Herbert W. Armstrong wrote many articles and gave countless sermons on the subject of God’s law of love. He even further simplified it by saying there were two basic ways of life: the way of give and the way of get. When Mr. Armstrong talked about love, he almost always talked about the law. After all, “love is the fulfilling of the law,” as Paul wrote in Romans 13:10. Notice also 1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

If we understand God’s law and God’s love, then we can more deeply understand how to not only keep God’s law by the letter, but also by the spirit. God’s law, after all, is spiritual (Romans 7:14). So how do we go about keeping the spirit of the law? To explain this, it’s necessary that we go way back to the beginning, before the creation of man.

Lucifer Broke God’s Law

Prior to the creation of angels, God and the Word (the One who became Jesus Christ) lived in perfect harmony. In order for these two Beings to coexist in perfect harmony, there had to be government. The great law by which they lived was the overall law of love—which was outflowing and away from self. In order for this government to work there also had to be one who was in charge. God the Father fulfilled this role.

When God created the angels, He created three super archangels—Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer. One of these great beings, Lucifer, was responsible for administering God’s government here on Earth, where approximately one third of the angels were stationed. Notice Ezekiel 28:12: “… Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.” The first part of this verse is speaking of the king of Tyrus. Then the subject shifts to Lucifer. He was full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Verse 14 says, “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”

Lucifer was upon the holy mountain of God. In other words, he was stationed at the very throne of God. He was trained right at God’s feet. God taught Lucifer personally and then entrusted him to carry out that law of love on the throne of this Earth. If Lucifer would have done that, he and the angels under him would have lived in happiness and unity. Instead, Lucifer led his angels into rebellion. “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee” (verse 15).

Keep in mind that Lucifer was the supreme masterpiece of God’s creation. He was the very best. And yet even under the best possible circumstances, God will not force anyone to obey. Lucifer had to choose to obey God. He started off perfect until iniquity, or lawlessness, was found in him. In other words, he rebelled against God’s law of love and instead turned to self-centeredness, lust for power, vanity and greed. In his twisted reasoning, Lucifer somehow thought he could overthrow the government of God. When he and the angels sinned, they no longer lived in harmony. In disobeying the great law of love, they separated themselves from God (Isaiah 59:2).

When Lucifer rebelled, God knew the only way He could be sure to avoid such a catastrophe again was to recreate Himself. And that is the incredible potential man has, even though most people today do not realize this plain and simple fact taught throughout the Bible.

The Two Trees

Notice Genesis 1:26: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ….” So man was made in God’s image. Yet instead of spirit, man was made out of matter because matter can change, whereas spirit cannot, which is why Satan cannot repent. When Lucifer and the angels chose to disobey God, their creation was complete. Man however, if he breaks God’s law, can change and turn back to God upon humble repentance. Within man, God placed a human spirit (1 Corinthians 2:11) which allows us to think and reason. That is what sets us apart from animals that may have brains the size of humans but don’t have the ability to think or reason.

But God created the human spirit to need another Spirit—the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit is the power of God (Luke 1:35). Without this Spirit, man’s creation is incomplete. Without it, all man can acquire is physical, materialistic knowledge. All of this is of no real value without God’s knowledge.

Within the Garden of Eden, there were two trees (Genesis 2:9). The tree of life would have given Adam this much-needed Spirit of God. This tree revealed God’s spiritual law which alone defines what is right and what is wrong. This tree provided God’s knowledge.

Also in the garden was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If Adam took of this tree, which he was commanded not to do (Genesis 2:17), he would lose access to the tree of life. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil also provided knowledge, but not God’s knowledge. This knowledge alone, apart from the spiritual knowledge, would result in death. Taking of this tree meant Adam and Eve would decide for themselves what was right and what was wrong.

In relation to God’s law of love, we could say the tree of life represented love toward God, while the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represented love toward self. Just as Mr. Armstrong taught, there are two basic ways of life.

Adam chose to rely on self instead of God. He, like Satan, thought he had a better way. And in choosing the wrong tree, Adam cut all of mankind off from God for 6,000 years. God closed off His Holy Spirit to mankind in general. The only exceptions are those few God personally called out of this world for a special purpose.

The Law of Love

As we have seen, God’s overall supreme law is love. After all, God Himself is love (1 John 4:8). But we can find in the Scriptures where that law of love is magnified. Notice Matthew 22:36-39: “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

So God’s law of love can be separated into two great commands: love toward God and love toward neighbor. It is the first four of the Ten Commandments that demonstrate our love for God. The last six demonstrate our love for man. This gives us a little more insight into why God’s law is spiritual (Romans 7:14).

Let’s go back to the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve took of the wrong tree, God’s Holy Spirit was cut off from mankind. The world did not have access to God’s Spirit. The world didn’t have access to God’s knowledge until God raised up the Old Testament nation of Israel. To Israel, God gave His knowledge but not His Holy Spirit. Notice what Mr. Armstrong wrote in Mystery of the Ages:

Up to that time, mankind had been denied spiritual knowledge and fulfillment from God. God now decided to give them [the nation of Israel] knowledge of His law—His kind of government—His way of life! He was going to prove to the world that without His Holy Spirit their minds were incapable of receiving and utilizing such knowledge of the true ways of life. He was going to demonstrate to them that the mind of man, with its one spirit, and without the addition of God’s Holy Spirit, could not have spiritual discernment—could not solve human problems, could not cure the evils that were besetting humanity. The nation of Israel would be His guinea pig to demonstrate that fact.

God revealed the knowledge of His law to the people of Israel. But they didn’t keep it—even by the letter, much less spiritually! In fact, God allowed them several hundred years to obey Him and they still failed. Why? Because God’s law is spiritual. God Himself is spirit (John 4:24). So it only makes sense that the law is spiritual. Also, we have seen that God is love. In order for us to keep God’s spiritual law, we must have God’s love, which the Israelites did not have, because they didn’t have access to the Holy Spirit! If the people of Israel would have had that love, they would have demonstrated it by keeping God’s commandments (1 John 5:3).

What this proves is that without God’s Holy Spirit and love, we cannot keep God’s law spiritually. This has already been proven by the nation of Israel. Furthermore, we can’t even understand God’s law without the Holy Spirit.

Christ Magnifies the Law

Jesus Christ was prophesied to come and magnify the law. “The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable” (Isaiah 42:21). Millions of people today are deceived into thinking Christ came to do away with the law. Generally, the commandment to keep the Sabbath is the reason most Protestants want to do away with the law. The word “magnify” means, according to Merriam-Webster, “to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect,” not “to do away with.” Christ revealed that there was more to it than just keeping the law by the letter. He taught us to keep the spirit of the law—not do away with it completely!

In Matthew 5:17, Christ says, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” Here is how Thayer’s Lexicon defines the Greek word for “fulfill”: “to cause God’s will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be ….”

Verse 18 continues along these same lines. “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” The Moffatt translation reads, “not an iota, not a comma, will pass from the Law.” This verse is referring to the spirit and the letter of God’s law. As Christians, we need both the written letter of the law as well as the spirit, in order to keep it properly!

Christ then begins to explain the spirit of the law in verses 21 and 22. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.” Did Christ go on to say that you no longer need to worry about this “Old Testament” law? Hardly! Notice what He said. “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” (verse 22). This verse gives us the magnified application. In other words, action follows thought. Christ was now saying that not only is the action sin, but so is the thought!

The same principle is discussed in verses 27-28. “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Again, Christ gives us the magnified application. The spirit of the law then is the obvious intent or purpose behind each law. This is what Christ was illustrating. When you understand this overall picture, then certain judgments and decisions can be made based upon God’s law. And that’s exactly what Mr. Armstrong did. Any time there was a doctrinal question that didn’t have a straight yes or no answer in the Bible, he simply based the decision on God’s law of love! Most liberals like to do away with what they consider “minor” doctrines, if the Bible does not give a clear yes or no answer. But if you understand the law of love toward God first and your neighbor second, the answers to doctrinal questions become clear. That’s why it’s so important to understand God’s law more deeply. Then we will not only know what we believe, but why we believe it!

How to Keep the Spirit of the Law

We can’t use the old excuse that it’s impossible to keep the spirit of the law. Jesus Christ kept it perfectly (John 15:10). What we must realize is that we alone cannot keep God’s law nor understand it. We can only do it through the power ancient Israel didn’t have—the Holy Spirit. Pray for help. Ask that God might reveal His law to you through the power of His Holy Spirit. We know that we have all fallen short and have sinned (Romans 3:23), but God is concerned about our attitude and how diligently we are putting forth the effort to keep His law the way Christ did. So how do we go about keeping the spirit of God’s law?

Here are three basic points that will enable us to keep the spirit of the law more effectively:

1) Meditate on and study God’s law. Regular Bible study is a must for us to be able to understand God’s law. Approaching Bible study in a humble, teachable attitude will enable us to receive correction daily through God’s inspired Scriptures. Paul admonished us to “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

David took the time to study God’s Word regularly. But he didn’t stop there. He constantly meditated on these precious truths. “I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99).

You don’t need a degree in psychology or theology to understand the Bible. It can be done through regular study, meditation and the power of God’s Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10).

2) Pray for insight into God’s law. David had tremendous understanding of God’s law. He knew God was responsible for that understanding. “Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:33-34). It was explained earlier that man was created with a human spirit. But that spirit needs the Spirit of God to understand godly things. David had God’s Spirit (Psalm 51:11) and because of his teachable attitude, God gave him great understanding.

Those who have God’s Holy Spirit also have access to that great power. Ask God for more of His Spirit (Luke 11:13). Paul admonished Timothy to stir up the gift of God, speaking of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6). Pray for understanding and a deeper insight into God’s law as you regularly study and meditate on that law. At the end of his life, David had learned this vital lesson. Notice some of the last instructions David gave his son Solomon. “Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God” (1 Chronicles 22:12). David learned the lesson and he wanted his son to learn that lesson too.

3) Obey the law. Again, David set a tremendous example for us in this area. He said, “I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments” (Psalm 119:60). If you see it in the Bible and it says do it, then do it! Don’t delay. David didn’t. Mr. Armstrong didn’t. In fact, Mr. Armstrong kept God’s holy days for 14 years even though he didn’t understand what they meant. Why did he do that? Because the Bible said to! And as Mr. Armstrong obeyed God, he was blessed with the understanding.

Understanding won’t always come at once. Paul said “we see through a glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). But the rate at which that understanding comes has a great deal to do with how earnestly we seek it. Paul criticized the Hebrews for not growing rapidly enough. “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12). Those who are new to the truth can’t learn it all at once. However, those who have known the truth for years should be desiring “strong meat.”

The Spirit of the Law—Love

In a letter from 1958, Mr. Armstrong addressed a question about how the Ten Commandments could be a law of love:

In order to make possible for man continued peaceful, happy, prosperous and joyful existence, the Eternal God designed that all things operate according to fixed, inexorable laws. We have the laws of physics and the laws of chemistry. Then, of necessity, there is the great, fundamental, invisible spiritual law that regulates man’s relationship with his Creator, and man’s relationship with fellow man. The purpose of this inexorable spiritual law, like all of God’s laws, is to make possible man’s happiness—to bring man peace and joy—to make life really worth living! … That great overall spiritual law is just simply LOVE! It is love in continual action. It is love manifested and expressed! It is love, first to God the Creator, in reverence, adoration, gratitude and obedience (because He is the supreme Creator-Ruler who alone knows what is right for us and has power to give it); and it is love, second to fellow man, expressed in peaceableness, cooperation, service. It is a way that travels the very opposite direction from greed, vanity, hate, strife, or war. This great spiritual law is a principle—a way of life —it is an attitude of mind and heart. It is the correct way to think and to live. It is not merely moral principle—it is divinely-set-in-motion spiritual law—and it operates automatically and inexorably! But since man by nature does not knowwhat love is, God had to define this principle of LOVE by tendistinct points—the Ten Commandments.

Isn’t it plain? The spirit of the law is the law of love. It’s a way of life. God’s law and God’s love go “hand in hand.” After all, “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10).

What Comes to Mind

When we think about God’s law and the spirit of the law, some very important terms should come to mind. First should be God the Father. He is love (1 John 4:8). He is the one who administers that law of love.

Also, we should think of godly love—love away from self. Remember the two trees in the Garden of Eden. One tree, the tree of life, would have given mankind godly love. The other tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, enabled man to attain self-acquired knowledge only. Taking of this tree produced a self-centered love and vanity. In order to keep the spirit of the law, we must have God’s love.

Another term that should come to mind is the Holy Spirit. This is what man was cut off from in the Garden of Eden. Without it, man cannot understand spiritual things. If God is spirit (John 4:24) and His law is spiritual (Romans 7:14), then we must have God’s Holy Spirit to be able to keep the spirit of the law.

Finally, we should think about God’s law when we discuss the spirit of the law. It is God’s overall law of love divided into two great commandments—love toward God and love toward neighbor—and further subdivided by the Ten Commandments—that we must keep.

If we understand how all these work together, we can more deeply understand God’s spiritual law. It is God’s law administered by the great Lawgiver Himself—God the Father. This law is based on the love of God that is not a human love. That love can only be given to mankind by God’s Holy Spirit; that is what makes God’s law spiritual. Let’s strive to keep the spirit of the law!