New wine in new wineskin

Alcohol flowed freely in the Portuguese town of Levira in Anadia, Portugal, after two vats holding about 2.2m liters of good quality wine at a local distillery burst and flooded the streets. Images and videos posted online showed red wine – almost enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Local firefighters helped clean up and the liquid that could be collected was taken away to a wastewater treatment plant. The wine was prevented from pouring into a river, averting an environmental disaster. (The Guardian,13 Sep 2023) Lord Jesus taught that new wine should be put in new wineskins. (Luke 5:36-38) In ancient times, wineskins were made of goats or sheep. The new wine is filled for the fermenting process. As the wine ages, it releases gasses and expands, and so does the new wineskin. So, the wine is safe. If new wine is poured into the old wineskin, it will burst. Both the wine and the wineskin will be lost.

New Covenant: The New covenant made by Lord Jesus Christ through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, cannot be stuffed inside the Old Covenant or Israel. The Nation of Israel, like old wineskin, will fail, hence the Church is the new wineskin.

New context: The gospel is dynamic in that in every culture, all emerging contexts it would be fresh, new, and relevant. The essence of the gospel does not change, but the methodologies of presentation keep changing. The gospel does not go stale or polluted.

Fresh grace: The grace, mercy, and compassion of God are new, and fresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22,23) Like the manna in the wilderness it was provided each day, appropriate and sufficient for each day.

Spirit gives life: Paul writes that in the Letter – Old Testament Law kills, but the Spirit gives life. (II Corinthians 3:6) The Law that is good and perfect condemns the law-breakers and they receive eternal death. (Psalm 19:7; Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23) Wine is the gift of God through the Holy Spirit. Believers are born again because the spirit gives birth to the spirit. (John 3:6)

Do I receive New Wine in faith?