The New Covenant Christian (Part 3): Transition

The New Covenant We Follow (Part 3)

Transition to the New Covenant

It was very hard for people to transition into the New covenant and it still is today. Transitioning into the new does not mean the old is not important. The old points us to Christ because we realize we need a Savior. Examine why you do what you do. Do you follow rules because they are part of the Mosaic covenant and God commanded it long ago on the mountain OR do you follow your heart? If you have transitioned into the New, your heart is being guided by the Holy Spirit. Both would follow the rules about murder, adultery, gossip, idols etc. Anything that violates Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself” is sin. But there are so many deeds and actions and beliefs that are not sin. Many things in the Mosaic covenant are not sin any longer because Jesus fulfilled and set aside the law. For example (there are hundreds), did you know there is a command that says if you plant a fruit tree, you are not take any fruit from it for the first five years. The fourth year you are to give it all away as an offering to the Lord. Only during the fifth year are you allowed to take its fruit after you have given the first of it to the Lord. Also, eating pork is a personal decision. Romans 14:14, 20 and 6 says, “Nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean… All food is clean but it is wrong for a person to eat something that causes someone else to stumble… Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord and gives thanks and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks.” They are both justified. 

My point: Whether you follow the command about fruit trees or eating split-footed animals that do not chew their cud (and many, many other rules), do it because the Holy Spirit is guiding you with whispers and nudges, not because it was a requirement in the Mosaic Law that was fulfilled. Depending on who your company is, you may eat and do things differently because you are seeking your companies good conscience, not your own.

Even Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:20-23 that to the Jews he became a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (although I am not free from God’s law but an under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak, I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so by all possible means, I might save some.” Does this sound like a man who was shaming people for what they ate or what holiday they celebrated? It sounds like Paul shows who Christ is and allows love to be the draw. He allows ‘no condemnation’ to be the theme. Paul allows the Holy Spirit to work…not his pointy finger... in condemnation. Paul does not explain that people need to change first to come to God. He explains to come to God and the Holy Spirit will change people.

Here is a test to see if you have transitioned: According to Romans 14, if you have transitioned to the New covenant you have a strong faith. That means you can abstain from eating or from activities for a time and it will not offend your conscience. You do this because indulging in them will offend someone you are with and your strong faith allows you to think of others first. If you have not transitioned to the New covenant and you believe you are obligated to follow the Mosaic Law requirements, you have weak faith according to Romans 14. That means you cannot indulge in eating things or activities that the Mosaic Law condemned because it offends your faith. Romans 14 says the strong can abstain without offending their conscience, but the weak in faith cannot indulge without offending their conscience. Weak do it because the old required it. Strong do it because they love God and their neighbor. 

What is your motivation for what you believe. But more important, what is your motivation for what you DO while with other people? Shaming or showing love?