Weekly Sermon
This message is a companion to a previous message: If Ye Fulfill the Royal Law (Part 1) - James 2:8
James 2:8 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”
In James 2:8 we find the commendation of the Lord our God Himself in His Holy Word unto all who fulfill His royal law. Herein the law of the Lord our God is described as His royal law because He is the divine Lord and King of our lives. Indeed, this reveals that we believers in this time of the New Testament do have the responsibility to serve under our Lord’s authority and to submit ourselves in obedience under the authority of law for our lives. Furthermore, we have the responsibility to fulfill our Lord’s royal law, that is – to obey it completely and consistently. Finally, we are brought to understand that we must fulfill our Lord’s royal law over our lives in accord with the Old Testament Scripture from Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” If we do this, then the Lord our God through His Holy Word by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit commends us with the declaration, “Ye do well.” If we do this, then in our Lord’s sight we are walking in the way of righteousness.
So then, what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? In Leviticus 19:17-18 this instruction was first given, wherein God’s word declares, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Then throughout the New Testament, this instruction of our God’s law was quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ on two occasion in Matthew 19:19 & 22:39 (with Mark 12:31 being a parallel passage to Matthew 22:39), by the apostle Paul on two further occasions in Romans 13:9 & Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8. Even so, through a study of these and of some supporting passages, we may develop a greater understanding concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Already in the first part of the study, we considered two truths concerning this matter, as follows:
1. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the foundational principle of God’s law in relation to others.
2. To love our neighbor as ourselves is a debt that we constantly owe unto those around us.
Now, in this second part of the study, let us consider four additional truths.
This message is a companion to a previous message: If Ye Fulfill the Royal Law (Part 1) - James 2:8
James 2:8 reads, “If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well.”
In James 2:8 we find the commendation of the Lord our God Himself in His Holy Word unto all who fulfill His royal law. Herein the law of the Lord our God is described as His royal law because He is the divine Lord and King of our lives. Indeed, this reveals that we believers in this time of the New Testament do have the responsibility to serve under our Lord’s authority and to submit ourselves in obedience under the authority of law for our lives. Furthermore, we have the responsibility to fulfill our Lord’s royal law, that is – to obey it completely and consistently. Finally, we are brought to understand that we must fulfill our Lord’s royal law over our lives in accord with the Old Testament Scripture from Leviticus 19:18, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” If we do this, then the Lord our God through His Holy Word by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit commends us with the declaration, “Ye do well.” If we do this, then in our Lord’s sight we are walking in the way of righteousness.
So then, what does it mean to love our neighbor as ourselves? In Leviticus 19:17-18 this instruction was first given, wherein God’s word declares, “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” Then throughout the New Testament, this instruction of our God’s law was quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ on two occasion in Matthew 19:19 & 22:39 (with Mark 12:31 being a parallel passage to Matthew 22:39), by the apostle Paul on two further occasions in Romans 13:9 & Galatians 5:14, and by James in James 2:8. Even so, through a study of these and of some supporting passages, we may develop a greater understanding concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Already in the first part of the study, we considered two truths concerning this matter, as follows:
1. To love our neighbor as ourselves is the foundational principle of God’s law in relation to others.
2. To love our neighbor as ourselves is a debt that we constantly owe unto those around us.
Now, in this second part of the study, let us consider four additional truths.
To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we work no ill against those around us.
In Romans 13:9-10 God’s Word declares, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Indeed, both sides of this matter are true. Not only is it true that genuine, godly love will work no ill toward one’s neighbor; but also it is true that genuine, godly love will work much good toward one’s neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not work things that will be damaging against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not commit adultery, or even sexual lust, against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not commit murder, or even anger, vengeance, or hatred, against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not steal from our neighbor, cheat our neighbor, deceive our neighbor, selfishly manipulate our neighbor, or disrespect our neighbor’s possessions, position, or person. Loving our neighbor means that we do bear false witness against our neighbor, speak lies about our neighbor, gossip against our neighbor, mock our neighbor, or slander our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not have a covetous and envious spirit against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we not puff ourselves up with pride and boast ourselves against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do not behave inappropriately, inconsiderately, obnoxiously, or selfishly against our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we do influence our neighbor toward sinfulness and ungodliness. On the other hand, loving our neighbor means that we will behave with humility, meekness, kindness, gentleness, and compassion toward our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we will be longsuffering, forbearing, forgiving, tenderhearted, and peaceable toward our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means that we will esteem others as better than ourselves and that we prefer others in honor above ourselves. Loving our neighbor means that we bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Yea, loving our neighbor means even that we bless those who curse us, that we do good unto those who hate us, and that we pray for the benefit of those who despitefully use us. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.” Rather, love works good and benefit for his neighbor.
To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not use our Christian liberty for an occasion to our selfish flesh.
In Galatians 5:13 God’s Word gives the instruction and provides the contrast, saying, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Furthermore, in verse 14 God’s Word delivers the explanation, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” So then, we may understand that this passage reveals some truth concerning what it means to love our neighbor as ourselves. Indeed, in verse 13 we find a two-fold instruction. Therein we find an instruction concerning that which we are not to do and an instruction concerning that which we are to do. On the positive side, the instruction concerning that which we are to do indicates that we are to pursue godly love and the behavior of godly love in relation to others. Even so, the contrasting instruction concerning that which we are not to do reveals behavior that is directly contrary to godly love and the behavior of godly love in relation to others. What is this contrasting instruction? We are not to use our Christian liberty for any occasion to our selfish flesh. According to the teaching of God’s Word in the New Testament Scriptures, our selfish flesh is the principle of selfishness and sinfulness that motivates us to walk in disobedience against the Word, will, and ways of the Lord our God. By definition, it is essentially and motivationally selfish in all that it desires and pursues. Furthermore, according to the teaching of God’s Word in the New Testament Scriptures, selfishness is the opposite of godly love. Indeed, 1 Corinthians 13:5 reveals that Biblical charity (that is, godly love in our behavior toward others) “seeketh not her own.” So then, giving an occasion to our selfish flesh not only is contrary to a walk after God’s will, but also is contrary to a walk after godly love toward others. Therefore, to love our neighbor as ourselves we must not give our selfish flesh any base of operation in our lives. We must not give our selfish flesh any opportunity to influence our behavior, for it will move us contrary to godly love for those around us. Our spiritual liberty in Christ from the condemnation of the law certainly does not grant us the freedom to do whatever we ourselves want, especially not at the expense of those around us. Indeed, our spiritual liberty has not been granted unto us so that we might pursue selfish interest and selfish exaltation at the expense of and in damage to those around us. Such a pursuit is not spiritual liberty at all. Rather, it is selfish license; and it is contrary to God’s law of love in our lives.
To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we pursue a behavior of service unto those around us.
Again in Galatians 5:13-14 God’s Word gives both the negative and the positive instruction, saying, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” We believers are responsible at all times to love our neighbor as ourselves, and by that love we are to serve others. Literally, we are to serve as the slaves of those who are around us, helping them in whatever way that we are able. This is the love-debt that we owe at all times unto all who are around us – to serve them. We are not to be motivated by the desire that others should serve us. Indeed, this is the motivation of selfishness and of our selfish, sinful flesh. Rather, we are to be motivated by the direction that we should love and serve others. This is godly love. This is loving our neighbor as ourselves in a truly godly manner. We are to love others by laying down ourselves and giving of ourselves in service to them. This was the mindset of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make Himself of no reputation and to take upon Himself the form of a servant. (See Philippians 2:6-7) Even so, this is the same mindset that we are to have, to make ourselves of no reputation and to take upon ourselves the form of a servant unto those who are around us. (See Philippians 2:5)
To love our neighbor as ourselves means that we not verbally “bite and devour” those around us.
In Galatians 5:14 God’s Word quotes the command from the Old Testament Scriptures, saying, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Then in direct contrast Galatians 5:15 presents the admonition, “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” Clearly to bite, devour, and thereby consume those around us is the opposite of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Yet what does it mean for us to bite, devour, and thereby consume those around us? The picture that this series of actions presents is that of wild, ravenous animals tearing at the prey with their teeth, devouring the flesh of the prey, and thereby destroying the very life of the prey. This picture is used as a vivid illustration concerning the manner in which we might verbally communicate with and about those around us. Indeed, according to the opening portion of Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Even so, Proverbs 18:8 describes the words of a talebearer, of an individual who speaks harsh and biting words against another, saying, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Again the opening half of Proverbs 12:18 declares, “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword.” Yet again Psalms 64:3 describes those who speak biting, bitter words, saying, “Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words.” Indeed, Psalm 52:4 speaks of “all devouring words;” and the closing half of Proverbs 10:11 reveals that “violence [that is – the blood of violence] covereth the mouth of the wicked.” Such biting, bitter, devouring, destructive communication is not a characteristic of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Rather, it is the very opposite of loving our neighbor as ourselves. Thus we are not to allow any such communication to proceed out of our mouths, either against or about others. Rather, we are to speak only “that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) Even so, the opening half of Proverbs 15:4 declares, “A wholesome tongue (that is – a tongue that is motivated by godly love) is a tree of life.” Again the opening half of Proverbs 10:11 states, “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.” Yet again Proverbs 16:24 proclaims, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
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