The Law of Love

Published on: February 9, 2025

Introduction

The gospel begins with an understanding of God’s law, which reflects His perfect righteousness and moral character. The law was given to reveal sin and to lead humanity to the realization of their need for a Savior. Jesus summarized the law in two great commandments:

Commandment	Scripture
Love God	"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38)
Love Others	"And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 22:39-40)

God’s law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12), yet it exposes our sinfulness, for no one can keep it perfectly (Romans 3:23). The conscience bears witness to this truth (Romans 2:15). The law was not given as a means of salvation but to lead us to Christ (Galatians 3:24).

Analogy: The Mirror of the Law

The law can be compared to a mirror. A mirror shows us our physical imperfections, but it cannot cleanse us. Likewise, the law reveals our sin but cannot save us:

Function	Scripture
Reveals Sin	"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
Brings Conviction	"For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it." (James 2:10)
Leads to Christ	"So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24)

Thus, the law convicts but does not save. It reveals that all have sinned and fallen short (Romans 3:23), bringing the just penalty of death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). Only through Christ can the righteous requirement of the law be fulfilled (Romans 8:3-4), for love was fully demonstrated at the cross (Romans 5:8).

Conclusion

Love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10), but humanity, in its fallen state, is incapable of fulfilling it.