The Old gives way to the New

 The Cross signifies the death of the old and the birth of the new. Surely when we turn to Jesus, whose sacrifice on the cross made such provision for whosoever will, we are reborn, not as Nicodemus thought but as new creations, born from above in Christ. So, the old gives way to the new.

The new port in Kingstown photo by O'Reilly Lewis

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

This transformation in individuals is completely spiritual.

Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3 NIV)

Kingdom living is wrapped up in the New Covenant of Jesus and unlike our natural world, it is above the level of our physical senses. It can be perceived only in the Spirit.

The old, born after the flesh is tied to the flesh, and blind to spiritual concepts but the new, incomprehensible to the old, is born after the Spirit.

“So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to—the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires. Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.” – Ephesians 4:22-24 (GNT)

Though you are a Christian if you are not “working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation” (see Philippians 2:12) then your mind remains trapped in the old and you will remain spiritually blind believing only what you want to believe, unable to see what God is showing you, where Spirit is leading you and what Spirit is teaching you.

Only a sincerely repentant heart and a true relationship with our living Lord can produce a revelation of the Kingdom.

The old must give way to the new. Spirit indeed lives in you but still strives with you to break the carnality so that your spirit-self can step forward into the new life.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The Old gives way to the New” ©February 25, 2025