"Only Love Is Enough"

Only Love Is Enough

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)

If we really loved one another, we could forget all the other commandments. For, indeed, love fulfills
the law.

Love is a moral principle. A principle covers all the world’s moral activity. There are a few other moral
principles, such as be holy, do justice, do no harm, and so on. These principles apply in all times and
places. We can never say, “No, I don’t have to love here,” or “I don’t have to do justice there.” In all
cases moral principles apply.

When we love someone, we should not need to be reminded not to steal from them, or lie about them,
or cheat them. Such reminders are almost impertinent for someone who loves another.

Paul says, “Love does no harm to a neighbor.” But doing no harm, or merely observing the law, is not
enough. Only the perfect love that Christ showed when he gave his life for ours is sufficient to fulfill
the law. Christ removed the curse of lawlessness and has given us everlasting life.

To love as Jesus did means that we incorporate God’s self-sacrificing love into our hearts. In Christ,
God showed us not only perfect obedience to the law but perfect love.

And only Christ fully lives out that perfect love. We who live in this hostile world still struggle with
desires to make gains for ourselves or to harm others. Since we still live with this tension, we still
need the law.

Prayer

God, forgive us when we harm our neighbor. Help us to truly love you and others, guiding us by your
own perfect love shown to us through Christ, our Lord. Amen.