Law of the Heart

"The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him" (John 14:21).

Most people think this means obeying the ten commandments or Mosaic law. While obeying the law is important there is a greater meaning. The commands are the ones God said he would write on our hearts. “I will put my law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:31-34). This is the new covenant, in which we are the heirs through Jesus Christ who is the first (Romans 8:23; Colossians 1:13-18). The heirs of Abraham are made righteous through faith, for if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is void and the promise nullified (Romans 4:13-14).

The righteousness of God has been manifested, through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe (Romans 3:21-22). What the law could not do, in bringing righteousness, God did through Jesus Christ, the lamb of God (Romans 8:3). Jesus said not one jot of the law would pass away and those who annul the law and teach others to do so would be least in his kingdom (Matthew 5:17-19). However he said our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, who were followers of the law, he wants the laws to be within our hearts (Matthew 5:21-23). Jesus came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it and there is a way to fulfill the law; walk by the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4) and obey two greatest commandments that hang on the law (Matthew 22:38-40). This is the premise of the new covenant through Christ; he would write his laws on our hearts.

The Holy Spirit resides in us, we delight in the law of God in our hearts, and we obey through love. "God said not, "I will come again, as I came on Sinai, and thunder at them." No, but, "I will come in gentleness and mercy, and find a way into their hearts." He said not, "I will take two great tables of stone, and with my finger write out my law before their eyes." No, but, "I will put my finger upon their hearts, and there will I write my law." He said not, "I will give promises and threatening that shall be the safeguard of this new covenant;" but, "I will with my Spirit graciously operate upon their minds and their hearts, and so I will sweetly influence them to serve me,—not for reward, nor from any servile motive, but because they know me, and they love me, and they feel it to be their delight to walk in the way of my commandments"[1].

Jesus says to his disciples, if you love me you will keep my words, and the Holy Spirit will help you to remember these words, the words and works from the father (John 14:23-26; 10). These are the laws God is writing on our hearts, the words of Jesus, who is the word of God. He is the true vine, if we abide in him and his words in us we will know the truth, we will be set free and produce much fruit (John 8:31-33;15:5). These commands of the heart are centered around Love. Jesus said, the first and greatest commandment is to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matthew 22:27-40). And there is one like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. And a new one, "This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:12-14).

Through this Love and Unity in the body of Christ we will be a testimony to the world that we are his disciples and he is from God; others will believe our message and know that Jesus is from God (John 13:35;17:21-23).

"This is what I command you: Love one another" (John 15:17).

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