We Are Asked This All The Time

​Luke 5:36-38 - And He was also telling them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old garment; otherwise he will both tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37 "And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 "But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.   NASB 

• What's New With You? 

I hope the New Year 2025 is off to a good start for all of you.

Since it is a "New" year I thought I would write a Pump Up studying the word "new". In the verses above you will notice that three of the words "new" are in bold letters (vs.36) with an underline.

The other three words "new" are simply in bold letters with no underline (vss.37-38).
 
The reason for this is because two different Greek words are being used. The first new (bold and underlined) is "kainos" and the second new (bold no underline) is "neos".
 
The meaning of "kainos" is something fresh or newly made. It is used to describe something that is new in quality, different in nature from the old or superior to the old.

It can be used to describe something that hasn't been used before such as Jesus' "new tomb" (John 19:41).
 
The meaning of "neos" is new in respect of time or that which has recently come into existence and sometimes these words can be used interchangeably. 

• What's New In This Parable? 

The "new" garment Jesus is making reference to in this parable is Christianity. The old garment is Judaism. Jesus is very clearly saying you cannot sew Christianity (new garment) on to Judaism (old garment).

It will not work. It would be obvious to everyone who would look at this garment that the materials don't match.
 
Then Jesus takes this parable one step further when He says you can't pour "new - Gk.- neos" wine into old wineskins for the moment you pour the new (Gk. neos) wine in and it ferments the expansion will burst the wineskins.
 
Again, Jesus' point is you can't put Christianity (new wine) into Judaism (old wineskins) to do so would to be a catastrophic loss of the wine. 

• So What's New With You? 

2 Corin. 5:17 - Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  NASU
 
Anyone want to take a guess which Greek word Paul uses here?

If you said, "Kainos" you would be correct. 

If you are a Christian reading this Pump Up you must understand that you are a "new - Gk.- kainos" person. The old things or old ways you were living before giving your life to Christ have passed away. They are gone.
 
So I ask you do you ever find yourself being more like the old you, the old garment or the new (Gk.- kainos) you? 
 
Have you ever been caught up in being judgmental, gossiping, slandering some one, jealous of another person's accomplishments or abilities and the list continues?
 
In Paul's letter to the Galatians he writes these words for us in the fifth chapter:
 
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
 
In this fifth chapter Paul tells us what the deeds of the flesh are in comparison to the fruit of the Spirit. I would recommend reading over them a time or two and make sure you are being all you can be in Christ.
 
I hope you have a Happy New Year by being the best possible "new" creation in Christ.
 
Think About These:
 
Every Christian has the liberty to do that which is good, just and honest.
 
The most difficult thing to open is a closed mind.
 
God still speaks to those who take time to listen.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word