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Christians experince in the moment of redemption a particularpeace and a deep joy, about the amazing grace of God. Even HEknows everything about me and you, but still He accept us. That’sthe amazing grace of God and about this we’re so joyful and findtrue peace in it.

Unfortunately this precious peace and joy can get lost. Often webegin to burden ourself, or we get burden from others withLegalism (rules). “You must do this, but this not and this you mustdo so and so forth.” Laws and rules have the effect that we exalt usover others, or to accuse others. “I always kept the rule A, but she/he not etc.” These rules are in the world perhaps necessary, butnot in the New Covenant (Kingdom of God). To gain clearness inthis matter, let’s take a closer look at the New Covenant.

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INTRODUCTION

And this happened right before the Passover Feast, as Jesus ate thelast supper with His disciples. Jesus did spend His last 24 hoursbefore crucifixion, exclusively with His disciples. Jesus encouragedthem, gave last instructions and particular promises and then Heestablished the “New Covenant.”

(John Chapter 13 till 17) (Matthew 26:26-28) (Mark 14:22-24)(Luke 22:19-20)

Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to the Father, broke the breadand said... This is My body which is broken for you; do this inremembrance of Me. (1 Corinthians 11:24b)

Jesus wants that we break bread together, for we shall rememberthat He gave His body for us. But why did Jesus gave His body?

That the wrath of God over my and your sins will be thrown onJesus instead on us.

Jesus continuing and said...This cup is the new covenant in Myblood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.(1 Corinthians 11:25b)

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THE NEW COVENANT

The common drinking of the cup shall bring remembrance, aboutthe new blood covenant that God made with man.

But why God made a new covenant? That man can stand stainlessbefore God and we can receive this stainlessness through faith inJesus Christ.

Jesus said further more...For as often as you eat this bread anddrink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. (1Corinthians 11:26)

With other words, if we break bread and drink the cup together,we’re preaching each time the gospel to ourselves. Jesus wantsthat we do constantly remember, the “New Covenant”. We shallconstantly remember that He made us stainless before God. Youshall always remember that He paid for your sins with His life, thatyou may be stainless before God.

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Right after the institution of the new covenant, Jesus gave a newcommandment. A new commandment I give to you, that youlove one another; as I have loved you, that you also love oneanother. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, ifyou have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

The new commandment demand brotherly love. We shall love oneanother like Jesus loved us. How does Jesus love us? He gaveHimself for us. Jesus is talking about a giving love. With this givinglove for the next, we can recognize the followers of Jesus (Matthew7:20).

Notice, that when the word “commandment” is mention in NewTestament, it’s always concerning the new commandment. TheMosaic commandment isn’t any more relevant. The followers ofJesus are under the so called Jesus commandment.

(Matthew 22:38-40) (Mark 12:30-31) (John 15:20) 1 (Timothy1:5) (1 John 4:21) (2 John 1:5-6)

(1 John 3:23) And this is His commandment: that we shouldbelieve on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love oneanother, as He gave us commandment.

God’s commandment is called also the Royal Law! (James 2:8) Ifyou really fulfil the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shalllove your neighbour as yourself,” you do well

Another important aspect is, that God plants the Holy Spirit into thehearts of believers, like predicted from the prophets (Ezekiel36:27)  (Jeremiah 31:33b).

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THE NEW COMMANDMENT

THE NEW HEART

(Ezekiel 36:26a) I will give you a new heart and put a new spiritwithin you

The Holy Spirit can do now what the Law was doing in the OldTestament, because God plants HIS Spirit into the hearts ofbelievers. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, of righteousness, and ofjudgment. Therefore Jesus said...

(John 16:7-8) Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to youradvantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper willnot come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And whenHe has come, He will convict the world of sin, and ofrighteousness, and of judgment.

The Holy Spirit gives us a new desire. The desire to do good afterthe heart of God, but if we sin comes the conviction through theHoly Spirit and this is grieving us. It is good to know that the HolySpirit isn’t leaving us when we do sin, because we are sealed withHim until the day of redemption.

(Ephesians 4:30)   And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, bywhom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is changing us from inside to outside and developsthe desire to do good after the heart of God. Therefore, believers in

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Christ bear the “fruit of the Spirit” and for those who bear this fruit,there is no Law.

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

On this tightrope walk with the Holy Spirit and our sinning nature,we do stumble and we will fall. But if we fall (fail) there is a safetynet that will catch us and this called the “Grace of God.” We’re notonly getting caught, but also straighten up through the power ofthe Holy Spirit, that we may learn more and more to walk on thattightrope. With each fall we’re learning and this process is calledsanctification and that last, the whole life.

Jesus came to fulfil the Law and the prophets and there is nodoubt, that this was one main purpose of His mission.

(Matthew 5:17) Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or theProphets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil.

Jesus did what no man could do. He fulfilled indeed the Law andthe prophets, with His life, teaching, and His works. Jesus fulfilledthe Law literally with each jot and title.

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GLORIFICATION

SACTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION

JESUS FULFILLED THE LAW

(Matthew 5:18b) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earthpass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass from the lawtill all is fulfilled.

The little word “till” get often overlooked, but it’s actually essentialin this statement. Below is another essential “till” which relates toit.

(Galatians 3:19) What purpose then does the law serve? It wasadded because of transgressions, till the Seed should come towhom the promise was made

The Law had an expiration day (till the Seed should come) and themission of Jesus was among others to fulfil the Law.

(Romans 8:3) For what the law could not do in that it was weakthrough the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in thelikeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in theflesh 4. that the righteous requirement of the law might befulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but accordingto the Spirit.

Jesus came to fulfil the Law and the Prophets and no doubt, He didit.

(Matthew 5:18b) For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven andearth pass away, one jot or one title will by no means pass fromthe law till all is fulfilled.

Till heaven and earth pass away points to the judgment day.With other words the Law will have full validness until the judgmentday, for those who try to be righteous before God with their ownworks, with their religious, legal works. Those will indeed be judgedwith the measure of the Law.

Till all is fulfilled points to the time when Jesus considers all asfulfilled. We can even understand the exact time, when Jesusconsiders that the Law and the prophets as fulfilled.

(John 19:28-30) After this, Jesus, knowing that all things werenow accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

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said, “I thirst!” 29. Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there;and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, andput it to His mouth. 30. So when Jesus had received the sour wine,He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up Hisspirit.

There is no doubt that Jesus considered all as fulfilled, before Hedied on the cross. Jesus accomplished His mission! Jesus fulfilledthe Law for us; so that believers are freed from it and that thereexist no transgression and condemnation for those in Jesus Christ.

(Hebrew 9:15) And for this reason He is the Mediator of the newcovenant, by means of death, for the redemption of thetransgressions under the first covenant, that those who arecalled may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Jesus freed us from the condemnation of the Mosaic Law(covenant). Christians are under the New Covenant. Like alreadymentioned, the Holy Spirit is doing now, the work which the Lawdid in the Old Testament. (John16:7-8) (Hebrew 10:38a) (2Corinthians 3:6).

(Romans 7:6) But now we have been delivered from the law,having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve inthe newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.

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(Galatians 5:18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are notunder the law.

(Romans 10:4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteous-ness to everyone who believes.

(Philippians 3:9) not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast

Believers in Jesus don’t need self-justifying works, because Jesusdid finish the work on the cross for us. For true rest and peacecomes only through sincere faith in the Good News, and notthrough the Old Testament Laws and rituals. Therefore Jesus saidthat we shall come to Him to find rest...

(Matthew 11:28-30) Come to Me, all you who labor and areheavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take My yoke uponyou and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and youwill find rest for your souls 30. For My yoke is easy and Myburden is light.”

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In (Acts 15) we find that Paul and Barnabas travelled from thechurch of Antioch to the church in Jerusalem, to clear with theapostles following questions; “must Christians keep the MosaicLaw and to be circumcised?” On this matter made the council ofJerusalem a verbal and written degree, which was given to thechurch that this matter is settled for all time.

The Jerusalem Decree:

(Acts 15 24-29) Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that somewho went out from us have troubled you with words,unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised andkeep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment— 25 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord,to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas andPaul,26 men who have risked their lives for the name of ourLord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas,who will also report the same things by word ofmouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, tolay upon you no greater burden than these necessarythings: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, fromblood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. Ifyou keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

The Law is God’s status of righteousness; it displays God’s ethicalcharacter and requirements. The Law is making sin visible. The Lawis showing us our inability to please God with our own works.Through the Law we’re seeking the grace of God, which we can findin Jesus. The Law is bringing us to Jesus where we receivejustification.

(Romans 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified byfaith apart from the deeds of the law.

(Romans 3:20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh willbe justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

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APOSTLE RESOLUTION

We cannot enter the Kingdom of God through our own works, orour own standard of righteousness, because this would mean self-righteousness. The only way into the Kingdom of God is throughthe righteousness of Jesus Christ, which is available through graceand faith.

GOD is sanctifying you entirely and Jesus preserves you that youmay be blameless at His coming.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23-24) Now may the God of peace Himselfsanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, andbody be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord JesusChrist. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

There is also another very important thing to be aware; some try tomix the gift of grace with works of Law, but this is really not thetrue Gospel. The Galatians church was influenced by those who arecalled the Judaizers. They were a group of Jewish Christians whotaught that Christians have to keep the Mosaic Law and Rituals.Still today are those who claim to belonging to Jesus, but theybelieve at the same time it’s necessary to practice additional someOld Testament Laws and rituals, to improve the security of theirsalvation and their reputation among people. They thought thiswon’t harm, but that’s actually a lack of true faith. Somehow theycannot fully surrender to Jesus and thus they have also not reallytrust in His New Covenant.

The sad thing is that those are trying to bring people back underthe yoke of bondage, back into slavery. Therefore Paul wasconcerned about the Galatians church and he wrote them...

(Galatians 5:1) Stand fast therefore in the liberty by whichChrist has made us free, and do not be entangled again with ayoke of bondage.

If you did not receive, or understand the actual Gospel, you are indanger. If you try to please God trough legal, religious works, you

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WARNING

have fallen from Grace. With other words, you have chosen to bejudged by the Law, because you refuse the gift of salvation which isonly available through grace by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians2:16).

(Galatians 5:2-4) Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you becomecircumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again toevery man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keepthe whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, youwho attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen fromgrace.

If you like to please God with some extra legal, religious works tobecome with this righteous before HIM, by this you’re bringingyourself into the bondage of the Law. Therefore remains for youonly the hope, to fulfil the whole Law.

(James 2:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yetstumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

(Romans 4:5) But to him who does not work but believes onHim who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted forrighteousness.

I like to mention concerning healthy habits, it’s for sure beneficialfor the wellness to eat no pork, and shellfish. The circumcision isalso a healthy hygiene protection. It’s also very healthy to take aday off, take a rest once a week. All rituals that God gave to Israelare good for the wellness; however, it’s important that we have inthe New Covenant, no religious conviction in it.

Through the New Covenant is for believers everything allowed, butnot everything is beneficial and useful.

(1 Corinthians 6:12) All things are lawful for me, but all things arenot helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be broughtunder the power of any.

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HEALTHY LIVING

Paul explains in his writings, that there is no salvation throughworks. Why does James say that faith without works is dead faith?

(James 2:17) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not haveworks, is dead.

Also concerning this bible verse is the content of the wholemessage important. In the same chapter is James saying...

(James 2:8) If you really fulfil the royal law according to theScripture, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” you dowell.

James is talking about the commandment of the new covenant,which is in connection with your works. For we shall not only talkabout love, but love shall also be revealed in our works.

(James 2:14-17) What does it profit, my brethren, if someonesays he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?15. If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16.and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed andfilled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed forthe body, what does it profit? 17. Thus also faith by itself, if itdoes not have works, is dead.

Our faith saves us, but it has to be living faith and not just deadfaith. True living faith is visible and therefore real faith. Jamesdoesn’t say that works can save, but that we can see true, realfaith in the works of believers.

James emphasized in his writings, that we shall love our fellowmenand treat them good. He is leading us to the commandment of thenew covenant, which is “love for your neighbour.”

(Johannes 13:34-35) A new commandment I give to you, that youlove one another; as I have loved you, that you also love oneanother. 35. By this all will know that you are My disciples, ifyou have love for one another.”

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DEAD FAITH

We shall love one another like Jesus loved us and how did Jesuslove us? He gave Himself for us and with His giving love in us, weshall love others. Believers in Jesus will be recognized at the worksof their love for others. James did explain us, when the newcommandment is brother love, and then we should not only talkabout it, but also do it. That means to love without partiality, toaccept others the way they are and to forgive others for theirwrong behaviour. If you’re really saved, then God put His Spirit inyour heart, which is producing in you that new desire, to love yourneighbour. That means to care about those who are suffering andto share and give help to the needy with your deeds. Your faithbecomes visible through your works.

When Christians are freed from the Mosaic Law, is to sin alright forthem? With other words, is for believers in Jesus stealing, lying,and committing murder, adultery, idolatry, and so forth alright.

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LICENSE TO SIN ?

Do you remember how the new covenant was established at thelast supper and Jesus gave us a new commandment, the so calledLaw of Christ.

(John 13:34-35)  A new commandment I give to you, that youlove one another; as I have loved you, that you also love oneanother.

(1 John 3:23-24) And this is His commandment: that we shouldbelieve on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love oneanother, as He gave us commandment.

(Romans 13:8) Owe no one anything except to love one another,for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

(Romans 13:9-10) For the commandments, “You shall not commitadultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shallnot bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is anyother commandment, are all summed up in this saying,namely, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  10 Lovedoes no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment ofthe law.

Here are now some of the Ten Commandments listed. All things inthe Old Testament which are prohibited through rules are alsolisted in the New Testament.

If you believe in Jesus then you also love your neighbour andyou’re not going to do these sins.

God’s is looking for a personal, living, relationship with man, whichis based on true love. Like for example, the relationship of amarriage couple, they want to be faithful to one another and pleaseone another, out of love, their rule is love.

To be free from the Law doesn’t mean to live immoral. The HolySpirit helps believers to live moral and this is called to bear the fruitof the Holy Spirit.

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(Galatians 5:22-25) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23.gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

In the letter to the Galatians Paul explained the freedom ofbelievers and this particularly clear, but also in the letter ofRomans, Paul was giving us some explanations concerning the sinin man.

(Romans 6:1-2) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sinthat grace may abound? 2. Certainly not! How shall we who diedto sin live any longer in it?

(Romans 6:8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that weshall also live with Him

(Romans 6:11-14) Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead

indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should

obey it in its lusts. 13. And do not present your

members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present

yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your

members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14. For sin

shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law

but under grace.

Soon as we’re saved sin has no more power over us. God gave us anew freedom in Jesus Christ! In the whole chapter seven ofRomans, we can find how Paul gives explanations about thefreedom from the power of sin, but it doesn’t mean that we’re notsinning anymore. John confirms this...

(1 John 1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,and the truth is not in us.

We still have a sinning nature; we’re sinners but saved by grace.We have the grace as safety net under us, which will catch us whenwe sin and therefore stand in Grace and don’t go back under theLaw. You know, there is no condemnation for those in Jesus Christ.

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(Romans 8:1) There is therefore now no condemnation to thosewho are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,but according to the Spirit. 2. For the law of the Spirit of life inChrist Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

You need the Holy Spirit to get familiar with the freedom in JesusChrist, which you receive in the moment of salvation. BUT BEAWARE, if you did not receive the Holy Spirit you’re not saved!The scripture is telling us that we should test ourselves, if the HolySpirit is really in us!

(2 Corinthians 13:5)  Examine yourselves as to whether you are inthe faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, thatJesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

You can test yourself by seeking the Holy Spirit in you. Is thespiritual fruit clearly visible in your life?

(Galatians 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness,self-control. Against such there is no law.

(1 John 3:24b)  Now he who keeps His commandments abides inHim, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, bythe Spirit whom He has given us.

The Holy Spirit did change the hearts of those who are really savedand born again, so that those don’t want sin, out of love to God.The Holy Spirit guides believers to live with that freedom that theyreceived through Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 6:12) All things are lawful for me, but all things arenot helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be broughtunder the power of any.

(1 Corinthians 8:9) But beware lest somehow this liberty of yoursbecome a stumbling block to those who are weak.

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TEST YOURSELF

(Romans 8:2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hasmade me free from the law of sin and death.

(2 Corinthians 3:17) Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where theSpirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

(Galatians 5:13) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but throughlove serve one another.

Jesus delivers you from the power of sin, from condemnationthrough the Law, from the dark powers and power of death!

(John 8:36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall befree indeed.

God may bless you with His Love and Grace

Written & Copy Rights by: Andreas Schmid - MGN Production

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TRUE FREEDOM