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Fall Quarter 2023: God’s Law Is Love
Unit 3: Christ Frees, Law Enslaves
Lesson 11
Sunday School Lesson for the week of November 12, 2023
By Craig Rikard
Devotional Reading: Matthew 22:34-40
Background Scripture: Romans 13:8-10; I Cor. 13:8-13
Key Text: Romans 13:9
Lesson Aims
- To comprehend how the entire Mosaic Law is fulfilled and kept by keeping the Shema (Deut. 6:4).
- To recognize the great debt of love we owe as a response to the gift of God’s love in Christ.
- To understand we are engaged in a journey of Christian love that leads us into even greater clarity and depths of love.
- To embrace the three great foundations of living the Christian life: faith, hope, and love.
- To understand the difference between the three foundations and why love is the greatest.
Supplement to Teacher’s Guide
Historical/Theological Background
The Shema
On the gate posts and the doorways in the old city of Jerusalem are cannisters. Within the cannisters is a scroll. Upon those scrolls is inscribed the Shema: Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is one. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, soul, mind, and strength.” The cannisters proclaim that the children of God enter a city and home of love and go forth with that love into the world. The Israelites incorrectly misunderstood the true meaning of the Shema. The religious leaders concluded that one loved God and others by obeying all of the Mosaic Law. In other words, if one loves God they will keep all the Laws and gain God’s blessing and favor. Furthermore, if one loves their neighbor, they will obey the commands of the law regarding how we are to treat others. This understanding of the Shema was concerned with the outer life alone. Keeping the Shema was about what one did and how we behaved.
Jesus fulfilled the Shema and Law by giving the Shema its original and real purpose. The Shema was to be written on the heart of each individual. The Shema was to be our motivation for the kind, loving works and thoughts in which we engage. In Jeremiah 31, he foretold of a coming day when a “new covenant” would be written, not on stone or scrolls, but on the human heart. This new covenant was the internalization of the Shema. When we accept the love of God in Christ, we enter a covenant relationship with God. The Lord is our God, and we are his people. We live within this covenant by living in Godly love because God loved us first.
Consequently, when Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it,” he was referring to the fact that he would become the embodiment of God’s holy love. We would witness that love in action and hear it in Jesus’ words. There was no greater act of the Shema than when Jesus died on the cross. The cross represented God’s greatest and purest act of love. The motivation for the cross represented the highest expression of God’s love for humankind. The resurrection proclaimed this love is indestructible and eternal. Remember, the Bible not only clearly states that God loves, it says: “
God is love!” God doesn’t just act in love, God is love. Therefore, whenever we witness selfless, authentic love in life, we are witnessing the presence of God moving in the world.
Can you grasp the difference between the religious leader’s “outer” understanding of the Shema in contrast with Jesus’ teaching of the internalization of Shema in the human heart? How do you see the difference as it relates to your own life and Christian walk? When the Bible states “God is love,” how do you think that compliments yet differs from stating “God acts in love”?
Rome and Corinth
As noted in previous lessons, the epistle to the Romans was Paul’s great theological/doctrinal masterpiece. In the book of Romans, Paul proclaims the necessity and purpose of God’s love in Christ. He addresses “how” Jesus was love and “why” we needed that love for redemption. Paul applied the Old Testament sacrificial system to the death of Jesus on the cross. Jesus was the “lamb of God, taking away the sins of the world.” I Corinthians is less theological and more pastoral. That doesn’t mean it is not theological or doctrinal. However, Paul is the pastor, writing his children regarding their destructive behavior. Paul reminds them of just how important they are to God, his holy church, and each other. They are blessed and gifted, yet their sinful behavior is an impediment to fulfilling their purpose in life. Paul beautifully explains to them that they need to embrace God’s love anew and live in that love. If they walk in the love of God, as revealed in Jesus, they will abandon their unloving behaviors and treat each other with respect, kindness. They will become responsible for one another as a loving family.
Walking Through the Text
Living in Debt
All debt is incurred because someone has lent us something we must repay. We receive their generosity because we need it; we do not have what we need. We borrow money to purchase a house because we do not have the monies on hand to buy it. However, we must repay those monies and clear the debt before the house is truly ours. Paul uses a lot of metaphors. In this case, he uses the metaphor of the lender and the debtor in addressing God’s gift of Jesus.
Yet, even the best metaphors fall short in adequately and fully articulating eternal truth. Within this metaphor there is a giver and a recipient. However, the debt owed doesn’t diminish our assets, it increases them! God’s great gift of Jesus Christ, love personified and freely given to all humanity, was a gift we needed. We could not manufacture or create it! There is no quality of life without love. Before we can deeply and selflessly love another we must first know that we are loved. One of the reasons we experience difficulty in living in love is because we feel we are not worthy of God’s love in Christ. We easily fall into the destructive trap with which the Pharisees ensnared the Jewish masses. I want to be careful in speaking of the “snare of the Pharisees.” Many were well-intended, but when rejecting the teaching of Jesus, they were actually teaching a form of bondage. That is, we need to “do something to merit God’s love.” The power and magnificence of the Gospel is that God loved us first. Even at our worst, God’s love never changed. We were spiritually bankrupt and have no ability to “purchase God’s love and the gift of Jesus.” Who can be good enough to merit the gift of Jesus? Out of God’s great love for us he revealed the divine affection and love for every one of us in Jesus. Our only response was and is to accept it by faith. Once we embrace the reality of God’s gift, we are liberated to love others, not just to please God, but because we want others to know that same love is for them.
We need love and redemption. We could only receive them “outside ourselves,” from someone who could truly love us as we are. In response to our need, “God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son.” This is a gift and debt we could never repay. We can never out-love God! Receiving God’s love added to our life and continues to do so. This is the abundant life of which we read in John’s Gospel. We do not love God and others to repay; we love because we are transformed and grateful.
I lost my 46-year-old mother when I was in my early 20s. I lost my dad years later. Now that I am 69, I fully comprehend the depth of love I received from them. Prior to my dad’s death there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. I never remember thinking, “I need to help Dad because he helped and loved me.” I helped my dad because he loved me, and I loved him in return out of gratitude and love alone. Repaying him would have been futile. I could never repay him. Loving and caring for him was a joy and blessing.
Even though Paul uses the statement that we repay the debt of God’s love by loving others, his writings clearly indicate it was an unpayable debt. Paul was saying, “Since God has loved us in Christ, we are forever in God’s debt, and the only thing we can do is to love others with the love of Jesus.” When a debt can never be repaid, we are not “paying it off.” We are passing on that love as an act of thanksgiving. Paul used adages, phrases, and tongue in cheek statements just as we do. How often have we said, “I can never repay you!” We were not speaking of a literal debt. We were simply expressing just how great their gift was.
What do you think is meant when we say we can never repay God? Do you think we have anything within us that can come close to repaying God for the gift of Jesus? If we could repay God for the Lord’s love, would that not diminish the gift of Jesus Christ? To love others as a response to God’s love in Christ means that God’s love is so transforming, we cannot simply offer a thank you and go on with life; our heart longs to share that love. What do you think it means to walk in love? What do you think John Wesley meant when he desired that we become perfect in love? Since we grow in love, can you note a difference in your ability to love others as you’ve grown in Christ? Can you observe a difference between your ability to love today in contrast to years earlier?
Paul’s Understanding of the Shema as it Relates to the Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Paul understood clearly what Jesus meant when the Lord claimed the Shema fulfilled all the Law. If we love God with our entire being and love one another with that same love, we will not worship idols, take the Lord’s name in vain, kill, steal, covet, act in jealousy, mistreat widows and orphans, ignore those in need, etc. There is not one law that cannot be fulfilled by loving God and another with selfless love. Therefore, instead of attempting to keep 600+ laws, we keep the one: the Shema. Attempting to keep the enormous canon of law was futile and frustrating, especially when one believed that only in keeping those laws could they gain God’s favor. This was the heavy yoke of which Jesus spoke. In turn, Jesus spoke of the Shema when he said, “My yoke is easy and my burden light.” When Paul proclaimed the Spirit of the Lord liberated us, he meant from the need to obey all the Law in order to have a blessed life. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to live in the very love that forgave us and gave us our self-worth. One of John Wesley’s favorite texts was, “The love of God has been spread abroad in hearts through the Holy Spirit.” From past lessons, remember Paul believed the Law had value prior to the coming of Jesus. It revealed the high moral life we are called to live. It gave social order and pointed ancient Israel toward the one God who was and is holy.
Can you imagine how difficult life would be if you felt you must keep 612 Laws without copies of the Law in your home and only hearing them in the synagogue and temple worship? In honesty, can we not confess that we violate these laws every day of our life? In contrast to earning God’s favor through the Law, how liberating do you believe it is to be offered forgiveness for our failures, loved as we are, and filled with a desire to love others in kind? Why do you believe some find it easy to revert to works-righteousness (earning our salvation through our good works)? How does a belief in works-righteousness diminish or even negate the gift of salvation in Christ through his cross and resurrection? Does becoming a Christian negate the Old Testament Law? In what way does the Mosaic Law still help our spiritual growth in Christ?
The Journey in Love (Loving God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength)
As we examine the doctrinal letters of Paul, we are exposed to Paul’s thinking, his theological understanding of the benefits of the Gospel, and his call to live out that theology in the world. In the Corinthian letter we have a more practical application of how we live the Gospel together as the church and as individuals in the world. The Shema helps us understand the connection of Paul’s writings in Romans and Galatians and his exhortation to the Corinthian church. Romans and Galatians help us to love God with our minds. How easily we overlook the importance of loving God with the mind. Intellectual inquiry and searching are not impediments in grasping God’s truth. Even when we cannot grasp a theological truth, we are driven to our knees in humble prayer. In the lessons on Romans and Galatians we realize we are reading about Paul’s loving God with his mind. For Paul, his faith was not just an emotional experience. There was a reason behind God’s gift of Jesus, and there is a divine will moving through humanity.
Paul loves God with his strength. Paul’s determination to share the Gospel regardless of the dangers and conflict reveals his loving God with his strength. Strength is about power. We have the power to think, to stand strong, to be determined in spreading the Gospel, and to love others even in difficult circumstances.
Paul loves God with his soul. The Gospel, and his theological understanding of the Gospel, are not simply magnificent expressions of truth for Paul’s mind. Paul has deeply placed his faith in Christ, has deeply embraced the Gospel and its implications with his very soul. Paul’s theology anchors his soul in God and the Gospel. The soul is one of the great facets of what it means to be made in the image of God. Our soul distinguishes us from all other creatures. A soul that is unanchored in God wanders through life, seeking a source of serenity, love and purpose. Church father, St. Augustine, wrote, “My heart shall never rest till it rests in thee.” An unanchored soul and heart will be forever seeking and never satisfied. However, when anchored in Jesus it has found its home.
Finally, Paul well understood that theology must dwell at all times in his heart. The heart is the seat of our motivation, that part of our being that holds the key to understanding, “Why we do what we do, and believe what we believe.” There is often an emotional component to the spiritual heart. On occasions we “feel” the presence of God and are inspired and moved. However, our faith does not depend upon emotions, for emotions are too transient and changeable. Still, they are a special part of our faith. As Christians, Paul expressed that we do not just love when we feel like loving. We love as a choice, out of gratitude for God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.
Have you considered what it means to love God with your entire being? In what ways can you love God with your heart? Your soul? Your mind? Your strength? Can you express what it means to you to love your neighbor as yourself? First, who is your neighbor? What are some things you can do to always be mindful to love a person as your own self?
From Romans and Galatians to I Corinthians
In I Corinthians, we hear Paul poetically describing the manner in which the doctrine and theology of the Gospel speak to life within the church. Corinthians is by far the most poetic writing of Paul. Few passages resonate with such beautiful prose. What makes this chapter so dear is not only its poetic beauty, it is the fact that it speaks of unmistakable eternal truth. Notice, this passage opens with Paul claiming love is the “most excellent way.” Then, he opens his poetic expression of God’s love with the powerful words, “Love never fails.” When Paul writes that love is the most excellent way, he is referring to the Shema, the Law above all other Laws. All doctrine and theology must be rooted in the Shema as embodied by Jesus. Our understanding of Jesus as Messiah is anchored in the Shema. Jesus was and is the incarnation of the purest, selfless, holy love. Jesus loved with his entire being: heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus is to be loved with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and our neighbors are to be loved as deeply as we love our own selves. Such love is possible only after giving one’s heart to Christ and by faith, walking in that love at all times.
Jesus said the Shema is perfectly and totally fulfilled in him. Thus, “love never fails.” The love of Jesus and the actions that emanate from that love will always be present in the believer’s life. Just as the redemption of Jesus never fails, so love never fails in our life. Just as we can say love never fails, we can say with even greater confidence that Jesus never fails. Yes, we can make mistakes in love. In love we can say the wrong words at the wrong time. We can act without considering the way our actions affect everyone. However, such mistakes are forgiven, and God uses our loving intent in our life for spiritual growth. Our love can make mistakes because we are not perfect in this life. We are on a journey of love in Jesus. However, Jesus was perfect love, and every word and action on his part never failed to restore, redeem, and renew.
In the verses that follow I Cor. 13:8, Paul reminds us that there will come a day when the manifestations of such love in the Corinthian Church will cease. A day is coming when the Kingdom of God arrives in all its fulness, and various expressions of love will no longer be needed. All of life has been moving toward that day when the reign of God is established and there will be a new heaven and new earth. Though various expressions of love such as “wiping the tears from our eyes,” mourning the death of lost loved ones, enduring and persevering through pain will one day cease, the very foundation of all loving actions remains. That foundation is love itself, as perfectly revealed in Jesus. This perfect love, of pure motivation, is the love of God. Living in the reign of God and God’s kingdom means God’s love will reign over all. It is eternal. God doesn’t just love, God is love! When God is over all, love is over all.
Paul then expresses the eternal nature of love. As long as people and the church are imperfect, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are greatly needed. When we lack the power in our humanity to truly minister to another, the Holy Spirit uses our gifts and graces to empower us. However, there is coming a day when the need of our gifts will diminish. As love grows injury lessens. As love grows the need for admonition lessens. Love suffices for every need, and it never fails. When the Kingdom of God comes in its glorious fullness, love reigns. The need for our spiritual gifts ceases.
I love Paul’s reference to being a child. A child makes mistakes because they have yet to grow in experiences. There are certain things they cannot understand. Still, they are innocent. As new Christians, we are much like children. Remember, Jesus told Nicodemus he “must be born again.” Jesus was implying that we begin our Christian walk as children. We will grow in experiences and understanding. Above all, we will grow in love. Paul seems to specifically be speaking to Christians who have not taken seriously their need to walk in Christ and his love. They have become static. Some claim there is no “static” position in our walk. If we are not moving forward, we are moving backward. I do know that if we neglect our Christian growth, we are missing great moments of growth that are available. We could learn and know so much more. For Paul such neglect is like clinging to childhood when we are adults. It makes no sense! Paul is inspired to remind us there is an “adulthood” in our faith. Truth becomes more clear and more knowable. Our love becomes more Christ-like and fulfilling. The Kingdom of God is that moment when perfect adulthood has arrived! The dim glass is cleared and we see clearly! Our fallen humanity no longer impedes our ability to see, know, experience, and understand. We see ourselves for who God made us to be, and we see the glory of God in Christ with clear eyes. Any attempt to describe this moment of adulthood fails. Again, we are left to describe eternity with human words. Thank God for Paul’s beautiful expression of what is coming!
Paul closes this great passage of love with, “And now abide these three, faith, hope and love; but, the greatest of these is love.” Paul in no way is diminishing the power, necessity, and beauty of faith and hope. He is instead stating that it is love that makes every facet of our faith powerful and redeeming. When we have faith in God and faith in people we love and trust, how great is that faith when grounded in godly love. Hope is the belief that God is present in every moment, at all times, anywhere, wasting not one single moment, instead moving all things toward God’s good. Our hope is rooted in God’s love for us and our love for God. We trust God more deeply because we know God loves us. We have hope and believe all things work for the good because we know God is love. Thus, Paul ends with: “But the greatest of these is love.”
In your walk of faith and love can you recognize the distinction between your “childlike” years and your ever-growing adult years? Can you share how our spiritual immaturity impedes are best intentions? What do you think Paul means when he said, “Now we see in a mirror but then we shall see face to face”? How does the reality that each of us in on our personal journey with Jesus relate to judging others? Are any two people at the same spiritual place in your experience? If someone has lost a loved one and walked painfully through it with faith and love and we have not, are we not in a different place in our faith journey? Can you share how love enriches every good thing you think, see, speak, and do?
Prayer
Almighty God, what you have done for us in Christ transcends our ability to perfectly grasp it with our minds. Our imperfect hearts still long to embrace the fullness of what you have done in a manner that leads to love beyond ourselves. Our human weakness has often diminished our spiritual strength. On our journey of faith our soul at times wanders, though you always call us to return. Forgive us our sins and mistakes. Forgive us for neglecting our walk with Jesus. Indeed, our eyes have not seen, our minds have not yet considered, and our hearts have yet to envision what you desire for us. Empower us to be loving and forever keep us moving toward that day when your blessed Kingdom comes in all of its glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Dr. D. Craig Rikard is a South Georgia pastor. Email him at craigrikard169@yahoo.com.
