Many of us grew up with the idea that following God meant following a long list of rules. Don’t do this. Don’t do that. Work harder. Be better. It felt like the only way to be accepted by God was to perform perfectly, and even then, it never seemed like enough. That’s because the Old Command—the law—was based on performance. It was all about trying to meet God’s standard through our own efforts. But then Jesus came along and changed everything.
The Old Command
Jesus summarized the purpose of the law and prophets in what is famously known as The Greatest Commandment.
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40, NIV)
Under the Old Covenant, God’s people were given a set of laws to follow. These laws were meant to set them apart and guide them in living righteous lives. But the reality was that no one could ever fully meet those standards. The law exposed our weaknesses, our failures, and our inability to be perfect. It became a burden—one that no one could carry on their own.
The old system was all about doing—do this, and you’ll be blessed; do that, and you’ll be cursed. It was a system based on works, and it left people feeling exhausted and defeated. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t achieve the level of righteousness that the law demanded. When Jesus taught The Greatest Commandment, He was speaking to a Jewish audience under the law. He did not intend for believers today to live based on His summary of the law.
The New Command
There is a better way to live on this side of the cross, summarized with The New Command that Jesus taught before going to the cross.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34, NIV)
Notice the difference here. The Old Command was about striving to meet God’s standards, while the New Command is about receiving and reflecting God’s love. Jesus taught that we must first be loved by Him (“as I have loved you”) and then we have the source of grace to love each other. This isn’t just another rule to follow; it’s a completely different way of living.
The New Command isn’t about performance—it’s about relationship. It’s not about earning God’s love; it’s about accepting the fact that you are already loved, unconditionally, right where you are. When you receive that love, it naturally overflows to others.
The Freedom of the New Covenant
What Jesus offers us through the New Command is freedom. Freedom from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn God’s favor. In the New Covenant, your identity isn’t based on your performance; it’s based on Jesus’ finished work on the cross.
The pressure is off. You don’t have to strive to be loved by God. You don’t have to check off a list of religious duties to earn His acceptance. Jesus fulfilled the law for you, and now He invites you to live in the reality of His grace.
Love as the Fulfillment of the Law
When you understand this shift from law to love, it changes everything. Loving others isn’t just a command to follow; it’s the natural response to experiencing God’s love yourself. When you truly know how much you are loved by God, you can’t help but extend that love to others. When you experience God’s love in a real way, His love can now live through you.
That’s why Jesus taught that love fulfills the law. The law demanded perfection, but love gives grace. The law pointed out our failures, but love covers them. The law created distance between us and God, but love draws us near.
Living in the New Command
So, what does it look like to live in this New Command? It starts with receiving. Let go of the idea that you have to earn God’s love. Accept that you are already fully loved and fully accepted, not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus has done.
Once you’ve received God’s love, let it transform the way you interact with others. Love others as Jesus has loved you—freely, generously, and without conditions. That’s the heart of the New Command, and it’s the foundation of the New Covenant.
In a world that often values performance and achievement, this can feel counterintuitive. But the more you lean into God’s love, the more you’ll discover the freedom and joy that comes from simply being loved. And that love will begin to spill over into every area of your life, impacting the way you see yourself, others, and God.
In this New Command, Jesus is inviting us to a life of love, not law. Will you accept that invitation? Let go of the need to perform and embrace the reality of God’s unconditional love. It’s the greatest gift you’ll ever receive.
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