The Hidden Power of Love: Jesus’ Unexpected Revelation
Embracing love as law: Part 2 of 3 on 1 Timothy 1:8
Introduction
In part 1 of this series, I recount how my prayers for divine guidance were answered through dreams, unveiling Scripture (1 Timothy 1:8) and a profound understanding of Jesus as the law.
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; (1 Timothy 1:8, KJV)
These dreams allowed me to unravel the contrasts between the convoluted Old Covenant and the simplified New Covenant, represented by Jesus, bringing us back into God’s embrace.
The birth of the New Covenant through Jesus
Scripture Vibe: Romans 3.21–22
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, (Romans 3:21–22, NIV)
The New Covenant was made through Jesus. And in this New Covenant, He became the law, the embodiment of grace and the path to righteousness. It’s this concept that I am now carrying forward, seeking to explore in the context of my life and in the shared experiences of our Christian community.
What is the law now if Christ established the New Covenant? And are we making the same mistakes as before, placing artificial boundaries in front of our relationship with God? For Jesus said:
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. (Matthew 5:17, NIV)
Consider the grand tapestry of God’s covenant: you will find an intricately woven fabric of law, love, and grace. God is infallible, a core foundational doctrine upon which all Abrahamic faith is based.
Did God make a mistake with the Old Covenant? No! He didn’t make a mistake with the Old Covenant: we did.
His love provided the opportunity for an original covenant to even exist. We were the makers of the mistake. We were the ones who thought we could make His laws better. We added when we should have simply obeyed.
When Jesus fulfilled the Old Covenant, it was like He paid off a big debt for us. And He didn’t just pay what was due, He went above and beyond — like leaving a huge tip at a restaurant.
Revealing the supporting Scriptures: Debunking the misinterpretation of the laws
Scripture Vibe: 2 Corinthians 3:6
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 3:6, NIV)
But even as the bill of the Old Covenant was marked “Paid,” a new agreement was being established, one that we could fulfill with simplicity and understanding. This covenant is one of love:
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14, NIV)
Jesus’ New Covenant with us comes from the very heart of God’s love for us, full of grace and acceptance. Absorb this: love your neighbor and yourself as God loves you. Simple, easy, and beautiful.
These are not the words of mere men but the profound declaration of Jesus Himself: Matthew 22:39, Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39, NIV)
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31, NIV)
He answered, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Luke 10:27, NIV)
As we are all on unique journeys, there are those believers that require supporting scripture, layers of apologetics or complex interpretations. “Show me supporting proof of the statement that Jesus is the only law we should follow in the scriptures, not your dreams!”
The irony in a statement like this is the Bible appears as an overwhelming codex of laws, its vastness leading us into a maze of self-separation from God. The deeper we delve, the higher we tend to build the walls that box us away from His love.
Sometimes I think that the Bible has become the battleground on which believers fight each other over who is right and wrong. But alas, I was guided in my research and have supporting scripture.
For those of you that need it, let’s do this together. For those of you that are just curious, I invite you to tag along as we explore these 7 verses: 4 now, 3 in the final part.
A foundation upon which to build
Scripture Vibe: Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. (Psalm 19:7, NIV)
First, let’s anchor our understanding in these four foundational verses. Each verse is followed by an application as it pertains to 1 Timothy 1:8:
“You are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14, NIV).
Application: Our salvation is not dependent on our ability to follow commandments, but solely on God’s grace. His grace is not something we can earn, but are given.
Each of us is gifted with this grace in the measure of Christ’s gifts (Ephesians 4:7, NIV).
Application: When we take on the Holy Spirit, Paul says that we are given spiritual gifts. The best gift is His grace, and the gifts that come after are all the different ways we can share the joy of that grace with others.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, NIV).
Application: Is there a more humble action than to follow the one commandment of the New Covenant? Conversely, is there a more prideful act than to create new rules for God?
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13, NIV)
Application: Notice how the law is called a curse? God doesn’t make mistakes. The Old Covenant, the blessings of Abraham, aren’t a mistake. The curse of the law refers to the laws that we as men place on God, whereas the laws that God places on us are a blessing.
Up next in part 3
In part 3, we discuss personal applications of the New Covenant, how divine law and the Spirit shape our individual life paths. Stay tuned as we examine the complexities of God’s grand design and how to walk in Jesus’ footsteps by embracing the New Covenant’s profound principle of unconditional love through a particular verse in the book of Hebrews!
Summary
We delved into the intricacies of the New Covenant as established through Jesus Christ, discussing the transformation of law under this covenant and warning against human mistakes in its interpretation. We emphasized the inerrancy of God and the human tendency to overcomplicate divine commandments.
The fulfillment of the Old Covenant through Jesus as a generous gift, likening it to an extravagant tip at a restaurant. We discussed the New Covenant as an embodiment of love, and how it underscores the importance of loving your neighbor as oneself, emphasizing this as the core commandment of the New Covenant.
Finally, we explored foundational verses in scripture to anchor our understanding of this divine agreement.
Key Ideas and Lessons:
- The Transition of Law: Under the New Covenant, Jesus is the law, embodying grace and setting the path to righteousness. We are cautioned against the overcomplication of this law.
- God’s Infallibility: God didn’t make a mistake with the Old Covenant; humans did. This idea prompts a reflection on how we interpret and apply divine commandments.
- Jesus’ Fulfillment of the Old Covenant: Jesus’ fulfillment of the Old Covenant is portrayed as a generous act of paying off a significant debt for us, going above and beyond what was due.
- Love as the Core Commandment: The New Covenant is summarized in the commandment, ‘You shall love your Neighbor as you love yourself.’ This tenet is at the heart of the New Covenant and forms the cornerstone of our relationship with God and each other.
- Scripture as a Foundation: The article stresses the importance of grounding our understanding of the New Covenant in scripture, using several verses to illustrate different aspects of the New Covenant and our role within it.
For behind-the-scenes info on the research, artwork, and additional context for articles like this one, check out the Seekers Quill Podcast, published as a monthly wrap-up.
