Drink the Old Wine!

Scripture: The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law ... He said to him, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." Luke 16:16-17,31

Observation: For Christians - believers in Jesus - the Law of the old testament matters! While we know that we are saved by our faith, and not by our works, that is not to say we can simply listed to the "good news" and thus "force" our way into the kingdom of God. We must also listen to the law and the prophets.

This is the "faith vs. works" discussion - or more accurately I believe, "savior vs. lord".

I may have said this before, but this is a lesson I learned from a high school girl several years ago. So many believers proclaim Jesus as their "lord and savior", then love to revel in the "savior" side of that equation while completely ignoring - or even rebelling against - the lordship of Jesus.

God has given us instructions, and the early church struggled with understanding how Jewish law applied to Gentile believers. Some of the law is specific to Hebrews, but much of the law is God's instructions for his people - which believers are now adopted into. We must live within that law as much as we live within the new covenant of Jesus' resurrection and salvation.

Application: You do not put new wine into old wineskins. However, you DO drink and enjoy old wine!! Jesus says multiple times that his salvation adds to God's law - it does not remove it, replace it, or delete it. Luke 16:31 is an interesting variation on that ... that believers who do not accept the teaching of the prophets won't accept the resurrection either.

It is important for me to maintain my belief and understanding in the old testament, not just the new. As I read God's word, my understanding of the prophets - and seeking instruction from their teaching - is part and parcel with my faith in Jesus and acceptance of the gospel.

Prayer: Lord, I welcome the hard lessons of the old testament ... understanding your law, your guidance, your judgments, and you love. May my understanding of you, and of your love, be increased in my heart in reading the old testament, and may ALL parts of your word contribute to a right relationship with you.