God's Standing Orders: What to Do When You're Not Sure What to Do

By Michael A. Paradox

Coming to Christ at age fifteen saved not only my soul but my life. I came to Christ trying to find peace and happiness after a tumultuous childhood. I've spent more than thirty years learning how to answer some of life's more difficult questions.

Now, I feel called by God to share a good portion of it with God's people.

One of the many questions answered is, "What is walking in the spirit in everyday behavioral terms?"

Other questions answered in this book include:

"What is the meaning of true forgiveness?" (chapter 5). "What are the elements of trustworthiness in relationships?" "What are the main causes of human suffering?" (chapter 2, 5 and 7). "How can we avoid suffering or mitigate it?" (chapter 5). And most important to the children of God, "What is God really asking of us, beyond any shadow of doubt?" (chapter 2, 5, and 6). These are just a few examples of the questions answered.

By sharing some of what I've gleamed from my life long focus on understanding the Bible in behavioral terms, I try to dispel much of the confusion surrounding God's word and life in general. In this Bible study book, much of the work is done for you, though not all. I take you step by step, scripture by scripture, attempting to turn the complex into simplicity, without being simplistic.

Those with a deep desire to know God's will, are likely to be blown away at how simple it really is. Although, simple does not always mean easy. You have to "hang in there" through the rough spots, but with new clarity of focus comes peace and with peace comes strength. I believe it is a lot like digging for gold that's just beneath the surface. It takes a little work but the rewards will be well worth it.

May God continue to bless you.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9781639037414

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God’s

Standing Orders

What to Do When You’re Not Sure What to Do

Michael A. Paradox

ISBN 978-1-63903-740-7 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63903-742-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63903-741-4 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Michael A. Paradox

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Meaning of New Testament

Finally, TO RECAPITULATE CHAPTER 1:

What Does God Ask of Those Who Are Saved under the New Testament?

GOD’S STANDING ORDERS FOR ALL HIS CHILDREN

STANDING ORDERS vs. INDIVIDUAL CALLING

STANDING ORDERS OVER INDIVIDUAL CALLING

IMPERFECTION CAUSED BY UNBELIEF = SIN

THE BLOOD OF JESUS IS THE PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF GOD’S MERCY

THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW IS ABOVE THE LETTER OF THE LAW

To Fear the Lord and Do Good Encompasses the Whole Law

WHAT IS SPIRIT?

THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

LEARNING ABOUT GOD COMES FROM STUDYING HIS WORD WITH YOUR EYES AND EARS

BIBLE STUDIES SHOULD BE PERSONAL, JUST AS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

AN EXAMPLE OF A PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY

PERSONAL NOTE

Digested Translation

MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD DEVELOPS THE MIND OF CHRIST IN US

TITHING AS WORSHIP

Fire and Forget Faith

LIFE UNDER THE NEW TESTAMENT OR COVENANT ACCORDING TO GOD

SIMPLIFIED TRANSLATION OF ROMANS 7:5 USING A BEHAVIORAL FOCUS

Life as a Child of God

DRAW NEAR TO GOD

HOW TO BEAR FRUIT UNTO GOD

IN THIS BOOK, I WILL ONLY GIVE AN OVERVIEW AND COVER THE LAST TWO FRUIT SIMPLY TO ILLUSTRATE THE POINT OF WORKING FROM THE LAST FRUIT FIRST. ALL NINE OF THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT SHOULD BE A WHOLE OTHER STUDY.

LAST FRUIT FIRST: TEMPERANCE OR SELF-DISCIPLINE

Taking Self-Control Starts in Your Thinking, Breathing, and Moving

WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT EXPANDS

EXERTING THE FRUIT OF SELF-DISCIPLINE MEANS STAYING IN FAITH AND HUMILITY

SPEND 20 PERCENT OF YOUR TIME ON THE PROBLEM AND 80 PERCENT OF YOUR TIME ON THE SOLUTION SO THAT FEAR DOESN’T CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROBLEM

UNDERSTANDING THE NEXT FRUIT FROM BACK TO FRONT: HUMILITY

We, as Christians, exert self-control by refusing the enemy (narcissistic) lie that we already know it all. The two most hampering or even damaging words to learning are I know. When you think, I know you will automatically learn less. GET IT SETTLED RIGHT NOW, WE WILL NEVER KNOW ALL THERE IS TO KNOW, WHILE IN THIS LIFE. If a person thinks they already know, they close their mind to further learning. The mind is like a parachute, it works best when open. As we hurtle through this mystery we call life, it is best to keep your parachute open.

Change Is a Constant in the Physical World

Thinking that somehow God’s love for us is not perfect leads us to sin. It is believing that God is imperfect. As mentioned in chapter 2 in the section IMPERFECTION CAUSED BY UNBELIEF = SIN, when someone doesn’t trust perfection, that person becomes imperfect by default. It is our job to learn to trust God in every area of our lives and to move away from the untrusting beliefs that lead us to sin. Unbelief is the root of all sin against God. We sin when we don’t believe God loves us completely and perfectly. We sin when we don’t believe that what God wants for us, whatever that may be, is perfect. We sin when we think our way is better than the Creator’s way.

Breaking Old Habits

HOW TO HELP OTHERS IN SPIRITUAL CRISIS WITHOUT FALLING INTO ONE YOURSELF:

A SPIRITUAL SPECIAL FORCES POINT OF VIEW

FAITH IS THE KEY THAT OPENS THE DOOR TO GOD’S GRACE, HUMILITY KEEPS US THERE

THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

WALKING IN THE COVENANT OF GRACE—SIMPLIFIED

IMAGE OF GOD IN US

THE PURPOSE OF LIFE

CYCLE OF LIVING IN MATURE LOVE OR AGAPE

REACHING A HIGHER LOVE THROUGH THE CYCLE OF PURPOSE

What Is My Part and What Is God’s?

REFINE YOUR PROCESS

WE ARE IN CHARGE OF THE PROCESS AND GOD IS IN CHARGE OF THE OUTCOME.

EXAMPLE NONLITERAL TRANSLATION

SERVING GOD WITH AN ABUNDANCE MENTALITY

POINT OF CONTACT ACTIONS AS PART OF THE REFINING PROCESS

HOW TO REPROGRAM YOUR MIND FOR GOOD SUCCESS

TRANSFORMATIONAL THINKING

SOME EXAMPLES OF THOUGHTS THAT CAN TRANSFORM YOUR MIND (from past studies I’ve done):

Laws of Life?

The Order of the Day Is Law

What Makes Something True?

Fact vs. Truth

Tithe with Your life to Draw Near to God

DILIGENCE IN THINKING IS PART OF THE MAXIMUM MIND-SET

CONTINUE TO REFINE YOUR PROCESS AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THE OUTCOME.

Diligence Despite Our Human Weakness

Predestination vs. Free Will

ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED?

MY LIFE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE PARADOXES WE ALL HAVE TO FACE

Spiritual Genetics?

THE PARADOX OF SALVATION

WHAT IS THE POINT OF THIS MINI-BIO

LET US INOCULATE OUR CHILDREN FROM SIN AS BEST WE CAN

WE CAN DO BETTER AT THE JOB THAT WE ARE BEST SUITED FOR: SELF-POLICING

THE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS WHOLE CHAPTER ON DILIGENCE

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL:

GOD’S STANDING ORDER HOLDS TRUE: ADOPT THE MIND OF CHRIST IN ORDER TO BEAR FRUIT UNTO GOD.

QAVAH FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND HIS ANOINTING

Basics of VIGILANT SPIRITUAL WARFARE

MATURITY DEFINED?

ORIGIN OF ADAMIC NATURE

TO FOLLOW GOD (LOVE), USE GOD’S (LOVE’S) EXAMPLE

Cherishing and Nurturing Your Knowledge of the Father and Christ Brings True Holiness

Steps to True Holiness

The Revelation of Christ, like Holiness, Is Ongoing

Review, Highlights, and Insights

Principle of Righteousness by Faith vs Self-Centered Works

The Secret to Happiness

What Love IS

God’s Standing Orders for All His Children

Cipher for Timeline of the Period of Grace

Further Studies

Principle of Righteousness by Faith vs. Self-Centered Works

Introduction

More than one person has suggested that I should publish my personal Bible studies because it might benefit some who are hungry to know more about God’s will. That is what this book is primarily meant to be, a Bible study. It is a reflection of decades of study.

Depending on how well versed you are in scripture, you may read this book in one or two sittings. Others may want to read it in five- or ten-minute studies. Like an armed forces boot camp, this book is intensive. It is intensive because it is written as if this were the only book that I will have a chance to write. Any other possible books I mention, I do not assume I will be able to write. Only by the grace of God I write this or any book. I recommend breaking it into smaller pieces. You can make it into bite-sized pieces by going one heading at a time. If you are a new student of the Bible, you can do smaller pieces, scripture by scripture or aha moment by aha moment. And then make that your study for the day. An experienced student might consume the whole section of The Purpose of Life in chapter 3 in one sitting. The point is go at the pace that satisfies your soul. Special thanks to my one and only earthly companion and best friend after God, my wife, who worked as a second pair of eyes in the editing phase of this book.

This Bible study is meant for those hungry to understand and live God’s word. When I study the word of God, I try to involve as little intervention of anyone’s opinion as possible, which can, at times, be difficult. I listen to what others say as a guidepost on my journey of discovery of my Lord. However, I try to clearly distinguish between human words and God’s word. Ultimately, I want God to speak to me.

By the same token, I bring together many interrelated scriptures from my own personal Bible studies here. Nevertheless, in the first chapter, I purposely try to limit the intervention I provide. When I do interject, I do it mainly to assist focus on a given point. I prefer that God’s word be more prominent than any human voice, mine included. In addition, I work assiduously to back whatever opinions I do give by the word of God.

Likewise, from chapters 2 through 6, I put related scripture (although, not every related scripture) one after another. However, unlike chapter 1, in chapters 2 through 6, I provide behaviorally focused amplifications inspired by God’s Word with specific biblical references. Even though there are multiple concurrent scriptures from various places in the Bible, it can be considered one continuously flowing message. One that you can find at the Holy Spirit’s direction. Therefore, it can provide deeper revelation when you read the multiple Bible verses as one continuous flow. On your first read, it may even be helpful to skip over reading the scripture location.

For example, on your first read, skip over reading the location (Hebrews 10:23, Hebrews 13:8) and exclusively read the scripture text only to increase flow: "Let us hold fast {firmly hold} the profession of our faith without wavering [for he is faithful that promised]; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever."

Each scripture interlocks with one another like puzzle pieces. However, any given scripture can be multifaceted and can relate to several subjects, in a single verse (Example: prophecy, history, God’s nature, etc.). For this reason, I provide preamble and/or suffixed clarification in the beginning of a verse or at the end. I do this to help the reader center on a particular point and/or assist in how each scripture relates to each other.

Additionally, I intermittently inject said clarifications or addendums using braces or curly brackets and a distinctive italic font. Using these and other tools, I make it a point to clearly demarcate any personal explanations to distinguish between what I’ve added and the scripture itself. I also strategically underline text to focus on the main point. This means the reader can read only the underlined portion and still get the point trying to be conveyed. The text in distinctive italic font and braces are not necessarily literal translations, unless specifically stated as being from the original Hebrew or Greek. For Greek and Hebrew translation, I use mainly a Biblesoft computer program and, occasionally, free online sources, like BibleGateway.com and BibleHub.com that transliterates, word by word and verse by verse, to get as close as I can to the original intent of the scripture. Chapter 7 is a highlight summary of the whole book with additional insights.

Since I was fifteen years old, I’ve worked to understand the word of God in behavioral terms. Now approaching fifty, I’ve spent more than thirty years studying the Bible with a behavioral focus, in an autodidactic manner, in much the same way as presented here. Making mistakes is a given for the human condition. In this first attempt at writing for public consumption, I’m humbly at your mercy for any mistakes you may find. If you’re looking for something different, as in, not in the usual style, then you’re in luck. I didn’t study the Bible through traditional venues, like a university or theological seminary.

In 1989, due to painful difficulties in family life growing up, I made a promise that would define the rest of my existence. I saw how arrogance, self-assurance and the search for worldly accolades destroyed my family. At nineteen, in the wake of my parents’ divorce, I vowed not to seek diplomas, degrees, black belts, excessive wealth, or other worldly titles or accolades, to divest myself from any possible worldly approbation. It was a vow of general humility to help me retain an understanding or listening heart (1 Kings 3:9). People sometimes lose a listening heart after they gain titles or degrees. This promise was meaningful to me because, at sixteen, I had studied the prayer of Solomon and I had made it my own prayer to God (1 Kings 3:9–11). That didn’t mean that I could not study the Bible, practice martial arts, exercise my body or have money to pay my bills, but I avoided the visible attributes and titles that I saw people in my family seek. I felt the pursuit of these contributed, at least in part, to the spiritual downfall of my family. I vowed to hold myself to that promise until the ripe age of forty-five.

Driven by the deep pain of my childhood, with God’s guidance, I have kept the promise. With the exception of weight lifting to maintain physical strength, which I had been doing since before nineteen, I kept that promise. I avoided things that would attract attention or garner adulation from the world at large or feed my pride. I passed up leadership position after leadership position, among other things, to the consternation of teachers and bosses. It even influenced who I choose to marry, to avoid boasting.

Now, according to most worldly measures, I am predominantly, remarkably unremarkable to the naked eye. Unless I let someone really get to know me, I am almost thoroughly unimpressive. The few people I’ve talked to about my promise consider my decision to be a mistake. Mistake or otherwise, my intensions were valid enough for God to assist me in keeping my promise, because without His help I would have never made it. The promise has helped me to profoundly halt the human propensity for arrogance. It has proven to be a life saver in more ways than one.

By way of example: In May of 1996, I listened to the very person who helped inspire the promise. The promise I made almost seven years earlier, by this time. I was trying to reconcile my relationship with my father and it was time for me to return to the States from Puerto Rico. My father asked me to stay one more day. Even though I really didn’t want to, I changed my ValuJet Flight # 592 ticket (which later became known as Air Tran). I went against my own mixed feelings about my father. I changed the ticket only to see the crash of the very same once-a-day flight on the news, while holding my old ticket in my hands. I needed that flight to get to Charlotte from Puerto Rico, by way of Miami, then Atlanta. I took the next flight, the day after the crash, only to be stopped by a reporter at the Miami airport, where he asked me, Aren’t you afraid to fly after the crash? I thought to myself that the question seemed redundant, seeing that I had just disembarked the craft. My now deeply engrained promise of sidestepping attention automatically produced the simplest answer, No. The reporter seemed visibly displeased with my answer and took the microphone and camera out of my face and walked away. I looked back at the irony of that whole situation later. Keeping the promise with the very person who helped inspire it, saved my life. I kept my promise of listening humility, even through my discomfort. As well as the irony of the reporter missing the story. Because he was so quick to dismiss, he missed the story of the one person who didn’t take that fatal flight. Usually, it’s a reporter’s job to dig deeper.

So the promise of rejecting worldly approbation in favor of developing a listening heart saved my physical life. Without it, I would not be writing this book for you today. This promise I made at nineteen has also saved my spiritual life. It brought me to a greater reliance on God rather than on myself and others, as well as worldly titles and resources. The more I have lived the more I understand, without God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), I am nothing. As Jesus said, I can of mine own self do nothing (John 5:30 KJV).

Since I was fifteen years old, I’ve wanted to know more about my heavenly Father, God. Consequently, I have always asked God to teach me His word in a way that I could easily understand and live. As a result, this Bible study presented to you here is born of that request. Thus, this work has an everyday practical simplified behavioral focus. Many biblical concepts are translated in behavioral terms to make them easier to understand and implement in everyday life. Given that the promise I mentioned earlier is now complete, about four years ago, I feel free to write this book, though I am an amateur at this. However, I hope that it is a blessing to others, nonetheless.

The Bible, as a whole, is divided into three parts: past history, future prophecy, and behavioral guidelines for the present. This book focuses on that behavioral present. I purposely include the full scripture in the body of this work, so you can see it with your own eyes as instructed by the word (Proverbs 3:21, 4:20–23). I also break minor grammatical rules out of respect for my God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), such as capitalizing words like Father, Love, Truth, and pronouns used to refer to Him.

As to the translation of scripture used in this book:

I’ve used King James Version since I was a child and grew accustomed to that format in my teens, so that is what I use to study with and what I use here by default. Please feel free to use the amplified version or NIV, if you feel it helps you understand better as long as you look at it or hear it (Proverbs 2:2, 4:20, 5:1; Romans 10:17).

I also derive assistance from the original Greek and Hebrew to extract more of the original intent present in the scripture. Though the original meaning of a scripture is usually conveyed, sometimes the nuance gets lost in translation, depending on the translation, more or less. We live in a day and age where knowledge is literally at our fingertips. It isn’t hard to look up Greek and Hebrew lexicon to go a bit deeper into the original meaning.

Finally, as Christians, we are no longer victims in the ongoing spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4), but we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). I borrow a military term, Standing Orders, to promote the concept of victorious spiritual warfare. I use this term to purposefully stimulate the notion that we are actively engaged in spiritual warfare and thus, no longer passive victims. We should avail or help ourselves to any and all of the spiritual weapons in our arsenal. The military term standing order can be defined thus: A military order or ruling that is retained irrespective of changing conditions. What God’s standing orders means to me is: What I should be doing even when I don’t know exactly what to do next.

There is nothing really new in this book. Much of this information has been around for thousands of years. It is presented here from an unusual point of view by the guidance and revelation of the Holy Spirit. Aside from the Bible, the following is a fair description of most of the instructional books ever written—a gathering of knowledge and life experiences that are reiterated from a particular point of view. There’s nothing you can know that isn’t known, nothing you can see that isn’t shown… All you need is love (the Beatles). As an example, that idea was already made by the Bible thousands of years before the Beatles ever cut a record (cut referring to the analog grooves made into vinyl to record sound).

Ecclesiastes 1:9

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

God uses people who love to learn about Him. We, in turn, learn from each other. We are getting close to the end of the period of grace. God is moving people to more deeply spread His word now more than ever. Just because God sometimes uses us as one of many gateways of revelation, that doesn’t give me or anyone ownership. It just makes me one of many who love to learn about God. I’m overjoyed to know God. He is my strength, my savior, the owner of all revelation. He gives revelation to whom He will, despite or in spite of our weaknesses. So please, by all means, learn, share, pass it on, and help others, wherever possible, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, of course.

With that in mind, I hope you find this spiritual boot camp, with most of the basic bare essentials of the gospel, helpful to your spiritual journey of growth and enlightenment. In this manner, it can be applicable to whatever situation you may find yourself in. You can pick up the word of God in this book and study at any time and it will retain Its validity for your everyday spiritual life.

Without further ado…

Chapter 1

The Meaning of New Testament

When did the New Testament begin?

In answering that question, I’m assuming that it is known that the word testament stands for covenant, pact, or contract, as in the phrase, last will and testament.

In fact, God’s Hebrew name Yah-weh actually means, God or Elohyim {pronounced eloheem} in covenant (with a specific party) or covenant God. The Old Pact or Old Testament did not end in the book of Malachi, or what is normally delineated as the end of the Old Testament. Spiritually speaking, the Old Testament ended with Jesus saying: It is finished.

Scriptural reference:

John 19:30 (KJV)

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

After that, there were three days of transition between Old and New Testament or covenant:

Matthew 12:40

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Ephesians 4:7–10

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive {captivated by the curse of sin, past and present}, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The New Testament officially began when God, the Father, ratified it, and made it valid, by resurrecting Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins {sins = imperfections caused by unbelief} according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Romans 4:25

{Jesus} Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Acts 13:37–39

But he {Jesus}, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins {imperfections caused by unbelief}: And by him {Jesus} all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Romans 1:3–4

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David {as promised by God to Abraham} according to the flesh;

And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

1 Corinthians 15:21–22

For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

For as in Adam all die {by the introduction of sin in the earth}, even so in Christ shall all be made alive {by the redemption of Christ’s perfect sacrifice}.

1 Corinthians 15:45–47

And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam {Jesus} was made a quickening {life giving} spirit. Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man {Adam} is of the earth, earthy; the second man {Jesus} is the Lord from heaven.

Matthew 22:31–32

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live {spiritually and physically}:

Revelation 1:5–6

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins {imperfections caused by unbelief} in his own blood,

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So now, BY THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, GOD, THE FATHER, ACTIVATED THE NEW TESTAMENT OR COVENANT. THIS NEW COVENANT HAS REPLACED THE OLD AGREEMENT OR PACT BETWEEN GOD AND MAN.

Hebrews 10:9

Then said he {Jesus}, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He {God} taketh away the first {Old Testament}, that he {God} may establish the second {New Testament}.

Hebrews 8:10–13

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days {after Christ’s resurrection}, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

PART OF THE NEW AGREEMENT INCLUDES ADOPTING THE MIND OF CHRIST. Through the mind of Christ the laws of God automatically flow into the heart.

THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING THE MIND OF CHRIST IS STARTED BY MOVING AWAY FROM A SELFISH OR SELF-CENTERED MIND-SET (WHICH FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS BIBLE STUDY I REFER TO AS NARCISSISM).

When you go the opposite way of narcissism you automatically flow toward Love (Love = God), by default. The scripture immediately above (Hebrews 8:10–13) is automatically fulfilled: They shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me. There is a reason it becomes automatic.

When you move toward the mind of Christ, which is the opposite of self-centeredness (Christ sacrificed the self for us) you automatically move toward Love (God). If your mind-set is anti-narcissistic, you automatically live with Love (God). Thus, you automatically live the law. When the mind-set is not self-centered but rather other inclusive, there is no need to learn how to live in Love because it becomes a default standard with little or no effort.

The better we are at moving away from self-centeredness and self-righteousness the easier it is to live in Love (God). Deep down inside, most of us can intuitively feel this. We can intuitively feel that a key to living in a more harmonious world is for all people to move away from self-centeredness and move toward empathy and consideration for others. This moves us toward a healthier world. Laws are only necessary when people lack empathy and consideration for one another.

This is why two of the defining traits of psychopaths and sociopaths is a lack of empathy and appropriate levels of guilt. This category of pathology is primarily self-centered or narcissistic. Being centered on the self makes empathy difficult, if not impossible. Without empathy guilt is muted. Conversely, excessive guilt is a different problem entirely because excess guilt can paralyze. Many times stemming from an attempt at self-righteousness. As with many things in life, it’s about balance of opposites or the Goldilocks zone, not too much and not too little. Moving toward the mind of Christ brings us to a new and living way not bound to self-centeredness.

Hebrews 10:15–22

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days {after Christ’s resurrection}, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way {rather than sacrifice of life}, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest {Christ Jesus} over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart {in genuineness} in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience {unbelief leading to me first over God first}, and our bodies washed with pure water.

God has provided redemption from all imperfections stemming from unbelief (sin) by believing in His son Jesus and adopting the mind of Christ.

The replacement of the Old Covenant or Testament was prophesied in the Old Testament itself.

Jeremiah 31:33–34

But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days {after Christ’s resurrection}, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

God always keeps His covenant or testament. When God makes a promise, God keeps it.

Psalm 89:34–35

My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie…

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast {firmly hold} the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

Isaiah 55:9–11

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

We cannot purchase our way into heaven by our good works. Even our best actions are so imperfect without Christ that it is like filthy rags to God.

Isaiah 64:6

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

If even my best behaviors are like filthy rags to God, then my only hope to approach God is through Christ in humility. {For those Bible enthusiasts out there, yes! I’m aware of the meaning of the word for filthy rags in Hebrew! I just prefer to not translate it, as the point still comes across, albeit with less intensity.}

Romans 10:4

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy {chesed = human version of Hesed = grace = favor not based on merit but on a general loving attitude toward all}, and to walk humbly with thy God?

I no longer do good works according to the law of Moses to earn salvation. I cannot earn what Christ already payed for. I seek to do good according to the will of God because I’m now part of God’s family. Children of God do good not to garner entry points into heaven, that ticket has already been payed. As such, we follow the will of our Heavenly Father in gratitude. By our faith in Christ, we are justified or made just, which also means righteous. Righteousness in the eyes of God happens the instant we accept Christ as our savior. On the other hand, holiness is a process (more on that in chapter three about the meaning of John 13:10). As God’s children we do good to perpetuate God’s goodness in the earth, as in the word perpetuity = the state or quality of lasting forever.

Primary scriptural reference that we are no longer under law but under