Paul makes it plain in his letter to the Romans that the
law cannot save; we cannot work our passage to heaven by keeping rules. When we focus on the law, we are constantly reminded
that we can never be good enough to deserve God’s grace. God has done for
us what the law could not do through the gift of His Son.
Jesus came to teach us and to show us
that love is the fulfillment of the law. (Matthew 22:36-40) When we focus on the
law of love we become more like Him, more compassionate, less judgemental toward
those we consider worse than us. We are quick to remember who we are outside
the shelter of God’s redemptive grace and love.
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is
caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that
person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)
This sounds to me a lot like-don’t
shoot the wounded and don’t hide behind the tough love talk. "Let no debt remain outstanding,
except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has
fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)
We can love and forgive them when their sin does not
exceed our own, for we too have been down bumpy roads before. But when they
commit offences outside the boundaries we have set, we judge them in a word and
turn them out and close the door. Myself, I’ve been forgiven for so many awful
things, I’ve been cleansed and washed and bathed so many times that when I see
another who has fallen from the way, I just can’t find the license to convict
him of his crimes.
(Chuck Girard)
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