Teaching summary
In this powerful and heartfelt sermon, Pastor Leonard Rola teaches that love is not only the highest commandment in the new covenant but the very nature of God Himself. He boldly challenges the traditions of legalism and performance-based religion, urging believers to understand their identity in Christ. Pastor Leonard emphasizes that righteousness, holiness, and transformation flow from understanding God’s love—not from striving under the law. This message centers on one truth: to live as Jesus lived, we must love as He loved.
Bible verses referenced
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John 13:34-35- "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
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1 John 4:7-8- "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
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Romans 13:8, 10- "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law… Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
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Galatians 5:14- "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
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Romans 8:14- "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
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Ephesians 1:3- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."
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Ephesians 1:17-21- "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." -
Ephesians 3:16-19- "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." -
Romans 10:9-10- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
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Hebrews 10:10-14- "By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth, expecting until his enemies are made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." -
Hebrews 8:13- "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."
Teaching notes
Table of Contents
- Introduction: A Personal Reflection on Love
- Why This Message Chases People Away
- The Trap of Legalism and “Just a Sinner” Thinking
- What Happens at the New Birth
- The Reality of Righteousness in Christ
- Why People Miss the Message of Grace
- The Two Covenants in the New Testament
- What Happened in AD 70
- The Three Laws of the New Covenant
- The First Law: Love One Another
- What Love Looks Like: 1 Corinthians 13
- The Fruit of Love Versus the Obligation of Law
- Closing Blessing and Communion
Introduction: A Personal Reflection on Love
Pastor Leonard opens by expressing deep gratitude to God for His salvation, healing, and unconditional love. He shares a personal milestone—41 years of marriage with his wife—and reflects on his transformation over the years. He recalls how love has grown stronger, not through effort, but through the grace and love of God revealed in Christ. He sets the tone for a message that is deeply personal and deeply spiritual.
Why This Message Chases People Away
Pastor Leonard acknowledges that his teachings are often different from what many churches preach, which causes some to leave. He recounts how someone left the church simply because he wore a Superman shirt to illustrate Christ’s power within believers. This highlights the discomfort many have with messages that depart from legalistic norms. He questions why such offense is taken when he does not preach condemnation or sin-focused messages.
The Trap of Legalism and “Just a Sinner
Pastor Leonard critiques the prevalent Christian message that believers are “just sinners saved by grace.” He describes how this distorted belief kept him trapped for decades, always expecting failure and sin. He explains that most churches still teach people to carry their own cross and strive for moral improvement, rather than recognizing their new nature in Christ.
What Happens at the New Birth
The message shifts to what it truly means to be “born again.” Pastor Leonard explains that salvation is not just symbolic but transformative:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3-4 — paraphrased and referenced through the sermon).
He teaches that the new man is not the old man cleaned up—it is a completely new creation.
The Reality of Righteousness in Christ
Pastor Leonard emphasizes that Paul mentions righteousness, justification, and peace with God 88 times in his epistles. He explains:
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Believers are not “trying” to be righteous—they are righteous by faith in Jesus Christ.
Why People Miss the Message of Grace
He reflects on how, for 30 years, he missed this truth because he trusted what was taught from the pulpit instead of reading the Bible for himself. He encourages believers to study for themselves: search the scriptures for “righteousness,” “justified,” and “justification.” You cannot read Paul’s writings and deny that believers are now righteous by faith.
The Two Covenants in the New Testament
Pastor Leonard clarifies that the New Testament contains both the Old and New Covenants and must be rightly divided.
"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." (Hebrews 8:13)
He urges believers to discern what is written under the law and what belongs to grace.
What Happened in AD 70
He explains that the covenant of law ended fully in AD 70 with the destruction of the temple. This event marked the end of the sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood, leaving only the covenant of grace.
The Three Laws of the New Covenant
Pastor Leonard says that under grace, we now live by three laws, the first of which is love. The other two will be covered in a later teaching.
The First Law: Love One Another
John 13:34-35
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
This is the core identity of a disciple—not law-keeping, but love.
What Love Looks Like: 1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (Full KJV):
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal… [entire chapter continues here, as already included above]."
Pastor Leonard walks through each attribute of love, showing that love is patient, kind, unselfish, not rude, and always endures. He emphasizes that when love flows naturally from us through Christ, we fulfill the entire law without even knowing it.
The Fruit of Love Versus the Obligation of Law
He explains that good works done out of obligation do not profit, but when they flow from the love of God within us, they have lasting value. Love fulfills all the requirements of the law (Romans 13:10), and those led by the Spirit—who is love—are truly sons of God (Romans 8:14).
Closing Blessing and Communion
The message ends with communion and reflection on the finished work of Christ. Pastor Lori shares a powerful analogy about weeds with thorns representing old legalistic beliefs trying to cling to us—but reminding us Jesus already removed them. The sermon closes with a salvation invitation using:
Romans 10:9-10
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus…"
We hope this article blessed you. Share this teaching with anyone who needs to hear the true message of God’s love and grace. Jesus did it all—now we just believe and walk in love.