The Problem of Wineskins: Church Structure In a Technological Age

“we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13).

First, this parable reminds us that God is always a God of newness. The gospel is new—always.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth” (Is. 65:17). In the New Testament the gospel of Christ is similarly described. Hebrews 10:20 says that the gospel is “the new and living way.” And Jesus said as he instituted the Lord’s Supper, “this is my blood of the [new] covenant” (Mt. 26:28). God is a God of newness. On the one hand he is the

The Old Testament frequently speaks of new things. We read of a new song, a new heart, a new spirit, a new name, a new covenant, a new creation, a new heaven, and a new earth.1 David said, “[God] put a new song in my mouth” (Ps. 40:3). And we read other statements such as these:

“Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them” (Is. 42:9). “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Is. 43:19). “And I will give them [a new] heart, and put a new spirit within them” (Ezek. 11:19).

Jesus distinguishes here between something essential and primary (the wine) and something secondary but also necessary and useful (the wineskins). Wineskins would be superfluous without the wine they were meant to hold.