Bible Study “I Delight in the Law of Godâ€

[netchaplain]

I believe the "law of God" (Rom 7:22) to which Paul refereed was the will of God or the fulfilling of the OT law which, "was our schoolmaster" (for the Jew) to bring them "unto Christ"; also which they "are no longer under" (Gal 3:24, 25). The "law" which the old testament saints "delighted in" (i.e. Psa 119:47) was that part which pointed to God's ultimate will and is summed up in, "he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law" (Rom 13:8).

The grace Christ brought allows us to have unconditional forgiveness (through the Spirit) in loving others "as I have loved you" (John 15:12). This is what requires regeneration because it is, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). This was similar but unlike the old commandment which involved conditional love, which was to love others the way you loved yourself or as yourself (Lev 19:18).

Another reason I believe Paul was referring to "the will of God" when he referenced "the law of God" is because at this time of writing, the OT law was "taken away" to "establish the second" (Heb 10:8); which is the NT or "the everlasting covenant" that is "through" His "blood" (Heb 13:20) or "in" His "blood" (Matt 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20).

 

[Deborah13]

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). This was similar but unlike the old commandment which involved conditional love, which was to love others the way you loved yourself or as yourself (Lev 19:18).

Thank you for pointing this out. I knew it said "as I love you" but the difference in the OT being similar but different, I had not taken notice of in any real way. We must recognize how much God loves us in order to obey this command.

Blessings to you and yours.

 

[netchaplain]

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (John 13:34). This was similar but unlike the old commandment which involved conditional love, which was to love others the way you loved yourself or as yourself (Lev 19:18).

Thank you for pointing this out. I knew it said "as I love you" but the difference in the OT being similar but different, I had not taken notice of in any real way. We must recognize how much God loves us in order to obey this command.

Blessings to you and yours.

Thanks Sis for your reply. The reason why Christ did not have to keep repeating the command to "love God" was because we love Him by loving others: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen" (1 John 4:20).

 

[netchaplain]

Loving your neighbor is not the easiest thing to do many times!

Thanks Ed for the kind comment. I believe as long as we want to love others with unconditional forgiveness, esp. when we don't think we do or want to, the Lord works it in us (Phil 2:13).

 

[Deborah13]

when we don't think we do or want to, the Lord works it in us

I've found when I need to forgive that the best thing I can do is pray for that person. Pray blessings on them and that they will see His love, God always fixes my heart when I do that.

 

[BirdAngel]

Yes I would say it is hard to love everybody. Especially those that do such bad things. I do pray for non-believers. I pray that they find what I have found. I pray that there life would be a little less miserable. Loving everybody is something I must work on. I want to fulfill that law with all my heart.

God Bless All.

 

[netchaplain]

Yes I would say it is hard to love everybody. Especially those that do such bad things. I do pray for non-believers. I pray that they find what I have found. I pray that there life would be a little less miserable. Loving everybody is something I must work on. I want to fulfill that law with all my heart.

God Bless All.

Hi BA and thanks for your reply. I believe if we follow God's prompt in us (Phil 2:13), which causes us to be willing to forgive unconditionally, He will continue to cause us to grow in His Son (Rom 8:29).