For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. Hebrews 8:7, NIV We only emphasize that Christian life we are in is not based on another form of religious ritual but on a covenant. The question is what type of covenant are you in? Is it a covenant of religion or a covenant of love? It should be a covenant of love. Love is a person and that is God (see 1 John 4:16). The covenant we are in is a covenant based on who He is and not on who we are. It's based on what He has done and not on what we have done. When you sign an agreement form, you understand what type of covenant or agreement you are signing in. And this is the reason why still many Christians missed the true essence of Christianity. It's because they don't understand the covenant they are in. In result, many are so called Christians are still living a life like they don't have Christ. There's no real transformation happened. They think Christian...
We love because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
The heart of a believer is a heart of God. What is the heart of God? The heart of God is love. for God is love (1John 4:16-19). The motivational force to do greater things is love. What is that love? It was the love of God at the cross demonstrated and revealed.
One famous verse tells that's because God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have an everlasting life (John3:16).
Believing comes after seeing that you are "so loved by God". Believing is a free choice. Believing is our freedom response of seeing how much you are loved by God. Why there is free choice? It's because free choice signifies freedom. When there is no freedom, it is no longer perfect love but fear of punishment, (1John 4:18)
And this is the common issue of most believers today. It is the lack of freedom. The reason why many believers are still bound by the chain of sin it's not because they are sinful but because they are bound by the lies that they are not perfectly loved by God. That the perfect sacrifice of Jesus is not enough. It's all deception the devil is working to put in one's mind that will affect believing. And when believing is corrupted it will produce corrupted works (James 2:17).
Friend, know that in Christ you are washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God.
We love because He first loved us (1John 4:19). We keep His commandments because of His love abiding in us. So, the transformational tool to keep His commandments is a revelation that you are perfectly loved by God and in Christ you have found it.