True Christian Religion #330
330. We said that in so far as a person shuns evils, so far does he will good actions. The reason is that evil and good are opposites; for evils come from hell, and what is good from heaven. So to the extent that hell, that is, evil, is removed, to that extent does heaven approach and so far does a person have good in view. The truth of this is made quite plain by eight of the Ten Commandments considered in the light of this. Thus (i) in so far as anyone does not worship other gods, so far does he worship the true God. (ii) In so far as anyone does not take the name of God in vain, so far does he love what comes from God. (iii) In so far as anyone does not wish to commit murder and act out of hatred or revenge, so far does he wish his neighbour well. (iv) In so far as anyone does not wish to commit adultery, so far does he wish to live chastely with his wife. (v) In so far as anyone does not wish to steal, so far does he practise honest conduct. (vi) In so far as anyone does not wish to bear false witness, so far does he wish to think the truth and speak it. (vii and viii) In so far as anyone does not covet what is his neighbour's, so far does he wish his neighbour the enjoyment of what is his.
This proves that the Ten Commandments contain everything to do with love for God and love towards the neighbour. This is why Paul says:
He who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, You are not to commit adultery, you are not to commit murder, you are not to steal, you are not to bear false witness, you are not to covet, and any other commandment there may be, these are all summed up in this phrase, You are to love your neighbour as yourself. Charity does not do evil to the neighbour; therefore charity is the fulfilment of the law, Romans 13:8-10.
To these must be added two rules intended for the new church: (i) No one can of himself shun evils as sins, and do good actions which are good in God's sight; but in so far as anyone shuns evils as sins, so far does he do good actions, not of himself, but from the Lord. (ii) A person should shun evils as sins, and fight against them as if of himself. If anyone shuns evils for any other reason than because they are sins, he is not shunning them, but merely ensuring that they are not visible to the eyes of the world.
