The old and the new

Do you remember the song that began: “As a deer panteth for the water so my soul longeth after THEE?”

As I opened up to Psalms 42 that was the 1^st thing I saw and of course stopped and sang the song.  

Then I went on to read verse 2, “My soul thirsts for GOD for the living GOD: when shall I come and appear before GOD?”  The old testament believers couldn’t appear before HIM or hear directly from GOD but got it all 2^nd hand from Moses and later the prophets.  That reminded me of yesterday’s lesson in Hebrews and I just wanted to share the joy and excitement of it with you. 

In the giving of the law to the Jews after they left Egypt they got to Mt Sinai. GOD told Moses to tell the people not to touch the mountain for if they did they would die.  GOD was going to appear in the sight of the people on the mountain as fire, smoke and a cloud and speak to the people.  The LORD spoke the 10 commandments to the people and in words sounding like a trumpet blast.  The people begged that GOD speak no more to them for they couldn’t bear (carry or do) what was being commanded.  The sight was so terrible that even Moses said, I am trembling with fear (see Hebrews 12:18-21, Exodus 19:10-12).

1-They couldn’t touch the mountain or go close because they were sinful (Habakkuk 1:13) and GOD is HOLY.  Although 2-GOD appeared right on earth in the sight of the people 3-on the mountain they could actually touch and 4-GOD spoke audibly to them, 5-the people begged that GOD speak no more to them personally 6-they could not bear what was being commanded 7-GOD then wrote the law (10 commandments) on tablets of stone.

Then in Hebrews 12:22-23 speaks of us, those who have believed/ trusted in JESUS to save them :1-we can go directly to GOD (Hebrews 4:16) but cannot touch the location for HE is in Heaven and we are on earth (Hebrews 1:3).  Since JESUS paid for our sins we have been cleansed (Colossians 2:13-14, Hebrews 10:10, 14) and through faith in JESUS, GOD the GOD FATHER has given us HIS righteous standing (Romans 3:22).  When we come to GOD and read HIS word we hear HIM speak (in our hearts) to us personally and it brings us not just understanding and direction but peace and joy for there is joy in the Presence of the LORD (Psalm 16:11).

Let’s compare the Old covenant with the New covenant established on the cross through the blood of JESUS (1 Corinthians 11:25). 

1-Old covenant-they actually saw an appearance and could have physically touched the place where GOD was.

1-New Covenant-We live by faith not sight and cannot physically touch the place of GOD for HE is in heaven, and we are on earth.

2-Old Covenant-they could not approach GOD because of their sin

2-New Covenant-We have been cleansed by the blood of CHRIST and come personally and directly to GOD through JESUS (Hebrews 7:25)

3-Old Covenant-They were filled with fear and trembling and did not want to hear GOD directly

3-New Covenant-we are to come into HIS presence confidently because HE tells us to (Hebrews 4:16)

4-Old Covenant-GOD spoke to the people through Prophets (Hebrews 1:1).

4-New Covenant-although GOD uses HIS written word, the HOLY SPIRIT given to us when we believe explains GOD’s word to us and directs us individually according to the will of GOD for us by placing within us the desire and ability to do HIS will (John 14:26,16:13, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13, Philippians 2:13).

5-Old Covenant-GOD wrote with HIS finger the 10 commandments on stone

5-New Covenant-The HOLY SPIRIT writes in our hearts and minds the law (desires) of GOD (HE often uses our reading the Word of GOD to do that as HE places the desire to be like our FATHER in heaven in us.

Let me note that our unchanging GOD’s standard of right and wrong is still the same.  The difference is that when we belong to JESUS, the HOLY SPIRIT stirs up the desire in our hearts to do right (Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 10:16 and if boldly run to the throne for help we are given everything we need to do right. 

In the Old Covenant the people followed rules set in stone in fear of the wrath of GOD.

In the New Covenant because we have JESUS and have been born into  GOD’s family (John 1:12-13) the HOLY SPIRIT places GOD’s desires within us and we act in order to please our loving FATHER not to get or keep ourselves saved from the wrath of GOD.

2 Corinthians 3:3 “Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of CHRIST ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the SPIRIT of the living GOD; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

What a privilege we have, our hearts do not have to pant after GOD we can go directly to HIM at any time, and HE will meet directly with us!   Praise the LORD!!!

Hugs

Sharon

A letter

I love getting personal emails but even more I love getting a hard copy personal letter from a friend in the mail. But did you realize that you, if you belong to JESUS, are a letter from GOD being written and sent out to specific people?

When someone receives GOD’s gift of forgiveness and eternal life by believing in JESUS finished work on the cross and trusting JESUS CHRIST as LORD to lead him (Romans 6:23), he is given the HOLY SPIRIT as a down payment of everything GOD has promised him (Ephesians 1:13-14). The one who receives JESUS CHRIST becomes GOD’s child and enters into the New Covenant initiated by the blood of JESUS CHRIST on the cross when HE died carrying the sins of all time (1 Corinthians 11:25).

Side note: ONLY those who receive and trust JESUS CHRIST by calling on the name of the LORD (Romans 10:13) are saved from the punishment of their sins for only those in JESUS CHRIST have their sins removed and are washed clean.

The New Covenant was promised in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31, 33) and after fulfilling all the Old Covenant JESUS established the New Covenant through HIS blood on the cross.

The New Covenant is described in Hebrews 10:^16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD, I will put MY laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; ¹⁷ And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”

 “you are manifestly declared to be the epistle (letter) of CHRIST ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the SPIRIT of the living GOD; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

The SPIRIT of the Living GOD within a believer takes the words of GOD spoken by Paul (or anyone, or the words of GOD when read in the Bible) and causes them to come alive in the believer and understood. In this way the HOLY SPIRIT writes GOD’s words on our hearts (so they are what we want to do) and in our minds (so we are directed by them) and we start living them out. When that happens others can see CHRIST in us, so we become living letters/ epistles (2 Corinthians 3:3).

 For it is GOD (the HOLY SPIRIT) Who works (places) in you the desire and the ability to do what GOD wants done. (Philippians 2:13 paraphrased).

“… minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament, which veil is done away in CHRIST. But even unto this day… the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it (the heart) shall turn to the LORD, the veil shall be taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). But we (as the HOLY SPIRIT makes GOD’s truth clear to us are) beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory (divine nature) of the LORD (like HIS gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, love), are (being) changed into the same image (what we see of HIM) from glory to glory…  by the SPIRIT of the LORD (2 Corinthians 3:14-18).

Because of our old sin nature there is a veil/covering blocking our understanding of the Scriptures. When our hearts turn to JESUS CHRIST (via the conviction of the HOLY SPIRIT) the veil is taken away. Thus, being freed from the bondage of the lies of Satan (Ephesians 2:2) the HOLY SPIRIT begins revealing to the believer truths of GOD the FATHER and JESUS, explaining them so we can understand and see their beauty (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). In this way we are changed into the likeness of JESUS by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT. And become letters from CHRIST not written by ink but by the SPIRIT, not on tablets of stone but on our hearts.

The Old Covenant showed GOD’s eternal standards and no matter how hard one worked at it no one could live up to them. But under the New Covenant, GOD the HOLY SPIRIT writes those standards in our hearts and minds which changes our thoughts, our very nature and little by little we become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) gradually being conformed to the image of GOD’s dear SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST (Romans 8:29).

The more time we are in HIS word growing in our knowledge of GOD the FATHER and our LORD JESUS the more other people see it and we are letters of GOD to them telling them of HIS love and so much more.

Blows me away just to think about it.

Hugs,

Sharon