The Dilemma in Galatia: Mixing Old and New
In Galatians, we see people who believed in Jesus and knew they didn’t have to do anything to be saved – it was all about Jesus, not them. But then, some people called Judaizers came.
They told the new Christians that believing in Jesus wasn’t enough; they also had to follow old laws like circumcision and keeping the Sabbath. This idea is like saying you need Jesus and your good actions to be saved. Paul, who wrote Galatians, got upset about this. He said mixing these old and new beliefs is wrong, and it’s like turning away from God’s grace.
The Failings of the Old Covenant
Paul explains that under the old laws, people tried hard to please God with their actions, but they always failed. The rules were so strict that it wasn’t enough, even if you did almost everything right.
Only Jesus could follow all these rules perfectly. He did everything right and then shared His perfect score with everyone who believes in Him.
This is why we call it good news! The new way, the new covenant, is different from the old rules because it’s based on what Jesus already did, not on what we try to do.
Embracing the New Covenant
Paul clarifies that the old system of following laws to be right with God is over because of Jesus. We live under the new covenant, where God forgives and accepts us. It’s like we’re already part of God’s family, not because of what we do, but because of what Jesus did. Paul asks us a simple question:
Why would we mix the old and new ways when the new way is so much better? He encourages us to live fully in the new covenant, enjoying the freedom and peace it brings.
Reading the Old Testament Rightly
The Old Testament is still significant, just like the New Testament. But we need to understand it differently now. When reading the Old Testament, we should consider how Jesus changed things. For example, the Old Testament has many laws, but Jesus showed us we don’t have to follow all these to be right with God. It’s important to remember that Jesus’ work changed how we understand these old writings.
Holiness From Inside Out
Some people think that not being under the old laws means we can do anything we want, but that’s not true. We still aim to live good lives, but now it’s different. It’s not about just following rules; it’s about letting God change our hearts from the inside.
When our hearts are changed, we naturally live better lives. Jesus made the standards even higher, but now we have the Holy Spirit to help us meet them.
When we read verses from the Old Testament, like Psalm 51, we should see them differently because of Jesus. David, who wrote this Psalm, worried God would leave him because of his sins. But now, we know God won’t leave us because Jesus paid for our sins.
So, when we read this Psalm, we can be thankful that God has given us a clean heart and won’t take His Spirit away from us. If you ever feel sad or worried while reading the Bible, you might be mixing up the old and new ways of thinking.
Remember, Jesus changed everything for the better.
A New Heart and Identity in Christ
The Bible says that before knowing Jesus, our hearts were wicked and deceitful. This was true under the old covenant, where people didn’t have the Holy Spirit or a new heart from God.
But when we accept Jesus, everything changes. We get a new heart that wants what God wants. Now, we don’t match the old description of having wicked hearts. Instead, we have hearts in tune with God’s will, showing how much we’ve changed.
Conditional Promises and Our New Identity
In the Old Testament, many promises from God depend on us being perfect, which is impossible on our own. For instance, God says He won’t withhold good things from those who live right. Before Jesus, this would make us sad because we couldn’t live up to it. But now, in Jesus, we are seen as perfect and righteous. So, when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our mistakes.
He sees us just like He sees Jesus – spotless and sinless. This new identity in Christ means we can claim all of God’s promises. We don’t have to feel bad or try to earn God’s love; we already have it because of Jesus.
The End of the Old Covenant and Embracing Freedom
The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to return to the old covenant because of persecution. Like Galatians, Hebrews tells us not to give up and reminds us that the old covenant is finished.
If the old covenant had been perfect, there would be no need for a new one. But God found fault with the old system because it relied on our actions, which always fell short.
In the new covenant, we have a relationship with God based on what Jesus did, not what we do. This means we live in freedom, joy, and the assurance of God’s unchanging love.
Why the Old Covenant Failed Us
In the old system, God could find fault with us because it depended on our perfect behavior, which was impossible. The old laws demanded us to be holy, but they didn’t give us the power to be holy. This system was flawed because it relied on our efforts, and we always fell short.
This is where the new covenant comes in, as prophesied in Jeremiah 31. It’s not like the old covenant that people couldn’t keep. The new covenant represents a complete change, where God does what we couldn’t do ourselves.
The New Covenant: A Deal of Grace
Under the new covenant, the deal is between God the Father and Jesus, who keeps the covenant perfectly on our behalf. This means we don’t have to worry about messing up because Jesus handles it for us. Now, we can truly rest and enjoy a kind of Sabbath every day, not just once a week. We’re made perfect in Him, not by our work, but by His.
This doesn’t mean we do nothing; instead, we’re motivated by gratitude and the Holy Spirit to live for God. The new covenant is internal – God writes His laws in our hearts and minds, making us want to do right. He promises to be merciful and forget our sins, making the old covenant obsolete. This is the beauty of the new covenant: it’s based on God’s promises, not our flawed efforts.
Embracing Forgiveness and the Reality of the New Covenant
When we sin, we ask God for forgiveness, but the truth is that He already forgave us 2000 years ago. This understanding changes how we approach sin. Realizing that we’re already forgiven doesn’t make us sin more, but less. Grace teaches us that.
The more we understand grace, the less we sin. We might not be completely sinless, but we’ll definitely sin less. The new covenant, as stated in the Bible, makes the first covenant obsolete. It’s not just fading away; it’s already been replaced by something much better.
Some people struggle to let go of the old ways because it feels familiar and is what we’re used to. But the Bible is clear: the old covenant is obsolete.
This was fully confirmed when Jesus was resurrected and later when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD, ending the old sacrificial system. We no longer need sacrifices for sins because Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. So, clinging to the old laws is like trying to live in a way that God Himself has moved on from.
We should embrace the new covenant wholeheartedly and leave the old ways behind. It’s time to let go and live in the freedom Jesus offers us.
The Journey to Understanding the New Covenant
Understanding the new covenant is challenging, like unraveling a complex mystery. Paul said it’s hard to grasp because it’s different from everything we’ve been taught. It’s not something you understand overnight. To get it, we need to focus on Jesus and learn about all the good things we have because we are ‘in Him.’
The more we discover about being in Christ, the more our minds will change. We’ll start to see how much God has lifted us up. This understanding turns us into magnets for victory and all the good things Jesus wants for us. But remember, you can’t mix the old and new covenants and expect to live in victory.
Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, also prophesied about this new covenant. In the old covenant, all the pressure was on us to be perfect. But in the new covenant, God says, “I will” a lot. He promises to clean us, give us a new heart and spirit, and even put His Spirit in us. This was a big deal because, under the old rules, only special people like kings and priests sometimes had God’s Spirit.
But now, God’s Spirit is in everyone who believes. This new way is not about trying hard to be good but letting God’s Spirit inside us guide us. To live this out, praying, reading the Bible, attending church, and having Christian friends can help. These things don’t make us closer to God – we’re already close – but help us receive more from Him.
What Covenant Are You Going To Live Under?
To live victoriously, we need to focus entirely on the new covenant. We should learn about, study, and be part of a community that teaches it. This prevents us from being tricked into living under old rules that bring shame, guilt, and condemnation.
Understanding that God looks at us with love and not anger is vital.
Realizing this can take time, as even Paul said, it’s a mystery contrary to our usual thinking. When we understand, we become empowered not by our efforts but by receiving God’s love. This journey isn’t about being perfect overnight. Some changes happen quickly, others slowly, but God is patient with us. He loves us even as we progress and grow.
The story of Abraham in the Bible shows us how not to rush God’s promises.
Abraham and Sarah were promised many descendants and tried to speed things up when they didn’t see immediate results. This led to Ishmael, a child born out of their impatience, representing efforts in our strength, not God’s promise. This story reminds us that we can’t just do things our way and ask God to bless them. We need to follow where God’s blessings already are. There’s freedom and joy under the new covenant, represented by Isaac (which means laughter). This contrasts with the old covenant, which is about striving and struggling.
The new covenant brings a lightness to our walk with God, symbolized by laughter and joy, showing the difference between our efforts and living in God’s grace.
The Two Covenants and Choosing the New
The Bible tells us about two covenants: the old one from Mount Sinai, which led to bondage, and the new one, which brings freedom. When the old covenant, represented by laws given at Mount Sinai, was introduced, it was so strict that even animals couldn’t touch the mountain without punishment. Yet, this harshness didn’t stop people from sinning; it happened immediately.
This shows that threatening punishment doesn’t stop bad behavior. Contrast this with the new covenant, where, on the day it was established, 3000 people were saved without any threats. This new covenant changes us from the inside, not through fear, but through love and forgiveness.
In the new covenant, we are compared to Isaac, the child of promise, symbolizing freedom and promise. Unlike the old covenant, where we had to earn God’s favor, the new covenant is about receiving what God has already given us. It’s like having a down payment of heaven through the Holy Spirit right now.
We’re assured of our salvation and look forward to the day we’ll fully experience it. However, just like Ishmael mocked Isaac, those who cling to the old ways and mix covenants often mock and criticize those who fully embrace the new covenant of grace.
The conflict between the old and new covenants is still evident today. People who pride themselves on their religious deeds and strict adherence to laws often look down on those who simply accept God’s grace. They feel offended when they see others receiving God’s favor without the hard work they think is necessary.
This reveals a misunderstanding of God’s grace. We’re encouraged to stop striving and pushing for what we want and instead trust in what Jesus has done for us. When we let go of our efforts and rely on God’s grace, we find that what we need becomes easier.
This is the essence of living under the new covenant – receiving God’s blessings through faith, not through our efforts.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for keeping me in the palm of your hand, and no one can take us out. You protect me, you go before me, you are my Shepherd. Lord, you are a loving, good, good Father. You take of me and will never let me down. I put my faith in you. In Jesus’ name.
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