New Covenant
Parallel Passages
Galatians 3:26-29
First let's recall what happens at the
moment of salvation those who are spiritual
paupers. Christ the King
like Jonathan the crown
prince, cut a new covenant in His blood with fallen mankind. When a
man or woman places their faith in Christ, they become a covenant partner
with Christ, entering into this new covenant in His blood.
When we enter into this new covenant with
Christ, our faithful Friend, do we also experience an exchange of robes
analogous to that which occurred between Jonathan and David? Paul helps us
understand the spiritual transaction that took place when we believed in
Christ writing to the saints at Galatia explaining that...
you are all sons of God through faith in
Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female;
for
you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you
are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:26-29)
In this passage Paul explains several
glorious truths that apply to every believer....
We are sons of God through faith in
Christ based on our entry into the new covenant (Gal 3:26)
We have been baptized (see
word study)
into Christ. In other words, we were identified with Him (comment)
(Gal 3:27)
We have
clothed
(word
study)
ourselves with Christ (Gal 3:29)
We belong to Christ
(independent living should be "put off" as we live for the One we
belong to) (Gal 3:29)
We are Abraham's offspring - Heirs of
the promises given to him. Eg, promises such as (1) God is now our God and (2) through us the world is blessed.
(Gal 3:29)
Do these truths help
you begin to understand the exchange of robes that took place when you
entered into the New Covenant? Paul is saying that every believer has
clothed themselves with Christ or has "put on" Christ, somewhat like a
soldier who belongs to an army demonstrates his association by putting on
his uniform. The believer who identifies himself with Jesus Christ through
faith is divinely clothed with Christ which is a graphic way to describe
Christ’s life, presence, and righteous nature enveloping the believer.
Whatever the Lord Jesus is and has, becomes the believer’s. Because Christ
has the love of the Father, so do believers. Because Christ has full access
to the Father, so do believers. And because Christ has the full resources of
the Father, so do believers.
The Wycliffe Bible
Commentary adds that..
Jonathan, the son of the king, gave all the
material gifts. David, the poor man’s son, gave but love and respect. One is
reminded of the gift of God’s Son to poverty-stricken humanity. (Pfeiffer,
C. F. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary : Old Testament Chicago: Moody Press)
What were our clothes like
before God saved us
by grace through faith? The
prophet Isaiah explains that "all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) (click
comment) How is Christ's robe described earlier by
Isaiah?
Isaiah records that God
"has clothed
(Messiah) with garments of salvation... wrapped (Him) w a robe of
righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10)
What happened to our
old rags
when we entered new covenant? Paul explains that
"By God's
doing you are
in Christ Jesus, Who became to us... righteousness (1Co 1:30)
and adds in this second letter to the
Corinthians that
"He made Him who knew no
sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become righteousness
of God in Him. (2Co 5:21)
So now, believers are "clothed"
in the righteousness of Christ on the basis of the "exchange of robes"
that occurred when we entered the New Covenant in His blood. In a
practical sense it follows that what the world should now see is His
righteousness in us. How would this occur? By seeing our new righteous behavior that
corresponds to our new clothing which reflects our new union and new identity
with Christ ("baptized into Christ"..."clothed with Christ").
In summary, by virtue of the new covenant we have entered, believers take
on Christ's identity and now have a oneness with Christ ("two become
one").
How does one know they have been
clothed with New Covenant clothes? Phil Newton in a sermon from
South Wood Baptist Church addresses this question...
How do you recognize a true Christian?
It would seem that such a question would be unnecessary in the church, yet
in our day this is a most valid question. Many people masquerade as
Christians when in fact they are not. Multitudes of others consider
themselves Christians simply because of their association with the Church
or due to their adherence to a certain set of beliefs, yet they give no
evidence of true Christianity. Unless we can discern between true
Christianity and false Christianity, we are in danger of accepting into
the Church as Christian those who are still unregenerate.
A hundred years ago, Bishop J.C. Ryle spoke of this same subject in
describing true Christianity.
A true Christian is not a mere baptized
man or woman. He is something more. He is not a person who only goes, as a
matter of form, to a church or chapel on Sundays, and lives all the rest
of the week as if there was no God. Formality is not Christianity.
Ignorant lip worship is not true religion....All are not true Christians
who are members of the visible church of Christ.
The true Christian is one whose religion is in his heart and life. It is
felt by himself in his heart. It is seen by others in his conduct and
life. He feels his sinfulness, guilt and badness, and repents. He sees
Jesus Christ to be that divine Saviour whom his souls needs, and commits
himself to Him. He puts off the old man with his corrupt and carnal
habits, and puts on the new man. He lives a new and holy life,
fighting habitually against the world, the flesh and the devil. Christ
Himself is the Corner-stone of his Christianity [Holiness, 234-235].
Contrast this description of true
Christians with what is prevalent in our own day. What do you find? You
discover multitudes who know nothing of the gospel and the work of Christ
on the cross, yet consider themselves to be Christians. You find others
who have no concern for walking in holiness or obeying the Lord or
submitting to Christ’s Lordship, yet who adamantly call themselves
Christians. There is a wide gap between profession and practice, between
the Christian of the New Testament and the Christian of the 20th century
church. To this our Lord gives the simple assessment, "Either make the
tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad;
for the tree is known by its fruit" (Matt. 12:33).
The danger of all this comes in the practice of the Church accepting the
false and tossing aside the true. When we lose our ability to discern
truth and error, true Christianity and false Christianity, we will begin
to slowly disintegrate from within. Our standards will be shattered. Our
doctrine will be trashed. Our mission to proclaim Christ to the ends of
the earth will be lost. In fact, we will find ourselves no better off than
the church of the Dark Ages, in which few believers could be found in the
visible church. (South Woods Baptist Church. Website:
www.southwoodsbc.org.
Used by permission as granted on web site)
A "New Name"
Acts 11:26
In addition, as other Biblical
covenants emphasize, believers also experience a "name change".
What do you think our new name might be? In Acts 11 Luke records the
following event...
And it came about that for an entire
year they (Barnabas and Saul) met with the church, and taught considerable
numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
(Acts
11:26)
So our "new name" is "Christian"
(see
word study on Christianos)
(5546
= Christianos from Christós = Christ from chrio = to
anoint, so Christ = "Anointed One") a word found only 3 times in the
NT (Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1Peter 4:16) and the name given to the
disciples or followers of Christ at Antioch. The meaning of Christianos
is not totally clear but seems to mean an adherent of Christ. Some think
this is a diminutive form of Christos, meaning "little Christ."
Irregardless Christianos connects or identifies a believer with his
Lord (as we see in the New Covenant). In a real sense a Christian means
bearing the Name of Christ our Lord. In our modern world, most people who
hear the term “Christian” consider it to be essentially the
opposite of “pagan.” But the name carries the idea of “a Christ
one, belonging to Christ.” Certainly it is a privilege to bear the
name and to suffer for His name’s sake.
As covenant partners with Christ what
is the new responsibility we have as result of our new identity? To live in such a way that others see Christ's life not ours
(cf "Christ in you the hope of glory" see note
Colossians 1:27
and "Christ...our life" see note
Colossians 3:4)! Because of our new clothes and new identity we are called to "walk in a
manner worthy of the Lord" our Covenant Partner (see
Colossians 1:10) (Note)
A New Power
Romans 6
We see an amplification of this truth in
Romans 6
where Paul explains that believers receive a new power which enables us to fulfill
our awesome responsibility. Paul explains that...
1 What shall we say then? Are we to
continue in sin that grace might increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus
have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in
order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the
Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death,
certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of
sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with
Him,
To summarize Paul's points we see that...
(1) We have died (past tense, completed
action =
aorist tense) to SIN (the power of Sin,
Sin as our "master") Now we have a choice to
not obey the power of Sin. (see note
Romans 6:2)
(2) We were
baptized
(see
word study)
into His death (Identified with His death
on Calvary) (see note
Romans 6:3)
(3) Now we can walk in
newness
of life - we have access to "Resurrection
power" (see note
Romans 6:4)
(4) Our
old
self
has been crucified with Christ =
Our body of SIN has done away with (see
note on
old self)
(see notes
Romans 6:6)
(5) We no longer need to be slaves to our old master SIN (see notes
Romans 6:6)
6:8: We have been freed from the
power and rule of SIN (see notes on
Romans 6:8)
The
question we each need to ask ourselves is "Who do others see now?"
Do they see Christ in me the hope (certainty) of (future) glory or do they
just see me?
A New Motive
Romans 13:12-14
In
Romans 13:12-14
Paul gives us a new motive to carry out
our new responsibility? What motive do you see in this passage?
The night (spiritual darkness that
enshrouds this present world) is almost over. (see
note) The day is at hand (the day when the
"Light of the World" returns to dispel all darkness = Second
Coming of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ) Let us therefore lay aside the
deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (see notes on
Romans 13:12)
What does Paul say about our
responsibility in this passage in
Romans 13:12-13?
Lay Aside the deeds of darkness (note)
Put on (clothe ourselves with) the
armor of light (note)
Behave properly as in the day
You may be thinking "I thought
we were clothed with Christ when we entered into the New Covenant by faith".
The answer is, yes, we have already "put
on" Christ at the time of salvation. This "putting on" however
represents a one time event and signifies our
new, eternally secure position before God. Our position in union with
Christ, identified with Christ, clothed with Christ, baptized into Christ
occurred at a moment in time past and can never be altered. This doctrine is
true forever. However, doctrine always demands "duty". In other words,
believers now have a responsibility to practice a lifestyle and
behaviors which are concordant or in keeping with our new position.
In
Ro 13:12, 14 Paul is speaking to those who have already "put on" Christ in
salvation and now he is calling for each believer to moment by moment "put on" the
attitudes and actions associated with and made possible by our new life in
Christ our covenant partner. The Bible uses other terms such as
justification ("past tense salvation") to describe our position in Christ
and sanctification ("present tense salvation") to describe our practice in
Christ. (Click
for several tables summarizing past, present and future tense salvation).
What will this new behavior look like
according to Paul?
Let us behave properly as in the day, not
in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not
in strife and jealousy. (Romans
13:13)
We won't continue to partake of things
like carousing (riotous conduct, especially nocturnal riotous festivities), drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, sensuality,
strife, jealousy (see notes
Romans 13:13)
According to Paul in Romans 13:14, what
"clothes" do believers now need to put on daily and moment by moment
throughout the day as the "opportunity" arises?
But
put on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and
make
no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts
(see
epithumia
= a drive or passion directed toward the object desired). (Romans
13:14)
William Barclay translates
Romans
13:14
this way...
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ as a man
puts on a garment, and stop living a life in which your first thought is to
gratify the desires of Christless human nature. (Barclay,
W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster
Press)
And so we note that Paul gives 2 commands
meant to enable us as covenant partners with Christ to live out our new life
in Him.
(1) Put on (tense =
aorist imperative
= do it now,
it's urgent)
the Lord Jesus Christ (note "Lord" = kurios = master, owner, possessor - we
are no longer to live as if we were our own)
Note: To put on Christ is to daily and moment by moment adopt His
whole lifestyle and live as He lived
(2) Make no provision for the
flesh
(the corrupt nature inherited from Adam
which is centered upon self, prone to sin, and opposed to God -
Click
further
analysis of
"flesh")
in regard to its lusts
(see commentary
Ro 13:14)
(See
note)
Notice that the
tense of "make" is
present imperative
which in concert with the Greek negative literally
means "Stop doing this!" "Stop
continually making provision!" implying that they were making
plans for the
strong desires
latent in their old
flesh
nature, a fallen which, although
"dethroned" is still present in believers.
The difference now is that believers are "strengthened by the grace
that is in Christ Jesus" (see
note on 2Timothy 2:1)
and enabled by Spirit (see
note on Romans 8:13)
to say "yes" to Jesus (Spirit gives us the "want to") and "no" to the
flesh (Spirit gives us the "don't want to") (see working out your
salvation with God working in us to enable that working out in
discussion of
Philippians 2:12-13).
The word "provision" (word
study)
is
pronoia
(from pró = before +
noiéo = think, so
literally "think before"). We think about the sin that "pleases" us and
make plans for it. The point is that most sinful behavior
results from
wrong ideas and lustful desires we allow to linger in our minds for as James
teaches "each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by
his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and
when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." (James
1:14,15) Paul commands us to put provision aside as if it were dirty,
filthy clothes.
A New Self
Ephesians 4:21-32
See Also:
Ephesians 4:22 Commentary notes:
Lay off old, Old Man, New Man
Ephesians 4:24 Commentary notes:
Put on New Self
Ephesians 4:20-24 Sermon: A Brand New Way of
Life - Part 2
Ephesians 4:22-27 Sermon: A Brand New Way of
Life - Part 3
In
Ephesians 4
Paul describes
what happened
to our "filthy rags" when we entered into covenant the Lord
Jesus and He gave us His robe explaining that...
21 If (or since = following is
assumed true) indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him,
just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner
of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in
accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the
spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness
of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.
25 Therefore, laying aside
falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH, EACH ONE of you, WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are
members of one another. 26 BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let
the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an
opportunity. 28 Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let him
labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that he
may have something to share with him who has need. 29 Let no
unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is
good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may
give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all
bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from
you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another,
tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has
forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:21-32)
Summing up the truths as related to
covenant we see that...
(1)
We Laid aside
OLD SELF (Old
Self = all I was in the filthy garment of Adam before I
put on Christ's robe of righteousness at salvation) (Ephesians 4:22)
(2)
WE ARE BEING Renewed in
spirit of your mind (This process began the moment we entered the new
covenant and is occurring continually in our lives as the Holy Spirit takes
the truth of the Word and renews our thinking at the core level,
transforming us from glory to glory) (Ephesians 4:23)
(3)
WE have
Put on the
NEW SELF…(See
note) (Ephesians 4:24) (see sermon by Dr
Wayne Barber on
Ephesians 4:17-27,
4:28-32)
Note that some commentators feel Ephesians 4:22-24 represents instructions to be followed.
Others, feel these describe past tense events that took place the
moment we were converted and thus equate with our position.
Stated another way, our position now is that at a point in time in the past when we
received Christ by faith, the Spirit did a work in us. At that moment
we laid aside
the
Old Self and put on the
New Self.
In other words this spiritual exchange (new for old) was an
instantaneous past completed action which was produced by the Holy
Spirit at the time of salvation.
Notice that in Ephesians 4:25 Paul begins with "therefore"
(term
of conclusion).
The idea is that since at the time of salvation we have put off the
old self and put on the new self, now empowered by the Spirit Who
energizes the new person we are in Christ, we have a
responsibility to daily put this new life into
practice by putting off and putting on the following specific
attitudes and actions, as described in Eph 4:25-32. The chart below
summarizes the "filthy rags" we need to take off and fling aside so
that our practice corresponds to our new position and identity as
those clothed in robes of Christ's righteousness...dear Christian,
covenant partner of Christ, beloved of the Father, how are you doing
in each of these areas?
|
PUT OFF |
PUT ON |
|
25
falsehood (lying)
26 sinful anger
28 stealing
29 rotten words
31 bitterness, wrath,
anger, clamor, slander, malice |
25
speak truth
26 righteous anger
28 work for living
29 Word that build up
32 be kind, tender
hearted, forgiving |
(see expository messages by Dr
Wayne Barber on
Ephesians 4:17-27,
4:28-32)
Our
Daily Bread
(Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
has the following devotional related to this passage...
Spiritual Reupholstering - When
we moved into our home 5 years ago, we discovered that the former owner
had left us six dining room chairs. They were covered with fabric of
beautiful African art—tasteful zebra stripes. We appreciated the
unexpected gifts and used them frequently when entertaining guests.
When we recently moved again, those chairs needed a makeover to match our
new decor. So I called an upholsterer and asked, "Shouldn't we just put
the new material over the existing fabric?" He responded, "No, you'll ruin
the shape of the chair if you just put new material over the old."
The work of God in our lives is similar. He's not interested in merely
changing our spiritual appearance. Instead, He intends to replace our
character with what is called "the new man," made in the image of Christ
(Ephesians 4:24). The flesh has a tendency to perform religious activity,
but this is not the work of the Holy Spirit. He will completely transform
us on the inside.
But the process is a partnership (Philippians 2:12-13). As we daily lay
aside our old behaviors and replace them with godly ones, the God of grace
works in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God wants to reupholster us. —Dennis Fisher
Dear Lord, You've given new life to me—
A great and full salvation;
And may the life that others see
Display the transformation. —Hess
When you receive Christ, God's work in
you has just begun.
Oswald Chambers in a devotional
entitled "Continuous Conversion" writes...
These words of our Lord (Matthew 18:3)
refer to our initial conversion, but we should continue to turn to God as
children, being continuously converted every day of our lives. If we trust
in our own abilities, instead of God’s, we produce consequences for which
God will hold us responsible. When God through His sovereignty brings us
into new situations, we should immediately make sure that our natural life
submits to the spiritual, obeying the orders of the Spirit of God. Just
because we have responded properly in the past is no guarantee that we
will do so again. The response of the natural to the spiritual should be
continuous conversion, but this is where we so often refuse to be
obedient. No matter what our situation is, the Spirit of God remains
unchanged and His salvation unaltered. But we must "put on the new man . .
." (see notes
Ephesians 4:24). God holds us accountable every time we refuse to
convert ourselves, and He sees our refusal as willful disobedience. Our
natural life must not rule— God must rule in us.
To refuse to be continuously converted puts a stumbling block in the
growth of our spiritual life. There are areas of self-will in our lives
where our pride pours contempt on the throne of God and says, "I won’t
submit." We deify our independence and self-will and call them by the
wrong name. What God sees as stubborn weakness, we call strength. There
are whole areas of our lives that have not yet been brought into
submission, and this can only be done by this continuous conversion.
Slowly but surely we can claim the whole territory for the Spirit of God.
A New Practice
Colossians 3
After spending two chapters explaining
the truth about the believer's position in Christ, in
Colossians 3 Paul turns to the believer's
practice. He first
reminds us about our new "robe" or our new position and new power.
1 If then you have been raised up with
Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right
hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed
with Him in glory.
Observe that the truth in
Colossians 3:1 (note)
assures us that we can now walk in newness of life, for if we have been
raised up the implication is that we have "resurrection power" to live the
Christ life. Knowing however that how we think always determines how we
behave, Paul gives two commands we are to continually strive to obey....
(1) Seek (make this the habit of your
live) the things above
(2) Set your mind (make this the habit of your live) on things above, not on
things on the earth (as we think so we will act) (see notes
Colossians 3:1;
Colossians 3:2)
