Out With The Old and In With The New
This was the Apostle Paul’s take when he wrote, “For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.” (Romans 7:5-6)
The “oldness of the letter” refers to the law. It is what every human being is under who is without Christ, who are “in the flesh,” unsaved, and who suffer the guilt and punishment the law demands, because there is no one who is righteous, and no one who can perfectly keep God’s law, because it is still alive working its purpose, which is to bring to us the knowledge of sin and our guilt before a holy and righteous God (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24).
The law is the old way and it is no longer is the way for humanity to approach and appease God. The way now is through a “newness of spirit,” which is the Holy Spirit who brings new life and bears His fruit within the believer, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Therefore, the believer in Jesus Christ no longer is under the legal requirements of the law, the “oldness of the letter,” but is now under the “newness of spirit,” and the forgiveness and grace it brings.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
And so, every believer is under the New Covenant through Jesus’s death upon the cross to finish what the Old Covenant never could, the forgiveness of sin. Therefore, we are to put off the old, and enter into the new.
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
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Books by Dennis Lee:
In the new Christian self-help guide, From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation, you are introduced to entering through the narrow gate, realizing you are anew creation in Christ when you accept Jeus as you Savior. Dennis provides Christian reader with biblical principles to help root their relationship with God, while seeking more time alone with God. The necessity for humbly surrendering to God in every area of life is also discussed, as well as the power of the Holy Sirit found in prayer; all part of living on purpose for God. Yo get your copy. contact Dennis Here.
Wonderful and inspiring words of truth. Always thought provoking and filled with scripture to back everything up. Excellent! Thank you for sharing and allowing the Holy Spirit to move through your writing.
Thank you Moose – I pray you are doing well, and know that I am always keeping you in my prayers. Take care my friend.
Jesus found a way for us. Thank you for knocking on my door and allowing me to enter.
Hey Deb, Hope you’re having a great day. Missed not saying hello yesterday. Have a great day. God bless
Very profound. In regards to what the old covenant could never do, I am reminded of Hebrews 10:1-4, “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.” However once Jesus became that sacrificial Lamb for us once and for all, for all who have received Him as Lord and Savior, we are no longer under that bondage to sin and are able to produce that fruit with the Holy Spirit living inside of us. How freeing is that! We are able to live as those new creations in Christ Jesus.
Debbie, well thought out and applied. Let’s look forward with great expectation the new work ago desires to do in our hearts and lives. Thank you, and may God’s blessings be with and on you.