Old Clothes and New
Dearly beloved of God, do you know the difference between old clothes that are moth eaten, frayed, and no longer fit, and new clothes that are in style, not worn out, and fit correctly? Of course you do, but many Christians do not know the difference between the Old Testament and New Testament realities.
Jesus Christ said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law and the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” The law given to Moses would remain in effect until Jesus fulfilled it by his accomplishments.
By the sacrifice of Jesus Christ the old covenant was taken away and the new covenant was established.
The old covenant of the law was a shadow of good things to come according to Hebrews 10:1. Under the law, sacrifices were made which anticipated Jesus Christ’s sacrifice; he was the last sacrifice for sins forever.
Jesus Christ sacrificed himself as the Lamb of God. He bore the sins of many people. By his sacrifice God made a new covenant with Israel. In the new covenant, God would forgive the people’s iniquity and remember their sin no more. Those who look for him shall see him appear a second time without sin unto salvation.
Under the old covenant many offerings and sacrifices were made. Under the new covenant people are sanctified by the one offering of the body of Jesus Christ forever.
The new covenant did not begin until Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and the prophets; until he offered himself as the one sacrifice for sins. He died as the Lamb of God and three days and three nights later God raised him from the dead! He fulfilled the law and the prophets.
The Word of God says that Jesus is the only man to be raised from the dead and given eternal life thus far. Those who believe in him will receive it when he returns to raise them from the dead or change them from mortal to immortal.
God made Jesus both Lord and Christ.
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.” Romans 10:4
Jesus Christ fulfilled the old covenant and by his accomplishments God was able to make a new covenant with Israel, that of the spirit.
What part did Gentiles have in either covenant that God made with Israel? None.
How did Gentiles enter this new covenant? They entered it by the grace of God. Now anyone that confesses Jesus as lord and believes that God raised him from the dead will be saved.
God revealed a great mystery about the grace of God. “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel.” Ephesians 3:6
Out of the people of Israel and from the Gentiles God made a new body of people called the Church, which is the body of Christ, and He filled every member with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm in Christ. Every member is complete in Christ.
“Wherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things passed away. Behold, new things have come, and all [of the new things] are from God, Who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and Who gave us the ministry of reconciliation”. II Corinthians 5:17 and 18
What new things? The new birth spirit, sonship rights as children of God, privileges, and an inheritance to mention a few.
In Christ and by his accomplishments we are saved and redeemed. We are justified and have the remission of sins. We are made the righteousness of God in him. We are sanctified by his spirit. In Christ we are holy and without blame before God. In Christ we have access to God by one spirit. We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, and have the hope of obtaining the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. Dearly beloved, we will glorified with him!
You can see the difference between the old and the new can’t you; between law and grace, between law and the spirit? We can see the grace of God towards us in Christ because God has made it understandable by giving us His Word. It is no longer a mystery.
hidden in God.
There is a big difference between old clothes and new ones, just as there is a huge difference between the old covenant and the new one. Put on Christ and what he accomplished for us and is in us. Get rid of those old rags and put on the new. New things have come! Rejoice forevermore!