OceanSide church of Christ
Previous | Return to list of articles | Next |
NEW
THINGS
Victor M. Eskew
With December now ended, we have entered into a New Year. For many, the New Year also means a new
start. Resolutions are made. Goals are set. Plans are developed. It is refreshing to be able to have such
an opportunity. The old year is
past with all of its failures, mistakes, disappointments, and hardships. We look to the New Year with renewed
zeal and great hope.
As God’s children, we need to be reminded that our God is a God of “new
things.” Let’s look at several of
the new things that come from the God of heaven. In John 13:34, Jesus told His disciples
about “a new commandment.” He
said: “A new commandment I give
unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one
another.” Love was not the new part
of the commandment. The “new thing”
was the standard of the love that was to be practiced. The disciples were to love one another
“as Jesus had loved them.” The love
of Jesus was the perfect expression of agape love. It was a sacrificial love from beginning
to end. His love was unfeign and
impartial. It extended beyond the
borders of culture and race. Jesus
loved all men and put their needs far above his own. The command to love was now exalted to a
divine height. As Jesus loved, so
we are to love one another.
In addition to a new commandment, Jesus also gave a “new testament.” This covenant had been predicted by the
prophet Jeremiah. “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I
will make a new covenant with the house of
In Hebrews 10:20, we read of another new thing, “a new and living way,”
that enables us to enter into the holy of holies. The Most Holy Place is the place where
God dwells. In the Old Testament,
only the high priest had access to this place once each year (Exo. 30:10; Lev.
16:1-4). The way to that place was
by a cold, lifeless path. Now the
There are still some new things that are yet to come. One of these is the new heaven and new
earth. In II Peter 3:12-13, Peter
asserts that the faithful of God are looking for two things: 1) the coming of the day of God, and 2)
the new heavens and new earth.
Let’s listen to Peter’s own words:
“Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat? Nevertheless we,
according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness.” There are some
false views that exist with regard to the new heavens and new earth. Some believe that the present heavens
and earth are only going to be purged of evil and renovated. This supposed “new” heavens and earth,
they say, will be the dwelling place of the righteous. This theory asserts that the present
heavens and earth will not be completely destroyed. Peter’s words, however, indicate
something much more than a mere purification and renovation of the earth. Going back to II Peter 3:10-11, we learn
the following: 1) the heavens shall
pass away (perish), 2) the elements shall melt (liquefy), 3) the earth and the
works that are therein shall be burned up (consumed wholly), and 4) all things
shall be dissolved. This present
dwelling place is going to be completely annihilated. It will no longer exist. A new dwelling place will be prepared
for the faithful. It is called the
new heavens and the new earth. In
the Revelation, John confirms this position: “And I saw a new heaven and a new
earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (Rev. 21:1). The Christian longs for this place. It is reserved in heaven for all the
faithful (I Pet. 1:3-5).
This new heavens and new earth will contain the New Jerusalem. “And I John saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for
her husband” (Rev. 21:2). In this
beautiful city, they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life will dwell
(Rev. 21:27). “And the nations of
them which are saved shall walk in the light of it…” (Rev. 21:24). “And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away” (Rev. 21:4). The Lord God and the Lamb will be its
temple (Rev. 21:22). They, too,
will be the light thereof (Rev. 21:23).
The saved with walk the street of gold (Rev. 21:21). They will enjoy the pure river of water
of life (Rev. 22:1), as well as, the tree of life which will bare twelve manner
of fruits (Rev. 22:2). The redeemed
will see their Lord’s face, and have His name in their foreheads, and will serve
Him for ever and ever (Rev. 22:3-4).
Nothing that defiles or works abomination or maketh a lie shall be there
(Rev. 21:27). All enemies will be
destroyed, and the gates of the city will swing outward ever (Rev. 21:25). This is part of the Christian’s
hope. “Nevertheless we, according
to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness” (II Pet. 3:13).
In addition to all of these new things, God has given every human being
the ability to become a new creature.
Our old man of sin can be cast aside. In Christ, we can become a new
creation. “Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Cor.
5:17). The key is to be “in
Christ.” Paul reveals how we can
enter into Christ. “For as many of
you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal. 3:27). The culminating act of initial salvation
is baptism. The old man of sin is
crucified. In baptism, he is buried
in water. The individual being
baptized arises to walk in newness of life (