Question 7: What does the law of God require?

Answer 7: Personal, perfect, and perpetual obedience; that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbor as ourselves. What God forbids should never be done and what God commands should always be done.

Personal obedience. Not just outward submission. That was the problem of the Pharisees (white washed tombs).  The law of God requires inward, happy submission of our minds and hearts. Perfect obedience. Without spot or blemish. Perpetual obedience. So not just for a day or a week or even a year, but ongoing without end. Of course, the law is summed up in loving God and loving neighbor - personally, perfectly, and perpetually.

Every honest person who hears this says, “Uh oh!” because we know that we fall short. One of the main purposes of the law is to show us the righteous nature and character of God, show us our sin, and our need for a Savior. Only the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the law perfectly and he has done this FOR all who look to him in faith. And when we receive Christ and receive forgiveness, then we have new life and strength to obey the command to love God and neighbor and thus fulfill the law in Christ.

Matthew 22:37-40 - And [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”