He will save his
people from their sins. (Mat 1:21)
This verse being the first
promise in the New Testament, gives a wonderful encouragement to all Christians
and even others that Christ will save us from our sins. The importance of our
meditation today is that this opportunity of salvation is not for everybody. The
Angel, who speaks on behalf of God the Father, clearly says that this
opportunity is only for “His People”. We need to identify who this category of
people are and what characteristics are required in us to become His.
Deuteronomy 7:7-9 tells us,
“The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more
numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was
because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that
He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of
slavery, from the power of Pharaoh King of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD
your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a
thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.”
Inheritance
The sole purpose of God’s love
and affection towards Israel is because of His commitment towards the
forefathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The
pattern of inheritance is very clearly seen in the Old Testament. Many kings
and people were pardoned because of this inheritance. Also one another reason
for this is that God was using individuals to execute his plans.
The New Testament gives a very
different approach to this. John 1:12
says that “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his
name, he gave the right to become children of God”. God did not make this
covenant with our forefathers. He makes this agreement with every one of us
individually. God has no grand-children. Everybody is a son/daughter to Him.
This makes all of us highly fortunate and equally responsible too.
The Rejection Model verses
the Acceptance Model
2 Cor
3:9 says “For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more
doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.” The model in the Old Testament is evident that God
chose one big race of people who were heirs of one man who was obedient and
loving. The children were taught the law from childhood and were judged by the
law. The law brought a lot of condemnation in Israel. Also, the law was
weakened by the flesh of the Israelites. (Rom 8:3).
The
opportunity to overcome the flesh with divine support is given only to us. God
had the model of having one big nation and removing disobedient kids. In the
NT, God is presenting Himself before us (Rev 3:20) and we are expected to open
our doors. So, we out of our choices, we choose to love Him and obey Him.
In the
NT, we are accepted as babies when we receive Christ. This is the concept of
born again. Once we receive Him, we are expected to Grow. God measures
individuals according to what they have learnt from Him. (Rom 2:12-16).
The requirements of
the Law be fulfilled in us
Rom 8:4
In the OT, every individual person has to fulfil the law to stay
in the herd. The NT is contrasting here. The NT says that “Jesus fulfilled the
law” (Mat 5:17). The law is complete when Jesus died at the cross. We are
expected to fulfil the requirements of the law. For this we have to understand
why the law is given and wholeheartedly work towards fulfilling the purpose of
the Law. The purpose can be identified at Deut 7:9 : “a thousand generations of
those who love Him and keep His commands”. God needs such a group of people who
together love Him and keep His commandments and thus form the body of the
Church. For this we should toil to ensure this purpose is served. This gives us
reason for soul winning and pleasing God by giving to the Church / poor and all
the other acts of kindness.
Receiving Him
Not
every person in the OT had a personal relationship with God. But, everyone in
the NT had as they received Jesus. This receiving Jesus has two forms. Many
doctrines take the easy route claiming that we may receive Jesus as their
personal Saviour and that makes them saved when they get baptized. But the NT’s
emphasis is a lot different that this teaching. Romans 10:9 require a
declaration from us that Jesus is Lord. There are many references to Jesus that
He is our “Lord and Saviour”. Jesus is first our Lord and then our Saviour. We
have to accept and declare His Lordship in our lives for salvation.
There
is no mention of people receiving God in the OT. Rather, they were a chosen
generation according to the blood line. They were expected to Love and honour
Him. But we have to receive him into our lives. This means that we need to
ensure that he is part of our family and our body in every moment of our lives.
That’s a huge responsibility when we compare to our standards today. But, yes
people did practice all these in earlier days. We read of the history when
everybody sold their possessions and brought them to the church. That is not a
requirement or law, but that is a state of selflessness which we all should
pursue in our lives. In regular Christian lives, it is the opposite where we
develop selfishness as we grow.
You were the fewest
of all people.
We may compare this with Mat 5:3,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit”. This poverty in spirit is also an important
quality of God’s people for Jesus clearly says that they will inherit the
Kingdom of God. Poor in spirit does not mean “Spiritual Poverty” where we show
off our humility / ignorance. This is different. The poverty should start from
the spirit level and not just the emotions level (Soul). That would be not just
showing off poverty but developing habits and characteristics according to the
model Christ taught and lived. Examples are the Slap in one cheek plus others
in Mathew 5:38-42. These characteristics should not come from our decisions made
in our mind when we are confronted, but spontaneous and natural. That develops
only when we allow the Holy Spirit to completely control us. We should read the
Bible constantly (Heb 4:12).
Conclusion
These qualities make us His Children. These are not specific
qualities. It is a submission to constant cleansing and allowing God to our
inner selves. May God keep us in His Herd.
