In part 2 of my series on Colossians 3 I briefly discussed how covetousness lies beneath all of the other nine commandments. How if one does not covet, then he will not transgress the rest of the law. The command to not covet is a negative command. ”Do not covet.” So, what would be the positive assertion that would go along with this negative command? If we are going to put off coveting, then what would we put on in its place?
Paul provides an answer to this question in Romans 13:8-10. Here he shows us the one thing that we can do which will fulfill the law completely. Coveting lies beneath every transgression of the law, while this one action lies beneath every fulfillment of the law. Paul writes:
8 Owe no one anything except to love each other. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and any other command are summarized in this word, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul clearly communicates in these three verses that to love is to fulfill the law. If we strive to love our neighbor as ourself, then we will not sin against him. We will seek is interest above our own, and love him in a sacrificial way.