Christianity Is All About New

It's the season to wish all a "Happy New Year," and we've all probably been busy doing that the past few days. There's always a note of optimism that attends something new. A new year represents fresh opportunities to achieve something not as yet accomplished that might be brought to fruition at last. And probably we're not thinking of the question: "Are we going to be as willing next year to put 2021 behind us as we were to get rid of 2020?" The truth is that some years are not so hot. Sometimes external conditions influence our assessment of a year, but our internal attitudes have a great deal to do with it, also.

Regardless of what happens in the world, Christianity is all about newness. We may want to remind ourselves of these things throughout the year. First of all, we have (and are) under the New Testament instead of the old covenant we usually refer to as the Law of Moses. That first covenant condemned and killed, but the new gives life (2 Cor. 3:6).

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second (Heb. 8:6-7).

The first covenant condemned; the second one saves. This new covenant does not involve or rely on animal sacrifices but the blood of Jesus (Heb. 12:24), which is powerful enough to wash away all sins (Rev. 1:5). This covenant is not only new with respect to the old; it is an everlasting covenant (Heb. 13:20). Therefore, it will not be replaced by "another testament of Jesus Christ." Why would there be a third covenant when the second, the new, is perfect and powerful. It gives life through the atoning blood of Jesus. What could be an improvement on that?

Jesus even proclaims His blood to be the "blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt. 26:28); Paul also references this fact (1 Cor. 11:25). As long as we walk in the light and confess our sins to God, the blood of Jesus continually "cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7-9). Jesus cleanses us when we are baptized (Acts 22:16), and He continually cleanses the faithful with His blood.

New Doctrine

The Law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), and we have been under the new covenant since then, which means we have new teaching. When Paul spoke to the Greeks at the Areopagus (Mars' Hill), they wanted to know what new doctrine he was preaching that they had not heard before. They called it a strange doctrine because they had never heard of Jesus or His being raised from the dead (Acts 17:18-19).

Animal sacrifices were offered under the old covenant, but they were a type of Christ's offering. This blood of bulls and goats could never take away sin (Heb. 10:4). None of the animals was resurrected, either. Certainly, the resurrection was a new doctrine—at least the way Paul preached it. We often hear from atheists that plenty of legendary folks in mythology experienced a resurrection. Perhaps a few did, but did they die on a cross for the sins of mankind first—according to prophecy?

This new doctrine offers those interested salvation, if they are willing to die to sin, to be buried in the watery grave of baptism, and then to be raised up—as a form of what Jesus did (Rom. 6:3-5). Did the Greeks and the Romans and other ancient societies have a way to remedy sin? No. They may have recognized that some actions were sinful, but they had no Savior and no way to be redeemed from their sins. Thus, what Paul preached was a new doctrine—one full of hope for every man and woman. How the world needed this new doctrine! After two thousand years, it is no longer new, but it is still available and as powerful as it was in the first century.

A New Commandment

Jesus gave His apostles a new commandment that involves loving one another. That, by itself was not new; part of the Law read: "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord" (Lev. 19:18). What was new about what Jesus taught in John 13:34-35? The new portion was that they love one another as He loved them.

What does that mean? We should, in order to answer that question, ask, "How did Jesus love them?" Even though His followers were spiritually-minded, they were imperfect—even to the point of arguing about which of them would be the greatest. Jesus' love for them is seen in His patience toward them. Do we show that same love toward each other? Or do we become irritated with each other? Do we say to ourselves (hopefully not to fellow Christians), "How could Brother A say such a thing? Doesn't he know how bad that sounds and that he offended brethren? And Sister B; her sharp tongue can make others feel pretty small."

Of course, if this is a persistent problem, someone needs to talk with them, but otherwise, patience will help us forbear with one another. On an episode of the TV show, Happy Days, someone put a pill in Richie's drink, which did not make him drunk but removed his good judgment. He said some horrible things, and no one would speak to him. He found out what had happened, but he did not explain. Instead, he said, "You have known me for years, and you're going to treat me this way because I had one bad night?"

Jesus tolerated His disciples when they were a bit obtuse. He corrected them gently even when they wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of" (Luke 9:55). Undoubtedly, His disciples vexed Him and disappointed Him, but He did not give up on developing them into the outstanding apostles they became. Then He died for them. Christians should treat each other the same way (1 John 3:16) because we have a new commandment.

A New Creation

Christians themselves are new: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:10). Why are Christians new? Two reasons will serve as an answer. The first is that we have repented of our sins. When someone comes to Jesus, he must change the things that are wrong in his life. Someone might protest, "I'm really not all that bad. I haven't killed anyone. I haven't stolen anyone's car. I don't do drugs. And I give some money away once in a while."

We might respond kindly to such an individual, "But do you look favorably upon abortion, which is murder? Have you taken things from the company you work for because they'll never miss it? Do you drink beer or wine, because they have alcohol in them, and alcohol is a drug—a poisonous one?" Jesus wants us transformed from the inside out. We could further ask, "Are you still under the influence of the lust of the flesh, or are you trying to produce the fruit of the spirit, which includes being longsuffering, kind, gentle, loving, and possessing self-control?" (Gal. 5:19-23).

"Have you put off the old person—the one who told lies, was angry, took the Lord's name in vain, or spoke in filthy or vulgar language? And are you now merciful, meek, and humble?" (Col. 3:8-15). "And while we are speaking of sin, do you realize that he who knows to do good but fails to do it—that is sin, also?" (James 4:17). Yes, the Bible shows us how much of ourselves must be changed.

But we are a new creation for a second reason—Jesus took away all our sins with His blood when we were baptized. We were washed; we were cleansed; we were justified (1 Cor. 6:11). In other words, we have been made holy by the sacrifice of Jesus, and we must make the determination to contribute to our own holiness as much as we can, although we will always need the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:14-16).

We are then added to the church after we are buried with Christ in baptism (Acts 2:41, 47). In this body we are all equal (Gal. 6:15). Before being made new, we were Jews or Gentiles; now we are one new man (Eph. 2:15; Gal. 3:26-29). In the world, we may have been subject to petty jealousies; now we exist to encourage each other to be what God designed us to be. We want to help each other please God so that heaven will be our eternal home.

New Anticipations

Honestly, before becoming Christians, what were we living for—material success or earthly achievements? Now our perspective has changed, and our goals are spiritual. Not only do we assist each other as part of, as well as along, The Way, we also have, as a goal, reaching those outside of Christ with the gospel. We cannot just enjoy the new life we have found; we want to reach out to others with the same truths we have obeyed. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). All Christians must adopt that same attitude.

We must also put on the whole armor of God that we may personally be able to stand (Eph. 6:10-17), but also that we might fight for the souls of others. We must be properly armed (spiritually)—and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks of us a reason of the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15). If we are good and faithful soldiers of Christ, we have various promises to look forward to.

We will not always live amidst conflict and the evils which abound in this world, which man has corrupted. Peter tells us that this physical realm will be destroyed by fire—in fact, the entire physical creation will melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:10-12). "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (v. 13). Try to imagine such a world—one we have never observed, unless it was in a work of fiction. All the imaginations of the thoughts of people's hearts will only be pure, righteous, and holy continually. What a wondrous world this will be (Rev. 21:1)!

The Book of Revelation makes several promises concerning newness. Jesus assures the faithful in Pergamos they shall receive "a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it" (Rev. 2:17). No one knows what to expect concerning this blessing, but it serves as a cause for a bright, expectant future.

Those who overcome will be part of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2). This one will not be full of corruption as the earthly one frequently was—even meriting destruction—twice. This is the heavenly Jerusalem where no sin will exist. As far as worship goes, how about anticipating the singing of a new song (Rev. 14:3)? We know many songs on earth, but some of them have vulgar or suggestive lyrics. This song's words will be clean, as well as fresh. We sing many hymns on earth, some of whose lyrics are not accurate. But this song is perfect and worthy of being directed to God.

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new" (Rev. 21:5). What a change we experience on earth when we repent of our sins and enter into a new life. But this final transformation will be even better. Everything will be new! And we will always remember that it is all ours because of the love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the Spirit's revelation of the Word.