El Ayuno en El Nuevo Pacto
El Ayuno en El Nuevo Pacto
In the Old Covenant, fasting had a prescribed role, particularly evident on the Day of Atonement when Israelites were to afflict their souls, traditionally interpreted as fasting, as a form of repentance and seeking God's favor . However, God never explicitly commanded fasting as part of this affliction but indicated that true contrition was more important . Contrarily, in the New Covenant, fasting is not prescribed as a normative spiritual practice. Jesus' teachings, while addressing a Jewish audience under the law, suggest that fasting is not about earning spiritual merit but reflecting a heart aligned with God’s will. Post-resurrection, the emphasis shifts towards celebrating the presence and finished work of Christ rather than practices like fasting for spiritual gain .
Cultural and religious traditions greatly influence fasting practices among different groups. The sources indicate that while fasting is prevalent across various religions, motivations and understandings differ. In some Christian traditions, historical practices were rooted in the belief that fasting moves God to act or brings spiritual breakthroughs, which contrasts with the New Covenant theology emphasizing grace. Similar divergence is seen in other religions and cultures, where fasting may be used for penance, spiritual elevation, or as symbolic acts, such as hunger strikes in political contexts . These traditions shaped fasting habits not purely based on biblical mandates but often influenced by societal and ecclesiastical factors, highlighting the impact of tradition compared to scripturally grounded beliefs .
In the Old Testament, fasting was often tied to repentance, mourning, and seeking God’s favor, prescribed for specific occasions like the Day of Atonement . Contrastingly, early Christians viewed fasting more privately and optionally, not as a mandated ritual. Jesus’ teachings, though occurring pre-Cross, hinted at a new understanding of fasting, focusing on internal motives rather than external observance . After Pentecost, the emphasis shifted even more towards inward sincerity and grace-based living, as the Apostles and early church leaders did not impose fasting as a prescriptive practice but encouraged spiritual maturity through faith in Christ's accomplished work .
Under the New Covenant, fasting is viewed fundamentally differently. Traditional views often held that fasting could make one more righteous or holy, bring about spiritual breakthroughs, or move God to action. However, the theological basis for the change under the New Covenant emphasizes grace and the completed work of Christ. Fasting does not make one more acceptable to God or holier because Christ's sacrifice has already made believers righteous and whole. It does not bring about spiritual victories, as these are achieved through faith in Christ's work. Instead, fasting is viewed as a personal act that should not be done with the intent to gain spiritual merit or to manipulate divine responses. Believers are encouraged to understand that all spiritual blessings and transformations come by grace through the finished work of Christ, and not through any personal sacrifices like fasting .
El ayuno, según el Nuevo Pacto de Gracia, no debe considerarse como una práctica que nos hace más justos, santos, ni nos acerca más a Dios, ya que esas cosas se nos conceden por la obra perfecta de Cristo . En el Antiguo Pacto, el ayuno era una obligación para el pueblo de Israel, principalmente el Día de la Expiación, como muestra de arrepentimiento . Sin embargo, en el Nuevo Pacto, la bendición no depende del cumplimiento de mandamientos, sino de la gracia recibida por medio de Cristo .
The claim that fasting does not lead to spiritual victories is supported by the sources, emphasizing that victories are through faith in Christ's completed work, not personal efforts. The New Covenant theology posits that fasting neither changes God's attitude nor secures spiritual triumphs, as these are achieved through grace and faith in Jesus' sacrifice. The notion of fasting as a means to manipulate spiritual outcomes contradicts the foundational Christian belief that Christ has already overcome the world, and believers share in this victory by virtue of being in Him. Therefore, spiritual victories are attributed to God’s grace, not fasting .
The New Covenant perspective challenges misconceptions by emphasizing that spiritual growth and God's favor are not earned through personal efforts such as fasting. Instead, they are gifts received through grace due to Christ's perfect sacrifice. Fasting, traditionally seen as a way to earn God's favor or deepen spirituality, is reframed under this view to stress that believers are already fully accepted by God because of Jesus. Spiritual growth comes from faith and understanding in Christ's finished work, not from personal sacrificies or rituals . This challenges believers to shift from performance-based spirituality to relying on the transformative power of grace .
El autor argumenta que en el Nuevo Pacto, los logros espirituales no dependen del ayuno, ya que Jesús, con su sacrificio perfecto, ya nos ha hecho justos, santos, y espirituales ante Dios, sin necesidad de sacrificios adicionales. Según él, buscar logros espirituales a través del ayuno es tratar de 'comprar' algo ya dado gratuitamente por gracia . En esencia, el autor rechaza la idea de que abstenerse de lo natural pueda lograr beneficios espirituales, subrayando en cambio que es la obra de Cristo la que asegura tales logros .
El autor considera que intentar adquirir la bendición de Dios a través del ayuno se opone al Evangelio de la Gracia porque implica que el sacrificio de Cristo y sus beneficios no son suficientes. Según el autor, ya hemos obtenido todo por gracia sin necesidad de sacrificar más, lo que significa que no se debe intentar 'pagar el precio' por algo que estaba disponible gratuitamente. Esta noción no solo subestima la obra perfecta y completa de Cristo, sino que también tergiversa la esencia de la gracia, donde los beneficios espirituales se reciben sin obras o sacrificios propios .
Jesús en los Evangelios habló del ayuno en un contexto de ley, puesto que sus enseñanzas tuvieron lugar antes de la cruz y de la llegada del Nuevo Pacto. Las instrucciones de Jesús sobre el ayuno reflejan la observancia judía de la ley, no una práctica prescrita para los cristianos bajo gracia. Por ejemplo, la declaración sobre el novio que sería quitado y entonces ayunarían, se refiere a un tiempo específico antes de Pentecostés. Con la entrega del Espíritu Santo en Pentecostés, los cristianos celebran la presencia continua de Cristo en sus vidas, transformando el luto en celebración .