Did any of you give or receive any “used” items for Christmas?  Probably not!  We all like  getting “new” things which have never been used by anyone before. We get to be the first to use or wear the item.  In fact, receiving new things, especially when they are considered novel or unexpected, triggers the release of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger that plays a key role in many bodily functions, including movement, memory and motivation. It is released when you do or experience something enjoyable or beneficial, and is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward. (Note: this can make you want to repeat the behavior, which is why dopamine plays a role in addiction.)  Low levels of dopamine can lead to depression while high levels can lead to competitiveness and aggression.

     It is interesting how often the word “new” is used in the Bible. We find it some 148 times, 87 in the OT and 61 times in the NT.  Solomon, who was given great wisdom by God, failed to heed God’s advice from his father David to “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and willing mind…” (I Chr. 28:9). He also disobeyed a clear Scriptural command to not multiply horses or wives or to accumulate gold and silver for himself (Dt. 17:16,17) and his foreign wives (he had 700 and 300 concubines!) turned his heart away from the true God of Israel (I Kgs. 11:1-6).  As a result he experienced the futility of life without God at the forefront and wrote some depressing verses in the book of Ecclesiates about the emptiness and boredom of life, saying “all is vanity…All things are wearisome…there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1: 2,8,9). 

     But, when we do pursue God and follow and serve Him with a whole heart, we discover that He is the “God of new things.”  You will notice that God often gave someone a new name to reflect what He was doing in and through their lives. For example, Jacob’s name (which means “deceiver”) was changed to “Israel” (which means “God perseveres,” or “one who struggled with God,” or “a man seeing God”...Gen. 35:10 cf 32:28). To Simon, Jesus gave the name “Peter” which means “rock.”  The “sand man” would become the “rock man.”  

     To the nation of Israel (the descendants of Jacob) God said, “Behold, I will do a new thing” (Isa. 43:19; 48:6) ..referring to their future spiritual restoration). God said, “And the nations will see your righteousness and all the kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name…” (Isa. 62:2). God said He would “…make a new covenant with the house of Israel…” (Jer. 31:31 cf Heb. 8:8,13).   God promised that He would put a “new heart and new spirit” within them (Ezek. 11:19; 13:26). 

     God also said that He would “create a new thing in the earth–a woman will encompass a man” (Jer. 31:22).  Only God can “create” a new thing (not just a combination of existing things). The “new thing” here refers to how God would produce a perfect body without human sin in a womb of a virgin (cf Gen. 3:15; Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:21; Lk. 1:35).God took on human form but, through the virgin birth, without the sin nature passed down from Adam (Ro. 5:12,19).   Then, as the “lamb without spot or blemish” pictured by the Passover (Ex. 12:5), Jesus sacrificed His life to put away sin once and for all(Jn. 1:29; I Cor. 5:7; Heb. 9:11-14; 10:10-14).  Jesus became “the mediator of a new covenant” through His shed blood(Heb. 9:15; Mt. 26:28; I Cor. 11:25; Eph. 1:7).   Thus our Bible is divided into two sections: the Old Testament (covenant) and New Testament (covenant).  The “old covenant” was through the Law, which while being perfect, could make no one perfect but only revealed sinfulness. The “new covenant” is based on the blood sacrifice of the “Lamb of God” which didn’t just cover sin, but put it away (Jn. 1:29). Jesus said, as He introduced the “Lord’s Supper” or “Communion”: “For this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sin” (Mt. 26:28). 

     When we apply the blood to our lives through faith in Jesus’ finished work on the cross on our behalf, we are given a whole “new” life in Jesus Christ. Paul wrote: “Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold new things have come” (II Cor. 5:17).  Even though we still have the old, sinful nature, we receive a new, divine nature (II Pet. 1:4) as Christ comes to live in us through the Holy Spirit. We are no longer in bondage to our flesh (old, sinful nature), but can choose to be “filled (controlled) by the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). And, if we “walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16).  Because the resurrected Christ lives in us, we can “walk in newness of life” (Ro. 6:4).  (Doing so, by the way, releases lots of dopamine! It is the “abundant life” Jesus came to provide…Jn. 10:10).  We can also look forward to one day having a “new” body like that of Jesus’ resurrected body (Ro. 8:23; I Cor. 15:42-52; Phil. 3:20,21).   And, not only that, but we can anticipate the day when 

God makes new heavens and new earth(Isa. 65:17; 66:22; II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21). There will be a “new Jerusalem” (Rev. 3:12) which descends to the new earth and we will dwell there eternally with God and all the saints from all of history. We will have a “new name” (Rev. 2:17; 3:12) and will sing a “new song” (Rev. 5:9; 14:3).   

     So, do you like “new” things?  Well, entrust your life to the One who said, “Behold, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5)!

Happy New Year!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave N