The New Testament Is Not An Addendum To The Old Covenant - Part 2769

"I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh" saith the Lord, and as a consequence your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. Similarly, your old men shall dream dreams and upon my servants and upon my handmaidens, I will pour out of My Spirit. So the question is this. Have you received the Holy Ghost since you exercised your faith towards the name of the Lord JESUS? [If you have not received the promised Holy Ghost according to the scriptures, then why not?]

This was a question the apostles asked in Acts 19:

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, he said unto them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." And he said unto them, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John’s baptism." Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:1-5) 

Why? Because these disciples wanted to receive the truth with glad hearts. Thus, when Paul spoke to them about receiving the Holy Ghost, these desired more. It is for this reason they willingly were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, because they too wanted to be clothed in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. 

But there is more. These disciples already knew there is only One Lord! That there is only One Faith, and only One Baptism. This is the shortened version of confession of the faith that the scriptures render. In this context then, we (as did the disciples in the example above) ought to examine ourselves to see whether we are earnestly contending for this confession of faith. This confession of our faith that was once, and only once delivered from JESUS to us by His holy Spirit.

Moreover, the ministry of His Spirit declares that if any man has not the Spirit of JESUS the Christ then that person has not as yet accepted redemption nor has he or she obeyed the opening tongue spoken ministry of the Holy Ghost as recorded in Acts chapter two. Paul in Galatians declared, "Who has bewitched you that you not obey the truth?" Evidently you started out in looking at and believing in only JESUS alone! You were doing so well hungering for more of God with singleness of heart. What happened?

Well, in some cases you may have met a religious person who had church-ianity but had never experienced the free redemption that Christianity offers. What they did not tell you is that the Old Covenant is not the New Testament. Neither is the New Testament an addendum to the Old Covenant. The Old Testament is a covenant of works while the New Testament is intended to be a testament of love and grace neither of which are dependant on you.

Another way of looking at the differences is that in the old testament, the laws (commandments) were physical. In the new testament, the laws are written in our hearts. The law in the old physical circumcision. In the new testament, our relationship with the Lord Jesus if founded through circumcision of the heart.

Further, God in the New Testament redeems to Himself a people who previously were not a people at all. The New Testament was necessary because God walked away from the former Covenant when those He had covenanted with had walked out from the Old Covenant demands. But this New Covenant is a Covenant between God who is Spirit and God Himself as a Son. This New Covenant was a ‘God In Christ Covenant.' Most of all, it involved the death of the testator - JESUS.

We as believers then are the benefactors of all contained in that everlasting Covenant of God in Christ. We as believers do not have a Covenant. Rather, we are the recipients of all that JESUS was heir to. All of JESUS the Christ inheritance has been bequeathed to us as HIs LAST WILL and TESTAMENT. One does not work for an inheritance. No, an inheritance is considered a gift!

Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul said to the Galatians, "My labour that I have bestowed upon you - was it all in vain?" You started out well, but now you are endeavouring to work for salvation. Let me remind you says Paul that Christ died for all of our sins. Christ died for yesterday's sin, today's sin and even tomorrow’s sin.

This is why JESUS was raised from the grave -- for our justification! When Jesus ascended to Heaven, JESUS SAT down. So why are you still working for your salvation? Admittedly, you may work because you have salvation, but we do NOT work to obtain salvation. Salvation is the free gift Of God!

If you've been led astray by a modern day religious culture, start afresh. Read Acts 2 and do as the Holy Ghost commanded. As for me and my house, we will by God’s grace serve none other than the God who loved us and gave Himself for us. 

Peace be on the ISRAEL of God! Stand in the offering plate.