So many followers of Christ today live like they are under the Old Covenant.
We have been brought up in the religious system that seems more like a corporation rather than a community where the priesthood of all believers should be the norm. The church has a pastor, elders and deacons just like a corporation has a CEO, board of directors and operating committee.
We still have the mind-set that we are living in the Old way of doing things. A lot of us still think the church is a building we gather in and listen to a ‘chosen few’ tell us what God is saying.
We tell each other to ‘have a good Lord’s day’, thinking Sunday is the chosen day to set aside to worship God and rest.
We look to the bible like it is part of the trinity and we worship it and use it for all kinds of rule keeping, judging and condemning others.
We tithe ten percent to the church, thinking God requires it from us and if we do not give the tithe, we are robbing God.
Jesus completed the Old Covenant and brought it to an end. He made a New Covenant with his creation, which we are now living under.
Jesus is building his Church, which is made up of people, not brick and mortar. It is a community of believers with Christ as the head, and each of us equal, participating members in a loving group of people. Now that may happen anywhere and anytime; in a building, in a house, in a park, a restaurant and so on. The fact is that Church is not an organized meeting in a set place at a set time, but it is a fellowship and relationship among fellow believers, no matter if there are only two or three.
Each and every day is the day the Lord has made. Every day is holy and for resting in the work God has already done. The idea that the seventh day is holy is just not true in the New Covenant.
The bible is the inspired word of God. Although God inspired men to write, it is still a book written by men. It is the Spirit that gives life and meaning to those words. If the Spirit isn’t enlightening us and teaching us, the words do not have life. Jesus is the living, all powerful, inerrant Word of God.
Tithing was a law given to the Jews in the old covenant. It is no longer part of the new covenant. Giving out of love as the Spirit leads is the way things are done now. God does not need our money, but giving to those who do, out of love, is a way that is pleasing to God and a help to others.
It is sad that men have continued to teach the Old Covenant way to believers today, although it is understandable. All of us alive today do not know anything different since this has been taught for hundreds of years. Not until the Spirit opens our eyes and leads us in His truth do we see this new way of living by his grace.
Seek God’s truth, ask the Spirit for guidance. Do not be condemning and argumentative towards fellow believers who see things differently, but be open to what God shows you. Do not be close-minded and continue to do things just because that is the way we have always done them.
The Spirit is within us and he is our guide into all truth. Be open to hear his voice and follow in the way he leads you. Do not be condemning towards your brothers and sisters in Christ who follow a different path. It is the same spirit that leads us, and we are all called to love one another.
Thanks for your comment. Appreciate it.
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Ignoring Christs’ word is the trouble Matthew 10: 5; Matthew 15: 24 then they read 5: 17 and 18 without 19 and not acknowledging Matthew is a book for Jews. Act 9: 15 is where the gospel for Gentiles and Israel (long gone from the land by the time Jesus arrived. This is what the Bible says.
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It’s so true, we want to follow the leading of his spirit, but so often we end up listening to the voice of others or our own way, and rush to make a decision or choice without waiting to hear the leading of the spirit. Thanks for your comment.
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In the last paragraph in your article the lines: The Spirit is within us and he is our guide into all truth. Be open to hear his voice and follow in the way he leads you.
A very nice lines and have great meaning..Nice article..
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Thanks Michael. Good article. Thanks for sharing.
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AMEN TO YOU BOTH!!! I have written on this theme many times myself…
Here is one on my blog that comes to mind, “It’s a New Covenant!”
awildernessvoice.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/its-a-new-day/
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Amen John, isn’t that the truth. Thanks for the comment.
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Amen. Thanks for sharing these words, they could have come right from my lips as well. If we could make and keep Christ central, at all times, what a different picture the world would have of what the “church” is.(and what a fulfilling life as His followers we would have) Blessings. John M.
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