By Rob Parlante
Heb 8:12-13
I live in NJ and commute to Long Island NY several times a week for my job in sales. For those of you not familiar with making this trip, it involves going over two bridges, and traveling through several NY boroughs. One of those boroughs is Brooklyn. As of late, Brooklyn is seeing an influx of investment in housing to support people moving there. Brooklyn is booming and the cool place to live right now. Driving through Brooklyn, I always get a chuckle when I read the sign “Leaving Brooklyn – Fuhgeddaboudit”. Initially when I first read this, I thought to myself, what in the world does the word “Fuhgeddaboudit” mean? I did a web search and found out, the word is a figure of speech used by Brooklynites in the 90’s and early 2000s. The word has a specific meaning and used in several ways in conversation. In 2016, this word was actually added to the Oxford English Dictionary. So what does this word actually mean? The most accurate definition I found was that the word “Fuhgeddaboudit” means – The issue is not worth the time, energy, mental effort or emotional resources. So if a topic of conversation, or an issue is raised that isn’t worth the time, energy, mental effort or emotional resources to think about or discuss, Brooklynites would say “Fuhgeddaboudit” to end the conversation. I’ll give an example, (Person #1) asks aren’t you going to watch the game? (Person #2) says I have too much work, so “Fuhgeddaboudit”.
Now, if I were to ask you the following question, what would be your response? Question: As a New Covenant believer who is permanently indwelt with the Holy Spirit, do I have to adhere to Old Covenant law? How would you respond? Typically the answers would fall into 3 categories of either, yes, no or in some particular situations yes/no. I have found there is much confusion on this topic in the Church today because of a mixed teaching of Old Covenant Law based living, with New Covenant Grace based living. So what’s the deal, should Christians live as if they are in the Old Covenant, in the New Covenant, or in both? If I get asked the question, do I have to adhere to the Old Covenant Law, what immediately comes to my mind is the word “Fuhgeddaboudit”. The idea as a New Covenant believer of mixing in or trying to adhere to Old Covenant t law isn’t worth time, energy, mental effort or emotional resources to pursue. So let’s just “Fuhgeddaboudit”. How can I make such a statement? I am only resting in the wonderful truth Jesus stated in the upper room, during the last supper. Let’s read Luke 22:20.
Luke 22:20 (NASB) 20 And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.
Jesus death, burial and resurrection, ushered in a New Covenant. Jesus in this verse says it’s the New Covenant in My blood. At the cross, there was a shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. The writer of Hebrews hits this topic extensively. We see this in Hebrews 8:12-13. Let’s read.
Hebrews 8:12-13 (NASB) 12 “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
In the New Covenant, a believers sins, past, present and future are forgiven. There is no longer a sacrifice for ones sins and never a separation from God if one sins. A believer is once forgiven, and always will be forgiven. A believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit, and is “In Christ”. The writer of Hebrews goes on further to say, the Old Covenant is obsolete. Obsolete mean no longer in use. So why don’t we just “Fuhgeddaboudit” mixing in or trying to live in the Old Covenant as Christians. Let’s instead embrace what Jesus did on the cross and live as a New Covenant believers under Grace. Let’s learn how to live depending on Holy Spirit and not rules, to guide us, teach us and grow us in Grace. Let’s not hinder the work of the Holy Spirit by adding in Old Covenant Law based living. Mixing in Law with Grace living is a very and effective deception of the evil one. Let’s not fall into this trap and let’s live the abundant life, let’s live by faith and have victory.
Christians are no longer in the Old Covenant – “Fuhgeddaboudit”
If you would like to learn more about the truths described here, come join us at Grace Christian Church, currently meeting at the Freehold VFW, every Sunday at 9:30 am.
In Him, Rob Parlante – Elder / Grace Christian Church
