THE RELATIONSHIP OF LOVE TO LAW AND OBEDIENCE

Dr. Grant C. Richison

Love and Law are not mutually exclusive categories.

Love of God is equated with keeping commandments. (John 14:15; 15:14)

Love and Law perfectly complement one another.

The tension between command and love ls due to disjuncture.

i.e. = man in sin seeks artificially to justify himself by law-keeping though he does not really love God.

There is distinct harmony between law and love. (John 15:10)

Love ls bestowed for the benefit of object, not the subject (law: seeks the common good).

Love not for the benefit the object can bring to the bestower of love a legalistic orientation. This springs from a deficiency in the subject.

LOVE WITHOUT STANDARDS= SENTIMENT

STANDARDS WITHOUT LOVE= SLAVERY