AntiChrist RZ 12/02 - Tomorrow's World

The New Commandments of Jesus
We are not just to love the persons of God and Christ. We are
to love their way—their very character—which is expressed in the
Ten Commandments. Christ not only taught obedience to the commandments,
He lived them!
And so John adds: “Whoever transgresses and does not
abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who
abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the
Son” (v. 9).
What the “New” Commandments Actually Teach
When we examine the positive side of the “new” commandments,
we find that they simply reinforce and make more
binding the old! They outline a way of love—of giving—of
serving, which can only be attained through Christ Himself
living in us.
In perfect unselfishness, we are to learn to love others as
Jesus loved us. That is New Testament doctrine! It is far more
binding than the letter of the commandments stated in the Old
Testament.
But it does not replace them. Rather, it magnifies them to their
full spiritual intent. And these “new” commandments themselves
refer to the perfect magnification in the life of Jesus.
And Jesus obeyed the Ten Commandments literally in spirit as
well. He is to be our “light,” our example.
Describing the principle of how we should love our neighbor,
the Apostle Paul stated: “Love is the fulfillment of the law”
(Romans 13:10). For God’s spiritual love flows down the riverbed,
or channel, of the Ten Commandments.
In perfectly obeying the Ten Commandments—in their every
phase and facet—Jesus’ entire life was a radiant life of love itself,
and love is the fulfillment of law. The “new” commandment He
gave called attention to His perfect example of obedience to the
Father, and of kindness and service to all men.
Millions of professing Christians have been taught that all
they need to do is to “love Jesus” or to have the “love of God.”
What is that “love”? How does God Himself tell us how His love
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