Lawyers or Lovers

Shawn McCraney's teaching emphasizes the distinctions between legalistic adherence to laws, including natural, corporate, and biblical laws, and living by the principles of love as exemplified by Jesus Christ. He suggests that the faith community should focus more on embodying the fruits of the Spirit and cultivating love rather than strictly adhering to religious laws or commandments.

The teachings of Shawn emphasize that the Law, though perfect and good, was impossible for humans to fully obey, acting as a burden or "yoke" due to human imperfection. Jesus, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, was able to fulfill the Law and Prophets, illustrating that the Law's primary role was to act as a strict tutor or schoolmaster, guiding believers to faith in Christ's ultimate obedience and agape love as the path to justification.

Faith in Jesus Christ frees believers from the strictures of the Law, emphasizing that righteousness cannot be achieved through legalistic adherence, but rather through faith and love as expressed by the Spirit. This teaching highlights that the Law demonstrates humanity's incapacity to attain justification by deeds, and instead, the new covenant in Christ writes God's laws upon believers' hearts, liberating them from the law of sin and death.

This teaching emphasizes that the teachings of Jesus and the apostles' letters, while valuable, were never intended to become rigid laws but rather spiritual guides that foster love, patience, and forgiveness among believers. The primary focus should be on the spirit, which gives life, rather than on the letter, which can lead to legalism and division, urging us to be recognized for our love and compassion.