Our Debt Is To Love

Romans 13: 8-10

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law. 

Here's the sum of the law: to love our neighbor--that it fulfills all the Law on the second Tablet of the Ten Commandments. 

For this, 

"You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet" (Exodus 20: 13-17; Deuteronomy 5: 17-21),

and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19: 18; 22:39; Mark 12:31).

 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. 

If you love your neighbor, you will not want to steal the affections of his wife, you will not entertain fantasies of murdering him, you won't want to steal his possessions. You won't want any harm or misfortune to happen to him, let alone causing the harm or misfortune. 

We only entertain thoughts of doing these things to people we hate. And if we love God, then we will love those He Loves, who are other people, not hate them. 

If we find that we hate someone who God Loves, we must examine ourselves to see if we have really received His Spirit in our spirit. 

God loves all people, the whole human race. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance (I Peter 3: 9). He knows that they all won't, but He still gives everyone time and space to do so. Even those who have viciously fought against Him extensively. 

That's why the end of this era will not come until every living person has heard the Truth of who God is and what He has done on our behalf, to understand sufficiently to make an informed decision whether to accept the Lamb of God as their own Personal Sacrifice, or reject Him. (See Matthew 24: 14.)

So it's up to us, brothers and sisters in the Lord! We need to love one another as Christ has loved us (John 13: 34), which goes way beyond how we love ourselves. This is why it is a "new commandment." 

We are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, but to love our brothers and sisters in God's family as He has loved us is what will show the World that we are His disciples, His family ( John 13: 35). 

When we truly love our neighbors, even when they make themselves our enemies, and slander us and despitefully use us, that will be able to melt the stoniest heart into repentance. Or spur them on into making us martyrs. 

But our unconditional, unlimited love for one another will show the World the reality of Christ coming to Earth to be our Lamb of God, and will return as the Lion of Judah to reign on David's throne. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, our Lord God Almighty, King of the Universe, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!