Observant Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20).

Publisher: Randy Neal Vol. No. 4 Issue No. 35

Feb. 2010

Introduction
Here we are already into the second month of 2010. We are all recovering from one of the worst snow and ice storms here in the Southeast in decades. Hope you survived the storm and all is well with you and your family. I don t think the kids will ever go back to school until after Spring Break. Oh well, guess the better enjoy their time off now they will not be getting out until sometime this summer. I am constantly trying to improve the monthly newsletter. Some still like receiving Observant the old fashioned way, through the mail box (snail mail). Others prefer receiving articles through email (that will be my next target audience). Hopefully the improvements will make the design more eye appealing, but I pray the content will never stray from the old paths. Redesigning the publication got me to thinking about things that are old and new. In this month s issue, we want to talk about Things Old and New.

new suit, and a new pair of sneakers. The Bible shows that God looks forward to that which is new.

New Covenant
There are three covenants we read of in the Bible. There is the Patriarchal Age (from Adam to Moses), the Mosaic Age (from Mt. Sinai to the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2), and the Christian Age (from the day of Pentecost until the Judgment Day). What is a covenant? In the Old Testament, the word refers to an agreement or copact between two parties (an agreement between a greater and a lesser party). In the book of Hebrews, the inspired writer extends the word covenant to describe a last will and testament (i.e., the covenant was not ratified until after the death of Christ, Hebrews 9:15-18). There is one thing common in both the Old and New Testament. A covenant with God required a blood sacrifice (even with the patriarches Abel [Gen. 4:4; Heb. 11:4; 12:24] and Abraham [Genesis 22:1-14]). And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without the shedding of blood there is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). In Jeremiah chapter 31, the seventh century prophet to Judah predicts a time to come when God would usher in a new covenant, much different from the one He gave to the children of Israel at Mt. Sinai. Jeremiah proclaims: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was a husband unto them, saith the

Things Old and New

Anyone who knows me knows that I like things that are classic (some might say old ). I still enjoy listening to records on my classic stereo. I like listening to classic country music and my favorite pop band of all time, the Beach Boys, on my CD player. I prefer talking to people on the phone instead of sending text messages (I am still working on the last one). While there are many old things I enjoy, there are some new things I enjoy. I like the smell of a brand new car, the feel of a brand

Observant Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Publisher: Randy Neal Vol. No. 4 Issue No. 35
LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:31-34). What would be so different from the old covenant (the law of Moses) and the new covenant (the law of Christ)? First, the new covenant would not be constantly broken like the old one (vs. 32). Both Israel and Judah were guilty of backsliding away from God and turning to idolatry (Jeremiah 3:6-14). The old prophets also compare Israel and Judah to an unfaithful wife (Jeremiah 3:1-5, 20; Hosea 2). In the New Testament, the church is depicted as the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:23-33). God expects His children under the new covenant to learn from the mistakes of those under the old law and not repeat them (see 1 Corinthains 10:1-12 for a summary of the various transgressions the Israelites committed under the old law). Second, the old covenant was written on tablets of stone while the new covenant would be written in their hearts (vs. 33). Only the pure in heart shall see God (Matt. 5:8). Even in the time of Christ, many looked upon God s commandments as just a bunch of rules thou shalt and thou shalt not. When Jesus is asked, what is the great commandment of the law, He says that the whole law of Moses could be summarized in one word love.

Feb. 2010

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). Third, the prophet Jeremiah says that under the new law, everyone would know God (vs. 34). Moses law contained some 611 (or 613 according to some rabbis ) different laws. Just read the book of Leviticus some time and you will have a greater appreciation of the effort it took to know God s law. By the time of Jesus, the law rested in the hands of the experts the scribes (see Matthew 23). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deals with some of aspects of the law that had been twisted, interpreted in ways that God never intended (Matthew 5:27-44). One must also remember that the law given at Sinai was intended for the offspring of Abraham (the sons of Israel). Then Gentiles were not included under the promises and blessings of the old covenant; the prophets did foresee a time when they would be a part of God s family (Isaiah 42:1-7). Due to Jesus death at Calvary, our Savior inaugurated a new covenant that would incorporate both Jew and Gentile into one body, the church (Ephesians 2:11-19). The writer of the Hebrew epistle compares the old and new covenant to show the utter futility to those who want to go back to the law of Moses (Hebrews chapter 8). The author of the Hebrew letter points out that Christians have obtained a more excellent ministry and a better covenant (Hebrews 8:6). Thanks to God for this glorious covenant!

Observant Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Publisher: Randy Neal Vol. No. 4 Issue No. 35

Feb. 2010

New Creature
In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul writes, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are pased away; behold, all things are become new. The New Testament teaches that as Christians, we are become a new creation, God s spiritual creation. How and where does this transformation take place? This act of becoming a new creation begins at the new birth. In Romans chapter 6, Paul answers an important question: Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound (6:1)? Paul s response, God forbid! Literally, May it never be so. Some had the impression that grace is like a charge card with no limit; in other words, they thought that the more you sin, the more grace pays. Paul says such a view is utter nonsense. Christians are freed from sin, not freed in order to sin. Paul asks, Do you not know that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death (6:3)? Why is this verse so important? Because he explains in verse 4 that when we are baptized, we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (6:4). This is the how and where the transfromation takes place. This is where our sins are washed away (Acts 2:38; 3:19) and where we come in contact with His blood (Colossians 2:12-14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 3:21; Revelation 1:5). There are many other passages of scripture in the New Testament that testify to the fact that the new birth causes us to be a new creation. In Galatians 3:23ff., Paul points out that the old covenant (the law of Moses) led man unto Christ. For you are all

the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ And if you be Christ s, then are you Abraham s seed, and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26-27, 29). Being part of Christ s offspring means that we are born into His family. Now that we are a new creature, we are to live, act, and think differently. How are we to live? Paul told the Roman brethren that we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1). How are we to act? Peter wrote in his first epistle that Christians are not to live out their lives trying to fulfill the lusts of men, but to the will of God (1 Peter 4:2). How are we to think? By setting our minds on things above (heavenly) and not on things of the earth (Colossians 3:2). Because we are dead to sin, our lives are to be hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3). Being a new creature impacts every part of our lives. We don t act the way we used to, we don t talk the way we used to, and we don t think the way we used to. Christians are to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance) in our hearts. I will never forget working at a Christian book store several years ago (I worked in shipping and receiving) when a lady that worked at the counter came to the back and said that a preacher of sorts had cursed her out because his material wasn t in. She said, he sure didn t exhibit the fruit of the Spirit by the way he talked to me. I told her, maybe his fruit whithered and died on the vine. To remain a new creation, we must stay connected to the Vine, Jesus Christ (John 15:1-8). When we fail to remain on the vine, then we are cut off and cast into the fire (John 15:6; Matthew 3:10).

Observant Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Publisher: Randy Neal Vol. No. 4 Issue No. 35

Feb. 2010

New Heaven and Earth

I truly believe that God is trying to prepare us, as part of His new creatures, for a new heaven and earth in which to live. If everything were fine and dandy in this life, who would ever want to leave? Due to the pain and suffering brought about by sin, scripture teaches that the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:21-23). We long for a better home. Even the earth longs to be freed from the bondage placed upon her by sin. In the book of Revelation, John speaks of such a place. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no nore sea (Revelation 21:1). Both the Old New Testament speak of the coming of a new heaven and earth (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; 2 Peter 3:10-13; see also Matthew 24:35 and Mark 13:31 where Jesus clearly states that heaven and earth will pass away). The word that the apostle John uses here in Revelation 21 for new (OEMRSs) indicates something new in quality or kind; something not previously present. John cannot be referring to a renewed or rejuvenated earth (as some of our religious friends teach), for Revelation 20:11 tells us that the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. The apostle Peter teaches that this old world one day will be dissolved or burned up (2 Peter 3:10-12). Since we know that this old

universe will one day be destroyed, Peter reminds us as Christians: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwell righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blamelesss (2 Peter 3:13-14). This word new is also used to refer to the new covenant that Christ came to establish through His death (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25). The Hebrew writer, in looking back to Jeremiah 28:31, shows that the new covenant promise has been fulfilled. Christians are became a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are created into a new man in Christ (Ephesians 2:15). Being a Jew or Gentile no longer matters in they eyes of God. Paul writes, For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availes anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature (Galatians 6:15).

Conclusion
Some old things are good, but in some areas you just can t improve upon something brand new. This is also true when we consider the new covenant that God offers through Christ Jesus our Lord. There never was another covenant like the one established on the Day of Pentecost. This is epsecially true when we conside the new heaven and earth that God has in store for His children one day. This ought to create a desire in our hearts to obey God s word and live in such a way that one day we will hear those words, Well done, good and faithful servant. - Randy Neal -

Observant Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Publisher: Randy Neal Vol. No. 4 Issue No. 35

Feb. 2010