Exploring A New Thing and A New Life Connection Series - Insights

Yesterday’s message was about doors of opportunities; a new series will be posted to challenge every Christian reader to look at the Word of God intensely and ask the Spirit of God to open your eyes to the truth. I will put forth every effort to help the readers see who they are in Christ; and until then one knows who they are in Christ, they will not walk in victory.

As I was studying a few days ago, this is what came to me. Do not remember the former (past) things, Nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19).

Years ago, this scripture was used on New Year’s Eve service saying God was going to do a new thing. With the eternal Almighty God there is no new thing; it is new to us because we walk through time.

These verses are important when it is talking about God’s covenant people in the Old Testament and how it connects, support and relate to the body of Christ who are also God’s covenant people. The core of our new life is founded on the Old Testament scriptures from the beginning of God making a covenant agreement started with Abraham (a Hebrew/Jew) and all his descendants, including us.

Isaiah, chapter 43 (new thing) foreshadows redemption through Christ. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). We have taken a new identity; therefore, our sinful past is done away with even though we sin. If we say we are sinners, we put ourselves in the same category as sinners; all they know to do is sin. For us, when we sin, there is conviction and repentance, which restores our fellowship with Christ. For the sinner there is no fellowship because they do not have a relationship with Christ.

Sin is enslavement (bondage). But God be thanked that though you were [past tense] slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:17-18).

Old Testament principle – Israelites in bondage in Egypt: from slavery to freedom, His redemptive plan of which also took place under the new and better covenant (New Testament or last will and testament).  Therefore, say to the children of Israel: I AM the Lord;  I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. 

I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I AM the Lord your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it to you as a heritage: I AM the Lord.’ ”  So, Moses spoke thus to the children of Israel; but they did not heed Moses, because of anguish of spirit and cruel bondage (Exodus 6:6-9). Another foreshadowing of redemption (deliverance from the bondage of sin).

Because they did take heed, I believe that is the reason God had Isaiah to write the prophetic message and to warn the Israelites not to consider (remember) the things of old. You see, God did a new thing, and in the Old Testament that never changed in the New Testament. That’s why we need to stay focused on God and forget those things of the past.

Paul even wrote: Not that I have already attained or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  

Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind (Philippians 12-16).

Another connection with Isaiah 43:18-19 and 2 Corinthians 5:7. If you are a new creature, you cannot be an old sinner; if you are still a sinner, you cannot call God, Father!

To be continued.

Grace, Peace and Love,

Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org