A New Covenant.
There are many questions that surround the new and the old. Out with the old in with the new. That saying can leave a bit of a sting. If we have the old or become the old. We don’t necessarily want it to be set aside because the new came along.
That is how many of the Pharisee’s felt as Jesus was telling them He had come to fulfill the law. The law (the old covenant) was what they knew. It had become their identity. Through it, they knew who they were. It was linked to their family heritage and it was to set them apart from the rest of the world. It would signify them as children of God.
It cannot be a surprise as to why Jesus rocked their world. He was essentially telling them, all they ever knew or understood was going to be turned around. Who and what they held so tightly to, needed to be made complete and it was going to come as something new.
While the old covenant and the laws pointed us to our sin and the need for a Savior, the law was not designed to give us a new heart.
Hebrews 8:7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
The old covenant was established with Moses and is often referred to as the ten commandments. There were also many laws that were given to the people such as festivals, sacrifices, and purifications. You can find them in the first few books of the old testament.
Some are lead to believe that the laws are no longer good or appropriate for our time. We live under grace. While that is true, because Christ came to fulfill the law, all the laws are not obsolete. In Matthew 5 Jesus said I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it.
Christ made the law complete because He could give us a new conscience and a new heart. He would now write the laws on our hearts and put them in our minds.
I understand that many may be thinking we are free from the law. It is no longer relevant. While some laws had their own purposes, God’s law is not abolished.
What we have now in the new covenant.
Step away for a minute here with me. If you are a parent, you make rules and set boundaries. It helps them know how to navigate the world. When your child breaks the rules, there are consequences so they understand the depth of the importance of the rule.
As parents, we want our children to follow those rules not just because we said so, although we may say that, but we want them to follow the rules because we love them and gave them for their safety and growth. We want them to show that love to us by being obedient.
Before we know Christ as our Savior, we are living in rebellion to God. The laws are set so that we can see and understand how far away from a perfect God we are. They are for us to understand what sin is, as Paul explains in Romans 7.
They were never meant to perfect us but lead to Christ who does.
For a long time in my life, as you can read from my testimony here, I thought that rules were to make me perfect. What I found was that they were too hard to keep up with. So, I didn’t. I made my own rules, ones which I thought I could keep. Ones that satisfied my flesh.
I chained myself back to rules, even my rules. I chained myself to my own rebellion. I chained myself to my shame and found my worth in the comfort of those chains.
While all the while I could have been living free. I was given life in Christ but was choosing to go back to the path that leads to destruction. I was free to walk in Christ’s grace.
After all, He already knew I wasn’t perfect. Who was I kidding? It was not possible. It was never meant to be. Hold on to that truth.
What I didn’t understand was that being obedient was no longer just a chore, a to-do or an unachievable task but an opportunity to be pleasing to my Lord and give Him my worship.
It was freedom. It was a gift.
The new covenant that we receive as believers in Christ is not a checklist of being perfect. It is walking in grace and humbly allowing Christ to perfect us.
When we put our faith and trust in Him, we become His child. He loves us!
The boundaries and rules are for our safety. They are so we can continue to receive His blessings and see His glory in our lives.
The new covenant gives life (2 Corinthians 3:7).
It gives us a new hope (1 Peter 1:3). A new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). A hope in the Living God (1 Tim 4:10) that we can receive from nothing and no one else.
It gives us a new hope (1 Peter 1:3). A new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26). A hope in the Living God (1 Tim 4:10) that we can receive from nothing and no one else.
Christ has the power to change lives and I would love to talk to you about how He can change yours. Email me at yoursewtrendy@gmail.com
Personal Reflections:
Have you chosen to see the laws for what they are and learned to walk with Christ in obedience? In what areas, do you struggle? In what areas, can you celebrate victories?
How has living up to your list of perfections hindered your relationship with Christ?
Do you use chains in your life as a crutch or as an identity? Are you afraid to let them go because they are all you have ever known or you have become comfortable in them? As a believer, do you believe God can break those chains for you?
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I smiled as I read your words about Jesus coming to fulfill the promises of the Old Covenant — and the negative reaction that gained from the religious establishment. They didn't want anything "fulfilled" — or changed in any way! I don't want to be guilty of an "establishment" mindset!
You ask great, probing questions!!! Thanks for the linkup!
I love the way you've explained the new covenant, Jaime and that our obedience to God truly is a gift of freedom! These truths can really only be discerned when we take time to meditate on the words of Christ in their complete context and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Well done!
Jamie- this was a great post! I'm so glad we don't have to sacrifice animals and witness the blood and gore with that;)
I grew up believing in keeping the law without the relationship. God seemed mean and scary. Only over the last few years has the relationship grown and now I want to honor Him by keeping His rules because He's the good Father. I fail often, but I know His grace and mercy are new each day. Isn't that an amazing truth?
Blessings friend!
Thank you my friend for your gracious feature! You are Heaven sent! It's an honor to be posting my story of salvation among such beautiful women of God! To God be the glory!
What an incredible post! So often I forget that my salvation not only provides me with justification but also new life in Christ. I forget to take hold of the abundant life I have access to. Thanks you Jaime!
Jaime, So thankful for the new covenant, and for God's love and His grace! I really like the personal reflection questions that you end your post with, you have certainly given me something to ponder today. Thankful for you and #sittingamongfriends blog party today! Blessings, Misty
Great post today, God Bless.
I will say that God gave us 10 rules to follow and if I can follow those ten that is all I need to do.
I respect rules and laws but I find that men create them for their own protection and power and I do believe that it is healthy to question laws that you feel are unjust.
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.
We were having a discussion with another couple, recently, and he was talking about the 3 purposes of the law. There were civil reasons, to maintain order in society. Then what you alluded to, to show us our need for Christ when we can't keep the law. And finally, as a standard for Christian living. I liked what you said about it, that there's freedom in it and how it can be a joy and a way to worship God. When they're love driven they aren't burdensome, even though we won't do them perfectly. Thanks for a great post and linkup.