The Big Reversal

The Old Testament spends its entire volume dealing with the outward behavior in order to get to the heart. In other words, it focuses on external behavior but with the intent of exposing the corruptness of human nature (Jeremiah 17:9). The purpose for revealing our innate wrong way of thinking is not ultimately to condemn us but to get us ready for the Coming Savior (Ephesians 4:20-22).

Once Jesus walks this earth and accomplishes His mission of paying for all humanity’s rebellion, a big shift in focus occurs. No longer does God have to deal with us from the outside in, but He declares that He will live in us when we receive His payment (John 14:23). In other words, now He can work from the inside out (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Therefore, after Jesus’ ascension, the New Testament deals primarily with our heart, often called our inner man, showing how a new identity and the power of the Holy Spirit enable us to please God and bless others (Colossians 3:9-10). Behavior is now dealt with as a maturity issue (Hebrews 5:12-14). Just as children are human from the start, yet they must learn new skills, so the New Testament authors reveal the Lord works with us who believe (I Peter 2:2).

This Reversal is so vital to understand because it changes the way our symptoms (outer behavior) are diagnosed and treated. It also provides a freedom from conformity and man’s opinion based on outward behavior so that we can be open, vulnerable, transparent, and honest as God works on our hearts (Ephesians 6:6). This Reversal provides God the way to hold us each accountable for our heart attitude rather than just the appearance of righteousness (Colossians 2:16-23). It also frees us to walk in mercy, forgiveness, and grace rather than shame, condemnation, and judgment.

The amazing thing about the New Covenant (the Reversal) is that it allows God to prioritize mercy over judgment (James 2:13). It doesn’t mean His holiness has changed, but that an eternal payment has been made. He poured out His wrath on Jesus (Isaiah 43:10). When we accept Jesus’ stand-in for us, then we’ve stepped under the covering of His death, like an umbrella that repels the rain (Romans 6:6). Jesus took God’s wrath—the punishment we deserved—for us and replaced our heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Isn’t that amazing? He says, “No longer is your heart deceitful and desperately wicked, incurable. I’ve destroyed that old heart and performed heart surgery. You have a new heart! A pure heart, clean and whole and righteous, the home of My Spirit. You are now the temple of the Living God (I Corinthians 6:19). I live in you so I will no longer punish you for your sins but I will help you grow so that you hear My voice and have the power to obey (Philippians 2:13).”

The Apostle Peter said, “We have been given great and precious promises! The divine nature!” (II Peter 1:3-4) Incredible. Impossible. Accomplished. The divine nature means a relentless submission to the will of the Father, just like Jesus (Philippians 2:5-8). It doesn’t mean we’re perfect yet. God is working on our souls—our wills, hearts, and emotions. But because we know He is working, we can be kinder to one another (Ephesians 4:32). We can delight in each other’s growth and development like siblings delight in each new developmental stage (Hebrews 10:24).

Praise God, we no longer have to be afraid of judgment and we no longer have to strive to get our behavior to match people’s expectations (Galatians 6:13-15). Did you know that rules aren’t necessary when the heart is right? It’s true. Rules are simply a way to try to define what a humble, righteous heart looks like (I Timothy 1:5). The Apostle Paul tells us that rules are for the unrighteous and self-centered (I Timothy 1:9-10). Do we still have to have rules in place in our homes, businesses, schools, and countries? Of course, because none of us are perfect yet and too many people assume that liberty means we get to do whatever we want (Romans 13:1-5). But God’s liberty means we get to do whatever HE wants (Galatians 5:13). And that’s a big difference.

So the Great Reversal allows God to plant His heart in us and transform our thinking to mirror His (Romans 12:1-2). Once we’ve accepted this heart change, the Curse is broken over our lives. The Bible says, “Jesus became a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13-14). This means, He’s saying in effect, “I’m not going to hold you to a punishment that is more than you can bear. I’m not going to punish you at all! I’m going to help you grow and bless you. That blessing includes the greatness of My lovingkindness and mercy. It means I’m going to give you second chance after second chance after second chance, and add no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22). My discipline will be like a chiropractor’s care. When something is out of place in your life, you’ll feel its pain like a dislocated shoulder. But when you bring your attitude and behavior to Me, I’ll fix it from within you. I’ll adjust your thinking and behavior to be like Mine, and then you’ll sigh with such relief and gratefulness, you’ll never be afraid to come to Me for My correcting mercy and grace again!” (Hebrews 4:16, 12:10-11)