Under the new covenant, Christ destroys the power of sin in us. Therefore, to preach the new covenant as though it primarily were a dispensation of grace, in the sense that by receiving Christ our sins are forgiven unconditionally for eternity, is to miss the point entirely.

The Book of First John may be the strongest exhortation in the New Testament concerning sin in the life of the believer. The Book of First John demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt that the new covenant is not primarily a waiver of the sins of believing Gentiles.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (I John 2:4)

John, being steeped in the Jewish religion, and writing to believers who either were converted Jews or who at least were acquainted with the main tenets of Judaism, was referring to the commandments governing morality.

The Judaic laws of morality were adhered to and magnified by the Lord Jesus Christ, for they are the fundamental laws of righteousness and holiness. They are written in the conscience of all men. They have to do with upright behavior, compassion, and humble dependence on God. They come from eternity past and will endure throughout eternity future.

The Apostle John defines sin as "the transgression of the law." This is what sin is (I John 3:4).

The ancient moral commandments (not the ceremonial statutes) concerning adultery, murder, and so forth, are binding on Christians. The commandment concerning the Sabbath is kept by us as we enter the rest of God, as we present our body a living sacrifice. While the Jew was commanded to set apart one day each week for the purpose of ceasing from his works and delighting himself in the Lord, the Christian is required to give himself wholly to Jesus at all times, not practicing his own works or finding his own pleasure (Isaiah 58:13).

We are dead to the Law of Moses so we may be married to Jesus. Many Christians of today are married neither to Moses nor to Christ. They dwell in the gap of lawlessness, not understanding the demands of the new covenant.

Jesus did not set us free from Moses so we could live our life according to our adamic desires. Rather, we have been released from Moses so we may be free to look constantly to the Lord Jesus for every aspect of life.

The Jew under Moses was not required to present his body a living sacrifice. The Christian is commanded to put his life on the altar of God and to live always and only to God—not one day a week but seven days a week.

We understand from this that each of the Ten Commandments is to be kept by each member of the Body of Christ to a far greater extent than was demanded by the Law of Moses. Truly, our righteousness of personality and behavior must exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees if we hope to enter the Kingdom of God.

To be continued.