Non-Shrink New Clothes of Relational Salvation

UV 1382/10,000 Non- Shrink New Clothes of Relational Salvation

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Matthew 9 v 16


The shrink rate of old habit or human custom and tradition or rituals is different like different patches of fabric. It will not be right to stitch it on the new garment of salvation, the covenant of love with God Himself through His Son Jesus. The new covenant of love is complete, whole, perfect by itself and does not need to be superimposed by things, practices, habits, customs or beliefs of the covenant of the law. Jesus refers to the new life of faith as the new wine. It should not be poured into the old leather winebag of religion. We cannot mix a personal relationship with religion nor spirituality with tradition. These have different shrink rates and God’s plan of salvation for man does not change or shrink or tear. It is wholesome and holistic. That plan is relational not religious or ritual or traditional. It cannot be inherited or passed on like a family heirloom. It is not man-made or rule based but God-revealed and a spiritual connectivity. Our faith acts are spontaneous and not based on diktat. Not tokenism or rigid standards but prompted by the Spirit.

Many people by mixing religious practices and superstitions with faith have allowed holes to develop in their relationship with God. These holes will allow the power or the anointing to leak through and we will once again have only the outer form of religion without the inner power. We must no longer believe that we can achieve anything, least of all salvation by our good deeds or our self righteousness for these are but torn patches or filthy rags, filthy due to our inner pride and conceit, mixed motives and hypocrisy. These patches will shrink differentially and tear our confidence and faith apart. If we do so it will be like wearing the Emperor’s new clothes. Our nakedness and shame will be worse than before.


As new born creatures by grace, we can always approach the Lord as sinners and come away as saints. We cannot enter His presence with confidence in our own righteousness. We need not borrow from the world to make the Word sound more attractive or relevant. The world and its philosophies will change and shrink but the Word is constant and unchanging. It is an absolute in a relative world. It is a constant in a world of flux. God does not need to quote from anybody or any source to prove His point. Like the redeemed prodigal son, we should only bask now in the Father’s love and not return to our old sinful ways, of doubting His motives and provision. We need to wear the new clothes and weapons He has provided- the belt of truth of the Word should be tight around our waist, the helmet of salvation to protect our mind from fears and doubts, the signet ring of authority of the Father over all in this world, the shoes of willingness to carry the message of the Lord, the shield of faith, the sword of the Word. We need to make our faith consistent and fight to win our inner battles instead of allowing a patchwork faith that looks like a break out of German measles.

Prateep V Philip