The End of the Commandment is Love

The Bible is not strictly a book on morality, but it certainly talks much about it. If the God of the Bible is the True God, then it's pretty obvious why men cannot see or have fellowship with God.

Sin.

It's the barrier that keeps man and God separated. But what exactly is sin, and why does it separate us from God?

John said, "Whosoever commiteth sin, transgreseth also the Law; for sin is the transgression of the law."

In another place he said, "All unrighteousness is sin."

God has a moral law, and when someone breaks that law, he is committing an action called 'sin'. But where did this moral law originate from, and why should it be the standard?

Some theologians and denominations will say, "God's Law is the Ten Commandments. They are eternal. They have always been, and always will be."

But is that true? Without creation, would the Ten Commandments really be necessary? Are the ten commandments engraved on God as they were upon the Stone Tablets? Sounds kind of silly to say they are eternal.

Jesus himself said that in heaven men and women would not be married or given in marriage, but they shall be like the angels of God.

So, the seventh commandment, thou shall not commit adultery would become obsolete. If there's no marriage committing adultery is an impossibility.

How about, Thou shall not steal? The commandment sounds good, but what if there is nothing to steal, or anyone to steal from? Did Adam, before other's were born, need that commandment? What was he going to steal, when everything was his?

Before creation, when God existed alone, were the ten commandments needed? Without man, they're meaningless.

What if I were to come to you and say, "Do not use your wings to attack others."

You would turn to me, and say, "What are you talking about? I don't have any wings. Are you crazy?"

Following this line of thought, we come to the conclusion, that although God has a law, and it is eternal, it is not the Ten Commandments since they are relative to creation and circumstances.

But what is The Law, and where did it originate?

The answer: The Law is none other than God himself. He is The Law, and moral standard.

God is love, and from out His love came forth the law. The commandments are not eternal, but Love, from which the commandments came, is Eternal.

Love is not a feeling or emotion. Love is a person, God. He is Love, and when we commit sin, we do things that love would not do.

The apostle Paul commanded the Romans to love all men. He said, "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

The above statement is a very interesting one. He says that love will fulfill the Law, but not simply in a general way.

The Apostle Paul is not saying, "Let's forget about the commandments, and just love one another. Let's have good emotions and not worry about actions." No, quite contrary, he continues explaining:

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love doeth no ill to it's neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law."

Quite interesting, is it not? The Apostle Paul claims that the commandments themselves will be fulfilled by love, and must be fulfilled. If you are not fulfilling the commandments, then you are not loving your neighbor.

If love fulfills the law, and sin breaks the law, what does that make sin? What is the opposite of love?

Hate.

When we obey God's commandments, we love others, when we disobey we express hatred towards each other.

By understanding the logic from above, we can conclude that sin is expressing hatred toward our neighbor, and it is that hatred, that separates us from God.

God is a God of love, and when we sin, we hate others, and separate ourselves from God.

God's laws and commandments are not meaningless. They are a picture and reflection of God's love. He tells us to do something because He does not want us to hurt ourselves, or others.

When we commit sin, we do something that Love would not do. We do something that God would not do. He Himself is the standard, for, God is Love.

by Vladimir Khabibulin