The law of love given by the Lord Jesus
Based on the work done by Jesus Christ, the Word of God presents us a new creation governed by a new law: the law of love.
Under the New Covenant, the law of love is a commandment. Indeed, God has not left us a suggestion. But Jesus said : “I give you a new commandment: love one another” (John 13:34-35).
Under the Old Covenant, there were statutes, commandments and prescriptions that people had to observe in order to fulfill their part of the Covenant.
Under the New Covenant, Jesus gave us one new commandment. The law of love is to replace the Mosaic law with its prescriptions, statutes and commandments.
The commandment of love in the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Ten Commandments.
The law of love thus completed or fulfilled the commandments of the Old Testament.
Love, fruit of the Spirit and Christian character
We will be recognized by our fruits, not by our anointing or power. But what fruits are we talking about? The fruit of the Spirit that is to say love, joy, peace…
The fruit of the Spirit represents the Christian character. It is not a gift of the Holy Spirit but the fruit of the human spirit attached to God, manifested by faith.
The fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation of the new nature that has been in us since the New Birth. Love is the fruit of the recreated human mind.
This love that God has put in us can grow and develop because it is a fruit, and this fruit has vocation to grow as long as we remain attached to the vine, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If a person does not give any fruit, it is probably that he is not really attached to the tree : God.
The Fruit of the Spirit is:
Joy: the New Testament is a book of joy. It is a reaction in the mind to the things that God has already done (saved us, liberated us, blessed us, protected us, healed us, etc.). Joy is a decision, not a feeling.
James 1: 2-3 « 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. » KJV
2 Corinthians 7 : 4 « 4Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation. » KJV
1 Thessalonicians 1 : 6 « 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost » KJV
Peace: it is on three levels: within oneself, with God and with others. Our God is one God of peace.
Philippians 4 : 7 « 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. » KJV
Romans 15 : 33 « 33Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. » KJV
Longanimity (patience): it is perseverance in a same attitude of peace and love, until the promises of God are made manifest.
1 Timothy 1 : 16 « 16Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. » KJV
Colossians 3 : 12 « 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering » KJV
Éphésians 4 : 1-2 « 1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love » KJV
The benign (which is not a sign of weakness).
1 Corinthians 13 : 4 « 4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up » KJV
Goodness
Éphésians 5 : 9 « 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;). » KJV
Fidelity
Sweetness
Self-control (or temperance)
