The Law of Christ

2 Corinthians 3:6, "[God] Who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Last week I shared some of the differences between Law and GRACE. Although many people accept these differences, the most common question is: "Then what are we supposed to do?" Or better translated, "How do we know the difference between right and wrong?" What we have failed to understand is to live by the knowledge of good and evil is the temptation that led to the fall of the human race. Jesus didn't come to set right our morals about right and wrong. He came so that we would learn to eat from the Tree of Life.

The knowledge of good and evil sounds like a noble way to live. It also sounds much easier than just trying to live by the Spirit. However, what we discover over and over again in the Scriptures is that Jesus meant for us to walk in the Spirit, not in the flesh. The Law, can only lead to condemnation. The Law leaves us feeling guilty, ashamed, and at the end of our rope. The Spirit of Life in Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. It's high time that we learn how to live differently.

Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Romans, penned these words: "By the Spirit, the law of live is written upon the heart, and though the righteousness of the law is not fulfilled by us, blessed be God, it is fulfilled in us." THAT, my friend, is the beauty of grace. Drastically different than trying to live by the law. In Christ, you discover that the standard is not something written in stone, but something that has been written upon your heart. Namely, Jesus. He is the standard. The Old Covenant operated under a "WHAT?" The New Covenant operates under a "WHO?" The life of Jesus in you sets you free from the law of sin and death.

Several of the writings we read in the New Testament testify to this incredible truth. We read about the "Law of Love", the "Law of the Spirit of Life", the "Law of Christ", and the "Perfect Law of Liberty." Rather than a ministry of condemnation (which is what we read about Moses' law), the Law of Christ is something more glorious. To live as He lived. To love as He loved. To enjoy relationship with His Heavenly Father, our Father.

Think of this way:
Under the Old Covenant love was demanded of us.
Under the New Covenant love is given to us.
Jesus says, "As I have loved you, you should love one another."
In this new way of life, we are simply giving what we have received.

Through GRACE we have discovered how to love. We are empowered to live in His righteousness. We find that the Father has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This isn't something we have to create in ourselves. It's the life of Christ being lived in and through us. The work of the Holy Spirit. Coming to this understanding, why would we ever need to run back to a law? The Law of Christ is a much better way to live. The way the Father intended for us to live all along.

I can introduce you to this way of life, but it will take some work to learn how to live in it. We struggle to get out of our religious thinking. We reduce the Christian faith to a list of rules and beliefs, all the while missing out on the glorious life of the Spirit. But this life is yours for the taking. A wonderful, Spirit filled life. Full of freedom. Full of His unfailing love. Full of learning what it means to be sons and daughters of God. Enjoy the journey!