How is the law fulfilled under grace according to Romans 13?
Under grace, loving another person fulfills the law. Once believers step under grace and the Holy Spirit empowers them, love becomes the motivating power behind everything they do, so they automatically fulfill the Law. This replaces temple worship, priesthood, animal sacrifices, and constant drilling of the Ten Commandments.
Les explains that Romans 13 is practical, everyday truth for believers, not pie in the sky. Paul writes that the one who loves another has fulfilled the law under grace. Les teaches that under grace we do not need temple worship, a priesthood, animal sacrifices, or the Ten Commandments constantly drilled into us, because once we step under the light of grace and the Holy Spirit empowers us, love becomes the whole motivating power behind everything we do, and then we automatically fulfill the Law. He illustrates this by asking whether you can steal from somebody you love, bear false witness or gossip about somebody you love, or covet something a loved one owns. Going through the whole gamut of the Ten Commandments, when love is operating, they all automatically fall away and no longer have to be taught and drilled.
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
How can a person fulfill the Law?
A person fulfills the Law by loving others, not by independent law-keeping. Paul writes that whoever loves another has fulfilled the Law, because love seeks the other person’s highest good. When genuine love operates, one cannot break the commandments, since true love refuses defrauding, stealing, or immoral relations.
What is the dominant force in the life of a believer who is under grace instead of law?
Love is the dominant force in the life of a believer under grace rather than law. Because love fulfills the Law, when love operates, the believer does not commit adultery, kill, bear false witness, or covet, and fulfills the command to love neighbor as self.
More Questions
What does Romans 13:8 mean that he who loves another has fulfilled the Law?
Romans 13:8 teaches that the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law—every part of it.
How does loving one another fulfill the law?
Under grace, when we have loved another, we have fulfilled the law.