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.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Love is Fulfilling
Before we look at this passage we ought to also look a similar verse by Paul that was written to the Galatian believers:
Galatians 5:6 (ESV Strong's)
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
Our faith is not merely an intellectual ascent. Our faith is an active and moving action of sacrifice to those around us. The above passages are written in the context of the church. This does not mean, of course, we should not love those who are unbelievers. Jesus demonstrated His love for the world by giving Himself as a sacrificial lamb for the entire word (John 3:16). Most reject that love and want to save themselves, but Jesus still demonstrated a willingness to demonstrate love, in action, toward them.
But, the above verses are specifically addressing believers and their interaction with other believers. God has given us the Spirit to produce in our love. The first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5 is “love.” That love is the fullest expression of any law God ever gave. Laws are binding. When I do something out of love, that is not binding. The contrast that Paul is drawing for us is between the LAW and the walking in the SPIRIT. The LAW says not to kill. The SPIRIT says to love. Love fulfills the LAW as Love is the ultimate expression of God’s character. God is LOVE. That does not mean God is not a God of JUSTICE, as well. God has the prefect balance of Love and Wrath. We do not. We tend to judge quickly and love slowly. As we become more and more conformed to the image of God we will learn love as the Spirit intended. Love is the fulfilling of the LAW. Love is fulfilling.
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