Note 8 at 1 Cor. 4:17: The Berkeley Version of the New Testament translates this phrase by saying Timothy will "remind you of my principles of BEHAVIOR IN CHRIST JESUS," or as the King James states, "shall bring you into remembrance of MY WAYS WHICH BE IN CHRIST." Paul does not send the New Covenant believer back to the law of Moses for New Covenant ethics; rather he argues and reasons Christian ethics from the truth of the believer's identification with Christ in his death and resurrection.

For example, the problem of sexual immorality in the Corinthian church was not dealt with by the law of Moses but rather by the fact that union with a prostitute constituted taking the members of Christ and joining them to a harlot (1 Cor. 6:15).

When Peter was rebuked by Paul for his misconduct at Antioch, Paul argued for correction based upon the truth of the gospel rather than the law. "When I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all . . ." (Gal. 2:14).

Paul's argument for holiness of life was not argued from the principle of the law but rather through identification of the believer in Christ's redemption. "How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Rom. 6:2).

For Paul, wrong behavior was anything that was not of faith in Christ (Rom. 14:23) and was "contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim. 1:10-11, NIV).

Christian ethics flow from the love of God as revealed to us in Christ Jesus (1 Jn. 4:11,19). We forgive because we've been forgiven (Col. 3:13). We accept others because we've been accepted (Eph.1:6). We love because we're loved (1 Jn. 4:11; Rom. 5:8).

The New Testament writers did encourage conforming to the holiness of the Old Testament laws at times but only as they are engulfed within the law of Christ (1 Pet. 1:16; 1 Cor. 9:20-21; Gal. 6:2). For example, Leviticus 19:18 states "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I [am] the LORD." This is precisely what Jesus taught (Mt. 5:44; Lk. 6:27,35).

But in Leviticus 19:19 another law is stated, "Neither shall a garment mingled of linen and wool come upon thee." Is that law valid for us today? No. Why? Because wearing wool and linen clothes does not violate the nature of the Christ life which is love for God and love for man (Gal. 5:22-23; Rom. 13:8,10). This ordinance was symbolic of living a separated life unto God. Being separated unto God is still valid (Col. 3:17), but the time for symbolism has passed and God wants the real actions (Col. 2:16-17).

All laws of the Old Covenant must be examined and measured in the light of Christ and His gospel. If we can do it with love for God and love for man it is worthy of our practice. But if the goal of the command is not love then we have wandered away from truth and turned to meaningless talk. Desiring to be teachers of law; understanding neither what we say or what we so confidently affirm (1 Tim. 1:5-7).

We must remember that as New Covenant believers we are urged to practice the (out-worked) righteousness of the law: through the empowerment of God's Spirit (Rom. 8:4) but in so doing we are not under the principle of the law (Gal. 5:18), i.e., doing, earning, and achieving standards in order to be accepted before God (Phil. 3:9; Rom. 10:3-4). For it was grace that brought the righteousness of God to the believer through faith in Jesus Christ thus satisfying the righteous demands of the law (Rom. 3:31).

So in Christ the true spirit and intent of the law has not changed, i.e., love for God and love for man (Rom. 13:8-10) but the symbolic rules and regulations have been nailed to the cross having been forever abolished (Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15). God's love of which the law spoke (Lk. 11:42) has been internalized within the law of Christ and comes forth from a new historical point of the cross of Christ (Rom. 5:8).

"Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. . ." (1 Jn. 2:7). "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another" (Jn. 13:34). "Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren" (1 Jn. 3:16).