Law and Love by M. G. Conger

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 4, 1916

Law and Love

By M. G. Conger

JESUS said: “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Ps. 40: 8. In this passage, our Lord teaches that the keeping of the commandments should spring from an inward consent and the delight of the heart to keep the law. Then there will be no thirsting for that which one knows is wrong, but the whole heart will be in full harmony with the commandments, and obey them because of the desire to do so. Perfect peace, joy, and contentment will reign supreme; because this is an inward obedience, prompted by love.

Christ declared that to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves, constitutes obedience to the two commandments on which hang the law and the prophets. Matt. 22: 36-40. Those who contend that they are therefore excused from keeping the law, show a lack of thought and comprehension; for this is simply a summing up of the whole law.

Our Lord kept the entire law—all the

commandments. John 15: 10. The Bible tells us that he who claims to abide in Christ, ought to follow our Lord’s example. 1 John 2: 6. It also states that the proof of one’s being saved is that one loves the brethren. 1 John 3: 14. By ascertaining whether we love God, we may know whether we love the brethren. 1 John 5: 2. And “this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.” 1 John 5: 3; 2: 4.

M. G. CONGER.