The Law of Love

"Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."
-Romans 13:10

What a profound statement from the Word! Love, which God has shown us immeasurably, is the one and only thing that keeps us all on the right path. In fact, the previous verse (v. 9) says essentially that all of the commandments that have been decreed by God and by man can be satisfied and summed up by one encompassing idea: loving our neighbors as we love ourselves, proclaimed by God (see Leviticus 19:18) and His Son as the greatest commandment of all (see Mark 12:30-31).

Julie Ackerman Link from Our Daily Bread beautifully explains:

God had a relationship with Adam and Eve that was based on loving trust. The only rule necessary was one that protected them from knowledge that would end in death. But when disobedience broke the trusting relationship, God added more rules to protect the wayward couple and their offspring.

In Christ, God proclaimed once more that the good life He wants for us is not about rules but a relationship. As Paul wrote, all the commandments can be summarized in one word: love. Because we are “in Christ,” we can enjoy peace with God and others—not because there’s a rule, but because there is love.

If we love each other, then we abide by God's law. The laws are there to help us remain in God's love.