Bible Studies

How to Fulfill the Law of Christ

by Michael Edwards 
03/06/18
Free to Share

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Out of love, Jesus bore our burdens on the cross, the burden of the letter and the curse of the law and our sin.  Burdens we could not bear. He fulfilled the letter of the law and then became a curse for us upon the cross.

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE "—Gal 3:13 NAS

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus fulfilled the burden of the Fathers commands engraved in stone, and now He calls us to fulfill His commands written on the tablets of our hearts.

IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, YOU WILL ABIDE IN MY LOVE, JUST AS I HAVE KEPT MY FATHERS COMMANDMENTS AND ABIDE IN HIS LOVE. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:10-14 ESV

being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Cor 3:3 NAS

Jesus calls us to walk in the Spirit of the law, love, and to bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ. 

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6 1-2 ESV

He has made us ministers of the Spirit of the law, not the letter, so that we can fulfill His commandment to love others as He has loved us.

who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 NA 

The Spirit of all of God’s laws is love. The Spirit is the original intent the author had for writing the letter of the law. The Spirit is the only thing that can truly fulfill the authors desire.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom 13:8-10 NAS

Compared to the burden of the letter of the law that Jesus has taken off our shoulders, the burden of the Spirit of the law He asks us to carry is light and easy and brings no condemnation or death like the letter of the law did.

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.  “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt 1 NAS

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 NAS

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

This is My command to you: Love one another.John 15:17

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Out do yourselves in honoring one another. Romans 12:10

Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the Law.Romans 13:8

Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. Romans 13:10

The entire Law is fulfilled in a single decree: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. Ephesians 5:2

Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. 1 Thessalonians 4:9

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Gal 5:16 NAS

Jesus poured out His blood for the New Covenant of grace and truth, replacing the Old Covenant law of Moses.

Believers are exclusively under the New Covenant, the last will and testament of Jesus that began after the cross. 

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood. Luke 22:20

Many more New Covenant Bible Studies HERE.