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9. The Baptist’s Disciples Question about Fasting (Matthew 9:14-17)
MATTHEW 9:16-17
16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. 17 Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Romans 7:6)
The difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament, between the gospel and other religions, is deeper than we feel and think. Religions warn man of the day of judgment and they all, except the gospel of Christ, instruct their followers that the keeping of many laws is the best way to please God. Sacrifices, giving alms, fasting, praying, good deeds and fighting for God are duties and ordinances that are met with a reward from God. Many rituals and religions portray God as a trader holding a big balance with His hand. Sins are placed on one end of the balance, while good deeds and prayers are placed on the other end. The scales are tipped in favor of the heavier end and this determines the fate of the person concerned. This belief is not in conformity at all with the message of Christ in the New Testament.
Jesus Christ teaches us that all men are completely wicked without distinction, and no one can do sufficient good deeds. This is why Christ places His own good deeds, righteousness and grace on the scale of God’s balance in favor of us so that His love can take away our iniquities. His sacrifice will annul our condemnation, since we are saved not by our godliness but by His free grace. Also, you are saved by your faith, not by your deeds. Only faith unifies you with your Savior, and His Holy Spirit in you is the new life.
Accordingly, your life becomes praise, commitment and service to your Deliverer. Do not remain straying and sad, but rejoice in the protection of God. Do not give a deaf ear to God, but seek salvation of others, for you have freely been justified by the crucified. Christ has qualified you for fellowship with His Father, and Christ’s blood that appeared as wine (as a proverb) that cleanses you completely of all your sins. The Holy Spirit takes you to the freedom of the children of God based on the joy of love and service.
Do not mix both ideas for they never agree, since justification by the law and other rituals is contrary to justification by faith. Godliness based on ordinances does not bring salvation by grace; and the freedom of the children of God explodes the molds of the people of the law and their rituals. Whoever endeavors to reform the community that is clinging to frozen systems fails, for the new spirit of grace requires a new birth and a new order. It is better to create small groups in the spirit of gospel happiness, than to belong to a big community clinging to dead customs and not being prepared for spiritual change from within.
PRAYER: O Heavenly Father, we thank You for You have invited us into the new covenant and freed us from the deception of our self-righteousness. We are sinners, but Your Christ has justified us completely. Please teach us how to serve you in the joy of heaven and give us the ability to discern societies that are based on grace and living churches that we may join and be kept together in Your fellowship.
QUESTION:
- Why is it impossible to put the new wine of the gospel into the old wineskins of the law?