NEW WINE

By Lahry Sibley

Gal 6: 15 For neither is circumcision [now] of any importance, nor

uncircumcision, but [only] a new creation [the result of a new birth
and a new nature in Christ Jesus, the Messiah].

This is not the only scripture that declares that being a jew or gentile is of no
consequence, but being a new creation in Christ is the NEW WINE that
cannot fit into old wineskins is what God receives as His own. Both jew and
gentile, must turn from sin (transgression of God’s law) and walk in
obedience and holiness. The sign of focus of God’s attention and love over a
people shifted from what is hidden in the outward parts, to what is hidden in
the inward parts. Circumcision lays bare, what was once hidden from view.

For a man/woman to be inwardly clean, there must be nothing hidden in the

heart that betrays our fidelity to our betrothed Savior and Lord. Moses was
instructed by God to take his shoes off, because they were coming between
Moses and God, Whose manifest presence made the ground Holy (separate).

Now, the Holy Spirit shines light on hidden sin that can no longer stay
hidden. We either deal with it at the cross, or the Holy Spirit will have it
shouted from the housetops.

For a person to change from a religious person (old wine skins) to a new
creation (new wine skins in Christ Jesus), there must be a purging of all sin,
and a decided turning away from sin and turning to obedience in Christ. We
are then and only then, cleansed from all unrighteousness. All sins past
(Romans 3:25) are forgiven and forgotten, and God Himself moves in to live
in us, Holy, Holy, Holy. Separate, Separate, Separate.

This new creation comes only from God. He alone is the creator. For man to
be anything but an immoral agent in God’s pure creation, man must repent
first, so that God can then recreate him/her into this new creature. Glory to
God. This is not a religious act. This is not an act of FAITH. It is an act of
God Himself, in response to faith, and our choosing to turn from the sin and
attractions of this world and this life, to a life separate from the world and
from RELIGION!!! You cannot put new wine in old wineskins.
Christianity does not fit into Judaism. Christianity does not fit into man’s
traditions, molds, policies, guidelines, and attempts to safeguard by
legislation. Christianity is a new life, a new nature, a new heart, that has
nothing hidden in it. That is fresh, pure, clean, and Holy.

It then becomes our sacred treasure that is protected and guarded by us,
day and night, to make sure that once clean, nothing comes in to dirty it up
again. So we must be diligent in evaluating the choices we make that turn
into acts we live out in our everyday life.

We never lose our “right to choose”. No man/woman is tempted beyond

their ability to resist that temptation. No, James said we are drawn away by
our own lust. Sin is a choice we make. If we do not stop this process in the
“drawing” stage, it will lead us into sin and possibly eternal loss. (Heb
10:26-27) To me, that is not an option.

In my limited capacity of understanding, true salvation occurs when we

understand all these truths, and we make this deliberate choice that we will
not disobey God from this point on, no matter the cost. Then and only then
is salvation understood. Our choice is based on sound doctrine. And we enter
in by faith. There, just beyond the CROSS where self dies, we meet Jesus.
He moves in to receive us as His beloved and betrothed. Worship begins in
earnest. For we realize that something beyond our control and ability has
happened within, and our guilt and shame has be taken away, and God does
something supernatural and unexplainable within our heart. He circumcises
it, exposes all that is within us, and He places His presence within us. This
presence includes His nature. His nature includes HOLINESS. Holiness does
not cross the boundaries of law, God’s law. God knows far better than us,
that His laws are not burdensome, nor restrictive in any way from our access
to His goodness and what is eternally good for us. He becomes our warning
signs within our heart. His Spirit leads and guides us into all truth, from this
moment on.

This new life will not fit into the old life. It is not a make over of what once
was. The Body of Christ became and now is, God’s chosen people. We are
welcomed into this newness of life at the CROSS, where we become that
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. (Romans 12:1,2)

People are impressed by those who are “successful”, whatever that means or
may appear. Since most people really want to be successful they imitate
successful people, in actions, dress, style, and what have you. When Jesus
came to walk among us and die in our place, fulfilling the just requirements
of the law’s punishment for us, He brought with Him a new icon of success.

He brought a work of God that renders man’s heart humble and contrite,
with no confidence in the flesh. In other words, how we dress is nothing.
Religious acts of piety before other men is nothing. Our relationship with
God is secret and private. How we appear to others reflects His glory, and
the new life within.

The only evidence of this new creation that is of God is obedience, love for
God and man, and holiness (keeps us separate from spiritual dirt in this
world). It is a new life that can only survive in a new creation. It can be
imitated, but that will not gain us His indwelling, and the circumcision of our
hearts. The obedience and holiness cannot be hidden long term any more
than leprosy can be hidden long term. As the new wine would break the old
wine skins, so does trying to live the new life without a supernatural work of
God, break the old vessels who attempt to live this new life in a religious
way.

The newness of life surrenders it’s desires, passions, goals, and hopes to
the cross for death, and places the entirety of its desires and hopes in and of
the person of Yah’shua, our Messiah. Our confidence and hope for eternal
life is given to Him without reservation. We then live out each day, moment
by moment, breath by breath, under the Lordship of the Holy Spirit, Who
makes all the decisions, Who leads us and guides us into all truth.

Mat 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment,
for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and
the rent is made worse.
Mat 9:17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the
bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but
they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

Christianity is not a new patch on an old religious system. It is not an add

on. It is not something that is poured into old sinful nature. No, it is a
completely new creation, or it is not Christianity at all. That’s what Jesus
said. Do you believe it?
It’s not about making copies of Jesus, or ourselves. It is all about Jesus
living in this new creation that He alone forms, and it is unmistakable and
unique to anything and everything man has ever come up with.

The CROSS is where it all begins. Once we’ve come to it, for death, then
comes burial (immersion into Christ) and resurrection into the newness of
life. This life is a life of determined obedience (we choose it), which God
recognizes and infills with His Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:32). Glory to God. You
can’t copy it. You can only receive it. Only God can give it.

So the question is ……do you have it? Do I? The consequences are eternal,
beloved. There is nothing on earth or in heaven above more important than
having the certainty of this new and living reality. Is your “faith” built on a
sure foundation? Is your life really God’s new creation? Or is it simply a
commitment to join a religious group who pretend to be one thing on Sun
Day and something else on Monday? Only you and God know for sure. But
let me say it one more time. If what you have, does not line up with what
God’s Word says, you may have a counterfeit ticket to heaven. Don’t rely on
what your pastor says. Don’t rely on what your neighbor says. Don’t rely on
what I say. Rely on God, and the Word of His power. His new creation won’t
fit into anything, but a humble and contrite (totally repentant and
surrendered) heart. Search the Scriptures daily, to see if these things be so.
(Acts 17:11) Selah - Lahry