Just a reminder: Love is the fulfillment of the Law

As these verses point out, the “not” commandments are summed up in loving our neighbor. . . because if I love people, I’m a whole lot less likely to steal from them!

Romans 13:9-10 ESV “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.“

Galatians 5:14 ESV “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

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And now the tougher topics and possible moments of conviction. Ask yourself these questions are you read the following verses:

What have I encountered? What have I participated in?

Gossip

2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV “For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish – that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.”

Romans 1:29 ESV “They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips. . . ” 

1 Timothy 5:13 ESV “Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.”

Paul is remarking about these things happening IN CHURCH! What may be dressed in care and concern may actually be stirring a pot we have no business stirring. I admit it, gossip is something I have my radar up about constantly. Why? Because it can be really juicy and remove me from my own life for a moment. But what does gossip lead to? False accusations and lies.

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False Accusations

Exodus 20:16 ESV “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Mark 10:19 ESV “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”

Revelation 22:15 ESV “Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Yes, I’ve been falsely accused, and it’s not fun. Yes, there have also been times when I’ve been accused of something that was indeed true, but the false accusation definitely changed my relationship with that person.

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Lies

Leviticus 19:11 ESV “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”

Proverbs 14:5 ESV “A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.”

Colossians 3:9 ESV “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices.”

What does lying do to a relationship? Ruins it. Makes it fake. Makes it false.

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Anger

Proverbs 15:1 ESV “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Ephesians 4:26 ESV “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger. . . “

James 1:19 ESV “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. . . “

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.”

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Causing Someone to Sin

Matthew 18:6 ESV “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

1 Corinthians 10:24 ESV “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”