIST testified exactly as Paul and James did, that loving the neighbor was performing the requirement of the Ten Commandments. But HE also highlighted that loving the neighbor was only just the half of it. The other part of the love that fulfills or meets the requirement of the law was firstly, to love GOD over and above the love for the self.
Unfortunately for the young man in the above situation, he did not love GOD as much as he loved material possessions.
Previously I have written and shown that most people just don't understand what it means to love the neighbor equal to the love for the self. Now it is equally true that they also do not understand how that same love fulfills the requirement of the law. Otherwise they would not have believed the Christmas religion that taught the doing away with the need to obey and perform all the commandments of GOD especially the Ten Commandments, all of the Ten Commandments.
Yes that also includes the Sabbath commandment, to hallow the Sabbath day and not to change it - the Great Harlot Church does this. Or the doing away with the requirement to hallow it - the daughter churches of the Great Harlot Church do both.
Today even the Church of GOD as well as many among the Saints, do not understand what is this love that fulfills the requirement of the law? Otherwise they would have truly love GOD (John 12:25; Matthew 10:37) and not be pursuing their life's expediency (Ezekiel 33:31; Revelation 3:15, 17) which is contrary to the love that fulfills the laws and commandments of GOD. And contrary to the love that JESUS CHRIST has for GOD, HIS FATHER and the love that the FATHER has for HIM (Mark 12:30). And not only HIM but for all those who love the SON and abides in HIS love just as the SON loves HIS FATHER and abides in HIS love (John 15:10).
What Is The Love That Fulfills The Law?
Have you ever loved anyone in your life? Really and truly love someone equal to the love you have for yourself? Before you even try to answer that question, you need to understand one basic aspect of the human psyche, self expediency.
Is self expediency an evil? Can anyone survive if he is not driven by self-expediency first?
To examine this we need to delve just a little bit into science, the science of species survival. We are not going to fully explore species survival but only one aspect of it, mainly. We may also touch on the other aspects of it only in the context of that as an individual member of the species (or a generalized instance of a single species). This methodology of study is what in computer terminology called 'the granular approach.' Generally it can be called the micro level approach or the singular instance approach.
To examine this we need to delve just a little bit into science, the science of species survival. We are not going to fully explore species survival but only one aspect of it, mainly. We may also touch on the other aspects of it only in the context of that as an individual member of the species (or a generalized instance of a single species). This methodology of study is what in computer terminology called 'the granular approach.' Generally it can be called the micro level approach or the singular instance approach.
Let us begin by looking at our lives, what keeps us alive, what sustains and maintains our lives. We are not going to look at what give us our lives because as far as we are all concerned we have totally no say in that at all - in the decision to be born or not be born. This is not to say that we really have full control over the other aspects of our lives - whether we wake up each morning or live to see the end of each day. But aside from that we do have, or more correctly we have been given certain power which we can exercise to a certain extend to determine how we live out each day. The power to make and put into effect decisions we make daily at each and every decision point we encounter. Some of these are consciously driven decisions while most are semi conscious and subconscious reflex type decisions.
What Sustain And Maintain Our Lives.
Firstly we need to breathe air. That is a granted. Then we need nourishment - food and water with the consequential necessities. Another granted.
Then there is a need for a conducive environment:
1. Suitable temperature.
2. Rest and sleep - for that we need a place, a shelter even if that is just a hole in the ground.
3. Personal safety - to avoid being harmed or worst, so there is a need for freedom from harm and danger - any and all kinds.
Those are the needs. So you can see that we are indeed were fragile, very breakable. From these we should understand that fear is very basic to our psyche. The fear of deprivation and harm. So here is a first basis for some measure of self preservation that some might equate to self expediency, making self expediency a necessity to the individual's survival.
Then there are the wants, some of these are tied to the needs but not completely:
1. Self expression and actualization.
2. Procreation.
3. Social interactions.
4. Self enhancements.
5. Self advancements.
6. Indulgences.
7. Passions.
These wants are natural and should not be wrong or evil. None of these should give us an excuse to do what is evil or wrong if we do not allow them to consume us driving us into covetousness and greed, and pride which is the super feeding of the ego (or if you prefer a less illustrative expression - the gluttony of the ego).
But Our Wants Are Such, We Need Too Much.
Here is where the evil of self expediency begins.
Read Also: The Evil Is Among Us And In Us.
Here is where the evil of self expediency begins.
Adam and Eve did not need to eat the Forbidden Fruit. They had all they needed provided in what GOD allowed. The antediluvian world too - there was no record of famine or time of deprivations or danger (Genesis 4:15), their lusts and greed prompted them to live a life full of the evil imaginations and indulgences of their corrupt hearts (minds).
Read about the great evils of the antediluvian world in the chapter 'Angels, Demons And Men' of Bible 101 by this author.
Now I put it to you, under your present situation and position in life, is it possible for you to live out your life without the need to unfairly or unjustly or inequitably take advantage of another person in any of your dealings with any of your 'neighbor'; without needing to wrong another person or exploit or cheat or deal deceitfully; or to impose unfair terms in any and all your dealings with another party; never to buy an item at below its true value or sell an item above its true value using deceitful or unfair negotiation tactics? Of course you can! And that is what self expediency is. As it is with sin so it is with self expediency. It is never a case of 'the can' or 'the can''t but 'the will' or 'the won't'.
So self preservation does not necessarily equate to self expediency, as some have confused it to be. Self expediency is when you act solely to advance your self and your life's agenda at any and all cost to others as long as is does not backfire on you. When you act according to all that is your heart's desire and mind's contemplation tempered only by the fear of some adverse consequences to yourself - that is the full essence or concept of self expediency. The 'total self focused and total disregard for the well being of others' motivation behind your actions. Another word for it would be self centeredness. But I have chosen to use the word 'expediency' because it more accurately highlighted the acts or works of those acting out of such. Because the heart is deceitful above all else. For isn't it written, 'Therefore by their fruits you will know them.'
For you brethren have been called to liberty only do not use the liberty as an opportunity for the flesh but through love serves one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." But if you bite and devour one another beware lest you be consumed by one another.
Galatians 5:13 - 15
Now I know that many "rocket scientists" and "roctket scientists wannabes" out there, will find issues with what I have enunciated above. That it is possible to live out our lives without resorting to dealing in a deceitful manner with another. That we can actually live out our whole lives without once having to act according to self expediencies.
Read Also: The Evil Is Among Us And In Us.These will come up with all kinds of scenario where one will through the act of self preservation need to choose between harm to themselves or to a second or a third party. Indeed there may be situation that some individual may face on the very rare occasions in their lives where the preservation of their lives or the mitigation of harm to themselves or those they loved, that they may have cause to act in a manner where a second or third party is harmed as a consequence.
Now the context of my above discussion is not about extreme situations where there would be a requirement for the conduct of self defense or the defense of your family and loved ones from the perpetrators of evil or wickedness. It is a given that in such situations there is a necessity for you to take 'mitigatived' actions towards the defense from physical or physiological harm for yourself and those you loved.
But do understand that the love that fulfills the Royal Law required that even in such extreme situations that you should not choose to harm anyone. The record of the Scripture of Truth testified to the fact that the Prophets and Saints of GOD have given themselves over to be harmed and killed rather than harm those who persecute them to destroy them. Their only recourse was to flee where fleeing was possible but for some even fleeing was not an option as they act to take the message of GOD to those who would murder them just as their LORD and MASTER JESUS CHRIST had done.
That is why it was written, 'Love does no harm to a neighbor.............. '
Is Man (includes Woman) Capable of Such Love?
Read Also: What Is Right With Human Beings Anyway?All of us, both men and women, were born with the capability to develop a bonding love with another. And not just another but with others, quite many others.
But over time and the course of our lives some have become totally unable to love anyone else other than themselves. I won't discuss the causes of this here as that belongs to another topic. But going further some may even be so conditioned and scarred by their entire lives' experiences that they have become unable to love even themselves. Earlier I have very briefly discussed one of the contributory causes of this where a person can be so scarred by their social interactions that they become unable to trust anyone. But this also belongs to larger scope topic. I am just mentioning this here to highlight the great evil that permeates our society today that came about over time through perpetuating of that very first act of bad faith in the Garden of Eden.
These are just some of the sad results of a world cut off from GOD. A world that started out from the very beginning in bad faith.
But most of us, many of us anyway, are not so crippled by our lives' experiences that had rendered us such that we can no longer love anyone. Not yet anyway. The lies of the Christmas religion to the contrary, humanity can attain to the love that fulfills the Royal Law. The love that performs or carries out and is the very expression of the requirement of the commandments of love. As I have mentioned elsewhere it is not and have never been the issue of 'the can' or 'the can't,' but 'the will' or 'the won't.'
Despite the fact that nearly all of mankind are driven by self expediency most of the time, while the rest are so driven all of the time. There still exist within many of us (well maybe not that many anymore) a capacity to love unselfishly on certain occasions or in isolated instances at the very least.
I read not too many months back (in the year 2010) about a teenage girl in China who took some medicinal drugs to commit suicide so that her father who was suffering from organ failure could be saved by her death through donating her organs. Though at such a tender age she might not have fully considered her entire motivation nonetheless that was an act prompted by a desire for her father's welfare at the expense of her own. The tragedy nevertheless, such is the love that performs the Royal Law in that particular instance.
I knew of another teenage who had wished and prayed that the excruciating pain, which his mother who was suffering from a nerve disorder had been going through, on himself that she might be free from it.
Though the above two examples might be isolated instances in the lives of those involved, it nonetheless showed that man is indeed capable of a totally unselfish love. If we can act unselfishly in isolated instances, what is there to prevent us from doing it all the time in every instance of our lives' conduct. The only thing that prevents us is our self expediencies. It is not that we are incapable but that we are unwilling.
Self preservation does not need to become self expediency. Resolving not to harm or deal deceitfully with another human is a very simple thing to do if we will not be driven by self expediency, loving ourselves and our own lives too much (John 12:25).
Bad faith is bad or ill intentions. Good faith is good intentions. So to live a love that fulfills the Royal Law is just as simple as to ensure that we always act in good faith with intention for the good of our neighbors. And that was exactly what the Apostle Paul taught, contrary to the lies of the Christmas religion that Paul taught that we should not or need not keep, obey and perform the commandments of GOD.
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith
1 Timothy 1:5
Sin as well as any righteous act, or act of love begins with the intention and attitude. That was the reason JESUS CHRIST when HE began HIS human ministry started HIS first teachings to HIS disciples focused on attitude and intents. Read the full account of this in Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7. You will probably also noticed when reading through this three chapters that JESUS, while on the topic of 'entering by the narrow way' also warned against false prophets and those who believed themselves to be HIS disciples but were not. I leave it to you to figure out why, because if you can then you will know you have the right attitude towards the Scripture of Truth by not twisting it to say something else or advocating it as irrelevant.
I am not saying that to live a life ordered by the love that fulfills the Holy Commandments is an easy thing to do. We all know that to get a difficult work done we need to be fully unwaveringly focused and steadfastly consistent. So don't expect that you can do otherwise if you truly want to obey GOD and fulfill the commandments of love.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13 - 14
Comments and questions on issues of doctrines and facts raised here can be directed to chquah@gmail.com. Only sincere non malicious comments and questions seeking clarification and understanding will be entertained.
Note:
1. Words in italic referenced titles or proper names where this applies, otherwise these are personal notes to selected people who are familiar with them.
2. I have intentionally left out many scriptural references as anyone who wants to prove or disprove what is written here should read the Christian Bible thoroughly and extensively (from cover to cover at least three or more times).
3. The various chapters and articles discussed here are by no means exhaustive of the doctrines, prophesies, subjects and answers to questions on the Christian Holy Scriptures.
4. Scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise indicated.
5. Please bear in mind that this stuff here is for foundation understanding and some 'deeper' verses and advanced doctrines are skipped.
6. The word or term 'man' is used throughout as a reference to man specifically as well as to all mankind (male and female) according to the context in the same way as the Bible used the term.
7. For the complete listing of titles and discussions of this author on the Christian faith (or religion) please refer to the Start or Home page of 'The Holy Bible Expounded'. Also listed in this post page are the latest published posts of all the Christian topic blogs of this author.
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Last Updated: 2013 09 05
First Posted: 2010 10 07
