The record of the events which foreshadowed his coming was brought to life and then recorded again for a newly created people melded from Jew and gentile. "The law of Christ" from Gal. 6:2.
Our sins separate us from God. The message powers so much of the Bible that it can't be stressed enough. Anyone who has not accepted Christ on a personal level, whether they openly reject him or have sat in Church for a thousand Sundays because it's the "right thing to do" and is "good for you," needs Christ. Perfect attendance, memorized sermons and prayer meeting leadership deliver salvation no more than dances at midnight in a Druid worship ceremony.
The first section of Codex examines the Salvation commands, with our way of joining and knowing Him.
Section 2 deals with commands that tell us how we are to begin seeing the world around us. The internal reaction to Christ.
Section 3 lists the external, the sacrifice of our self, our "old man", in surrender to Christ so the outside world sees him in us.
Section 4 gives the overview and love commands from the simple "love thy neighbor" to the great commission or co-mission of salvation.
These are organized under Christ's design for discipleship: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." Itself a command.
Commands. Please note, if you are uncomfortable with that word, so am I. However, Christ himself calls his directions to us for salvation and Christian living "commands." Even links our depth of love for him to our obedience. The word serves to remind us that HE is king and WE are servants, that he is not a talisman to good fortune or good health, but the one who controls all our lives for HIS glorification. It far surpasses the word "precept" that has become so popular over the years. What Peter meant when he said we were to "respect Christ as the Holy Lord in your hearts" (1 Peter 3:15 NCV). The need to obey.
We can read the commands and repeat some very great men in saying they apply only to the Old Testament believer. We can choose, as some other great men, to dwell on one command or another, making it the focus of our church or denomination. We can "cherry-pick" our way through the commands, obeying some, ignoring others.
But these commands form the way Jesus lived. He told us what he felt, what he did, how he acted or would act (WWJD). He chose his words wisely and often repeated parables, actions or even miracles so the point resonated. He meant for his commands to be treated as James 2:8 suggests: "If ye fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, though shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well."
Christ's "royal law."
