NT replacements for OT rituals

God always has and will deal with his people through covenants. 
God deals with peoples and not individuals.
In the OT we see the Passover celebrated
in the NT we celebrate Easter the resurrection
in the OT we circumcision as the sign of the covenant through families/heads of households
in the NT we see baptism as the sign of the covenant expanded to all
Pentecost - the promise is to you and your children Acts 2:39, 1 Cor. 7:14

God has made a covenant with his people.  Baptism is the sign of the covenant and replaces circumcision (Col. 2:11) Our children have a portion in the covenant and therefore they have the right of baptism.

Saving souls

Evangelizing is often pictured as saving lost souls.  But none who respond were "lost."  They are His that come at his chose time - his chosen ones.  He came to destroy the works of the devil through their faith.  He plants the seed of truth in them, waters it, and allows us to harvest his crop - bringing it into his kingdom.  There are none out in the world that were lost to Him but diverted to heaven.  All who respond are our brothers and sisters who were chosen before the foundation of the world.  We are just there when he calls them so fear not to proclaim the gospel - his chosen people will hear.

He doesn't call us to serve the world (who reject him) but to build up the body of Christ.  Eph. 4:11ff.  We were given apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers to equip the saints...for the building up of the body of Christ.

[the lost - is this a term the bible uses?  Are they really lost?  This term gives us the idea we have to rationalize people into the kingdom when really we are just finding brothers.]

In the acceptance of God's sovereignty in my life I must translate that into my dealings with ____ forgive and forget the damage done.  Can I do this?  No.  The Holy Spirit must empower me to do it and I must not give myself any credit.

The renewal

This world was in its infancy and God worked through Israel alone.  They became an example of the ways of people and the way they would choose to go left to make their own choices.  Then God choose to enter the world he created as Jesus and the world changed. It was filled for the first time with real life, love, hope, justice, mercy, etc.  The renewal had begun.  First his chosen children were being redeemed and renewed through each generation and, then finally creation so that the devil will have will have not conquered any area of the creation as his own.

The reason He came...

The reason He came was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).  I never noticed this before and always thought he only came to save us his children.  But he did destroy the works of the devil by redeeming us and then he will again when he redeems all of creation.  Hebrews 2:14:  ...he himself likewise partook of [flesh and blood] that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death ...the devil.

Gal. 1:15 he ... had set me apart before I was born, and ... called me by his grace...

From the foundation of the world God gave Him children Heb. 2:13:  "Behold, I and the children God has given me."  Mankind was destined for hell but in the right time he came to change the destination of his children by destroying the one who had the power of death over them that they might  no longer fear death but think of death as a pleasure - a going home.

Santification

We think we remain the same after we have come to know Christ.  But if we take the time to look back we see that the loud screams of the flesh and our emotions that controlled us are drowned out and lessened and we instead can hear the Holy Spirit leading us to do the things of God.  We do not realize the change it is so gradual.  Our lives are formed not for our pleasure but his Glory.  These changes He ordains in his sovereignty.  One day we will see the glory that he has gotten from what He has done in us.  We cannot see it clearly now.

Why do bad things happen to good people?

We strive for, hope for, a life without trials, problems.  A life as we dream it to be.  But that is an impossible goal that I actually don't want to reach - it is counterproductive to the spiritual growth God intends for me.  Problems, trials are a gift from the hand of God - always good (Romans 8:28), always to help me in some way be conformed to the image of Christ. Without problems, trials I would never turn to him, grow in my faith, exercise my faith...

Anxiety is a sign of unbelief.  It is unbelief in his sovereignty over my life, in his love towards me at all times in all things.  Strive towards contentment in all trials knowing it is my job to obey and his to provide, knowing that he loves me and only sends me what is good for me.  As Spurgeon says when you are anxious and troubled you are meddling in God's business.  God is in control of all details of my life.  I need to believe it and live it.  I need to live it showing I believe it.   Everything that happens to me is for a good purpose.  Live that by being content in the life he has given me.

 Is it so hard to trust a God who died and suffered for me when he had a choice?  My whole trust is in his blood.  It proved his love for me as nothing else could.  May I never take for granted the words "Christ died for ME." It is the supreme message of the universe.  It is the gift of all time.  The God of Heaven and Earth came, lived and died that I may live with him for eternity.  He bought and paid for my life  -  can I not then trust Him with all of it?  It is his anyway.

2/16/15  Hardships are part of the journey towards knowing Christ.  Do not recoil from this discipline of Christ because these are among his most favored gifts.  He disciplines whom he loves.