emery@fluke.UUCP (John Emery) (05/15/85)
Hello, I thought I'd write about one of the main concerns of christians: "Love." Lowell Savage writes in his recent article: > I think that this can be stated a little bit more strongly. >The central issue in being a Christian is to "Love one another, as >I [Jesus] have loved you." and to "Love your neighbor as yourself." >Even Jesus said that this is the whole law. It just so happens that about a week before his posting, I accumulated a series of verses out of the New Testament on the importance of love and how it is related the law: Matthew 7:12 In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this Sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Galatians 5:14, 6:2 The entire law is summed up is a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know you are my disciples if you love one another." 1 John 2:7,3:11,3:23 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new commandment but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. And this is his commandment: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. Romans 13:8-10 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not Covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Other references include 1 Timothy 1:5, and Mark 12:29-31. And there are probably more! It's wonderful how easily God's law is fulfilled by two commandments: Love the Lord with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. In the times ahead which many feel are the last times, these words will probably be the most valuable. Keep them in your heart. Sincerely, John Emery Praise Him who created Heaven and Earth!