Old to New

Scripture speaks an amazing story of God's love and pursuit of us.
It's truly the ultimate story of love and rescue, some of the biggest (certainly the best) parts are yet to come.

The Old Testament shows the depth of the struggle.
Sin has separated us, so God begins to show us the real expanse of the separation.

God rescued His people, led His people, provided for His people.
For moments at a time they loved Him back, but they were quickly distracted.
They lost focus.  They became selfish.  They were very whiny.

Sounds familiar.

The law became their connection to God.
Their relationship and knowledge of God was so limited.  They depended on their leaders.

God gave them the Law as a gift, a means of focus.  It was a way for His people to set themselves apart.  They could show their love and allegiance to God alone.  As long as they walked in those precepts, He could be among them and protect them.  When they chose their own way, His protection and presence were removed.
Sacrifices and offerings became a temporary means of atonement.  People sinned, but sacrifices represented the repentance and payment.
The temple was the place built and set aside for the presence of God.  God wanted to be in their midst.  The temple, with the veiled Holy of Holies, was as close as they could get.

It all seems very rigid, but Holy is only Holy if it remains Holy.

God's people proved over and over that they needed more than the law.
They needed something beyond their own power and will.
They were lost, and the separation seemed larger than ever.
They needed a Savior.

All along the way, God was making big promises and giving big clues (prophecies).
The coming of the Messiah was not a secret.  God's people longed for this rescue.
They longed for it so greatly that they created their own expectations for what "the rescue" would look like.
People have a very different perspective than God.  God had a very clear plan from the beginning.  He spoke about the plan, but people still imagined things their own way.

New Testament
Finally, the time came.
The HERO enters!
It's time for the rescue!
The Messiah takes the stage!
And...

most people didn't even notice.

After thousands of prophecies and messages, only some listened well enough to see and believe.

Jesus, though, was unmistakable.
He fulfilled every bit.
And, wow, did He rescue!

The New Testament brought a whole new covenant and relationship with God.
As in, now we can actually have a one-on-one, real relationship with God!

Jesus, being perfect, atoned for our sins - completely!
The ultimate, once and for all, sacrifice.
Freely given.

Jesus fulfills the law.  He doesn't change it or recreate it.   (Matthew 5:17)
He simplifies it.  He internalizes it.

Jesus, by bringing us into a new covenant, has changed us from the inside.   (Romans 8:1-11)
The law is now written on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33 - quoted in Hebrews 10:16)
As we are being changed into new creations, abandoning our human/fallen nature, our hearts are changed.
Instead of the behavior modification we attempt with written law, we start to want to act in love.
Obedience becomes our desire.

The temple.  Who needs that anymore?
The veil was literally torn.  (Matthew 27:51)
Jesus has cleansed our sin, and we can join with God.
Hebrews 9:15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Jesus returned to Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to live and work in us and through us.

We are the temple.
 The Spirit lives inside of us.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.   1 Corinthians 6:19-20


Old to New 
describes the Bible;
describes God's covenant;
is very personal.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: 
The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:17

The New is ongoing.  We are in the midst of it, and He calls each of us to join His Kingdom and His mission.  Have you stepped into the New life Jesus offers?
  Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  Romans 10:9-10



Here is a visual of this Old to New description