Something Better For Us

Speaking about the Old Testament believers like Abraham and King David, the Bible records, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” -Heb 11:39-40.
Well, I must admit that I am glad to live during this time in history, rather than the Old Testament times. I am sure you can relate. The comforts of modern society far surpass the living conditions of mankind in the Old Testament. Spiritually speaking, God declares that New Testament believers—specifically those living after the cross—have it much better than the Old Testament believers. He indicates this very truth in the passage that begins this article. The question is, “What have we received that they never did?” Please read the passage again. Do you know the answer?
These days, God is teaching others through me all about baptism. Therefore, I am reading, studying, and thinking about baptism all the time. He has taught me recently that He was alluding to, and foreshadowing the coming of water baptism throughout the Old Testament, though none of the Old Testament believers ever went through it. For example, you already know that the covenant of circumcision was given as a sign that a believer belonged to God. This covenant was given to Abraham, whom the bible calls, “the man of faith.” Since circumcision is the cutting away and discarding of flesh, it directly points to the miracle of baptism: “In Him, you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature…the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith…”- 2Col 9:11-12.
But there were others events that pointed to baptism through water, though the word “baptism” was never used until the arrival of John the Baptist. Certainly, you remember Noah’s ark. Noah and his family of believers were saved by water, though it never touched them. Likewise, the nation of Israel was saved through water when they passed through the Red Sea with Moses, while the Egyptian army perished when they tried to follow them through that same sea. Now Egypt has aways represented a land of slavery to the nation of Israel. This too is part of the illustration from God. When the Egyptian army perished in the water, it was symbolic of our sinful nature perishing through water baptism. What once enslaved us to sin is no more. But we must not miss the amazing fact that the water never touched the Israelites as they passed through. The point? The true miracle of baptism was not yet established. It became a reality only after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Because we live on the resurrection side of the cross, the miracle of baptism is established. Through faith our sins are forgiven. Through water baptism, our sinful nature is crucified; we died with Christ. The result is a new identity. We are born again, resurrected with Christ from the water, taking our first breath as a child of God, our Abba. You must cling to this new identity. By faith, you can believe it. By this same faith, you can reject the enemy’s accusations about your identity as a sinner. You are no longer a slave, but a victor. When sin occurs in your flesh, it cannot change your identity in Christ. Power over sin is yours through faith and baptism. You are free from guilt in the same way that Israel was free from slavery in Egypt after they went through the water. Do you believe this? Guilt is Satan’s tool to enslave you once again, through deception.
So, what was the answer to the question? What have we received that the Old Testament believers never did? It is the last word in the verse: “Perfection.”