Note 4 at Gal. 5:14: It is true that the Old Testament law had many commands and prohibitions. Most people of Paul's day as well as ours, have not looked beyond the outward rules to see its true purpose. The true focus of the law was not actually our individual actions. The target was the old selfish, sinful nature of man. The law stuck at the core of our problem, our sinful self. By dealing with our actions, the law was revealing the sinfulness and complete helplessness of our nature. The law was powerless to change us or enable us to overcome sin. It only pointed out sin and thereby actually strengthened sin's grip on our life (see note 26 at 1 Cor. 15:56, p. 967).

Love, on the other hand, does what the law could not do. God's kind of love is selfless and therefore, the opposite of the selfish, sinful nature. Walking in love will deny the flesh (see note 3 at Rom. 7:18, p. 790) and as a result, we will naturally fulfill all the holy commands of the law. If you love others more than yourself, you would never steal from them. You would never murder or hurt those you love. You would never commit sexual sins if you truly loved your mate. All sin is selfish. Therefore, love is the antidote for all sin.