⁹ For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Love is all you need to fulfill the Law of God. Of course we are not talking about romantic or superficial feelings of love. The word used here is the term that Christianity made popular, “agape.” Prior to the Christian era, it was not a common word in the Greek language or culture, but it became imbued with significance by the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly as reflected in the writings of the apostle John. Paul gave it the same emphasis in his writings as well. In total, the word is used 258 times in the New Testament.

Christians are called to a higher standard than exhibiting our sense of righteousness and justice in the public square, or even forcing our morality on others whether through peer pressure or politics or the making of laws. Yes, we can be concerned about economic policies, illegal immigration, welfare fraud, unfair labor practices, human rights violations, corporate greed, and corrupt politicians in high office, and to a degree we have a responsibility in a free society to get involved and make a difference.

However, we must be constantly reminded that we are called to something higher than political involvement: sacrificial love. Keep in mind, in the context of the book of Romans, we believers are justified individuals. We have received the graciousness of God’s mercy in withholding the just consequences for our sin, and we have been granted eternal life (Rom 6:23). We have presented and continue to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. We are not to be conformed to this world, but to have transformed minds. That is God’s will for us, no question about it. Therefore, as God’s will, we should be supremely motivated by love. The whole reason God in His Word gives us laws and instructions is to teach us how to love others. The negative commands (“You shall not …”) are summarized in the positive command, “You shall love …”

Paul wrote earlier, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37). The call to committed Christian living compels us to reciprocate God’s love for us, by loving others. “We love,” John wrote, “because He first loved us” (1 John 4:9). Who comes to your mind that you need to love as a justified-by-faith, committed Christ-like one?

Lord, this is the hardest thing to do, but the thing You desire most. Help me love others the way I already love myself.