Christ’s New Commandment

MEMORY VERSE: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” —John 13:34

MATTHEW 5:17-20; JOHN 13:34,35; 15:10-14

THE Ten Commandments present a high standard of righteousness, and they constitute the basis of the Law Covenant which God made with Israel, through Moses. This covenant was not transferred to spiritual Israelites of the Gospel Age; yet we are not to suppose that its commandments have no bearing on Christian conduct. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it; that is, he demonstrated that keeping the commandments perfectly was possible for a perfect man.

The Law was ordained, or designed, to give life to those who could keep it. But instead of giving life, as Paul explains, it brought death. (Rom. 7:10,11) There was nothing wrong with the Law. Paul wrote, “The Law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” (Rom. 7:12) The difficulty was in the imperfections of sinful, fallen flesh.

That the Law was designed to give life is emphasized in Jesus’ discussion with the young man who asked, “What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matt. 19:16) Jesus referred this young man to the commandments, but the young man replied that he had kept the Law from his youth. He probably had kept it the best he could but realized that he was growing older and dying just like everyone else, so he asked, “What lack I yet?”—vs. 20

In this young man we have an example of the fact that no imperfect member of Adam’s race can gain life simply by keeping the Ten Commandments. Jesus explained to him that he should sell all that he had and give to the poor, and follow him, and then he would have treasure in heaven. Here we are reminded that the way of the Christian is a way of sacrifice, as exemplified in Christ Jesus; and the way of true sacrifice is the way of love.

So the Christian is under a “new commandment,” a new law. It is a commandment which calls for the laying down of life on behalf of others. (I John 3:16) Those who are laying down their lives for others do not need to be commanded not to murder them. Neither would they steal from others, even though there were no commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.”

Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” For one to teach others to break the commandments would demonstrate a willful disposition to flout God’s law, and certainly such a one could not expect special favors from the Lord. This is a different situation from those who earnestly endeavor to obey the commandments but fail because of their inherited imperfections.

Those who dedicate their lives to following in the footsteps of Jesus are made acceptable to God through the merit of his shed blood. Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom. 12:1) Those who are walking in such a way of sacrifice are described by Paul as being “in Christ,” and for those who are “in Christ,” he explains, there is “no condemnation.”—Rom. 8:1

To the young man who failed to gain life by keeping the commandments Jesus promised that if he would sacrifice all and follow him, he would have treasure in heaven. Thus Jesus introduced the new hope of life set before those who follow him. It is a heavenly hope. (Heb. 3:1) For those who attain, it will be glory, honor, and immortality. (Rom. 2:7) It is “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,” and is “reserved in heaven.”—I Pet. 1:4

Thus we see that not only are Christians given a new commandment, but they are given a higher hope of life than that which was promised to Israel under the Law, a promise that never was realized because they could not live up fully to the terms of the Law. Under the Law Covenant there was “the blood of bulls and goats,” but this could not take away sin, so the Israelites died under the condemnation of the Law.

Under the new law of love there are still the inherited sins of those who endeavor to keep it; but there is also the blood of Christ which cleanses from all sins; and thus, for those whose hearts are right before God, there is continued acceptance and blessing.

QUESTIONS

Was the Law Covenant transferred to spiritual Israel?

Did anyone gain life under the Law?

What is the basis for acceptableness to God during the Gospel Age?

What is the Christian’s hope of life?

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