A New Song

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song,

for He has done marvelous things!

His right hand and His holy arm

have worked salvation for Him. (Psalm 98:1).

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing! Praise the Lord, for He has triumphed over His enemies, and your victory is won! The mighty arm of the Lord has stretched out against the powers of sin, death, and hell, and He has won salvation for you, His people.

Rejoice, you faithful people, because God has created all things anew. The heavens and the earth have been changed, in the twinkling of an eye, in the space of a breath. Our Lord Christ breathed out, “It is finished,” and gave up the Ghost. And in that instant, the battle was won. The old has finished; the new has begun. He has risen from the dead, lives, and reigns to all eternity. The power of the devil is ended.

And now creation is made new. From the least to the greatest, from the first to the last – all things are made new. The former age, with its bondage, darkness, and shame, has passed away, and the new day of grace, mercy, and peace has dawned.

Creation has been made new. No longer does the cosmos groan under the great weight of sin, but all creation hopes and waits eagerly for the consummation of the age, when our Lord will deliver the work He has begun in the renovation of the world.

Formerly, the people of God sat in darkness and in the shadow of death. You were in bondage to the Law. The demands of the Law of Moses held you captive, because you are bound to fulfill them, or die. But you could not in any measure meet that expectation, and so you were in bondage to that which enslaved you – your sinful passions and evil desires.

Formerly, death reigned in this world. Life was but an endless slide from death to death. The condemnation of the Law was writ large across the forehead of every man, woman, and child. All who shared the blood of Adam suffered in Adam's curse. Death was the lot of all mankind, because sin infected every one of you. In sin were you conceived, and in iniquity were you born. Dust you are, and to dust you shall return.

Formerly, the world was divided into “us” versus “them”. The people of God were special, set apart from the nations, a tribe wholly “other”. Gentiles were the heathen, pagan, idolatrous nations who practiced all manner of sin and barbarity. The nations were cut off from access to God, kept apart from the presence of the Lord, and prevented from obtaining salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. If you were not born of the people of Abraham, you were outside the covenant of grace.

In such ways the world was divided – by sin, death, and isolation. Even the people of God were isolated from their Lord because of their sins. You were not allowed access to the presence of God, but forced to encounter Him through an intermediary, covered in foreign blood, and behind a veil. No one could see the face of God and live. Even the vision of the train of the Lord's robe was a vision too great and glorious for a sinful man to bear.

The whole creation groaned under the weight of the sin of man. The earth cried out with the blood of the slain, with the anxious hope of restoration from death. The souls of men ached for forgiveness, for grace, for love. The image of God waited for restoration.

But then, in the midst of the cloud of the darkness of sin, there shone a light – the Light of the World. Into the bone-crushing stillness and silence of judgment and condemnation He spoke. And He declared, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Look ye, saints – the sight is glorious! In the darkness that clouds the day and chokes the sun, the cross of Christ Jesus our Lord stands true and tall. Its light shines forth for the whole world to see. The sins of all mankind stand nailed there, covered in the blood of the Lamb who was slain but now is living and who gives life to His people.

He has made all things new with His new life. Death is gone. The world has been recreated in Christ, and the death due for sin is finished. Death no longer has dominion over you, because He has died your death. And you have been baptized into His death, so that He might recreate you in His image. The Father has conformed you to the blessed, perfect, holy image of Jesus, so that He might put His Name upon you and call you His beloved Son.

He has remade the nations. No longer is salvation for the Jews alone, but the cross of Christ stands as the salvation of all mankind. He is the life and salvation of Jews and Gentiles. All the faithful of every time and place are the people of God. The new Israel is populated not with children of Abraham according to the flesh, but with the sons of Adam made new creations in Christ. The dividing wall of hostility is broken down, and the grace of God is bestowed on all who would believe, who are called according to the purposes of God.

Salvation is for all mankind. The waters of Baptism cover the sins of all who are plunged into them, from every nation, tribe, language, and people. The Holy Spirit works faith unto salvation in those who hear the Word and receive the Gifts of God. The new people of God is not Israel, but is the Church – the New Israel. In this Christian Church God daily and richly forgives the sins of all who repent and believe. He daily raises sinners to new life in Christ.

Therefore, look, you faithful people. Look up and see the salvation of our God!

Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. (Rev. 21:3)

The Lord has ushered in a new era. He has created all things anew in His Son. The old age of sin and death has passed away, and the new day of everlasting life has dawned, with the sun that shall never set.

The new creation has come about, but not through the destruction of the old. Rather, Christ our Lord has purified all things, purged away the old evil leaven, and made all things fit for the dwelling place of God. He has not annihilated creation, because God is in the midst of creation. God is Man, and the dwelling place of God is with man. God has not destroyed creation, and He will not destroy you who are part of His creation. Rather, He has called you good, and promises to preserve your life from this time forth and forevermore.

Rejoice once more! Lift up your hearts and hands and voices to the God of heaven and earth, who made the sea and the dry land, and all that fills them. Rejoice, because He has redeemed your life from the pit. Rejoice, because He has made you into a new creation, and has filled you with His life and Spirit, and He daily and richly forgives all your sins and preserves you in the one true faith unto life everlasting.

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!