My journey to understanding the "Law of Christ" has been a winding one. Coming out of Shepherd’s Chapel in 2011, after years of clinging to their unorthodox teachings, I found myself drawn to the clarity of Reformed Baptist theology. It gave me structure—a way to make sense of Scripture through the lens of God’s sovereignty and grace. But by 2016, something shifted. New Covenant Theology (NCT) started to resonate deeply, offering a perspective that felt both freeing and faithful to the Bible’s story. When I read about the "Law of Christ" in Galatians 6:2, it wasn’t just a phrase—it became a window into a new way of living in Christ. Let me unpack what the Law of Christ means to me now, through the lens of NCT, shaped by my journey from Reformed Baptist roots.
What Is the Law of Christ?
The term "Law of Christ" appears in Galatians 6:2, where Paul writes, "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ," and in 1 Corinthians 9:21, where he describes being "under the law of Christ" while reaching those outside the Mosaic Law. As a former Reformed Baptist, I initially saw this as a kind of moral continuity with the Old Testament Law, filtered through Christ’s teachings. But NCT reframed it for me. The Law of Christ isn’t a new set of rules to replace the Mosaic Law, nor is it a repackaged version of the Ten Commandments. It’s the way of life Jesus embodied and taught, empowered by the Holy Spirit under the new covenant.
Back in my Reformed Baptist days, I leaned heavily on the idea that the moral law still bound us as believers. But NCT showed me that the Law of Christ is less about external obligations and more about an internal transformation. It’s not a checklist to follow but a life to live, rooted in my union with Jesus. This shift was like a breath of fresh air after the rigid frameworks I’d known, first in Shepherd’s Chapel and then in my early Baptist years.
The New Covenant Context
NCT emphasizes that the Mosaic Law, given to Israel as a covenantal system, was fulfilled and replaced by Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. This was a big leap for me. In my Reformed Baptist phase, I held tightly to the idea that the moral law—like the Ten Commandments—remained a timeless standard. But NCT, grounded in passages like Hebrews 8:13 and Jeremiah 31:31-34, showed me that the new covenant isn’t about tweaking the old system; it’s about something entirely new. God writes His law on our hearts now, not on stone tablets.
This perspective clicked when I realized Jesus didn’t just fulfill the Law; He became the new standard. The Law of Christ is the expression of God’s will through Jesus’ life and teachings. It’s relational, dynamic, and driven by the Spirit. Leaving behind Shepherd’s Chapel’s strange doctrines—like the Serpent Seed or pre-existence—felt like shedding a heavy coat. But moving from Reformed Baptist theology to NCT felt like stepping into a brighter room, where Jesus Himself is the focus, not a system of rules.
Love as the Core
If I had to sum up the Law of Christ in one word, it’s love. Galatians 6:2 ties it to bearing one another’s burdens, and John 13:34-35 records Jesus’ command to love others as He loved us. In my Reformed Baptist days, I saw love as important but often secondary to doctrinal precision or moral obedience. NCT flipped that for me. Love isn’t just a command—it’s the heartbeat of the Law of Christ. It’s active, sacrificial, and modeled on Jesus’ own life, from washing feet to dying on the cross.
Guided by the Spirit and Scripture
NCT balances freedom and guidance in a way that feels so right after my theological journey. The Law of Christ isn’t a free-for-all, as I might’ve feared when leaving Shepherd’s Chapel’s rigid system. It’s anchored in Jesus’ teachings and the apostles’ writings in the New Testament. The Sermon on the Mount, Paul’s letters, the call to humility and forgiveness—these shape what the Law of Christ looks like. But unlike the Mosaic Law or even the structured approach of Reformed theology, it’s not about external compliance. The Holy Spirit makes it possible.
Romans 8:2 talks about "the law of the Spirit who gives life," which NCT ties to the Law of Christ. The Spirit doesn’t just help me obey; He changes what I want. I’ve felt this in moments when I chose grace over resentment, not because I had to, but because the Spirit was at work in me. This was a far cry from the works-based undertones of Shepherd’s Chapel or even the heavy emphasis on law-keeping in my Reformed Baptist phase. The Law of Christ is about living out of who I am in Christ, not striving to prove myself.
Freedom, Not Legalism
One of the biggest shifts for me in embracing NCT was seeing the Law of Christ as freedom, not legalism. Galatians 5:1 became a lifeline: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." In Shepherd’s Chapel, I was weighed down by their bizarre teachings. In Reformed Baptist circles, I sometimes felt the pressure to uphold the moral law perfectly. NCT showed me that Jesus fulfilled the Law completely (Matthew 5:17). My role isn’t to replicate His perfection but to rest in His finished work and let His love flow through me.
This doesn’t mean I can live carelessly. The Law of Christ calls for a high standard—loving like Jesus, pursuing holiness, forgiving as He forgives. But it’s not a burden because it’s empowered by grace. When I fail (and I do, often), I’m reminded that Christ’s work is enough. This freedom was a stark contrast to the legalism I’d known, both in Shepherd’s Chapel and, to a lesser extent, in my Reformed days.
Living It Out
Living under the Law of Christ has become a daily adventure. It’s showing up for a struggling friend, choosing patience in a heated moment, or trusting the Spirit when I feel inadequate. It’s not a set of rules I check off but a way of being that reflects Jesus. My journey from Shepherd’s Chapel’s errors to Reformed Baptist theology to NCT has taught me that the Christian life isn’t about getting the system right—it’s about walking with Jesus.
There are still days when I slip back into old habits, thinking I need to earn God’s approval or prove my faith through effort. But the Law of Christ, as NCT presents it, pulls me back to grace. It’s about resting in what Jesus has done and letting His Spirit shape me to love others as He does.
Why It Matters
Looking back, my shift from Shepherd’s Chapel to Reformed Baptist theology to NCT has been a story of finding freedom in Christ. The Law of Christ isn’t a new rulebook or a rehash of the Old Testament Law—it’s the life of Jesus lived out in me through the Spirit. It’s love in action, grace in motion, and a call to follow the One who set me free. For someone like me, who spent years tangled in unorthodox teachings and then wrestling with the weight of the law, NCT’s take on the Law of Christ feels like coming home. It’s a reminder that Jesus is enough, and His way of love is the path I’m called to walk.