What is perfect love?

If we refuse to believe that Christ was teaching under the law, in other words under the old covenant when He taught on the mount, and we tenaciously hold to the mentality which teaches that the Holy Spirit enables us to keep the law, we are failing to realize what Christ meant to show us. That the condemning spirit of the law is limitless and beyond keeping; He was teaching in preparation for the cross. Here is some food for thought:

Though Christ could have kept the law, He did not. Christ did not walk in perfect obedience to the spirit of the law, He walked in perfect love. He worried to the point of sweating blood; He got angry enough to verbally assault the Pharisees; He even doubted the Fathers faithfulness when He stated from the cross, ‘Father why have thou forsaken Me?’ Remember, the bible says that whatever is not of faith is sin.

What shall we say then about the teachings on the mount? If we were meant to keep them, and it is sin if we don’t, was Christ then a sinner? And if He was a sinner how then did He provide a spotless sacrifice? Impossible, right? The answer is simple: These teachings were designed to show us that the spirit of the law is limitless, condemning, and could not be kept. Jesus was preparing mankind to receive the mercy which only God could provide, His sacrifice on the cross.

The condemning spirit of the law is limitless; the Spirit of life in Christ gives us a new heart which removes us from the law of sin and death. This new life, this new heart is what Jesus came to give us. He came to live in us that we may walk in love.

Our security will never be realized in an attempt to keep the law. Only a mature understanding of God’s love and what He provided for us at salvation will accomplish this. Do you think God would keep our focus on the impossible?

What is perfect love? See 1 John 4:17-19

Footnote: If you are under the impression that these types of teachings will give license to sin, maybe you don’t trust God, but rather you’re teaching or preaching, or even the law. May God give you wisdom to do the right thing and teach the grace of God!

Commentary by:

G.L. Miller