- There is more than two sections in your Bible.
- There is a division between the prophetic scriptures and the mystery scriptures.
- The prophetic scriptures are contained in the Old and New Testament.
- Both Old and New Testaments are written to one group of people, that being the nation Israel.
- Paul alone was given the new information referred to as the "revelation of the mystery.
- Israel has no standing or advantage in this present dispensation of the grace of God.
Aspect #2; The New Creature!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God is not involved in nation building in this present dispensation of the grace of God, instead, He is building a spiritual body of believers, the new creation, the church, the body of Christ! I was always told the "new creature" in this passage was about myself, but the truth is, it's about the new creature, which is His body, the church. I know that is true according to the next verse which states ....
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
The "old things" from verse 17 can no doubt be Israel, the twelve tribes, the law program, water baptism, tithing, the priesthood, and so forth. There is a new sheriff in town, the church, the body of Christ. We are not the "born again" people from John chapter 3 in which Jesus speaking to Nicodemus states, "ye must be born again" Surely, if something is "again" speaks to something that has already been beforehand. Paul tells us we are in the "new creature" which speaks to something that has never been before. Something that is NEW cannot be something that is AGAIN. The words are different and have different meanings. In Exodus 4, Moses was instructed to speak to Pharaoh and say....
Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Surely, Nicodemus, a master of Israel had knowledge of the fact of Israel being God's firstborn, so it would only make sense for Jesus to explain to him in the Old Testament book of John....
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
At this point, Jesus is bring Nicodemus up to speed which had already been prophesied from such passages as in Ezekiel 36 verses 22-27. Verses 26 and 27 details what it means for Israel to be "born again"....
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
The statutes in verse 27 would be the 613 points of law given to the nation Israel concerning their covenant position with God. Israel is never separated from the law program whether it be Old Testament or in their New Testament position. The church, the body of Christ has no association with the law program other than it was our schoolmaster which brings us to Christ as Paul tells us in Galatians....
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
What once was profitable....
Romans 3:1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Romans 3:2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.
Is now unprofitable..
Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
The "new creature" the church, the body of Christ has the "all things become new" from 2 Corinthians 5:17, let's examine some of the new things.
- One body......not 12 tribes.....Romans 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
- One Apostle....not 12 Apostles, 1 for each tribe....Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
- One baptism......not a water ceremony.....1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
- Under Grace....not under the law.....Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
- Complete in Christ.....not enduring unto the end to be saved....Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
- Spiritual blessings....not an earthly orientation.....Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ :
- Ambassadorship....not a discipleship....2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
- Giving from the heart......not according to the "tithe" of the law........2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
There are many many more, these are just a few to give you a feel for identifying the "new things" associated with the "new creature" the church, the body of Christ. I hope this in some way has helped you in beginning to distinguish the changes in doctrine from the "old things" which have passed away in contrast to the "all things have become new"doctrines.
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