Page 55 - Biblical Ethics Course

Our love is to express our gratitude for God’s gracious love to us, and to be modeled on it. The seal of Christian
life is thus Christian love. The measure and test of love to God is wholehearted and unqualified obedience (1
John 5:3; John 14:15, 21, 23); the measure and test of love to our neighbors is laying down our lives for them (1
John 3:16; John 15:12–13). This sacrificial love involves giving, spending, and impoverishing ourselves up to the
limit for their well-being. Jesus’ story of the Samaritan’s kindness to the hated Jew stands as his model definition
of neighbor-love (Luke 10:25–37). Neighbor-love seeks the neighbor’s good, and the true measure of it is how
much it gives to that end. Love is a principle of action rather than of emotion. It is a purpose of honoring and
benefiting the other party. It is a matter of doing things for people out of compassion for their need, whether we
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feel personal affection for them.

Galatians
Paul defends the gospel against Jewish Christian intruders in Galatia who asserted that the Galatians must first
become Jews in order to become Christians. Paul in turn responds by defending justification by faith and life in
the Spirit, proving that God accepts Gentiles on the basis of faith in the Messiah. As already noted, the central
theme of Galatians (like that of Romans) is justification by faith. Paul defends that doctrine (which is the heart of
the gospel) both in its theological (chapters. 3, 4) and practical (chapters. 5, 6) ramifications. There is incredible
freedom in Christ—yet, at the same, His followers are called to live like Him through the power of the Holy
Spirit. Jesus has set us free, and we are to use our freedom to love others (Gal 5:1).

1. Love fulfills the law (5:14; cf. Rom. 13:8–10)
While Paul rejects certain aspects of Torah observance, he still appeals to biblical law in the area of
morality, using Scripture to support his teachings (1 Cor. 5:10–13). Paul regularly invokes OT Scripture to
support his preaching about Christ (Gal. 3:13–14) and his practical teachings for the churches (1 Cor. 9:8–9;
14:21–23). He also continually emphasizes the need for obedience to God’s commandments (1 Cor. 7:19).
Since he affirms the OT law in areas of morality but rejects specific practices, his emphasis on obedience
likely centers on moral behavior rather than external religious actions as being the defining characteristics
of the people of God (Gal 5:14; compare Matt. 15:1–20).

In Romans and Galatians, Paul energetically opposes the idea that righteousness before God can be
attained by “proper” observance of the law (Gal. 2:16; 3:10–12; Rom. 2:12–14; 8:3). Moreover, observing
the law perfectly is an impossible task (Gal. 5:3; 6:13; Rom. 3:9–20).

2. The importance of walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16; cf. Rom. 8:4)

3. The warfare of the flesh against the Spirit (Galatians.5:17; cf. Rom. 7:23, 25)

4. The importance of believers bearing one another’s’ burdens (6:2; cf. Rom. 15:1).

Galatians 5:14–26 (NASB95)
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one
another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under
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the Law.

28 J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1993), 181–
182.

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