Christians try to understand law of Christ

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ,” (Galatians 6:2).

The law of Christ – just what does that mean anyway? I remember when Billy Graham spoke of the mystery of evil during the memorial service held for the family members of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Evil is hard to understand sometimes. But for many of us, the law of Christ is a mystery, too.

The Apostle Paul never explained what he meant when he used this expression in one of his letters to a church in the Roman province of Galatia. In a letter to another church he wrote, “To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law,” (1 Corinthians 9:21). Again, Paul offers no explanation, which adds to the confusion. Was he referring to the commandment in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” or was he talking about the New Commandment found in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another”?

In spite of this uncertainty, we can be sure that there are certain behaviors that Jesus expects to see reflected in our lives. He told us that we could recognize other Christians by their fruit. So while we have no right to serve as judges, we can be fruit inspectors.

I heard a song recently, the words of which stirred my sprit like no other has in years. “I Then Shall Live” was written by Gloria Gaither and – for me – fully explains what the law of Christ means. It also reminds me that I am not yet where I need to be. Here is the song:

I then shall live as one who’s been forgiven;

I’ll walk with joy to know my debts are paid;

I know my name is clear before my father;

I am his child, and I am not afraid;

So greatly pardoned, I’ll forgive my brother;

The law of love I gladly will obey.

I then shall live as one who’s learned compassion;

I’ve been so loved, that I’ll risk loving, too;

I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;

I’ll dare to see another’s point of view;

And when relationships demand commitment;

Then I’ll be there to care and follow through.

Your kingdom come around and through and in me;

Your power and glory, let them shine through me;

Your hallowed name, O may I bear with honor;

And may Your living Kingdom come in me;

The bread of life, O may I share with honor;

And may You feed a hungry world through me.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

We may never know what the Apostle Paul meant by the law of Christ, but we do know that Christ expects us to show the change he has made in our lives by how we treat others. Indeed, if the unbelieving world is to ever come to know him, it will be by what they see in and through us.

Write to Mike Ruffin at mike.ruffin@devotions.com. His Web site is devotions.com.