Leaving Law, Gaining Love!

Can one truly learn to love if they are connected to law? 

Most of you know by now that there are two basic ideas that I have strong convictions about.  One is that God is Love and that his Love will never fail any of us.  Second, is that He has sent us on a journey that is all about learning to Love.  Sometimes those of us who have taken strong positions about Grace are accused of being too wishy washy about living life, and I have even been accused of not believing in anything.  Actually there couldn’t be anything farther from the truth.  

Christ came to teach us that you can’t make a law that really explains what love is.  Some may argue pointing to verses that connect the law to love such as in Gal 5:14  For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  Now the problem with this is in our inability to follow the law.  If we could do that then certainly it would lead us to be loving people, but the reality is that we don’t even come close to fulfilling the law.

So, how can we learn to be a loving person?  I think the answer is given to us in the same chapter that I quoted above.  We must leave the law in order to gain love.  Listen to the next verses.   Gal 5:18, 22, 23
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Anyone who tries to keep you under law is keeping you under a curse. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

And he is not just talking about the Law of the old covenant. Gal 3:21 “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.”  You see Paul clearly says “A LAW” meaning that it doesn’t matter what kind of law you come up with it just won’t give life.  

So, back to our question, “how can we be a more loving person?”  Well the answer is really simple.  When we begin to believe that God loves us period, and that our inability to observe any type of law will not change that fact, then we can begin to reflect the same love that he has shined on us.  1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us. 
 
Yes, we may spend our entire lives here learning what LOVE is really all about, but maybe that’s exactly why we’re here.  And maybe we will learn the lessons of LOVE regardless of the choices we make because God can take our good and our bad choices and reveal his love in all of them. 

Cliff Feb 12th 2008 11:24 am Love, Cliff 11 Comments Trackback URI Comments RSS

11 Responses to “Leaving Law, Gaining Love!”

  1. geoon 12 Feb 2008 at 11:39 am link comment

    If there was a local gathering where this was taught I would be in the front row every time they met!

    Good Truth Cliff!

    Peace
    Geo

    P.S. Don’t forget to call in tomorrow. I am counting on you to be the co-host!

  2. Don Ron 12 Feb 2008 at 12:03 pm link comment

    Since I have come to the realization that we and God are one; the same “stuff”; He in us, we in Him. And, that God is love. If we are here to find out who we really are (and I believe that’s why we are here); behind the ego and the facade we often present to the world, we will eventually find that we, like God, ARE LOVE. Some will find this out sooner, others later. I desire that my life exhibit the love that I know I truly am. The circumstances of life give us the opportunity time and time again to show our “true colors”. May we take advantage of those opportunities.

  3. Cliffon 12 Feb 2008 at 12:09 pm link comment

    I couldn’t agree more Don.

  4. Mindyon 12 Feb 2008 at 8:49 pm link comment

    Beautifully said Don. I couldn’t agree more!!
    I have acknowledged that my heart leads me more and more everyday to a place within myself where I truly believe God resides and the more I accept myself rather then conform to what society says I should be I find I am more at peace. I am desperately trying to learn from every moment life has to give me and I do this simply because it works for me. It feels right in my heart and my mind and I gain more love this way then in any other way I have ever attempted to travel.

  5. Bruceon 12 Feb 2008 at 10:20 pm link comment

    Sometimes I think people can’t really love others, because they can’t love themselves. They’ve been taught to believe that they are horrible, sinful, disobedient people who will never really be able to measure up, or “be good”.

    Until we know the truth, and can truly love ourselves, we can never love others. Sure, we can pretend to. We can go through the motions and put up appearances… but we all know it’s only a facade. They can have no peace with others, because they can have no peace with themselves. It’s a shame the church won’t tell people who they are… TO GOD!

  6. kennethon 13 Feb 2008 at 7:46 am link comment

    Loved this post cliff and all the comment’s.
    Bruce said,They can have no peace with others, because they can have no peace with themselves. It’s a shame the church won’t tell people who they are… TO GOD!

    Yes Bruce,”christ is our Peace”,and beholding him as our peace.teach’s us to know that we are loved just for who we are not for what we do.
    No more introspection for me bruce to see if i measure up or not.”I KNOW”,… i’m Loved, that is how i’m able to love other’s for whom christ tasted the same death for.heb2v9.

  7. Connie Lardon 13 Feb 2008 at 8:52 am link comment

    “And maybe we will learn the lessons of LOVE regardless of the choices we make because God can take our good and our bad choices and reveal his love in all of them.”

    I think that’s part of the meaning of Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His purpose for them.” (NLT)

  8. kennethon 13 Feb 2008 at 4:53 pm link comment

    If any of you get the time.please visit my site and watch the video on there.Thankyou.
    kenneth.
    http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-ga.kzf83dLTO_ZljIkcbqE_FzX86

  9. danon 13 Feb 2008 at 5:26 pm link comment

    Kenneth awesome love the video.I was justing thinking today God’s love is greater then anything and there is nothing that can truly stop it.
    Just thinging about that brings such joy to the heart and mind.
    Love Dan

  10. jennifer Ivenson 13 Feb 2008 at 7:32 pm link comment

    Kenneth awsome video thanks for sharing it

  11. Cliffon 13 Feb 2008 at 8:34 pm link comment

    Thanks Kenneth. Loved the video.

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