Commands found in the New Testament are not laws. A law is something that you are bound to keep where failure to keep it results in a penalty/punishment. There is no condemnation or punishment for those in Christ. Jesus fulfilled the law & ended it by nailing it to the cross (Colossians 2:14 & Ephesians 2:15).
Jesus officially gave ONE new command. Old Testament commands were clearly outlined as to who they were given to.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2, "These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them.. you and your children and grandchildren.. as long as you live."
There was no formal giving of new universal commands in the New Testament. So many have legalized the New Testament espousing that the mere presence of commands in scripture equates to those commands universally applying to all mankind. I used to do it myself & to myself.
If you have a command that every person is bound to keep every moment of their life, regardless of how long or how well they know God that is a burdensome law. The idea that Christians are bound to keep any of the commands spoken/written in the New Testament by Jesus, the apostles, & its authors is false.
If you are reading the New Testament it is wise to consult the Father & to examine the context of what is being said. But the discussion of what we are "supposed to do" & "supposed to avoid" according to scripture is a wasted one. It is legalistically treating the bible as a law book in which we only seek to gain "knowledge of good & evil." By default this causes us to miss the message of abundant life & our loving Father that the New Testament contains. It is replacing the Spirit with the letter. It focuses our minds to improving our flesh rather than even so much as glancing at Jesus.
So the, ultimately judgemental & condemning, discussions of "who should do what" were never meant to be had. Jesus wants us to know His wonderful loving Father. A father who is always by his child's side doesn't need a list of dos & don'ts. He only needs his love & his child's trust.
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is love for God: to keep His commands" Uh oh! ...there goes grace!
Trust and Love, Everything We Need
If WHO loves Him? They will keep WHAT commandments?
