THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT SAINT
SCRIPTURE: John 1:12-13 (ESV)
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
The spiritual state of the New Testament saint is significantly different from that of the Old Testament saint. Whereas New Testament saints are BORN AGAIN and therefore New Creatures, Old Testament saints were not BORN AGAIN. They did not experience the New Birth because Jesus had not paid the price for humanity’s sin through his death and resurrection. Since we are born again; we are children of God. We were born!
The sin of Adam brought SPIRITUAL DEATH to man, so all men died. Romans 5:17 (NKJV) is unequivocal about this: “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, … (NKJV).
The Old Testament saints received righteousness or justification from God by their attitude towards God (fear of God) and their obedience to the Law but the nature of their spirit or heart remained spiritually dead because they were not BORN AGAIN; Only the New Birth changes the nature of the spirit of man. David expressed the state of his heart before God which reflects the nature of the Old Testament saint in Psalm 51:10 (KJV), “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
What David cried for is what God promised the New Creation in Ezekiel 36:26-27; ”And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (ESV)
The immediate scripture was consequently fulfilled through the finished works of our Lord Jesus, as Apostle captured by Apostle Paul so well in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Since your spirit has been recreated, you are a new creature with a new spirit, given a new commandment with a new life under the New Testament. Hallelujah!
Why is it important to know the spiritual state of the Old and New Testaments saints? Firstly, it makes us understand our superior identity. Secondly it explains the distinct ways by which the Holy Ghost relates with saints under the two Testaments. Thirdly It also explains why not everything said about the Old Testament saint can be applied to the New Testament saint. Scriptures must therefore, be read and understood through this lens or perspective. Glory to God! All things have become New!
CONFESSION
I belong to the chosen generation. A generation of saints born of the Spirit. Thank you, Father, for my New Life in Christ. By the power of the Holy Ghost dwelling in me, I will live my New Life to the fullest and express same fully in Jesus’s Name. Amen!
FURTHER READING (NKJV)
Ephesians 2:1
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins
Romans 5:17-19
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
IF YOU HAVE READ THIS DEVOTION AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT BORN AGAIN (SAVED), WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD. CONNECT TO THE LINK BELOW👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾👇🏾