Many of those who are mature in the Lord prefer some of the old things. We like the old hymns better than the new. Many prefer the old hymn books, the organ, the old fashioned altar in the church. We prefer the old time preaching warning of sin and hell. Much of what is in churches today has strayed from the preaching of the gospel. Some have not strayed from the old ways. One local church has as it's motto a verse from the prophet Jeremiah.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
For some, change is difficult and resisted, preferring the old ways. Let us prefer the way of truth and righteousness by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luk 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
The religious leaders of the Old Covenant preferred the old wine, for it made them intoxicated and the Scribes and Pharisees were intoxicated by their positions of power to accuse and to kill. Jesus did many good works and miracles. but they did not understand him, nor did they see him as he was; the Messiah, the Son of God. Perhaps they saw him but refused to accept him because of jealousy.
People resist change, preferring the old ways. Some called the "Judaizers" tried to mix the old wine with the new. They wanted people of the new covenant to be circumcised as was the law of Abraham and Moses, but salvation in Christ Jesus is not by works, but of faith. Circumcision was not of the flesh, but it was of the heart. We are to seek the "good way", we are to walk in the Spirit. The "law" people try to force the believer into a way that is not the way of God's grace. They seek to place people under bondage to laws of their choosing.
Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
The new covenant is not against the laws of God, for Jesus fulfilled all the laws, even circumcision, so that by faith in Jesus we are free from the guilt of breaking laws. The old covenant showed us our sins, our missing the perfect law of God ,but sin brought death. Jesus brought life by his shed blood so that by faith in him, we are saved from the punishment of our sins. He took our punishment upon himself. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving my soul and making my spirit alive in you. Let us partake of the new wine in your New Covenant and walk in the best paths.
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