Introduction 

The New Covenant in Christ is a very unique covenant that works in very unique ways. In my teaching on the four Covenants of the bible, I looked at the Noahic Covenant (A covenant of Grace), the Abrahamic Covenant (A covenant of Faith), The Mosaic Covenant (A covenant of Works) and finally the New Covenant (A covenant of peace.)

This presentation aims to address questions concerning the New Covenant Law.

The New Testament clearly tells us that we are not under the law, yet we find the apostles telling us not to commit adultery, and not to steal. If the old covenant law is not relevant for people under the new covenant, how are they determining what sin is and is not? In the midst of much contention and disputes among churches, the ordinary believer wants to know, what exactly is God’s standard for righteousness? How do I know and live the life that pleases him?

Approach

Before we can understand the answers to these questions, it is necessary to establish and understand a few concepts within the bible and how they work. The presentation will be given in the following order.

1. A Covenant in His Blood
2. Two Kinds of laws
   1. Societal Laws
   1. Laws of Nature (Natural laws)

Bi) Law of Sin

Bii) Law of the Spirit

3. Laws of the New Covenant
   1. The Law of Christ
   1. Fulfilling the Law of Moses
   1. The law of the Spirit
   1. The Law of Faith

• CONCLUSION- Q &A

1)   A COVENANT IN HIS BLOOD?

The New Testament is promised by God in the writings of the prophets.

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (ESV) 

31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 

Here is something interesting. Though God promises to enter into a new covenant with the house of Judah and the House of Israel, we don’t have a record where God directly comes and announces to the nation of Israel and Judah and says, It’s now time to enter into that covenant that I promised you. We have a record where God comes to Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Israelites, and officially enters into covenant with them. But with the New Covenant we don’t have that.

This is because the new covenant works differently. Jesus Christ, being of the tribe of Judah, and an Israelite according to the flesh, is the one who entered into a New Covenant with God on behalf of the whole nation. He then sealed that covenant within his blood.

1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV) 

25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.

Note that the New Covenant is in the blood of Jesus. It’s in his blood. Let me touch on this a little bit. 

The Blood of Jesus is pure, precious and sinless (1 Peter 1:19)

The Blood of Jesus removes all our sins [Justification] (1 John 1:7), (Ephesians 1:7)

The Blood of Jesus makes us holy [Sanctification] Hebrews 10:28

The Blood of Jesus purifies our conscience from dead works ( Hebrews 9:14)

The Blood of Jesus reconciles us and gives us peace with God (1 Col 1:18)

So the New Covenant is in the Blood of Jesus. Why? Let’s get deeper a little on this. 

The Blood of Jesus carries and represents the human life of Jesus. The bible presents two types of life.  There is the human natural life (soul life,) and there is divine life – (spirit life.)

God had spoken to Noah and Moses that the soul of a creature, or the natural life of a creature is in its blood.

Deuteronomy 12:23 (NIV) 23 But be sure you do not eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.

Genesis 9:4 (ESV) 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.

The Hebrew word that’s interpreted as life, is the same word that is interpreted as soul. In greek it’s Psuche. This is why I said soul-life. In John 10, when Jesus says, I lay down my life for the sheep, he uses the word Psuche, which is soul. He is laying down his soul, which is his human life, carried in his blood. This is why in John 6, Jesus says unless you drink my blood, you can not have life. His blood speaks of his life. It is the life of Jesus that is pure and sinless, that cleanses us from sin, that gives us justification, that reconciles us with God, that carries the new covenant.

When we partake of His life, we then become beneficiaries of the New Covenant which exists and operates in him. This concept of a covenant existing and operating inside someone’s blood and life is totally unique, and requires special attention.

A Kainos Covenant

There are two greek words used to describe something new. Neos and Kainos. Neos normally refers to something that is new because it’s recent.But kainos can refer to something that is new because there is nothing like it made before. Kainos is the word used to refer to the New Covenant. It is the word used to refer to The new (Kainos) creation, the new (Kainos) heaven, the new (kainos) earth and the new (kainos) man.

The New Covenant is made for a New Creation (2 cor 5:7), who are united to form one New Man (Ephesians 2:15), who belongs to a New Heaven, and will inherit a New Earth, and rule from a New Jerusalem. (Rev 21:1-3)

All the old covenants were designed to cater for the fallen man, who is part of the fallen creation, who is ruled by the current heaven, to receive an inheritance in the current earth, which was ruled from the old earthly Jerusalem.

It’s unbreakable

God says in Jeremiah, that he found fault with the old covenant because the people broke it. We cannot break the New Covenant because God did not make that covenant directly with us. He made it with Jesus who was the only perfect, uncorrupted son of Adam (representing all humanity) and the only sinless, law keeping son of David (representing Judah and Israel.) He is the one who is in covenant with God on our behalf, and he is faithful and has eternally satisfied all the requirements of that covenant.

So, Jesus is the one who has inherited all the promises and all the blessings of the New Covenant. If we want to access those blessings and promises, we have to receive his life, which was in his blood, but is now given to us through his spirit.

We access those benefits by virtue of our position in Christ. We are sitted in heavenly places, ‘IN CHRIST,’ we have all spiritual blessings ‘IN CHRIST,’ we are the righteousness of God ‘IN CHRIST.’ All we need is to abide in Christ, and we have access to everything. 

2)   TWO KINDS OF LAWS

There are two kinds of laws that exist in the world. I will classify the two kinds as Societal Laws and Natural Laws (Laws of Nature.) 

a) Societal Laws

Societal laws are laws that are given to people in-order to govern and put order in the society. For example, religious laws, civil laws and judicial laws that we use to govern our countries and churches are types of societal laws. They are taught to people so that people can know them, keep them and enforce them. Usually they are written down into a book of law.

The Law of Moses, which was written on the stones and in the book of the law is an example of societal law. It was actually comprehensive and covered moral, civil, religious, criminal and judicial issues. It was given to Moses on Mt Sinai. When the bible says,  “THE LAW” it is referring to this.

John 1:17 (ESV) 

 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

1 Kings 2:3 (ESV) 

 3 and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn.

These 613 instruction given to Moses are what are referred to as ‘The Law.’ That’s why scriptures say ‘The Law’ came through Moses. This is why we are told that before Moses, ‘the law’ had not come. A written law can only be enforced when the people know it. You can’t keep or enforce a law that you don’t know.

Romans 5:13 (ESV) 

13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.

The Law of Moses which was a written law, was the basis of the old covenant. In particular, the Ten Commandments. 

Exodus 34:27-28 (ESV) 27 And the LORD said to Moses, “Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

When the book of the Law disappeared in Israel, people could not keep the Law of God, because no-one knew it. Only when it was found in Josiah’s time could they start keeping and enforcing it again. 2 Kings 22:8 – 23:28.

b) Natural Laws (Laws of Nature)

Laws of nature are also referred to as natural Laws. These are laws that are written by the power of God into the substance of the nature of his creation.  

Natural laws can be physical or spiritual. In the beginning God created the heavens (spirit nature) and the earth (physical nature). The spirit world is governed by spiritual laws of nature which we find in the bible and the physical world is governed by physical laws of nature, which we can learn in science.

For example, we have the physical law of gravity. There are no letters written somewhere that say, if you jump you must fall. It’s an unwritten law that exists in nature. Whether you know it or not, whether you understand it or not, you are subject to that law. You can’t break it, but you can learn to use it to your advantage.

Examples of physical laws of nature is the Laws of Motion, and Laws of thermodynamics such as the law of conservation of energy and the law of entropy.

laws of nature are higher laws than written laws in that they are absolute. Let me explain.

For example, if we write in our constitution that everyone who jumps must fly. It won’t change a thing. If you jump, you will still fall. The only way you can fly is by understanding the laws of aerodynamics. These natural laws were imprinted into the heart of nature by God at creation. They affect how things work naturally.

We also have spiritual laws of nature, that regulate the spiritual nature. These are addressed by the bible. For example:

B1) The Law of Sin

The law of Sin is a law of nature that works in our body, causing us to do things that we don’t want to do. Paul explains the law of Sin.

Romans 7:21-24 (NIV) 

21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Adam’s body became subject to the law sin, the moment he ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is also referred to as the sin nature. Paul is showing that, even though he knows the societal laws; the written law of Moses, and even though he desires to obey it, he can not obey it because his body is subject to the Law of Sin and so he will always sin. Just as we said before, laws of nature, can not be controlled by written societal laws.

Now Paul asks, how can he be rescued from the Law of Sin which leads to death. A written commandment can not override a law of nature.

The law of sin is a law of nature, and you can only overcome it by operating under a higher law of nature. 

B2) The Law of the Spirit

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) 

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spiritwho gives life has set you free from the law of sinand death.

Just as the laws of aerodynamics can set you free from the effects of the law of gravity, the law of the spirit can set you free from the effects of the law of sin. Just as the law of sin, is another term for the Sin-nature in our flesh, the Law of the Spirit is another term for the Divine nature of God in your born again spirit.

These laws are written by God into the substance and nature of the creation. It’s a law written into your very being. It’s a natural law. It’s the nature of your spirit man. 

The kingdom of God has societal Laws, that is true. However, His New Covenant is not based on societal laws which have to be written on paper and taught to people for them to keep and enforce, it is based on his spiritual laws of nature. Specifically, the nature of Jesus Christ. These are the natural laws by which your born again spirit works. The apostle Paul Explains:

2 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV) 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV) 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

So when God is saying, in the New covenant, he will write his laws into our hearts, the laws he is referring to, are laws of nature. Laws that address and override the law of sin (sin nature) which is at work in your flesh.

This is why he says, no one will have to teach his neighbour these laws.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (WEB) “I will put my law in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says Yahweh: “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Laws of nature don’t need to be taught to you for you to keep and enforce them. They enforce themselves. For example: No-one needs to teach you about gravity first for you to fall. As long as you are in this world you will experience the law of gravity.

No-one needs to teach you to sin, for you to be subject to the law of sin. You will begin to sin as long as you are a descended of Adam because laws of nature will operate whether you understand them or not. This is why God is saying to Jeremiah, concerning the laws that he is writing in people’s hearts, no man will have to teach his neighbour. You don’t teach babies to cry or to drink milk. You don’t teach a dog how to bark, or lion how to eat meat. These are laws of nature written by God within them. This is what the New Covenant is based on: A new nature. The nature of God’s son.

God explains to Ezekiel this process which he calls writing the laws into our hearts: It’s the process of recreation of your inner being.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV) 

26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

3.) LAWS OF THE NEW COVENANT

3.1 The Law of Christ

The Bible speaks of The Law of Moses, but it speaks of The Law of Christ.

The Term, ‘Law of Moses’ refers to the Law that God gave to his people through Moses. The term, ‘Law of Christ’ refers to the law that God gave to people through Jesus Christ. 

The Law of Moses was given in two forms.

1. The Ten Commandments which were referred to as, ‘the testimony.’ The ten commandments were also known as the ‘ words of the Covenant.’ (Exodus 34:27-29)
2. The Book of the Law which contained all of God’s statutes, laws commandments, judgments, charges and instructions. This Book of the Law is also known as the ‘Book of the Covenant.’ (Exodus 24:7)

Just as the old Covenant that God made with Moses and Israel was governed by the Law of Moses, the Covenant of Christ is governed by the Law of Christ.

Here are the scriptures where the Law of Christ is mentioned.

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV) 

21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) 

2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.

Just as the law of Moses was delivered in Two forms, the law of Christ is also given in two forms.

1. The Law of Faith (Romans 3:27).This is imparted in us through the hearing of the word of the gospel. (Romans 10:14-17)
2. The Law of the Spirit. (Romans 8:2)This is the life and nature of Christ imparted in us through the New Birth. This nature of Christ is Love.

We shall discuss these two in detail a bit later. For now, let’s talk about the Law of Christ, as a whole. 

The Law of Christ vs The law of Moses

1. Both, the law of Moses and the Law of Christ are laws of God that came from God. But they are different kinds of laws. The Law of Moses, was given by God through Moses, the Law of Christ was given by God through Christ.
2. The Law of Moses governed people who were baptised into Moses (1 Cor 10:2), the Law of Christ governs people who are baptised into Christ. (Gal 3:27, Rom 6:3)
3. The law of Moses is a societal law, a list of rules and regulations and rituals, the law of Christ is a natural law (the life and nature of Christ imparted in the new creation.) 

Christ Our New LAW

The Law of Christ is a living law. The Law of Christ is Christ himself. Jesus said something that was amazing to his disciples.

John 14:6 (NKJV) 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

When Jesus is says, I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE he is actually declaring that he is The Law.

Here is why:

The Longest Chapter in the bible is psalms 119. It’s very long and all of it is talking about the greatness of God’s Law.

• The law is referred to as The WAY (Psalms 119:1)
• The Law is The Truth (verse 142)
• The law is Light ( verse 105)
• The Law is the Word ( verse 38)
• The Law gives Life (Verse 49) compare with Proverbs 13:14

All these attributes of the Law in Psalms 119 are given as the attributes of Christ in the book of John. He is the word, the light, the way, the truth, the life. He is The Living Law. He is our law.

If you OBEY CHRIST, you have obeyed the LAW of GOD.

The Law of Moses was given to reveal God’s Character to us. His Mercy, His Love, His Justice, his Nature. However, the scriptures tell us that the Law of Moses reveals God’s image in the same way that your shadow reveals you.

Hebrews 10:1 (NKJV) 1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Colossians 2:16-17 (NKJV)16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Trying to see God in the Law of Moses is like looking at someone’s shadow. You can see that this is a man, a child, a goat, or a snake by looking at a shadow. However, there are some things that a shadow cannot show you. A shadow can’t reveal a smile, joy, skin colour or dressing. A shadow is a representation of you, but it’s not a perfect representation of what you look like. God’s truth, life, mercy, justice, love, mercy and word is living, active and  infinite. A true reflection of God’s attributes would also have to be living, active and infinite.

Jesus Christ is the express, and perfect image of God’s ways, life, light, truth, justice, mercy and love. He is the living law. The reality of God. 

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV) 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature…

Why continue to look at a shadow, when you have an exact image imprinted. The old covenant was based on a shadow of God’s nature (The Law of Moses), the new covenant is based on the reality of his nature (The Law of Christ).

3.2 Fulfilling the Law of Moses

Before Christ could be given as OUR NEW LAW, he himself needed to first fulfil the Law that had been given.

The Law of Moses is good, it is holy, it is eternal because it came forth from a good, holy and eternal God. Whilst People in the old covenant were required to obey the law of Moses, people in the new covenant are required to fulfil the law of Moses.

There is a difference between obeying a law, and fulfilling it.

Christ was the first to fulfil the law of Moses.

Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV) 

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

To Fulfil is to Complete, to accomplish, to bring to perfection, to achieve the desired purpose.

Two Fulfilments of the Law

Christ fulfilled the law in two ways. He fulfilled the Righteousness of the Law and he fulfilled the Prophecy of the Law.

The righteousness of the Law was fulfilled at his Baptism when he received the Holy Spirit, and the Prophecy of the Law was fulfilled at his Death, resurrection, ascension and the sending of the Spirit.

Fulfilling the Prophecy of the Law

The Law prophesied concerning Christ. The feasts and rituals, such as passover, tabernacles and atonement were all part of the prophecy of the Law.

Matthew 11:13 (ESV) 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,

Luke 24:44 (ESV) 

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

The last prophesy of the law that Jesus fulfilled before his death was psalm 69.

John 19:28-30 (NIV) 

28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

By the way, the psalms and the prophets are all part of and extensions of the Law of Moses.

John 15:25 (ESV) 

 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.’  (Psalms 69)

1 Corinthians 14:21 (ESV) 

 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” (Isaiah 28:11)

All the feasts within the Law were prophesying concerning what Christ would do. When Christ accomplished those things, there is no reason to keep observing those feasts, because their purpose has been accomplished.

1 Corinthians 5:7-8 (ESV)7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Let me give an example: The prophets said, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, that was fulfilled. This means there is no need for us to continue looking for a virgin who will conceive. It has been fulfilled. It has been accomplished. It is done.

Fulfilling the Righteousness of the Law

Before Christ came, the law was given as a standard for God’s righteousness to Israel. (Romans 10:4-5, Psalms 119:142).

The righteousness of the law was fulfilled when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and he was revealed to Israel as the Christ. Let us read:

Matthew 3:13-15 (ESV) 

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.

So the baptism of Jesus was done to fulfil ALL righteousness. Let’s read what happens:

Matthew 3:16 – 4:1 (ESV) 

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil

The spirit of God came upon Jesus, (This is the anointing) and Jesus, from that moment, is ‘led’ by the spirit. The leading ministry is only, unique to sons of God, and no-one in the Old Testament was led directly by the Holy Spirit from within them.

Romans 8:14 (ESV) 

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

The Moment Jesus began to be led by the spirit, he was now fulfilling the righteousness of the Law. When we receive the spirit of Christ, we also begin to fulfil the righteousness of the Law

Romans 8:4 (ESV) 

4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Whilst the spirit of God would come upon people in the Old Testament from Moses going forwards, it was only to empower them, but they received their guidance and direction through the ministration of Angels.

Acts 7:53 (NIV)53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Galatians 3:19 (ESV) 19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary

Hebrews 2:2 (ESV)2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution.

Jesus was the first to be Led directly from within by God’s spirit, and when he ascended he gave his spirit to us.

How does Walking By The Spirit, Fulfil God’s Righteousness

Righteousness simply refers to being in right standing with God, or rather, walking according to God’s will. If what you are doing is coming from the unction of God’s spirit, then what you are doing will always be pleasing to God. God can not condemn the desires of his own spirit.

Romans 8:1 (KJV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

John 7:39 (ESV) 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

3.3 The Law of the Spirit

The Law of the Spirit is a term that Paul uses to describe the Nature of God in us through the Holy Spirit. This Nature of God is Love. 

Romans 5:5 (ESV) 

5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The fullness of God’s character is love. Love is perfection. Love is the completeness of who God is.

1 John 4:8 (ESV) 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Specifically, this love was revealed to us, as the Love of Christ. More on that later.

Ephesians 3:19 (ESV) 

19 and to know the love of Christthat surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

The Law of the Spirit is the term that Paul uses to describe the Nature of the Spirit which we receive to set us free from the nature of the flesh. The spirit of God is given to us in order to bring the love/ nature/ life of Christ to our Bodies which are under the Sin nature.

Romans 8:9-11 (ESV) 

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

So in the new testament, we are supposed to yield to the desires of the spirit, so that we don’t fulfil the desires of the flesh. The desires of the flesh bring death (Adamic life), and the desires of the Spirit bring life (Christ’s life).

Everything that you do based on the flesh is sin, because it leads to death. Everything that you do based on the spirit is righteous because it’s in line with the life of Christ.

Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV) 

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

Romans 8:12-14 (NKJV) 

2 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Just as the tree of life produces twelve fruits, the spirit of life also produces a twelve-fold fruit of life in us.

Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Ephesians 5:9 New King James Version (NKJV)

(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

Romans 6:22 New King James Version (NKJV)

22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

When you put together all the verses you find there are twelve manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit.

1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Gentleness 9. Self-Control 10. Righteousness 11. Truth 12. Holiness

So everything that we do, which is contrary to this twelve-fold fruit, its contrary to life and is therefore sin and death. Everything that you do by the leading of the Spirit is righteous.

LOVE in The LAW of Moses vs LOVE in the LAW of Christ

Jesus was once asked a question concerning the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses. He answered them.

Matthew 22:35-40 (ESV) 

35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets

The Commandment that says Love the Lord your God is found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and the Commandment that says Love your neighbour as yourself is in Leviticus 19:18. These two summarise the whole law and they summarise the Ten Commandments.

Love for God is expressed through obedience to him.

Exodus 20:6 (ESV) 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments

The first four commandments were done out of pure obedience to God, as an expression of your love to him. The remaining six, dealt with how you relate to other people, expressing Love to your neighbour.

These two commandments are not New testament commandments, they are old testament commandments of Love. The apostle Paul cements it here:

Romans 13:9-10 (ESV) 

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

We will touch on the New Testament Love in a short while. Please Note: The commandments don’t fulfil the law of love, Love is the one that fulfils the commandments. What do I mean? It is possible for a person to keep all the commandments without any love whatsoever. A person can keep the law simply out of fear or obligation. 

A person who has Love shed abroad in their hearts through the spirit, has fulfilled the purpose of the ten commandments. They don’t need to be given ten commandments, they just need to obey the love of the spirit in their hearts. That love becomes their commandments. Everything they do according to that love is righteousness, and every time they disobey that love, they have sinned.

Here is a very powerful illustration from Jesus.

Matthew 19:16-22 (ESV) 

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 

18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 

21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Firstly let’s highlight that Jesus is asked to state which Commandments lead to Life. The Law had many commandments and not all of them are an expression of the life of Christ. Jesus then lists the last 5 commandments which have to do with character. He then places lastly, the commandment that sums them ups “Love Your Neighbour as Yourself.” Jesus lists to the Jew, the Moral commandments of loving your neighbour as key to entering into life. 

Let’s zero in on what Jesus tells this young rich man, who was faithful to the commandment of Love for your neighbour.

Mat 19: 21 (ESV)Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

The perfection that Jesus is talking about, is the work of the New Covenant. (Heb 7:11, Heb 10:14)

Under the old covenant, God asked people to give a tenth of all they have, the first fruits of their fields, and dedicate a day of the week towards him, all as expressions of their love for him. 

But Christ is not interested in any of his possessions. He says, Give your possessions to the poor, I want your whole body. I want all of you. He doesn’t want your money, he wants your body your soul and spirit. He wants your life. (Luke 14:13) A law that asks for a tenth, a day, or a first fruit becomes irrelevant to a person who has given their entire life to Christ. Faith in Christ requires you to surrender your entire body and your life to him. It therefore is a higher standard of love than that required in the law. 

New Covenant Love

Loving your neighbour as yourself was the greatest commandment in the Law of Moses. However in the New Covenant we are given a New Commandment for Love. 

John 13:34 (NKJV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The New Commandment is to Love one another as CHRIST loved us. This is known as the Love of Christ. In the Law of Moses, you yourself was the standard for love. You needed to love your neighbour as you loved yourself, but in the New testament, Christ is the standard. Love one another as Christ loves us.

It’s a transition from Human love, to Divine Love. Jesus says, this new commandment, is the one that will reveal his true disciples. Jesus explains the dimension of this New Commandment of Love.

John 15:12-13 (NKJV) 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Under the Old Testament you were only required to express human love, but in the New Testament we express God’s Love. When Jesus laid down his life for us, he showed us that He loved us, more than he loved his own life. That’s God’s Love. That’s the nature of the Spirit of Christ working in us.

This love of Christ comes from God, and before Christ came and died for us, no one in the world could express this dimension of Love.

The apostle John explains:

1 John 4:9-10 (NKJV) 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The Love of Christ is a manifestation of Law of Christ, and the Love of Christ can only manifest in us, as a fruit of the Spirit of Christ as he leads us.

3.4 The Law of Faith

Whilst the Law of the Spirit gives us the Nature of Christ (Love), the Law of faith gives us the Righteousness of Christ.

The law of Moses was a societal law and therefore a law of works, with a list of dos and don’ts. People were judged to be righteous based on whether or not they obeyed the written laws. However, the Law of Faith is a term used to describe the righteousness of Christ which is not based on what you do, but what you believe.

Romans 3:24-27 (NKJV) 

24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Paul Is saying that the Law of Faith makes it impossible for anyone to boast of their righteousness. Whilst the law of works, was the standard for righteousness in the old covenant, the law of faith is the standard of righteousness in the new covenant.

Let me explain this.

Righteousness of Faith vs Righteousness of Law of Moses

When we say someone is righteous we mean, they are not guilty of sin, they are in good standing with God. Once you sin, you become unrighteous.

Romans 6:13 (NKJV) 

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

1 John 5:17 (NKJV) 

17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Jesus once said something that was interesting in relation to the law of Moses;

Matthew 5:20 (ESV) 

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

The scribes and Pharisees were the administrators of the Law of Moses. The law of Moses defined God’s expectation to the people, and if you broke those rules, it was a sin. This is because sin is also lawlessness. Or sin is a transgression of God’s laws.

1 John 3:4 (ESV) 4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

In simpler terms,  a person who is lawless is a person who is not accountable to any one except themselves. A person who does whatever they want. They don’t obey God. They don’t consider God as their Lord.

If God gives you a law, when you obey it, you are considered righteous by that law, and if you disobey it, you are a sinner according to that law. 

Romans 2:13 (NIV) 

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

When the bible simple says, “The Law” it is referring to the written law which was given by God through Moses on mt Sinai. The laws of nature are not typically referred to as Law, because they are natural principles.

Under the old covenant, God used the Law of Moses which was a societal law to set the standard for righteousness. However, in the new covenant God has brought in a new and higher standard of righteousness which is based upon faith.

Romans 3:21-22 AKJV

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ to all and on all them that believe: for there is no difference:

This means that faith has become another standard of righteousness which is separate from the law of Moses. The law of Moses is not based on faith, it’s based on obedience.

Galatians 3:12 (NIV) 

12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”

However, the righteousness of faith is not based on what you do, but on what you believe. Righteousness of the law is based on what you do and not what you believe. A person can keep the ten commandments, perfectly, and be declared righteous by the law of Moses, and yet be declared a sinner because they did those things in unbelief.

The Righteousness of Faith

The Righteousness of Faith states that everything done without faith is a sin.

Romans 14:22-23 (ISV) 

22 As for the faith you do have, have it as your own conviction before God. How blessed is the person who has no reason to condemn himself because of what he approves! 23 But the person who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not act in faith; and anything that is not done in faith is sin.

In this scripture, Paul is dealing with eating certain foods. He says if you believe that you should not eat a certain food, and then eat it, you are doing it out of doubt, and everything that you do without faith, is sin. 

Even if you do good works, but do them without faith, it’s a sin. Since the Law of Moses is not of faith, people were able to keep it and be declared righteous by the law, yet according to the righteousness of faith, they could not please God.

Apostle Paul

The apostle Paul is a great example. He was persecuting the church, yet according to the law of Moses he was blameless.

Philippians 3:6 (ISV) 

6 As for my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church. As far as righteousness in the law is concerned, I was blameless.

Paul says he was blameless according to the righteousness of the law. He kept the law perfectly. Paul then says when Christ comes, he hopes to be found with the righteousness which is based on faith, and not the righteousness based on the law.

Philippians 3:8-9 (NIV) 

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 

9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

End of the Righteousness of the Law

The apostle Paul makes it clear that when Jesus came, the standard for righteousness is no longer obeying the law of Moses but operating according to your faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Luke 16:16 (ASV) 

16 The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

Romans 10:4-10 (ESV) 

4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

How Faith Makes You Righteous Without Works

The law of Faith is not based on who you are,  but it is based on who God is. It is not based on your goodness, but on God’s goodness. It is not based on your capability but on God’s grace. Faith activates the operation of God’s grace.

Romans 4:5 (ESV)5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

I am going to give three examples from the life of Christ that illustrate the power of the nature of faith in justifying the ungodly.

Example 1: The Tax Collector 

Jesus gives a powerful illustration that explains how someone is made righteous by faith. Two people go to pray. One has good works, the other is a sinner who has no good works. Yet the sinner is declared to be righteous before God, and the person who kept the law and had good works is not declared righteous. Let’s look at it.

Luke 18:9-14 (NIV) 

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So, why was the sinner declared righteous by God, and the holy man was not? God has already declared that there is no-one that is righteous on earth, and that all our good works are displeasing to him. The tax collector recognised that he was a sinner, and that God was good. He believed in God’s mercy, God’s grace and God’s ability to forgive. And by that faith he appealed to God’s mercy, received forgiveness of sins and was declared sinless and righteous by God.

Example 2: The Thief on the Cross

In this example we see a criminal, who was being crucified for his crimes. To deserve crucifixion means he must have committed grievous crimes. He had no good works whatsoever, yet he entered paradise before all of us. 

Luke 23:39-43 (NKJV)

39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”

40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

What qualified this man to enter into paradise? What good deeds did he do? If you get to heaven and meet this man, he will tell you, I have no good works. I entered by grace. What qualified him for this grace? It was his faith in Jesus. 

Firstly, this man admitted (confessed) before God that he was a sinner. He believed that Jesus would rise again from the dead, and he believed that Jesus had a kingdom, which means he was king and Lord. Though he was about to die, he believed that, though he be dead, Jesus would still be able to save him and bring him into that kingdom. Which means he believed Jesus was his saviour. This great faith upon the cross, in who Jesus is and in Jesus grace and mercy to save a sinner like him, is what justified him. Hallelujah!

According to the law of Moses, and the old covenant, this man is guilty and deserves to die. But according to the righteousness of Faith, he is righteous and deserves to go to paradise.

Example 3: The Canaanite Woman

Matthew 15:21-28 (ESV) 

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

Why is Jesus refusing to help this woman? The woman approaches and addresses Jesus as the Son of David. According to the flesh, Jesus is born king of the Jews and son of David. As king and prophet of Israel he must uphold what the law says concerning Israel and the Canaanites. God had commanded under the law that the seven nations of the Canaanites must be totally wiped out and destroyed.

This is what God said in the law concerning the Canaanites.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2 (NIV) 

1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations —the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— 2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.

So Jesus was not allowed by the law of God, to show any kindness or mercy to this Canaanite woman. The written law of God through Moses had condemned every Canaanite as evil doers and therefore dogs (Psalms 22:16), that must be destroyed.

So what happens next? Let’s read.

Matthew 15:24-28 (ESV) 

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

When Jesus said that he was sent only for Israel, she stopped calling him son of David, and just called him Lord. Jesus referred to her as a dog, (a term used to describe evil doers of a religious nature [Psalms 22:16]). Yet she did not justify herself. But she not only believed that Jesus was still her Master, but she believed in his mercy, in his goodness, a goodness that can give food even to dogs.

Though the law declared her unrighteous, and unworthy to live or receive mercy, her faith qualified her. She was made righteous because of her faith in Jesus.

Salvation by Faith

The standard for righteousness in heaven is absolute perfection. 100 %. Not even a single sin can enter heaven.

Revelation 21:27 (NKJV) 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Try as you may, you will never do enough good works to enter heaven. No matter how much you can teach a monkey mathematics, he will never be able to solve a quadratic equation. 

Every person who seeks to go to heaven by following the righteousness of the law of works, will fail. 

Romans 3:20 (ESV) 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

These three examples show us the path of salvation, and the path is through faith in God’s grace by Jesus Christ. Those who enter heaven, are those who admit that they can’t do it, but depend on God’s Son, God’s goodness, God’s grace and mercy. These are the ones who will enter heaven. Though they be disqualified and condemned by the law of Moses, their faith will qualify them as we have seen.

The Obedience of Faith

Romans 1:5 (ESV) 

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

Romans 16:25-26 (ESV) 

25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Faith in the gospel will naturally create obedience of faith. We live, think and act according to our beliefs.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. The more we hear and know about Christ, the more we believe. The more we believe, the greater our obedience.

Let me show you:

1. I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and there is no other way to God but by him. As a result of my faith in this word, I will not follow Muhammad, Budha, Bahai, Zeus or any other people who provide alternate ways to God. If you see me following them, it’s because I don’t truly believe that Jesus is the way.
2. I believe that Jesus is God, therefore I direct my praise, my thanks giving and worship to him.
3. I believe Jesus is the creator of all things, therefore I uphold his wisdom on how to live my life above my own, because I believe he knows more and better about my life than me. I will follow his wisdom even if I don’t understand it.
4. I believe that Jesus is Lord of all. He has all authority in heaven and earth. As a result, I will naturally obey his instructions, above the instructions of my society, my political party, my friends or any angel or spirit.
5. I believe Jesus gave his life to pay for my sins, he loves me that much. As a result, I trust everything he tells me, because I know he will do anything for me.
6. I believe Jesus is the Christ, anointed as God’s solution for all my problems, as a result I will not seek the anointing of witch doctors, sorcerers and another people. When I have a problem, I will always go to him. 
7. I believe that the life of Christ is perfect and glorious, and he has given me his life to live, as a result, I am willing to lose my sinful life in order to gain his perfect life. If you see me holding to my old life, it’s because I don’t truly believe that the life of Christ is truly precious, eternal and perfect.

I think you get the idea. Faith creates obedience, because we think, live and act according to our internal convictions. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word. As we receive a greater revelation of Christ from the word, our obedience of faith becomes greater. People who don’t want to obey Jesus, it’s because they don’t truly believe in who or what the word says he is.

Those who believe in the Lordship of Christ’s will automatically have a desire to obey him.

Jesus says it this way:

Luke 6:46 (NIV) 46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

The apostle John uses this as a way, of recognising those people who truly know who Jesus is.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Please note however, that Jesus does not instruct his disciples to teach people the commandments he gave to Moses. But the commandments he gave the apostles.

4.   CONCLUSION

The Law of faith and the Law of the Spirit at work in us are given as the Two commandments of the new Covenant. They are two aspects of one commandment.

1 John 3:22-23 (NKJV) 

22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.

So the commandment that said, Love your neighbour as yourself, is replaced by Love One another as (as Christ Loved us), this is the l Nature of Christ that we receive through his spirit. This is the Law of the Spirit that sets us free from the nature of sin.

The commandment of Moses that said, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind is replaced by Believe in the name of the Son of God. (Law of Faith)

Jesus puts the law of Faith in this way:

John 6:28-29 (NKJV) 

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

The Ten Commandments are good, but they are not relevant for the New Creation. The new creation is governed by higher natural laws. The Law of Christ which is the Law of faith and the Law of the Spirit of Life. This Law produces a higher dimension of love and righteousness than what the Ten Commandments can do. The New Covenant laws, produce an express image of who God is. The Mosaic law produces a shadow.

When you look at the life of someone living his life according to the righteousness of the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses, it’s like seeing God’s shadow. But when you look at the life of a person governed by New Testament laws, it’s like seeing a clear, exact image of God’s nature.

Q1.  IF WE HAVE GOD’S NATURE, THEN HOW DO WE STILL SIN?

Alright. We have established that Faith in Christ produces the righteousness of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ produces the Nature and love of Christ.

When you are born again, it is your spirit that is born again, not your flesh. The Law of Sin remains in operation in your flesh.

John 3:6 (NKJV)6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans 8:10 (NKJV)10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

The New Covenant is about the faith and life of Christ. Everything that we do, which is not in line with the faith or life of Christ is therefore sin. Every time we yield to the flesh, instead of the Spirit, it’s sin. However, the spirit of God empowers to overcome the desires of the flesh.

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Those who live their lives according to the flesh, are dead and are not part of God’s kingdom. Those who live their lives according to the spirit will have life.

Romans 8:12-13 (NIV) 12Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

Q2. HOW DO WE IDENTIFY SIN IN THE NEW COVENANT

1. Desires of the Flesh are Sin

Desires of the flesh refers to all desires in our body which are produced by the las of sin. These are against the life of Christ. Jesus taught his apostles what the desires of the flesh are, vs what his nature is?

Mark 7:20-23 (ESV)“What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

The apostle Paul explains these again?

Galatians 5:17-21 (ESV)17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

These are just examples. So we can be able to distinguish the leading within us, what is from the flesh and what is from the spirit. The spirit produces in us, the love of Christ.

• Acts of Doubt are Sin

Every time we do anything based on doubt, then it’s not Iine with the Faith of Christ and is therefore sin.

Romans 14:23 (BBE)23 But he who is in doubt is judged if he takes food, because he does it not in faith; and whatever is not of faith is sin.

All unrighteousness is sin. Righteousness is granted under the new covenant based on faith without law. So therefore, God judges you based on what you know and believe about Christ. If you believe Christ doesn’t want you to do something, then don’t do it. If you do it then it’s a sin to you. If you believe something is unclean, by your own faith, it becomes unclean to you.

Romans 14:14 (NIV) 14I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean.

James 4:17 (ESV)17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

So we can have two people doing the exact same thing, yet one is sinning and the other is not, because one is doing it in faith and the other is doing it in doubt.

Q3. IF WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES THEN WHY DOES PAUL QUOTE FROM IT

The Law of Moses came from God. Whilst it is a shadow, but it does provide a certain image though not perfect of God’s character. We look at the law in light of the Love of Christ. Everything in the law that is in line with the love of Christ, we can use for our lives, everything that is not in line with the love of Christ we should not do.

Let me give examples.

The Law says, we should honour our Fathers and Mothers: That is in line with the Love of Christ. So we can use that in teaching.

Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord

However, the Law also says you must hate your enemies and show them no mercy. That is not in line with the Love of Christ so we should not follow it.

Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)43 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Our primary guide is Christ, who operates at a higher standard of love than that expressed in the law.