Loving One Another: Our Gospel Obligation #GetSent
By Ps Vernon Quek
It’s been one week since we heard that the Apostle Paul’s big application of Romans is this: Love one another. What has our obedience in this area looked like in response? Have we taken the effort to reconcile with those we’ve disagreed with, maybe even caused great hurt and pain to? Have we examined who in our lives we are loving in obedience – and therefore reflecting the wonderful Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to?
As an encouragement to you (and to myself) to keep obeying King Jesus in this area, look with me again at Romans 13:8-10:
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
We are told twice that loving one another fulfills the entirety of the Old Testament Law. Why is that such a good thing? Recall with me what the LORD says to Israel just before He gives them the Law through Moses at Mount Sinai:
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’[1]
What happens when the Law is obeyed and fulfilled as God intended? God’s People become a Kingdom of Priests…a nation filled with those who bring unrighteous sinners into right relationship with a Holy God.
Brothers and sisters, that’s exactly why loving one another in our church family is so crucial. It is the one greatest mark of the power of the Gospel. The power to change selfish rebellious sinners like you and I, into obedient and righteous priests that can bring the nations to know our great King Jesus!
We all know how impossible this is, so let’s keep preaching the Gospel of Jesus to ourselves, and to each other. Let’s not give up in this clear command from our Saviour who loved us first. And let’s pray together fervently that our love will lift up the Gospel as truth, that many might come to know and love obeying our King Jesus in word and in deed!
[1] Exodus 19:5-6
