This is a detailed scientific study not only on the concepts of Law and Love in the Gospel of John but also their relationship to each other. This research discovers and proves that the concept of Law in the Fourth Gospel finds its climax in the concept of Love there. The concept of Love finds its clear expression in the Love Commandment of Jesus (John 13, 34; 15, 12.17). All the occurrences of the terms - Law and Love - in the Fourth Gospel are analysed.

Law and love are two of the very important themes of the Fourth Gospel. Surprisingly, there have been only a few works on the theme of love and still fewer on the theme of law. In fact, there are only two monographs on the concept of law in the Fourth Gospel: an English one, Law in the Fourth Gospel, by Severino Pancaro and the other, a German one, Umstrittener Zeuge, by Markku Kotila. A survey of the works produced on the themes of law and love in the Fourth Gospel is presented in the Introduction. However, there has not been so far a single work which deals with the relationship between these two themes in the Fourth Gospel. Therefore, the present thesis is a new venture in the on-going johannine research. This thesis intends to demonstrate that the relationship between the concepts of law and love in the Fourth Gospel is an inalienable feature in the structure of the whole Gospel. The relationship between law and love is interwoven in the content and message of the Fourth Gospel. It is not just a coincidence that the theme of law, and even the occurrences of the term itself, find a place of predominance in the first part of the Gospel (chapters 1--12). In the same way, the theme of love and the frequency of the term itself gain utmost importance in the latter part of the Gospel (chapters 13--21). The relationship between the concepts of law and love belongs to the very core of the message of the Fourth Gospel. This thesis consists of two parts. Part One, comprising of three chapters (chapters one, two and three), deals with the law in the Fourth Gospel and the two chapters (four and five) of Part Two treat the theme of love. The Conclusion presents the Relationship between law and love in the Fourth Gospel. All three chapters of Part One demonstrate beyond doubt that the reality of the law in the Fourth Gospel is only positive and it has the function of leading the people to Jesus, who fulfills the relationship of love, commenced by God in the Old Testament through the mediation of Moses. A deeper look into johannine Christology presents us with the interesting insight that Jesus is not the one who fulfills the law, rather, it is the law which finds its fulfillment in Jesus. The law is only subservient to Jesus, the one in whom the revelation of God finds its fullness. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).

In this book, John Colquhoun helps us understand the importance of knowing the relationship between law and gospel. Colquhoun especially excels in showing how important the law serves as a believer’s rule of life without compromising the freeness and fullness of the gospel. In one of the greatest Reformed studies of the topic, Colquhoun encourages believers to combat legalism and antinomianism by joyfully embracing a correct view of the law.

There are five chapters of this book. The first chapter is the overview of the whole book and how the research was going to be conducted. It also gives the summary of law and love in the books of Paul. The interaction between law and love in Pauline writing has been an interesting topic, where we have discovered that the law of God cannot be separated from his agape love, which has followed mankind from creation and eventually leads him to eternity. We discovered that the law of God reveals Gods character, and that is his love. The law of God and his love are one and cannot be separated from each other. God gives the law to prove to man that he loves him deeply and eternally. The death of Jesus on the cross was the final crown of the proof of how much we mean to God and the length He can go to redeem us. He gave his all for our redemption. The plan of salvation is the perfect revelation of law and love in Pauline writings. Chapter 1 and 2 looks at law and love and the theology and ethics of law and love. The plan of salvation is laid bare and how the Jews missed the mark of spreading the Word to the whole world by holding to God as a Jewish God alone. In chapter 3 we discover the difference between the ceremonial law and the Decalogue. The ceremonial laws were pointing toward the coming of Jesus, and so with his arrival, they came to an end because they were pointing to his coming. The Decalogue was there and it will continue till the end of time when Jesus will come the second time. Chapter 4 is all about love and what it means to God and how he could not compromise his Decalogue and the meaning of redemption. Chapter 5 is the blending of law and love in Pauline writings. Keeping the law is not a problem when you love God and you know that God loves you; its not difficult to keep the Decalogue because your love supercedes the law. When you love someone, its easy to follow or keep the law. Gods Decalogue is a mirror and love is the crown of our redemption. For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son to die for man because His law could not be changed. Love will lift us up, such that doing and keeping Gods law will not be a burden but a pleasure because through Christs death, we realize how important we are to God.

The authors in this compilation address the issue of legalism from a variety of angles. John MacArthur shows, first that obedience to God is not an issue of legalism, but an issue of love. In his second chapter, he deals with the inevitable response of people who are confronted with Biblical standards, "Judge not that ye be not judged." Here MacArthur shows what our Lord meant when He said that, and shows what biblical discernment really is, that there is a vast difference between judgmental and holding people accountable to God's standards. Phil Johnson, in his first chapter, deals with Christian liberty. In his second chapter, he takes a critical look at two kinds of legalism, then explores the relationship of Christian love and Christian liberty. Joel Beeke shows that enthusiasm for God's law is not necessarily legalism. One can be zealous without being legalistic. As David wrote: "Oh, how I love Thy Law!" Bruce Bickel explains that legalism is due to a weak understanding of what Christ accomplished on the cross. Jim Elliff makes clear that legalism is an attack on unity within the Body of Christ, particularly local congregations. Ken Talbot helps us to see that legalism is inconsistent with and incompatible with the doctrine of justification by faith alone. He points out that the doctrine of "free will" leads to this dangerous position. Rick Phillips explores the relationship to loving God and obeying His law. Some today believe that love is all that matters, and that the law as a guideline to love is extinct. Then this author shows that Biblical sanctification is the antidote to and the opposite of legalism. Steven J. Lawson shows that legalism is the result of holding to man-made traditions over the truth of God's Word. Second, he points out how dangerous and deadly a thing legalism is and why. Table of Contents: 1. Introduction: What Legalism Is, What Legalism Does - Don Kistler 2. Truth Vs. Tradition - Stephen J. Lawson 3. Love and God's Law - Richard D. Philips 4. The Cross Is Enough - Bruce Bickel 5. The Danger of Legalism - Steven J. Lawson 6. Obedience: Love or Legalism? - John MacArthur 7. Zealous But not Legalistic - Joel Beeke 8. The Plague of Free-Will Moralism - Kenneth Talbot 9. Judging Vs. Biblical Discernment - John MacArthur 10. Stand Fast in Liberty - Phil Johnson 11. Real Love and Real Liberty - Phil Johnson 12. What Freedom From the Law Accomplishes For the Local Church - Jim Elliff 13. Biblical Sanctification: The Antidote to Legalism - Richard D. Philips