If the Ten Commandments had worked to make man righteous, then there would have been no reason for the New Covenant. Jesus would not have needed to die.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.” (Hebrews 8:7)1
God found fault with the old system of dependence on the flesh of man. Under the New Covenant we have NEW commandments in a new system of dependence on the Holy Spirit! We love today because He has first loved us.2 We forgive today because we have been forgiven – past tense.3 Jesus gave us a new commandment to love one another AS He has loved us.4 The order has been completely flipped. We don’t give to get as servants; we give because we have been given everything as sons and daughters of God.
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” ( Ephesians 4:32)
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” (John 13:34)
(from pages 285 & 288 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
21 John 4:19
3Ephesians 4:32
4John 13:34
