NEW WINE AND OLD WINESKINS

A Question About Fasting

Fasting is the practice of abstaining from food.

The Day of Atonement was the only regular fast that the Lord commanded. (See Leviticus 16:29)

The Pharisees were known to fast twice a week.

Being in Christ’s presence was not a time for fasting, but a time for joy.

Fasting was primarily associated with sorrow or a consuming spiritual need.

John 3:29 “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.”

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Christ acknowledged that there was coming a time when His people would fast. For the Christian, fasting is not required, but it is assumed.

The Old Garments of Self-Righteousness

The Pharisees and John’s disciples were more focused on outward traditions than the sin in their hearts.

Matthew 15:7–9 “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ””

Luke 16:15 “And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Proverbs 30:12 “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.”

They didn’t need a patch, they needed a new garment.

See Revelation 3:17–18...

New Wine and Old Wineskins

If you don’t understand your great sin, you won’t see your need of grace.

Luke 5:39 “And no one after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’ ””

Luke 18:9 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:”

The old wineskin of self-righteousness can’t contain the new wine of grace.

See Jeremiah 17:5-10...

See Romans 4:1-8...

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

We are either saved by grace or works. They don’t mix.

Galatians 3:10–11 “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.””

Ephesians 2:8–9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

1 Peter 1:13 “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”