THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE - Pastor J. C. O'Hair

THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE
Pastor J. C. O'Hair

In Romans 3:19 we read that whatever the law saith it saith that every mouth may be stopped and all the world be guilty before God. The law saith, “thou shalt love the Lord thy God perfectly and thy neighbor as thyself.” “Love mercy, do justly and walk humbly with thy God” (Micah 6:8). “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

We learn in the Bible, what the law demanded, grace provides. What the law could not do, because of man’s weakness, against the strength of sin (which is the law), God sent Christ to accomplish by living a sinless life under the law and then taking the lawbreaker’s place in death. (Romans 8:3 - I Corinthians 15:56 - Hebrews 9:15 to 17). The law entered that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded grace did much more abound, reigning through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20 and 21).

Man could not love God perfectly and his fellow-man as He loved himself; but Christ did. His love was perfect. His life was sinless. He perfectly kept God’s perfect law. Then Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. God loved us and gave His only begotten Son for us. To any sinner who will accept God’s “love Gift,” believing II Corinthians 5:21, God will give His own perfect Divine righteousness, which the law demanded. (Romans 4:4 and 5 - Romans 10:4 and 10). (Hebrews 7:19 Acts 13:38 and 39).

, we love Him because He first loved us. (I John 4:19 to 21). If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.” (I Corinthians 16:22).

The very moment the believing sinner receives God’s “Love Gift” and God’s righteousness (Christ is our righteousness. I Corinthians is 30), that believer receives in addition to righteousness and eternal life, another free gift from God, the Holy Spirit. “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who is given unto us.” (Romans 5:5).

Then the believer is told to walk in the Spirit, (Galatians 5:25); and to walk in love, “as Christ also hath loved us.” (Ephesians 5:2). We know we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. (I John 3:14).

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:10). “Love is the end of the law.” (I Timothy 1:5). The law demanded righteousness and love. Grace provides for the believer’s righteousness and love. “Love is the fruit of the Spirit” . . .” against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22 and 23).

In his Gospel and Epistles, John used the word “love” (in different forms) 102 times. Paul used it 109 times. “The greatest of these is love.” (I Corinthians 13:13). In I John we find it 27 times.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, in Luke 10:25 to 37, which Christ told after He explained to the lawyer that man’s moral and spiritual duty was to keep the two great “love” commandments, Christ pictured Himself as the Neighbor. He was also God.

Therefore, as we read the conclusion of the whole matter, “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (under the law) in Ecclesiastes 12:13; we read the conclusion of the whole matter, under grace, in I Corinthians 16:22, “if any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maranatha.” “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.” (Romans 13:10). “Though I have prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not love, I am nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:2).

Also Read

Recovery Of Truth - O'Hair - YouTube