Thoughts on the Law and Love

I asked Patrick, "What is the purpose of the law? Is it to protect private property?" I had heard that in some movie.

He replied, "No, at its core, it is to protect from injury."

That reminded me of how Jesus is the fulfillment of the law, because he loves.

Love is patient, love is kind. It doesn't envy anyone.
Love does not boast. It isn't proud.
Love doesn't dishonor anyone; it's not self-seeking.
Love doesn't get angry very easily, and it keeps no record of when you mess up.
Love isn't glad when evil wins, but rejoices in the truth.
Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

For now, we know in part. But when completeness comes, we will know in full. (Based on I Corinthians 13)

So, love fulfills the law. Love does not injure. Of course love does not injure. It does more than not injure: it protects. It doesn't just stand outside the gates, refusing the hurt anyone. It enters in, persevering. It slays the dragon. It finds the lost one, and it won't fail, either. 


But love can't be forced. It has to have a will behind it. So, technically, people can reject love. And if they're doing that, they're prone to injure others, and are in need of the law to minimize injury.

Until we know in full, it looks like we have the law to fill in where people reject love.