Romans 13:8-10

The law cannot make us right with God.  There is no law that can force people to do what is right. God put the law into place as a fence to keep humanity from doing what is wrong.  Much of humanity ignores the fence, and stampedes into outright disobedience and unrighteousness.  Others, while claiming to keep the law, search out loopholes that allow them to do harm to others.  Because the law cannot change hearts, even those who keep the law find it impossible to live righteous by the law alone.

Christ, through his death and resurrection makes possible our reconciliation with God.  God’s grace and mercy combined with our faith and faithfulness does what the law could never do.  We still face the same question, “How do we live righteous?” God provided the answer by giving us His holy spirit to live in our hearts.  He changes our hearts, and far as we will let him, he fills them with love.  Love does what the law could never do.  Love fulfills the law in that it prevents us from harming our neighbor.  That was the intent of the law.  Love is a living fence that stands between us and doing what is wrong.  Love will not allow us to do harm to others deliberately.

Love takes our lives one-step farther beyond the law.  It not only prevents us from doing wrong, it motivates us to do what is right.  Love looks at the lives of others and sees their needs.  Love is not content to leave someone in need unharmed; love requires us to help them.  If we are going to do no harm, yet at the same time are going to do good, love must be wise.  Love always prays for wisdom, and waits for God’s guidance before acting.  In obedience to God changes the world around it.  Christian love changes the lives of others, and makes a difference for the better.  Love fulfills the law, and then fulfills the needs of a lawless world.