2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2
While I was researching and preaching about Grace, I came across this phrase called “The Law of Christ” in Galatians 6:2. This phrase is only mentioned once in the New Testament.
The Law of Christ is the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples in John 13:34-35 at the last supper after Judas left the room.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35
What so new about this “New” commandment? This new command comes with the special teacher and enabler in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Is it not the same as “Love your neighbour as yourself”? The new command does not have a reciprocity. It says Love one another even if you don’t love yourself. Love your enemies and even self denial.
Love is such a big Spiritual word. As the song says “Here is Love vast as the ocean..”. we are just putting our toes into this vast ocean of Love. When we open our eyes to see the magnitude of God’s Love for us it is overwhelming.
Hallelujah we have the Holy Spirit to help us.
All of us, no matter what how old or young, we have this journey of Love. Love for God and Love for Others.
This Law is already in us when we accepted Christ. This was prophesied in Jeremiah
Jesus said “As I have loved you”. He loved us first and showed us the greatest act of Love by sacrificing himself to redeem us.
For the disciple of Christ, the avoidance of sin is to be accomplished out of love for God and love for others. Love is to be our motivation. When we recognize the value of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, our response is to be love, gratitude, and obedience. When we understand the sacrifice Jesus made for us and others, our response is to be to follow His example in expressing love to others.
Our motivation for overcoming sin should be love, not a desire to legalistically obey a series of commandments. We are to obey the law of Christ because we love Him, not so that we can check off a list of commands that we successfully obeyed. These are only part of the clothing of LOVE. There is much more.
Love is always about the other person Love acts for the benefits of others – look at all the virtues – compassion, kindness, bear one another burdens….
When we keep the Law of Christ, our lives will bear much fruit – fruit that will last.
Kingdom Parenting is also about how we can impress this Law of Christ to the next generation.