Draw closer. Dig deeper.

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

I John 2:7

At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.

I John 2:8

How can it be old and new? Well, simply, a new law can be the same as an old one but may contain more context for your present life. Through deeper study, we can uncover more detail in order to bring newness to the word.

Messiah did this when He taught on the mount.

You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Matt. 5:21-22

The Savior did not destroy the old law against murder. He explained how we can break that law inwardly. The old law became new, if you understand more. The level of obedience was expanded.

Most people don’t realize that New Covenant laws can be actually harder to obey.

For most of us, it’s easy to refrain from doing fatal violence to another. But, most likely, all of us have experienced hatred in our hearts and minds. That’s harder to address, if you ask me. As we draw closer to His righteousness, we become more righteous.

Covenant or Torah?

I want to bring something to mind in regards to the idea of a new covenant. That is that a covenant is not a commandment or law. A covenant is an agreement. The Hebrew word Beriyth (covenant) is not the same as the word Torah (instruction). There are laws or commandments inside an agreement known as covenant. There are even conditions in covenants.

When there is a fault in a covenant, it does not mean that a covenant is faulty or poorly thought out. It simply means it is broken. Someone didn’t keep their part of the bargain.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

Hebrews 8:7

The drawing board did not happen because the first was silly, or poorly thought out. There was a divorce, of sorts. In order to bring the bride back in, she needs to be married again. Some theologians point out that the term “new” can be seen as “renewed,” as in “renewed mind.”

my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 31:32

I actually believe Torah always was. That, at least at the beginning of earthly time, it was established. Many people would argue with this but the I John 2:7 seem to support this idea. After all, John is the one who gave us, “In the beginning was the Word.”

an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

I John 2:7

It appears that Torah was here and given to God’s children before and after the stone tablets. At different times the Father brought it forth in an agreement with key prophets.

I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,

Jeremiah 31:31

As for me and my house, we don’t only run to Torah (rather than away), we embrace our identity as grafted and adopted into Israel. The New Covenant, which the church embraces in name, is given to Israel and Judah. I figure I must be one of those (or both) if I am to have Torah implanted in my heart and an inheritance called Jerusalem – New Jerusalem.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, may your name be blessed. You are almighty king forever. I thank you Father that there is nothing that can separate me from your love. Thank you that I have been adopted by you. I love your Kingdom. May I always be doing kingdom ministry. Keep me in the ancient way. Let me hear the sound of your voice in the morning and the evening. Let me welcome your instruction. Thank you for Messiah’s teaching to better clarify to me your word and your way. Amen.

Will you be in New Jerusalem? …Old Jerusalem will be there too.