The New Covenant Manifesto of God’s Love

When I first wrote this manifesto, I wanted to isolate an understanding of how we can understand God’s love, as He actively reaches out to heal mankind and save us from our collective depravity (global warming, divorce, extinction of species, inequities of justice, folly of illogical politics, starving children, poverty, etc.) 1

The Manifesto of God’s Love presents a biblical view of a case for God’s love to man — to you and to me — expressing the new covenant-based purpose of Jesus Christ in His teaching, demonstrated by how He lived in the flesh when He was here as a man on earth. Further, we will look at His authority as God to carry it out as the world continues to be offered a mind-changing view of love, even now while He is in Heaven. 

God’s Love was revealed to man through the life, scriptural teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Jesus taught that the universe has two Relationship Principles.

The two principles of love, or laws, place the focus on all our relationships, as beginning with our connection with God as our priority. Secondly, after we are in a proper relationship with God, we are to abide by a law of reciprocal relationship to others. These laws are the foundational principles of true love:

  1. Love God with your entire mind, feeling, and energy; and
  2. Reciprocally Love others with the same regard that you would also expect from them.

Jesus stated these laws: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these”. (Mk 12:29-31; John 13:34) Jesus re-emphasized love for others as a new commandment “even as I have loved you”, which was demonstrated in the flesh for the disciples and mankind, during his life, and finally on the Cross. Jesus reiterated the same guidance of moral law founded on love which was previously given by Moses (Lv 19:18).

The laws of Moses also contained ceremonial laws that pointed forward to the death of Christ on the cross. The laws involved metaphorical teachings that in hindsight referenced His coming death on the cross to redeem man from sin. John the Baptist referred to Him as the “Lamb of God”. These laws would be done away with at the cross when the metaphoric shadow-type of the sacrificial lamb died on the cross.

The laws that remained as the two key principles, as noted above, are based on love and are the foundation of all moral good, justice, and mercy in the universe. Apostle Paul and Barnabas made it clear when speaking to the Jews that they could no longer be acquitted by their law-keeping which included the ceremonial laws and many man-made laws. The only freedom from the condemnation of sin is found in accepting the death of Jesus Christ as our substitute, dying in our stead.

“Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.” (Ac 13:38-39 NASB)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth as a man. His main purpose was to make the true character of God the Father known to us: “He [Jesus] is a light to reveal God to the nations”. (Luke 2:32) Why did He do this? His aim was to reconcile mankind to God. Jesus changed our viewpoint of God, by helping us see God as the Father and Creator of the world and mankind while placing God within our conception of the family model where love is expressed; and expressing God’s intended mindset for man, to live life fully in the ways of true love. “This is how God showed his love among us: “He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” (1 John 4:9)

Even before His death, His life and teaching were about something radically misunderstood. Luke defined it as good news. “Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.“ (Lk 8:1) The foundation of all of the teaching of Jesus was to help man open his eyes to love in a new way.

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him”. (1 John 4:16) The scriptures indicate that “God is Love” and we are offered the opportunity to abide in that Love, and this is accomplished when “God abides in” a man or a woman’s allegiant heart and mind as God.

How does God abide within man?

When Jesus spoke of the Spirit he used the metaphor of living water: “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (John 7: 38-39 NLT) When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him and the Spirit would “flow from his heart” which is the seat of love in the mind. The love of God is expressed through us by His abiding love in us via His Spirit which Jesus said we would receive simply by believing in Him: “No one has ever seen God; but, if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:12) God’s love and His two relational love-laws work on the source principle of Agape love. You can see this united love working in healthy loving marriages, and families when based on these principles.

What is “Agape” love? [A-gap-ee]

Sexual attraction or passionate desire which was gifted to mankind only to enjoy within marriage has been corrupted. The natural gift of God of erotic love, termed “Eros” (Greek), unfortunately, has become dysfunctional in our society, because the foundational principle of God’s Love via the indwelling Spirit has not been confirmed in many marital or non-marital relationships; and thus Agape, true love, is not in place to protect relationships ordained by God. Wherever one of the followings is missing: loving God with our entire mind and subsequently loving others such as in marital unity, within the circle of Agape love, confusion or a sense of failure may follow. This God-given natural drive requires continuous care so as to be kept within its intended purpose and safeguarded boundaries – being a special form of love enhancing and integral to the love of a couple in marriage (marriage is God’s showcase example for our close unity with Him). This potential of maximal love is true at all levels of community, from two friends talking — to parents and children inter-relating in a family — to the gatherings of believers in the Church.

“Agape” is a Greek term for love which means selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. The apostle Paul noted that it is wise for people to marry to fulfill their godly desire for male-female physical relationship within this functional love-foundation, by marrying a partner with equal conviction to live within the context of God’s gift of Agape love: “Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: …if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion”. (1 Co 7:8-9, NIV)

To simplify the laws of God, Jesus taught how love works by explaining the two laws. Then as He taught thousands of people in various natural forums by the seaside and in the open fields; in conversations with his disciples; with the religious leaders; with individuals coming privately to him; with people broken and in despair, the first thing he carefully explained is that man does not perceive love correctly, because love is only understood by the heart opened up to God’s Agape love. Many listened, some rejected Him.

You can see the truth of His teaching all around you in society. This is why people often mistreat their closest family members, friends, and associates, yet do not realize that they are getting something drastically wrong. Many look back at failed marriages, failed relationships try-as-they-may, unkind slips of the tongue, unkind deeds, misunderstandings or failed intentions, and the overall disharmonious confusion that sets in, where love ought to be prominent, offering clarity, harmony, and joy in life.

When the Spirit of God opens our mind, we can see the glories of His source of true love, Agape love. This is why in John 3:7-8 Jesus said: “You must be born again… born of the Spirit”. For some, the idea of being born again is misunderstood as a TV preacher’s cliché. Put aside your religious views. Love has nothing to do with denominationalism and intra-doctrinal differences. Agape love as taught and demonstrated by Jesus is taught and maintained only via the divine energies and correct perceptions gifted via the Holy Spirit directing us from within our minds. In this sense, our minds must be cleared of our stodgy old concepts of Christianity. Jesus illustrated this: we must allow God to pour new wine into new wine-skins, new life, and new views into our newly opened minds.

You may also benefit from reading Christ is the end of the law for righteousness

1 I have updated this article on July 10, 2016

Share your thoughts with the author