How do the works of mercy help you to live like Jesus' new law?

Answer 1

The misleading part of this question lies in the belief of so many denominations of modern professing Christianity that Jesus proclaimed some "new law" to replace the "old" Ten Commandments. But, HE DIDN'T!

All Jesus did in the flesh was magnify and bring to Light in the hearts and minds of those who could recognize it, the revelation that the "old" Ten Commandments AREHis SPIRITUAL LAWS OF LOVE.

Paul, who was a teacher of the Law, taught this to the Gentile churches he planted:

"For WE KNOW that THE LAW IS SPIRITUAL: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Rom.7:14)

John, whom Jesus Loved, knew this little-known Truth regarding the "old" Ten Commandments:

"This is how we may know that we have COME TO KNOW HIM, by ALWAYS KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS." (I John 2:3 MNT Montgomery New Testament)

John knew that Jesus didn't start any "new" Law... but merely magnified the "old" one; revealing that the "physical manifestation" of the Law [murder, adultery, theft, lying, etc.] all begin with a WICKED THOUGHT [which is a 'spiritual act']. A wicked thought like "envy, anger, jealousy, greed."

John knew that Jesus didn't start any "new law" as many churches believe, today. Nor did he teach anything more than God's "old" Commandments -- that, WITH AN AWAKENED INNER CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE SPIRIT WITHIN US, that has the INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, to LOVE ONE ANOTHER:

"Beloved, I AM NOT WRITING A NEW COMMANDMENT to you, nay, AN OLD COMMANDMENT, which you have had from the beginning. That Old Commandment message to which you have listened. Yet again IT IS A NEW COMMANDMENT which I am writing to you, which is True in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away [spiritual darkness; our sleeping, slumbering, blinded human spirit awakened to the Light of God's Truth], and the True Light is already shining. He who says he is in the Light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. But he who Loves his brother is abiding in the Light, and in it there is no cause of stumbling." (I John 2:7-10 MNT)

Learning God's "works of Mercy" is what this life is all about. But the lesson seems lost a world full of the "spiritually darkened" generations of Satan-deceived mankind [see Rev.12:9].

The "newness" of the "old" Law that "Jesus wrote with His own finger in the stone tablets" for Moses [Ex.31:18] is in the awareness that the Law is "spiritual"... that man needs to "think" [guard his thoughts] about what he is doing, thinking and saying -- to himself as well as to his Creator... and to his fellow man.

But it is exactly the "WORKS OF MERCY" [Selfless Love; Obeying the Ten Commandments] that FULFILLS Jesus "New/Old Law." For God's "Love and Mercy" is written into His Law. And He is very succinct as to "who gets His Mercy" and "who doesn't":

"...for I the LORD thy God AM a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them THAT HATE ME; and showing MERCY unto thousands of them that LOVE ME, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS." (Ex.20:5-6 KJV)

Same Commandment - [NLT] New Living Translation):

"...for I, the LORD your God, AM a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of THOSE WHO HATE ME, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations. But I LAVISH MY LOVE on those WHO LOVE ME and OBEY MY COMMANDMENTS, even for a thousand generations."

Most of today's religions don't know that the Commandment, above, are the Words of Jesus Christ, the WORD of God, the Almighty Creator God of the Old Testament [see John 1:3], who spoke these Words directly from the cloud-covered, smoking, trembling mountain to Moses and the children of Abraham! It was a most terrifying episode that the people couldn't bear:

"When the people heard the thunder and the loud blast of the horn, and when they saw the lightning and the smoke billowing from the mountain, they stood at a distance, trembling with fear. And they said to Moses, 'You tell us what God says, and we will listen. But don't let God speak directly to us. If He does, we will die!

" 'Don't be afraid,' Moses said, 'for God has come in this way to show you His awesome Power. From now on, LET YOUR FEAR KEEP YOU FROM SINNING!'" (Ex.20:20 NLT)

Sin is the breaking of God's Commandments [I John 3:4].

God's "old" Ten Commandments ARE Jesus' "new" Law... with a spiritual application. And God's Mercy [His "works of Mercy"; His "Love"] is "lavished" upon those who LOVE HIM, and KEEP HIS "new" LAW.

And anyone who "does the works of God's Mercy" [anyone who Loves God and Obeys His Commandments] Loves God and is Merciful and Loves his fellow man -- and IS LIVING Jesus' "New Law."

Because the Spirit of Christ is Living in them, Obeying God's "old" Laws of Love.

"I command you to Love each other in the same way that I Love you. And here is how to measure it - the Greatest Love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are My friends IF YOU OBEY ME... I COMMAND YOU TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER." (John 15:12-17 NLT)