Love, the Christian's response
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
There is a play on words in the opening verse here that reflects Paul’s progression from the previous section to the current subject of love. What the NIV nicely translates as “Let no debt remain outstanding, except . . . to love” in the original literally says, “Do not owe anybody anything, except . . . to love.”
Recall that in the previous section Paul urged his readers, “Give everyone what you owe him: . . . taxes . . . revenue . . . respect . . . honor.” Those are obligations that can and must be fulfilled. But now he adds one obligation that should never be considered as completed, one bill that dare never be marked “Paid in Full.” And that is the “continuing debt to love one another.” Paul indicates the basis for that when he says, “He who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” One could paraphrase his logic by saying, “Love, because that’s what God wants you to do.”
As he goes on to point out, all of God’s Commandments urge love. Paul cites four of them and summarizes the rest with a quotation from Leviticus: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18). Every Commandment requires love for God or for our neighbor. Hence Paul can say, “Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
When we hear Paul speaking of fulfilling the law, let’s not forget that we are in the section of his letter where he is speaking of the Christian’s response to what God has done for us. Back in chapters 3 to 5, Paul clearly explained how the sinner obtains the righteousness that avails before God. It is not by keeping the law, but rather by accepting in faith the perfect obedience that Christ has rendered. Christ’s merit alone makes a person acceptable to God.
In appreciation for having been accepted by God, the Christian now wants to show appreciation by living a new life that conforms to God’s Commandments. Such a life reflects the life of love toward God and our neighbor that Paul urges here.
Love for God and our neighbor is a powerful motivation toward a life of holiness. There is, however, another consideration that also shapes the Christian’s life. That consideration is a concern for our own spiritual welfare.