Old Vs New
This study is about how the Old Testament is a shadow of things to come, the law, sin, and death Vs the New Testament’s being of Love, Grace, and Life.
In the beginning before sin God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. They had a relationship and would talk to each other; then sin entered and the separation started between mankind and God. The problem was (and still is) that mankind had not yet matured when Adam had sinned and to this day is still not mature or wise. Maturity and wisdom would have come in time if it had not been for the original sin. When God created Adam and Eve they started out physically mature, but their souls (mind, will, and emotions) were not as mature as their physical bodies.
Matthew 18
1. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2. And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Adam and Eve were like children, innocent, pure, and if there had been others they would have never judged and always forgiven as children do.
Children:
God created the physical world for mankind to enjoy. To facilitate that, we must have a physical body to be able to live in the physical realm and enjoy it. The physical became perverted by the flesh. It became a roadblock to mankind as far as a relationship with God was concerned. The older we get the less we really need and even want of the things of the world. What we seek and need are love, companionship, and more love. God offered all that from the beginning, but we are too busy in our youth to seek or even understand.
In Mark 4:1-20 Jesus told of four groups who would hear the word and receive it in at different levels. Actually three did not keep it and only one group did receive the word hang onto it.
What stopped the first group from receiving was that as soon as they heard it they lost it because Satan came and stole it. These are the people who hear the Word of God and dismiss it as not being true, not worth listening to, or just unbelievable. The next group lost the word due to offence that entered because of the word. I have discovered offence is a result of a lie in us. If we look deeply into ourselves when we get offended we will find a lie that caused the offence. When we get the lie out of that area of our lives we are no longer offended. Because in God's love, the true love, there is no offence, only forgiveness.
The last group that lost the word after they got it was due to things of this world that choke off the word of God such as lust and deceitfulness of riches. There is nothing of this world, home, cars, clothes, furniture, etc. that is important or will last. They are all temporary at best, but they are what most people seek above all else. Instead of being like the child, who depends on his or her needs being met by the Lord, they seek ways to get that which they think they want instead of that which they truly need.
Since birth walls have been built within us that divide us from God. These walls are lies the world has taught us, that we have seen (in life, television, movies, etc.), heard, or read. For every minute we lived in and of the world and not of God new walls were being built to the point one that day there are so many that we truly became cut off from God. Moses lived 40 years in Egypt then 40 years in the wilderness before God spoke to him. The second 40 were needed to get the first 40 out, and then Moses’ last 40 years were spent serving God.
Moses first 80 years were pre-law, but even with the law it would take one for one for a person to get the walls and lies out (one day spent with God for every day spent in and of the world). Since Jesus’ sacrifice we are now of Grace and that is not the case. It takes a lot less time with God to get the world out of us. The main difference is that under Grace we have the Holy Spirit to help us. Those who are operating under the law and those who lived pre-law did not.
What two practices do you think existed before the law was given to Moses? The tithe was pre-law. Abraham tithed 430+ years before the law, as did Cain and Abel. Cain's tithe of course was questionable. That’s because he gave out of a feeling of obligation where as Abel and Abraham did it out of love for God. The other practice that was pre-law and also post tribulation is hearing from God, actually hearing His voice and being obedient.
If you are one of those who believe you can talk to God, but God can not talk to you, then you better read the Bible again starting in Genesis ending in Revelation.
One
The overall theme of the Bible is "One". In the Old Testament the "One" is the one God could find to use to sow His word into the earth so one day someone would have the faith needed for God to use to bring His Son into the earth. Of course that one was Mary. Now the "One" would be you in a one on one relationship with God, a relationship between you and God as it had been with God and Adam before sin. In order to have this relationship God had to bring His Grace into the earth to build a bridge between mankind and Him. To do so, someone had to pay the price for sin; of course that was what Jesus did at the cross and afterwards.
Now could you have a relationship with anyone if you did not listen to him or her as well as doing the talking? Of course not, and the same is true with you and God.
The Old Testament was shadows of things to come. There are many examples of what was to come in the form of Jesus, of salvation, and of Grace; but until the price was paid the only hope mankind had was the law. After Jesus paid the price the law was fulfilled in Him. The Old Testament was like a meal being prepared but everything was not quite ready yet, were the New Testament is where the feast is prepared and all is ready to be consumed.
Matthew 5
17. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
God chose Abram to start a bloodline that would run from Adam to Jesus, a nation that would grow and God could sow His word into to use to get Jesus into the earth. He had to do it that way because only those of a physical body born of a woman have any authority on the earth. Since it was a man (Adam) that first sinned it had to be a man to pay the price for sin (Jesus).
Matthew 5
43. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
The law was fulfilled in Jesus.
Matthew 22
35. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
For those who are not sure yet–Jesus said above that all of the law and prophets hung on the two commandments He spoke - love God and love our neighbors.
Who is our neighbor? It is not just those who live next door, but those who live anywhere on the earth.
Luke 10
29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
A Samaritan was not a Jew, was not of any pure bloodline, but was mixed of two races. If anything a Samaritan was looked down upon and was the least expected to be considered a neighbor. Based on the above and use of a Samaritan Jesus meant all to be our neighbors. If someone is alive on the earth now then they are our neighbor.
If I had to choose between the Old Testament (which is the Old Covenant or the law) and the New Testament (which is the New Covenant or Grace), of the two, Grace is the one that I would rather be. For those who choose to follow the law you’d better be following all of the law including sacrifices as well as every jot and tittle of the written law. You see there are some who want to use parts of the Old Testament to justify their beliefs today, but to do that means they are of the law and not of Grace. Under Grace you must be forgiving of all, not judging anyone for any reason (color of skin, race, etc), and totally of the love of God, where God is first and foremost and all. This means everyone with no exceptions; you love everyone as yourself.
Only under the law does skin color, race, etc. matter; under Grace it does not. The law dealt with the physical until God could get Jesus here to pay the price so we could once again be of the Spirit. Grace deals with what counts forever–not the physical but the Spiritual.
John 1
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2. The same was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Mankind led by mankind is in the dark like the blind leading the blind. Those who are truly led by Jesus are of the light.
Revelation 3
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Those who truly are of Christ are those who know Christ well. That’s not just knowing of Christ, but being one with Christ. To do this first one must know Jesus since He is The Christ.
John 1
28. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
30. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Many believe in water baptism as the one true baptism and some even believe one can not be saved if they are not baptized with water. Remember what is wise to man is foolish to God. God sent Jesus to baptize with the Holy Spirit. So which is the true baptism? Is it the one that was sent to prepare the way or the one for whom the way was prepared? Water is of the physical and was all John or any man had until Jesus died, and arose from the dead. That which is physical is of the physical. That which is Spiritual is of the Spirit.
John 3
3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5. Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
In verse 5 Jesus refers to water and Spirit. Then in verse 6 Jesus goes a step further as if to expect those who would not understand fully and misuse verse 5 (as many have). Water is referring to the flesh because we are mostly water and we are born of water, so that which is water is flesh (physical) and that which is Spirit is spirit.
Galatians 3
27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Notice it does not say if you are Abraham's seed you are heirs of the law, but of the promise. Also notice one has to be baptized in Christ to be of Christ. Since Christ is anointed in English and in Luke 4:18 Jesus states He is anointed by the Spirit of God, and since He is the Christ then all who are of Christ must be of the Spirit.
Matthew 7
7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
So many do not have the faith to receive what God has for them due to all the lies of the world they have heard and seen. But when one does have the faith and is of the Spirit nothing is held back. Nothing is held back by God, only by our lack of faith is anything restrained.
Matthew 8
5. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6. And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
By faith one must believe and listen for and to His voice. Then when one hears and is obedient they will be blessed beyond measure in the physical as well as the Spiritual.
Remember that what matters under Grace is of the Spirit not of the physical. God does not care about your things as long as your things do not have a hold on you. God does not care if you are rich as long as the riches do not deceive you.
All of the physical things are temporary. All of the Spiritual things are everlasting. Place your treasure in the physical and your treasure is only temporary, but place it in the Spiritual and it is eternal.
That which is of the physical, that you allow to remain in the physical, will cut you off from that which is of the Spiritual or at least that area in the Spirit. Do not allow any of the physical to keep you from any of the Spiritual.
For those who lose all of the physical for the Spiritual will gain everything back
in the physical many times over again.
Mark 10
26. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
The problem is too many are searching for God in the physical when He is Spiritual. They seek justification in the law and the Old Testament not realizing that which is of the Old is just that Old and to do so replaces the New with the Old (replacing Grace with the law). If it were up to them, Jesus would have to come back and do it all over again.
Sponsors
Sponsors