Podcasts about old covenant

When the holy and most pure child Mary (Mariam or Miriam in Hebrew) reached the age of three, her parents, the righteous Joachim and Anna, fulfilled the vow they had made to dedicate her to God. Going in procession with a company of maidens carrying torches, they presented their child at the Temple in Jerusalem, where Zecharias the High Priest took her under his care, blessing her with these words: "The Lord has glorified thy name in every generation; it is in thee that He will reveal the Redemption that he has prepared for his people in the last days." He then brought the child into the Holy of Holies — something completely unheard-of, for under the Law only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy Place, and he only once a year on the Day of Atonement.   (In the icon of the feast, the maidens who accompany the Theotokos are shown bare-headed, as was customary for unmarried girls; but the Theotokos herself, though only three years old, wears the head-covering of a married woman to show her consecration to God.)   The holy Virgin lived in the Temple for the next nine years, devoting herself entirely to prayer. In this time she attained the utter purity of heart befitting the destined Bearer of the Most High; she became in her own person the fulfilment and condensation of all of Israel's faithfulness. Saint Gregory Palamas says that, when the Theotokos entered the Holy of Holies, the time of preparation and testing of the Old Covenant came to an end for Israel, which was now ready, in the blessed Virgin, to bring forth the Savior.   When Mary approached marriageable age, she was entrusted to the chaste widower Joseph to guard her. (The Prologue says that a life of intentional virginity was unknown among the Hebrews, so the righteous Joseph undertook the forms of marriage so as not to cause scandal among the people.)   "Wherefore the Church rejoices and exhorts all the friends of God for their part to enter into the temple of their heart, there to make ready for the coming of the Lord by silence and prayer, withdrawing from the pleasures and cares of this world." (Synaxarion)

Friends of the Rosary,Today, November 21, the Church of Christ celebrates the Memorial of the Presentation of Mary.On September 8, we celebrated the Birthday of Our Lady, and on September 12, the Holy Name.With the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, we complete this Marian cycle, which is parallel with the first three feasts of our Lord in the liturgical calendar: the birth of Christ or Christmas (December 25), the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3), and His Presentation in the Temple (February 2).The historical background of the Presentation of Mary is found in the Protoevangel of St. James (ch. 4:1ff).After an angel had revealed her pregnancy, Anna vowed her future child, Mary, to the Lord. At the age of three, Mary was transferred to the temple, and here, she received her nourishment from the hand of an angel.On this feast day, we meditate on the mystery of Mary's temporary dwelling in the sanctuary of the Old Covenant as a preparation for the approaching season of Advent.Ave Maria!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.Please give us the grace to respond with joy!+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• November 21, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

The opening session of Camp Meeting 2025 brought a refreshing outpouring of God's word that stirred our hearts toward deeper devotion; reminding us that while the Old Covenant operated through external regulations, the New Covenant introduces us to the divine Regulator Himself: the Holy Spirit, who empowers both our will and our walk.Once, we were far from God, living under the weight of rules we could not fulfill. But now, through Christ, we have been brought near. Our minds are being renewed, and the enemy no longer holds a stake in our thoughts. In this renewed state, we discover what David expressed in Psalm 27: true satisfaction is found in God alone. Devotion ceases to be a duty and becomes a deep, genuine desire.At its heart, devotion is conscious fellowship with God. He didn't just change our eternal destination, He transformed our very hearts, drawing us into intimate communion with Himself.

Trying, versus dying. The answer to our recidivism problem - Christians like to call it "besetting sin" - is not to try harder to be good! That didn't work for anyone under the Old Covenant, and it still doesn't work. Yes, God's Law is good, but we won't become good by keeping the Law. The solution is much more radical than that. Today we'll look at some of the most mind-blowing, most glorious words ever written, in Romans 7 and 8. Listen to Right Start Radio every Monday through Friday on WCVX 1160AM (Cincinnati, OH) at 9:30am, WHKC 91.5FM (Columbus, OH) at 5:00pm, WRFD 880AM (Columbus, OH) at 9:00am. Right Start can also be heard on One Christian Radio 107.7FM & 87.6FM in New Plymouth, New Zealand. You can purchase a copy of this message, unsegmented for broadcasting and in its entirety, for $7 on a single CD by calling +1 (800) 984-2313, and of course you can always listen online or download the message for free. RS11202025_0.mp3Scripture References: Romans 7-8

Click here for more on this topic and other free resources - https://www.drjimrichards.com Experiencing the Spirit of Grace Over the last fifty years, there has been a remarkable resurgence in preaching and teaching about God's grace. Sadly, like so many biblical doctrines, grace has often become something people talk about—but seldom experience. I've witnessed some of the most irrational arguments over subtle doctrinal points about grace. Ironically, the behavior of those arguing usually reveals that, while they may have the right information about grace, they are not living in the power of grace! Rarely do we hear people talk about how grace is actively transforming their lives—making them more stable in their walk with God, bolder in sharing their faith, more loving, kind, and patient. What's even more troubling is that, for many, the message of grace has not softened their hearts—it has hardened them. Instead of becoming more compassionate and understanding, they've become more critical and less patient with those who do not embrace their doctrinal position. We are all given the gift of God's grace when we are born again, but that doesn't mean we've truly received it—that is, taken hold of it by faith. Until we do, grace remains only a doctrine we can discuss, not a power that changes our lives! Grace is one of the great distinctions between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant describes righteousness, love, ethics, and morality—but it didn't give us the power to live them. But the grace of God makes us able! It is the power, strength, capacity, and ability that works from our hearts! The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Grace, revealing that grace is more than an impersonal power. It is a manifestation of the person and power of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is not only our Counselor and Teacher—He is our strength. He manifests Himself within us, empowering us to live, function, and walk fully in the life of God. Join me this week as we move beyond mere discussion—into the living, transforming power of God's grace! The Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (1 Cor 4:20). If we only talk about grace but are not experiencing the power of grace, it is mere doctrine, not life!!

IntroductionHebrews is an amazing book. It is a book of contrasts. It contrasts the Old Covenant given through Moses with the New Covenant first prophesied through Jeremiah in the Hebrew Scriptures and later inaugurated by Yeshua at the last supper, a Passover seder, and at the cross. It was written to Jewish people not long before the second Jewish Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD. Some scholars believe that it was addressed to Jewish believers only, to Jews who were born again but weak in their faith. For several reasons, which I hope to cover with you as we go through this book, I do not believe that. I believe the epistle was indeed written to born again Jews who were weak in their faith, but also to Jews who might be interested in Yeshua but had not made a profession of faith in Him. And I also believe that the author certainly hoped that the epistle would be read or explained to Jews who had no apparent interest in following Jesus; this latter group may have included people who practiced traditional Judaism - the Temple was still standing when Hebrews was written - some who were serious about their religious practice and some who may have gone along with the practice of the Jewish religion because of pressure from their peers. And this book has great application for all of us today, both Jew and Gentile.Let's begin today by reading and then discussing the first verse of the epistle. All Scriptures in this series will be from the NIV unless otherwise stated.Hebrews 1:1 “1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,”God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. What does that mean? There were 16 writing prophets, men sent by God to proclaim His word and to make a written record of what they said. These written records survive today as the prophetic books of the Tanach or Old Testament. One of those prophets was not sent to the Jewish people although they must surely have known of his message. That was the prophet Jonah who was sent to proclaim the need for the people of Nineveh in Assyria to repent of their sins and indeed they did so and God did not bring disaster upon them.So, many prophets were sent over a great many years - hence, “at many times”; the Analytical Lexicon of the New Testament gives a translation for this as bit by bit. That makes sense to me. We have a very patient God. He doesn't give us His truth all at once because He knows that we couldn't handle it. Bit by bit might be a good thing for us to keep in mind as we share God's truth with people. We want to be careful not to feed a person who only has the ability to consume one piece of bread with a 7 course meal. We need to take our Heavenly Father's example and His truth bit by bit, at least in the beginning.And the message was also given in various ways. What does that mean? The great law giver, Moses, considered by many Jewish people to be the greatest prophet of all, and who wrote the Torah, the first 5 books of the Bible, wrote about the first Passover in ancient Egypt and the need for a blood sacrifice to preserve life. The shed blood came from lambs. Those things pointed to the first coming of our Messiah, the Lamb of God, and to the cross.But Moses also wrote about something that came even earlier. That was the very first mention in the Bible of a deliverer, our Messiah, who would in the future crush the head of the serpent who at Satan's direction deceived Eve and so led Adam and Eve to disobey God which caused something to happen that we call The Fall. God intended for us to live forever but because of the disobedience of our first parents all of us are born spiritually dead and have limited physical life spans. Let's read about this:Genesis 3:14–15 NKJV So the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life. And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”The Seed that the LORD is talking about here, her Seed - the Seed of the woman - is the deliverer, the Messiah, whom we now know is the Lord Jesus. This is the first time in the Bible that a Deliverer is mentioned. This is the first foreshadowing of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus.The LORD speaking through Moses again said something of a profoundly prophetic nature in Deuteronomy:Deuteronomy 18:18–19 “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”These verses speak of a future deliverer who like you, meaning like Moses would deliver His people from slavery and death but the deliverance of the future deliverer would be permanent. This was a prophecy about Jesus, Yeshua, and of His earthly ministry.Another prophecy of a future deliverer is in Psalm 2 where the LORD talks about His Son:Psalm 2:7–8 “I will proclaim the Lord's decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”And the Lord gives us a further hint of His coming Son in the book of Proverbs:Proverbs 30:4 “Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!”Folks, God the Father has a Son and He has told us about Him in the Old Testament.And then we have a prophecy given to King David from the prophet Nathan who was not one of the 16 writing prophets, but was a prophet nonetheless. Listen to the Lord speaking through Nathan to David:1 Chronicles 17:11–12 “When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.”The Lord is here speaking of the throne of the Messiah Who will be King of Israel and Whose throne will be established forever. That will begin when this present age is over and Messiah, the Lord Jesus, will reign for a thousand years from Jerusalem. That time will follow the rapture and the 7 year tribulation. That time is drawing nearer every day. Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus!Then there was Isaiah who told of the Messiah who would come by virgin birth and who would be God Himself and God with us:Isaiah 7:14 NIV Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.Immanuel means God with us and that's exactly who Yeshua was when He walked among us 2,000 years ago. Folks that prophecy was fulfilled about 700 years later when He was born in Bethlehem. And Isaiah also prophesied this:Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”This prophecy has only been partially fulfilled as of the date of this message - November 2025 - but rest assured that it will be completely fulfilled soon when Messiah Yeshua returns to rescue Israel, to judge the world, and to set up His 1,000 year reign.Later in his book, Isaiah prophesies about a person who would come, a Servant, who would suffer and die for our sins. This was indeed a prophecy about the Lord Jesus. He comes first as a suffering servant and only later as King and ruler, at His second coming, which we expectantly wait for now. Those of you who attend a traditional Jewish synagogue might wonder why this Suffering Servant of Isaiah, chapter 53, is not mentioned or taught about. This portion of Scripture is not included in the weekly Haftorah readings in the synagogue. This prophecy is so clearly about Jesus the Messiah that it is abhorrent to many Jewish leaders especially the Rabbis. That is why it is not taught.And then the LORD sent Jeremiah the prophet through whom the LORD promised a new covenant:Jeremiah 31:31–34 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.””What a wonderful promise from the LORD through Jeremiah. That New Covenant was inaugurated at Jesus' death and it will be completely fulfilled after all Israel is saved at the end of the 7 year Tribulation.Romans 11:26–27 “and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.””And there are many more examples that I could give you but I don't want to tire you out.We will be talking about the New Covenant in this series because it is re-stated in the letter to the Hebrews. The prophecy of the New Covenant was made a reality when Jesus the Son of God gave His life and shed his blood for us on the cross.So we begin the New Testament book of Hebrews. It is an exciting book and one that is full of contrasts. It is also a book that cannot be understood without a knowledge of the Old Testament and that is why we've been talking so much about these Old testament prophecies today. Yes, “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,”My friends, none of these prophecies and the sequencing of these prophecies could be done by man. It's not a possibility. Just as the set time for God to send His son to earth, there was a set time, a time set by God, for each of the prophecies that we've discussed in this message to happen. Galatians 4:4 talks about the set time. I'd like to read it to you:Galatians 4:4 “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,”Next time we will see what God has done and is doing in these last days. We'll look further into the book of Hebrews:Hebrews 1:1–2 “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”Folks, for those of you who do not know Jesus and have not accepted Yeshua as your personal Lord and Savior, especially my Jewish brothers and sisters but also my Gentile brothers and sisters who are likewise special, I beg of you: please call upon His name and ask Him to save you today. Please don't wait! You could die today and be separated from God for eternity. You don't want that.Until the next time, my friends. God bless you. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit awolinsky.substack.com

What are you bound by? we know the past can effect our future. How much does the old law affect our life today? Jesus made it clear, we are no longer bound by the things of old, but are given a brand new covenant.

An episode from THE BIBLE Baptist Church, a Bible believing, Bible preaching church in DeLand, Florida.What THE BIBLE Baptist Church (TBBC) Believes:“A church is not a social organization or a club. It is a gathering of men and women who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. These people meet together to worship the Lord, to praise Him, to encourage one another to live lives pleasing to the Savior and to be instructed in the truths of the Holy Bible.It is also a place from which these believers go forth, individually and in groups, to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus to men and women the world over.The extent to which the blessing of the Lord abides upon a church and the effectiveness of a church in the aforementioned areas depends upon its understanding of and obedience to the words of God. There are certainly clearly stated truths found in scripture to which all believers must steadfastly adhere. A collection of individuals, each living in accord with their opinions or religious notions, can accomplish little for Christ. A gathering of men and women who have a like-minded faith in a foundational set of Biblical truths can do great things for the Lord.Below are those truths upon which we have built THE BIBLE Baptist Church.Should you have other questions please feel free to ask. Our people and leaders are available and more than happy to let you know what we do and why. It is our hope and prayer that the Lord will direct you to become a vital part of the gospel work which He has given us to do.”You may write to THE BIBLE Baptist Church at:872 Glenwood Rd.DeLand, FL 32720Have A Blessed Day, THE BBLE Baptist Church  The KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast is directly supported by Doss Metrics LLC | Ministry Services based out of Cleveland Texas. If you have any questions regarding this podcast, or the churches hosted on the podcast, please reach out to us directly at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dossmetrics@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or write to us at: Doss Metrics | KJV Bible Preaching Churches Podcast1501 McBride Rd.Cleveland, TX 77328 God Bless#KJV #BaptistChurches #BiblePreaching #KJVPreaching #KingJamesBible #ChurchSermons #ChristianPodcasts #BibilicalTeaching #JamesKnox

Concluding our deep dive into the book of Revelation, we arrive at Chapter 21, where the New Covenant is fully realized. Pastor Mark explains why the "new heaven and new earth" means the curse is reversed and suffering is entirely abolished.This message focuses on the obsolescence of the Old Covenant. We explore the meaning of the New Jerusalem (the perfected Bride) and the profound statement: There is no Temple in the city! The Lamb is the Temple, the Light, and the guarantee of eternal access. Listen to find out why your final hope is not in a future geography, but in the permanent presence of Christ.

The sermon presents a progressive theological framework for understanding God's kingdom as a divine restoration of His authority in a fallen world, unfolding through distinct phases. Beginning with the foundational concept of 'kingdom placeholders'—family, civil government, and true religion—the narrative advances to phase two, centered on the covenant and the 'one chosen man' principle, exemplified by Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. Through these pivotal figures, God establishes a progressively deeper, more exclusive, and symbolic expression of His rule, culminating in the Old Covenant nation of Israel as a holy, geographically bounded, temporary, and anticipatory model of His eternal kingdom. The mustard seed metaphor underscores the slow, deliberate growth of God's redemptive plan, which ultimately points to a greater fulfillment in Christ, the ultimate chosen one who fulfills and transcends all previous stages.

Free Podcast Downloads In my previous episode, 189 The Better Covenant, I made the point that the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God, literally 'God-breathed' (2 Timothy 3:16). From beginning to end, it reveals God's redemptive plan and His covenant relationship with humanity. The two Testaments represent two distinct covenants: the Old Covenant given to Israel through Moses, and the New Covenant given through Jesus Christ to all who believe. Understanding how these covenants connect, and how the New is better than the Old is basic to living in the freedom and grace God offers.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!A flooded basement, a dead furnace, and three kids shivering through a New York winter. We start with a human story and a fundraiser that turned into a lesson in Christian charity—how a community can change a family's life overnight. Then we pivot into one of the most charged theological conversations of the moment: Scott Hahn's interview with Gavin Ashenden and the fault lines it exposed.We unpack why Hahn refused to let the conversation stall at labels, and instead zeroed in on a deeper danger: bicovenantalism. Is it anti-Semitic to critique Zionism? Hahn says no—and shows why conflating political critique with hatred is lazy and misleading. Walking through Romans 9–11, he offers a vivid image: remaining within the Old Covenant without Christ is like living in a mansion on fire. That line reframes everything. We explore how Catholic liturgy—altar, priest, sacrifice—fulfills biblical worship, while post-70 AD rabbinic Judaism marks a real discontinuity from temple-centered Israel. Along the way, Augustine and Aquinas remind us why the preservation of the Jewish people is providential and prophetic, pointing toward a future conversion near the eschaton.The conversation broadens with clips of Benjamin Netanyahu invoking “Jews against Rome” and calling the United States the “new Rome.” We connect that to the Church Fathers on the “restrainer,” the unraveling of Christendom, and how propaganda pressures Catholics to fall silent. The challenge is clear: resist panic labels, reject hatred, speak truth, and stay rooted in doctrine. We close with a heartfelt letter from a 27-year-old father discerning Catholicism while priced out of housing and ignored by leadership. It's a sobering snapshot of the moment—and a call for the Church to engage young men with honesty and hope.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations that don't dodge the hard questions, and leave a review with your takeaways. Your voice helps others find these talks.Support the showTake advantage of great Catholic red wines by heading over to https://recusantcellars.com/ and using code "BASED" for 10% off at checkout!********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

We continue our conversation today on Foundations about the importance of the Old Covenant, that's it's not obsolete and in fact is necessary to properly understand the New Covenant. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sadly, there's a prevailing belief within Christendom that the Old Covenant is obsolete and therefore, we don't need to know it or read it anymore; that's it's no longer relevant? We'll challenge that view today on Foundations. Your support sends the gospel to every corner of Australia through broadcast, online and print media: https://www.vision.org.au/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Churchill was clearly one of the most impactful persons of the 20th century—that's why so much has been written about him and his doings. But he made many mistakes, some of them huge. And that's one reason why reading about Churchill can be so fruitful. Join Kevin as we dive into the topic of intentionally learning from folks doing badly and the inadequacy of lesser solutions—with that discussion ranging from Churchill and Britain to John the Baptist and Jesus! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems, even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Brad Bell

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems, even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Brad Bell

Christ didn't just rest for us—He rested as us. This message unpacks how the Sabbath rest promised in the Old Covenant finds its fulfillment in Jesus' finished work. His “It is finished” opened the door to a new kind of rest—freedom from striving, sin, and fear. We're invited to live seated with Him in victory, entering daily into the rest He already secured.

Everyone has some kind of agreement with God—spoken or unspoken. We think: “If I do better, God will bless me.” That’s covenant thinking. But Hebrews 8 reminds us: there’s a difference between the Old Covenant, which depended on our performance, and the New Covenant, which depends on God’s promise. Warren Wiersbe says“A covenant is not a contract we negotiate with God; it is a relationship established by His grace and guaranteed by His Son.” So the question becomes personal: Which covenant are you living under—your promises to God, or His promises to you?

Title: “Why We Give Thanks” Part 1 Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 FCF: We often struggle gaining assurance of our faith. Prop: Because Disciple Makers praise God for genuine disciples, we must display the fruit of genuine disciples. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. In a moment we'll read from the English Standard Version starting in verse 1. You can follow along in the pew bible, with the page number on the screen, or in the version you prefer. It is a joy and privilege to begin another book series with you. In the nine years I have pastored here I have preached through 14 New Testament books. Perhaps the Lord will give me grace to live long enough to preach through the entire bible before I die. We'll see. Paul begins this letter with a quick greeting and then verses 2-5 are 1 sentence in the Greek. Grammar police may accuse Paul of writing a run on sentence – but such grammar rules didn't exist yet. The entire first chapter, while only being 10 verses long, represents a summary of every theme that will be teased out in the remaining 4 chapters of the letter. So, as you can imagine, chapter 1 is quite dense in its meaning. Covering 5 verses this morning will be quite a herculean challenge. May God sustain us. Please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Sovereign King, you have purchased us from darkness and redeemed us to light. We are slaves to righteousness now and children of Your holy Kingdom. We praise you for this and thank you that You have given such wonderful gifts to us through Your Son and have indwelled us with Your Spirit. Allow Your Spirit to bear witness to us as we look to Your word and send Him also to give soft hearts to those who have come this morning with hearts of stone. May they be raised to new life in Your Son and baptized into Him with His Spirit. We pray this in Jesus' name and for His sake – Amen. Transition: Long sermon today. I've cut what I could. It is time for you to strive with your flesh and pay attention to what God has revealed. Let's begin, of course, in verse 1. I.) Disciple Makers praise God for genuine disciples, so we must display the cardinal graces of Christ . (1-3) a. [Slide 2] 1 - Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. i. This is only Paul's second letter he has ever sent to a church congregation. ii. His first letter was to the Galatians. iii. The tone of this letter is significantly more positive than the letter of Galatians. It isn't difficult to determine why. iv. Although both letters were written to fledgling churches who were experiencing opposition, the churches of Southern Galatia had abandoned the clear teaching that Paul and Barnabas had taught them in order to believe what the Judaizers were teaching. v. The Thessalonians were enduring. vi. As we noted last week, Paul writes this letter with the assistance of Silas and Timothy. vii. Timothy is relaying information from the Thessalonian church, having recently visited with them. And Silas, here called by his Latin name Silvanus, is the one who writes the letter itself. viii. [Slide 3] Thessalonica is positioned here on the Aegean Sea. It is likely that well over 100,000 people lived in the city with thousands more traveling to and through it on a daily basis. ix. [Slide 4] Thessalonica had a significant Jewish population but of course was predominantly gentile. The religion was certainly paganism but with unique flavors of Egyptian gods being worshipped along with the Emperor cult. x. [Slide 5] The prepositional phrase “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” is difficult to understand where it fits in. xi. Are they writing to them in God and the Lord Jesus or is the church in God and the Lord Jesus? xii. It is most certainly the latter given the context of the book. xiii. The three companions are writing to this church and Paul takes the opportunity to remind them that they rest safely in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. xiv. This is significant in that Paul, a Jew, is using Old Covenant language of belonging to the community of Yahwehism, but he is doing so in reference to a predominantly gentile assembly. xv. This communicates very clearly that although we should maintain a distinction between the church and Covenant Israel- in the New Covenant that distinction is largely erased. God is creating a new people for Himself out of Israel and the nations. xvi. [Slide 6] Finally, Paul finishes his greeting with what will become his standard greeting to churches to which he writes. xvii. Grace to you and peace. xviii. At this point, if you've been attending our church for any amount of time, you should have a decent definition of God's grace. 1. Certainly, unmerited favor is an… OK… definition. But we can add a little more color to that. 2. [Slide 7] Grace is God's power which He grants to people according to His free will, to enable them to receive or do something which they are unable to get or do for themselves. 3. In the Scriptures we see God's common grace in providing a world full of pleasures and relative happiness even to those who are wicked. 4. We also, and especially see God's saving grace or special grace, which is necessary for any to come to salvation, since all men are children of wrath by nature and dead in their trespasses and sins. 5. But we also see God's sanctifying grace which enables His children to desire and have the power to do as He has commanded them. 6. Understanding this aspect of God's grace is the only way that Paul's comments make any sense. If God's grace is only good to regenerate, convert, and justify a believer – we really have no need to wish it to anyone who is already a believer. 7. But since God's power in His grace continues to mold us and conform us to Christ – we are in constant need of its steady supply. 8. Thus, to wish for, pray for, or desire God's grace to be given to another believer – is to desire their greatest good. 9. We should stop saying – Have a great day, or God bless! 10. Instead, we should say – God's grace to you. xix. [Slide 8] And of course – peace. xx. Peace in what sense? xxi. [Slide 9] Well peace actually works on a few levels especially in the context of 1 Thessalonians. 1. First, there is peace with God. a. Unlike grace, peace with God is not something that we need in steady supply. b. True, we can strain the relationship with our Heavenly Father, but He remains our Father. There is, as Paul says in Romans, no condemnation in Christ. c. Peace with God is secured for us in the death and resurrection of Christ. d. But in another sense, the safety from the wrath of God is not fully applied until the Lord Jesus returns for His church and destroys all His enemies. e. And so, Paul is reminding them of the peace they have with God through Christ's death resurrection and future coming in glory. 2. Second, we could also see a wish for peace or harmony with one another. a. This also works on two levels. b. First is the peace with other believers. i. Paul emphasizes in this book the love that we must have for one another and how it must be abounding and growing. ii. This has ramifications on how we treat one another within the body of Christ and how we hold each other accountable. c. But Paul also speaks to the opposition the Thessalonian church is facing. i. Therefore, Paul wishes peace with outsiders as well. ii. Hoping for a quiet life where they can worship the Lord and live godly lives in peace. iii. Knowing full well that some of the church's family members, friends, colleagues, and co-workers are no doubt aggressively against their conversion to Christ. This is probably the opposition they are facing. 3. Third, we could also see this wish for peace with trials. a. Facing all the issues and problems they are, Paul may also be wishing them spiritual peace. b. Hope. c. That God is not blind to what they are enduring. d. They should trust Him in the midst of all this and continue to live holy lives before Him. xxii. Grace to them and peace is a perfect greeting. xxiii. Paul continues… b. [Slide 10] 2 - We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, i. The first word from Paul, after months of not seeing him and enduring opposition, are words of encouragement. ii. These three companions, who loved them and cared for them, are always giving thanks to God for them. iii. One constant theme throughout this book is that to every disciple-maker's greatest joy… is to see those whom they have discipled grow to be spiritually mature Christ followers. iv. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are overjoyed, they are tickled pink, that the Thessalonians are enduring in their faith. v. So much so, that in their prayers to God, they are always giving thanks for them and constantly mentioning them. vi. But what is the content of their prayers for the Thessalonians? What are they constantly praying to God about them? c. [Slide 11] 3 - remembering before our God and Father your work of faith i. Their prayers consist of recalling or bringing to mind again and again, certain aspects of the Thessalonian's godly character. ii. Grammatically the possessive pronoun “your” connects these three consecutive attributes together as graces God has given them. iii. So, what does Paul mean by their work of faith? iv. Given the context of 1 Thessalonians, it seems like Paul means a faith that produces works, specifically works of obedience and allegiance to the object of their faith. v. At the end of this triad of graces, Paul says “In the Lord Jesus Christ”. vi. Many commentators apply this only to the third grace mentioned. But some scholars see it as applied to all three of these graces. I tend to agree with the minority. vii. In that sense then, their faith, which is rooted in and allied with the Lord Jesus Christ, is the source for their works of obedience. d. [Slide 12] and labor of love i. The second characteristic of the Thessalonian church remembered in thankful prayer is their labor of love. ii. Most likely this expression follows a similar pattern as the first. iii. The labor is produced from or perhaps we could say it is motivated by their love which they have because they are in the Lord Jesus Christ. iv. We love, because He first loved us. v. And so, the Thessalonians, being united to Christ, have a supernaturally gifted love for God, and one another which motivates them to labor for one another in specific acts of love. e. [Slide 13] and steadfastness of hope i. Finally, he is thankfully remembering in prayer the Thessalonians' steadfastness in hope. ii. Again, we should see that hope is the source or the producer of endurance or steadfastness. iii. They can patiently wait and endure because they have a hope that is rooted, not only in the Lord Jesus generally, but in the finished work of Christ on the cross and the promise of His future coming and eternal salvation. f. [Slide 14] in our Lord Jesus Christ. i. In the Lord Jesus Christ, they have been given hope, love, and faith that continues to produce endurance, labor and work. ii. All of these virtues… all of these cardinal Christian graces… are rooted fully in the Lord Jesus Christ. iii. Without Christ there is no work of faith. There is no labor of love. There is no steadfastness of hope. iv. And notice these are rooted in our LORD Jesus Christ. v. We need a King, a sovereign over all things to guarantee that the faith, love and hope that He has given us will produce work, labor, and endurance. g. [Slide 15] Summary of the Point: Paul opens his letter with the encouragement that he, Silas, and Timothy are often thanking the Lord for the Thessalonian church. In this he reveals a repeated theme of this book, that disciple makers of all kinds are overjoyed and thankful to God when those they have ministered to reveal themselves to be genuine disciples by their growth in grace. Specifically, Paul calls out three cardinal graces that every genuine believer has in Christ. Every believer, since they are clothed with Christ, has a faith that produces works of obedience toward God, a love that motivates their labor for God and others, and a hope that builds endurance to weather every storm life has knowing that Christ will return and with Him justice will reign. We could choose from several applications here. None are overtly mentioned in this text. But I think the best application we could take from this text is simply asking the question… would Paul, Silas, and Timothy be thanking God continually… for our church? Are we a church who displays the work of faith, the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ? That, I think… hits the hardest. Are we as commendable as the Thessalonians? Transition: [Slide 16 (blank)] This is only one aspect of why the evangelists give thanks for the Thessalonian church. Paul continues in verse 4 to develop this theme. II.) Disciple Makers praise God for genuine disciples, so we must evaluate how the gospel came to us. (4-5) a. [Slide 17] 4 - For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, i. What is the word “for” taking us back to? ii. For implies… because or some connection to something previously mentioned. iii. It goes all the way back to verse 2. iv. Paul and his companions always give thanks to God for them and are constantly mentioning them to God in their prayers. v. Specifically, about their character produced by their relationship to their Lord Jesus Christ. vi. But Paul hasn't actually told the Thessalonians why they are thankful. He has told them how… but not why. So, why are they thankful? vii. Primarily, they are thankful to God and mentioning them often because they know… that God has chosen them. God has elected them. God has predestined them. viii. They are brothers which are loved by God. ix. Even though they are being rejected by their family and their friends, they have been chosen before the foundation of the world to join a new family with a new Father who loved them, not because they were special, but because He is special. x. Well, how do the evangelists know that God has chosen these Thessalonians? xi. We might expect Paul to go back to the previous character traits of grace that the Lord has given them… their works, labor, and endurance from faith, love and hope. xii. Indeed, we cannot divorce this from the reason they believe this… because Paul will bring this up later in chapter 1 which we'll see in part 2 of this sermon next week. xiii. But what is the thing Paul points to first as grounds for he and his companions to conclude that they are elect of God? b. [Slide 18] 5 - because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power i. There is some debate over the exact nature of the word because. ii. If you desire to hear the entire debate you can join us on Teams on Thursday night for bible study and prayer group. We will dive deeper into the three basic views. iii. But the view I took is by far the majority among scholars and translations. iv. Paul is saying that they know they are chosen because something occurred. v. Another thing that scholars insist upon here is that Paul is pointing to he and Silas and Timothy's preaching among them. However, Paul does not say “because we preached the gospel to you in power…” he says “because our gospel came to you in power.” vi. Now eventually, Paul will get to their example in the second part of verse 5. But he'll do that for a completely different reason, as we'll see in a moment. vii. But for now, it seems like Paul goes out of his way to DEEMPHASIZE he, Silas and Timothy's role in their reception of the gospel. Which only feeds back into this being the REASON that he knows they are truly elect of God. It wasn't the excellence of their preaching… it was the gospel coming to them in a specific way. viii. How did it come to them? ix. In short – the same way it comes to all who are truly believers. x. We've spoken about this recently, but as a reminder, the general call of the gospel is the preached Word of God. xi. It is when we give a defense for the hope that we have in us before those who are asking questions. It is when we preach the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers. xii. This, though, is merely the gospel going out in word. xiii. All our efforts are little more than words preached to a brick wall. There is no inherent power in our preaching of the Word of God. Nor is there any inherent power in our proclaiming of the gospel. xiv. As Paul says in Romans, the gospel is the power… of GOD. God chooses to empower His Word when He wishes to empower it. xv. Did Paul ever see the gospel go out in word only? You betcha. All the time in his missionary journey Luke records for us that “some believed” “as many as were appointed, believed” xvi. Many people heard the gospel but there was no power in the words they preached. xvii. But for the Thessalonian church – the gospel was not preached in word only – but in power. xviii. Listen, in every single person who genuinely receives the gospel of Jesus Christ – they do so because the gospel comes in power. xix. What power you may wonder? xx. My friends, all men are dead in sin, they are children of wrath by nature, they are not righteous, and they do not seek God. xxi. If you have a problem with anything I've just said – I have been quoting the bible. Take it up with God. xxii. The problem with natural man is that we are all born EVIL and WICKED people. Not as wicked as we could be – but with the potential to be as wicked as we could be and without any potential to be righteous. xxiii. No man seeks after God. Why? Because we are spiritually dead. We don't even know we are wicked. If you did an interview in downtown Port Huron and asked the question, “how are we all born, inherently good, neutral, or inherently evil?” 99% would tell you that we are born either good or neutral. xxiv. This is why the gospel must come in power and not merely in word. xxv. If man is only sick with sin, then a good word preached to him may yet convince him of the truth of the word of God. xxvi. But if men are dead in their sin – every proclamation of the gospel requires a supernatural and powerful act of God to convince men that they are evil and deserving of God's wrath. xxvii. My friends… how do we know we are elect of God? xxviii. Because we have been convinced that we are wicked sinners deserving the wrath of God. That is NOT a natural thought. xxix. No man or woman pops out of their mother convinced they are wicked. xxx. Instead, we are ALWAYS either the victims or the heroes. And we are NEVER the villain. xxxi. God's power in the gospel starts with convincing us that we are the villain and only He is the hero. xxxii. But Paul says, not only that the power of God was in the coming of the gospel to them, but also the third person of God was in the coming of the gospel to them… c. [Slide 19] and in the Holy Spirit i. What is the activity of the Spirit? What is the Spirit said to do in the New Testament? 1. He convicts unbelievers of sin – hmmm that sounds familiar… 2. He regenerates those who are spiritually dead – this is so they can respond to the call of the gospel. 3. He seals believers 4. He baptizes them into the body of Christ 5. He assures them of their salvation – hmmm hang on to that one for a moment. 6. He gives spiritual gifts 7. He teaches truth 8. He illuminates the scriptures ii. In short, you don't get the power of God in salvation without the Spirit of God in Salvation. iii. The Spirit of God prepares the soil of the heart to receive the gospel message and cultivates growth in such a person in order that they produce fruit. iv. We don't need sign gifts to confirm upon us the surety of our election. v. Our calling and election is sure when we bear the marks of the Holy Sprit's hostile takeover of our hearts. vi. And finally, Paul says… d. [Slide 20] and with full conviction. i. Again, many commentators insist that this is the preaching of Paul and his companions which was done in full conviction. But Paul isn't talking about how they preached. He is talking about how the gospel came. ii. This speaks to the gospel's convincing power. iii. Not only did it come in power to convict and regenerate… but also in the reception of faith in Christ is without wavering and without compromise. iv. This is the work of the Spirit to confirm the truth upon our hearts. v. When the gospel comes – it comes in certainty and without doubt. vi. That is not to say that there may never be times of doubt and assurance after this… vii. Certainly, this may be the case. viii. But when the gospel comes in power and in the Spirit, it will also come in a certainty and even an eagerness of the person who believes to grab ahold of Christ and Christ alone. ix. In this we may know that our election is true. We cling to Christ alone bearing the scars of the Holy Spirit's regeneration and indwelling. x. And this is how the evangelists knew the Thessalonians were elect of God. Because the gospel came upon the Thessalonians… and affected the Thessalonians… exactly the same way it had affected Paul, Silas, and Timothy. e. [Slide 21] You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. i. The ESV here creates a new sentence. ii. But in the Greek, this clause is still connected in this long sentence with a word that means “just as.” iii. So, Paul is saying, “Just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” iv. Because he uses the word “to know” again, this indicates to us that there is the mutual ability to know each other by outward signs. v. In other words, The Evangelists know the Thessalonians are chosen of God by how the gospel came to them… just like the Thessalonians knew what kind of men the evangelists were by how they gave of themselves to the Thessalonians. vi. Paul advocates for mutual knowledge of the genuineness of each other's spiritual identities based on God's work in them to share Christlike characteristics. vii. God's power in the gospel affects everyone who receives it… EXACTLY THE SAME. And therefore, it is relatively easy to spot a genuine Christian given enough time… viii. There is no such thing as a Christian who fails to display the cardinal grace of Christ and there is no such Christian who fails to experience the coming of the gospel in power, in the Holy Spirit, and in full conviction. ix. Therefore, they give thanks to God for them, because the evangelists and the Thessalonian church are truly and eternally… family. f. [Slide 22] Summary of the Point: So, Paul's primary point in these opening words remains the same. As disciple makers they have great joy and significant reason for thankfulness because the Thessalonians are living like genuine disciples of Christ. Paul explains that they are thankful because they know that the Thessalonians are brothers and sisters in Christ, loved by God, and chosen before the foundation of the world, because when the gospel came to them, it came empowered by the Spirit and produced a resolute loyalty to Jesus Christ. Paul even compares how the Thessalonians know them as good and godly men as a valid reason that these evangelists can know their spiritual identity. As we move to apply this text, we must ask ourselves the question, would Paul, Silas and Timothy be thanking God because they know we are elect of God? Did the gospel come to us in power? Did the gospel come to us in the Holy Spirit? Did the gospel come to us with full assurance? We should, each one of us, evaluate how the gospel came to us. Conclusion: So, CBC, what have we learned today that informs or corrects our beliefs and shapes and guides our lifestyles? Basics of Faith and Practice: [Slide 23] The intent of this opening chapter is most certainly to encourage the Thessalonian church, who although new to their walk, are living faithfully unto Christ. Paul, Silas, and Timothy are overjoyed and continually grateful in their prayers to God for the news of the genuineness of these believer's faith. If we were the Thessalonians, we would gain great encouragement from the words of Paul to us. But we must first ask the question – are we like the Thessalonian church? Are we displaying the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love and hope? Did the gospel come to us in power and in the Holy Spirit and in full conviction? What if the answer to both of these questions is no? What if it is yes? Let me try to apply this text in a more practical and specific way to us this morning. 1.) [Slide 24] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that part of making disciples is praying continually for the spiritual growth and preservation of God's people. a. It seems odd to start with this application since it was not central to anything we've discussed as yet. b. But it must be mentioned how the apostle Paul, Silas and Timothy regularly, constantly prayed to God for those whom they had ministered to. c. God has given all of us the job of making disciples. And my friends, all of us as disciple makers have the responsibility of praying for the spiritual growth and preservation of God's people. d. Our Thursday Night prayer group is attended by almost no one in this room, despite it requiring the least amount of effort to join. e. That is not to say that in order to pray for God's people you must attend. Nor is it to assume that you do not pray any other time for the people of this church. f. But long as it been true that though the church bursts at the seams on Sunday… it is so quiet on prayer group night that you could hear the church mice nibbling on a piece of cheese. g. Why do we forsake prayer? h. Why do we forsake praying together? i. It is a means that God uses to grow us… and it is an activity demonstrated by all disciple makers in the scriptures… chief among them our Lord Jesus Christ who prayed for His own disciples since the devil wished to sift them like wheat. j. How odd it would be that we spend all that time at the beginning of each service taking prayer requests… yet no one prays for them? k. I hope this isn't true. l. Take a lesson from Paul – and pray for God's people. Not their physical ailments only… but for their souls. 2.) [Slide 25] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that we can know the spiritual identity of others by observing their lifestyles. a. This shouldn't be a shocking revelation to us. b. After studying so many New Testament books, including James and I John, it becomes apparent very quickly that Jesus does not save us from the penalty of our sin only. c. Instead, He frees us also from the power of sin over us. d. Meaning that God's people are not only able to crucify the sins they didn't want to destroy before, but also they desire to obey the commands of God and love others and preach His Kingdom. e. And not only CAN God's people do this… They will to a progressing degree. f. Faith without works is dead. Love without obedience is fake. Hope that doesn't include Christ as King, evaporates. g. God has no interest in saving us from hell without also saving us TO righteousness. Christ became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. h. We have been made into a Kingdom of priests and God's will for our lives is holiness. i. In fact, without holiness NO ONE WILL SEE GOD. j. Again – if you have any problem with what I've just said… I have basically been quoting scripture. So, take it up with God. k. Which leads us to another point…. 3.) [Slide 26] De-Exhortation: “What actions should we stop doing” or “What behaviors do we naturally practice that this passage tells us to stop doing?” We must not assume that because we prayed a prayer or have gone to church all our lives that we are a child of God. a. Praying a prayer, being baptized, writing a date in your bible, walking an aisle, saying the right things, going to church, none of this proves anything. b. The vast majority of the church today is non-Jewish. Yet the Old Testament calls the Jewish people God's chosen people. c. Being affiliated with a group that is called God's people doesn't make you one of them. d. Just as there were Jews who thought they were doing everything God wanted them to, only to reject and kill their own Messiah – so also there are those who have checked all the external boxes of what it means to be a Christian and they do not have a new heart. They have not been born again. e. How can you say that? f. Because they do not have the outward signs that proves that their faith is genuine. g. What are those signs? h. Although the list provided in this text is not exhaustive, it is a great place to start. 4.) [Slide 27] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” First, we must evaluate whether the gospel came to us in power, the Holy Spirit, and full conviction. a. One thing that every genuine Christian has in common, is a story of the gospel coming to them in power. b. Now that is not to say that every story is the same. Because it isn't. c. Some respond to sermons. Others to reading the Word of God. d. Others respond to an audible voice beckoning them to come. e. Others respond to a dream or vision. f. Still others a tract. And others a song. g. The means of someone receiving the gospel is not what I am talking about. The means is variable. h. The effect. That is of which I speak. And that is ALWAYS THE SAME. i. The Holy Spirit regenerates and indwells a true Christian when the gospel comes to them. The Holy Spirit baptizes them into Christ. j. They become acutely aware of the wickedness and evil of their hearts. They become acutely aware of how destitute they are and how there is no hope for them to change. k. They become acutely aware of how empty and meaningless their life is. l. And then the good news of Jesus Christ a substitute for sinners comes like a blanket to a freezing man. It fills them like a feast to a starving child. It lifts them like a rope tied around their waist out of a pit of vipers. It scoops them up like a basket on a helicopter out of shark infested waters. m. And they cling to that basket, they hold fast to that rope. They eat long and drink deep of that feast. And they cling so tightly to that blanket. n. As if their very life depended on it… BECAUSE IT DOES! o. THAT is what I mean when I say the gospel comes in power, in the holy Spirit, and in full conviction to all who are truly God's elect. p. It is the same story. The details are different. But the effect… the foundation is the same. q. Did the gospel come to you this way? r. If not… Are you sure you have received it? s. If not… You'll have another chance to today. You need only keep hearing. t. But you say – ah yes, the gospel did come to me in this way. I am surely saved. But wait… there is more to say on how to know you are God's true child. 5.) [Slide 28] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” We also must have and continue to grow in the cardinal Christian graces. a. The disciple makers rejoiced greatly that the young church grew because it grew in the three cardinal graces. b. Maybe you have received the gospel powerfully. Perhaps you felt the sting of sin and knew to some degree the freedom of Christ. c. But you do not obey God's commands with the faith you possess. d. You do not love God above everything else, and/or you do not love others as you love yourself. You do not love other believers the way Christ loved you. e. You do not have an enduring hope because you think little if ever of the return of the King to earth. You are just living day to day and not pursuing His Kingdom first. f. Oh, my friends. We may not be perfect in these – indeed as we study this book we'll see that Paul thinks the Thessalonians could improve in these too. g. But if you are empty of these graces. h. Then you cannot be God's child. These graces, these are gifts of Christ, they are precious stones on the engagement ring which Christ gave to His church. i. If you have no gemstones – how can you say you are engaged to Him? 6.) [Slide 29] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” Only when the gospel came to us this way and we are growing in the cardinal Christian graces, can we be encouraged by the assurance this gives. a. You say, but I have these graces and have received this gospel in power and the Spirit is in me, and I am clinging to Christ alone. b. Then I have only one application for you. c. Take comfort and be assured and encouraged in the Lord. d. Your Spiritual leaders are praying for you and thanking God for you. e. Christ has saved you and He will keep you. f. He is coming again to bind you up and bring you home. g. Worry not about the stains in your garments of past sins that continue to nip at your heels, for He has white robes that He will clothe you in before the wedding feast. h. Look to that day with eagerness and endure to it. 7.) [Slide 30] The Gospel: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” If the gospel did not come to us this way and/or we are not growing in these graces, we must repent of our sin and seek the Lord to save us by His power and to these ends. a. But you say – that isn't me. I did not receive the gospel this way and/or I do not have these graces. b. Oh dear friend. What are you to do? c. You have heard the gospel yet again. One more coal of judgment has been placed on your head. d. Will you even now resist the call of the Lord? e. Will you even now flee from His Kingdom's dominion? f. Are your loyalties so in line with yourself and your father the devil that you would run to him to rescue you from the goodness and grace of Almighty God? g. Friend, the devil's end is sure. He will be cast in the lake which burns with fire and sulfur. But you don't have to join him. h. Maybe this is the day that you will finally turn from your wickedness and flee to the safety of Christ's embrace? i. I hope it is. Find me or an Elder after the service. We'd love to rejoice that you are chosen of God since the gospel has come to you in power. [Slide 31 (end)] Let me close in a prayer by the Church Father Eusebius of Caesarea who is known as the Father of Church History. No other power can be found to remedy the evil or the spirit of injustice that once dominated our race. But your compassion has reached us where we were and restored our lives, lives that had been ruined by violence and immoral living born from human passions. You displayed your restoration power openly, knowing that some would recognize and understand. Others would not. Their brutish natures would lead them to rely only on the testimony of their own senses. In the light of day, then, no one would find room for doubt. You demonstrated your blessed and wonderful healing power, restored the dead to life, and renewed the crippled with only a word. Can we then suppose that rendering the sea as firm as solid ground, calming the raging storm, and finally ascending into heaven-all while turning unbelief to faith by performing these wonders- demanded anything less than almighty power? Can we believe it was anything less than the work of God? O Christ, Savior of humanity, direct the words that celebrate who you are, and teach us to sound your praises. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Benediction: May the God whose robe is light, Whose canopy is space, Whose mercies are tender and firm to the end. Show you such love so that you will say with the psalmist, You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. Until we meet again, go in peace.

God's covenant with Abraham is not only the foundation forboth the Old and New Covenants, it is central to the eternal gospel of God. In His covenant with Abraham, God announces His choice and plans for Abraham's future offspring, the nation of Israel, as well as His blessed hope and plans for all the nations of the world through Abraham's ultimate offspring, the Messiah and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. In this episode, part 2 on our series of the Old Covenant and New Covenants, we will detail God's specific promises to Abraham in order to encourage the listener in the sovereignty, power, and loving-grace of God.  Scripture referenced: Genesis 2:4, 7, Genesis 6:5-7:24, Genesis 12:1-7, Genesis 15:1-14, Exodus 3:1-22, Psalm 50:21, Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 1:16-17, Ephesians 1:1-11

Did Jesus heal to prove He was God? Was His healing primarily for a sign? Or was it something more? We've already examined the Old Covenant case for God's will to heal. Let's take a look at how that will was expressed most powerfully and obviously: in the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The incarnation is the time and place in all of eternity where God and man meet, and find union in Christ. Jesus reveals God as Father, and unveils the truth of not only who God is, but the truth of who we are as his sons and daughters. So the revelation of God as Father unveils our identity. If you don't see God as Father, you'll never truly know your identity. So now, when we come to God, do we come in the law-based ideology of approaching God, in the style of the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant? I think a lot of people do, but the invitation is for us to know God through the mediation of our great high priest, who is Jesus Christ, according to a completely different order than the Old Covenant.

While the Old Covenant has been fulfilled in Christ, the principles of the Mosaic Law remain deeply relevant for believers today, not as binding legal codes but as divinely inspired wisdom for living holy, Christ-centered lives. We draw three key distinctions between the old and new covenants—Christ's once-for-all sacrifice, the universal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the church's identity as a non-national, holy people—through which Old Testament laws are interpreted and applied with enduring spiritual insight. This is illustrated by examining specific laws, such as those against idolatry, occult practices, blasphemy, and parental disobedience, showing how their underlying principles of holiness, accountability, and divine authority are still vital, even as their application shifts from capital punishment to church discipline and personal transformation. The central message is that Scripture, including the Law, is God-breathed, profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, equipping believers to live wisely and faithfully in a world that often contradicts divine truth. Ultimately, the sermon calls the church to a renewed engagement with the Old Testament not as outdated law, but as a living source of wisdom, holiness, and spiritual discernment, rooted in the unchanging character of God.

Unpack Paul's powerful comparison of the Old Covenant written on stone to the New Covenant written on the heart by the Holy Spirit. Discover the freedom found in turning to the Lord, where we are transformed with unveiled face into His image, from glory to greater glory. The post 2Corinthians 3v1-18 From Glory to Glory appeared first on Calvary Chapel Crossover.

Reach Out: Please include your email and I will get back to you. Thanks!Good morning! Thank you for taking a few minutes to listen. If you are interested in the Daily Bible Devotional, you can find it at the links below:Amazon - (paperback, hardcover, and Kindle)YouTube Video Introducing the ContentFeel free to reach out with any questions: emersonk78@me.comHebrews 9Under the old covenant, worship took place in a sacred tent divided into two sections: a holy place and a most holy place. Only the high priest could enter the inner room, and that was only once a year, bringing animal blood for the sins of the people and himself. These rituals symbolized that full access to God was not yet open. But Christ changed everything. He entered a greater, heavenly sanctuary and offered His own blood, not the blood of animals. His sacrifice brings eternal redemption and cleanses the believer's conscience. A covenant requires death, and His death established a new and better covenant. After ascending into the holy place of heaven, He will come again, having already dealt with sin, bringing final salvation to those eagerly waiting for Him. We see the beauty and seriousness of God's design through the Old Covenant. It taught us the weight of sin and the need for sacrifice. But now, through Jesus, we have something even greater. He entered a more perfect place, not made by human hands, and offered His own blood to secure eternal redemption. His sacrifice not only cleanses the outside; it reaches our hearts and clears our conscience. We are invited to serve God with full assurance, not because of our efforts but because of His mercy. Let us honor both the foundation that was laid and the fulfillment we now have. Let us live with gratitude, cleansed by Jesus' blood and anticipating the triumphant return of Jesus. Benevolent Father, thank You for sending Jesus as our perfect sacrifice and eternal high priest. He did not offer the blood of animals but gave His own life to secure our redemption. Through Him, we now have access to Your presence and the promise of eternal life. Cleanse our hearts and renew our minds so that we may serve You with sincerity and devotion. Help us to live in gratitude for the mercy we have received. May we never take lightly the cost of our salvation. Please accept our faith as we wait with hope for the return of our Savior. Thought Questions: How is Christ's high priesthood and sacrifice greater than the regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary in the Old Law? What did the blood of Jesus Christ accomplish? How should it represent not only forgiveness but also a new and binding covenant? What is guaranteed to happen after your death? What do you believe about Jesus that gives you great hope in the coming judgment?

The details of the Old Covenant and New Covenant, including the similarities and radical differences between the two, is one of the most important subjects in the Bible. When a person correctly understands the Old and New Covenants he or she is in a very solid place theologically and spiritually. In this episode we begin a detailed series on the Old and New Covenants where through it we will answer the following questions: Who or what is Israel? Why did God chose Israel? What are God's plans for Israel? What are God's covenants? What is the Old Covenant? What is the New Covenant? What is the relationship between the Old and New Covenants? What are the terms, promises, and blessings of the Old Covenant? What are the terms, promises, and blessings of the New Covenant? Who are the members of the Old Covenant, and how did a person become a member? Who are the members of the New Covenant, and how does a person become a member? If the members of the Old Covenant where chosen by God, for what specifically where they chosen? If the members of the New Covenant were chosen by God, for what specifically are they chosen? How were people saved who lived in the Old Covenant? Were they saved differently than those in the New Covenant? What are God's plans for the land of Israel? What are God's plans for a temple in Israel? What responsibilities do world-wide Christians have toward Israel today? What do these two covenants mean to God's people today? And more. Scripture Referenced in this introductory episode: Genesis 2:15-17, Genesis 3:14-15, Genesis 6:5-22, Genesis 9:8-16, Genesis 12:1-7, Genesis 15:1-21, Genesis 17:1-14, Genesis 22:18, Exodus 19:1-20:21, 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, Isaiah 9:6-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Luke 1:26-38, Romans 1:16-17, Romans 5:12-21

Send us a textThere are a number of very important issues that were addressed by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Among them is the recovery of biblical spiritual worship offered to God alone. How we worship must be in accordance with God's special revelation first to Israel under Moses and then to the fullness of truth given in the person and actions of Jesus of Nazareth. "The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17This episode looks at God's first revelation under the Old Covenant through Moses. The first 3 commandments God spoke from Mount Sinai concern his worship. God alone is the object of our worship. His worship is exclusive and tolerates no idols. Under the Old Covenant God's worship involved an elaborate priesthood, sacrifices ,vestments , days, ect. An imitation of these practices rose in the history of the church and is seen in the worship practices of Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The various Protestant Reformers rejected the use of idols in God's worship. They looked to Christ as the fulfillment of the law and ground worship on the New Covenant soken of in. the New Testament.Bible Insights with Wayne ConradContact: 8441 Hunnicut Rd Dallas, Texas 75228email: Att. Bible Insights Wayne Conradgsccdallas@gmail.com (Good Shepherd Church) Donation https://gsccdallas.orghttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTZX6qasIrPmC1wQpben9ghttps://www.facebook.com/waconrad or gscchttps://www.sermonaudio.com/gsccSpirit, Truth and Grace MinistriesPhone # 214-324-9915 leave message with number for call backPsalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

A Covenant is more than just an agreement between people and/or organizations. It is about relationship, blood, and death. Yes, blood and death. In the Old Testament people understood that making a covenant was about the relationship they had with the person and blood had to be spilled if the covenant was to be enforced. To enact a covenant someone or thing had to spill it's blood. The only way you could get out of a covenant without repercussions was death. However, with every covenant there were promises and stipulations. The covenant Jesus made with the Father in our behalf was enacted by Jesus' blood being spilled and His death fulfilling the Old Covenant. WHAT ARE THE PROMISES OF THE NEW COVENANT?

A Covenant is more than just an agreement between people and/or organizations. It is about relationship, blood, and death. Yes, blood and death. In the Old Testament people understood that making a covenant was about the relationship they had with the person and blood had to be spilled if the covenant was to be enforced. To enact a covenant someone or thing had to spill it's blood. The only way you could get out of a covenant without repercussions was death. However, with every covenant there were promises and stipulations. The covenant Jesus made with the Father in our behalf was enacted by Jesus' blood being spilled and His death fulfilling the Old Covenant. WHAT ARE THE PROMISES OF THE NEW COVENANT?

 Matthew 23:37 - 24:2 | Rev. Blake Arnoult Matthew: The Gospel to the Church

There are a number of very important issues that were addressed by the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. Among them is the recovery of biblical spiritual worship offered to God alone. How we worship must be in accordance with God's special revelation first to Israel under Moses and then to the fullness of truth given in the person and actions of Jesus of Nazareth. "The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17 This episode looks at God's first revelation under the Old Covenant through Moses. The first 3 commandments God spoke from Mount Sinai concern his worship. God alone is the object of our worship. His worship is exclusive and tolerates no idols. Under the Old Covenant God's worship involved an elaborate priesthood, sacrifices ,vestments , days, ect. An imitation of these practices rose in the history of the church and is seen in the worship practices of Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. The various Protestant Reformers rejected the use of idols in God's worship. They looked to Christ as the fulfillment of the law and ground worship on the New Covenant spoken of in. the New Testament. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." 1 John 5:21

Send us a textDownload study notes for this chapter.Download study notes for this entire book.**********Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version ®, NIV ® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.The “NIV”, “New International Version”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.  Used with permission.BIBLICA, THE INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, provides God's Word to people through Bible translation & Bible publishing, and Bible engagement in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. Through its worldwide reach, Biblica engages people with God's Word so that their lives are transformed through a relationship with Jesus Christ.Support the show

Comparison Between the Blessings and Curses of the Old Covenant and Our Blessings in Christ

“The Circumcision” is a name given to God's New Covenant offspring in Philippians 3:3. Are we the spiritual fulfillment of the natural, Old Covenant rite of circumcision given to Abraham. It was a sign of his covenant with God in ancient days. Is it still a sign now—yet on a much higher level? Learn the mystery of both the shadow and the substance, both the symbol and the supernatural reality—and most importantly, rejoice in the miracle of a circumcised heart.Ministry website: www.shreveministries.org Comparative religion website: www.thetruelight.net The “Catholic Project” website: www.toCatholicswithlove.org Video channel: www.YouTube.com/mikeshreveministries All audio-podcasts are shared in a video format on our YouTube channel. Mail: P.O. Box 4260, Cleveland, TN 37320 / Phone: 423-478-2843Get Mike Shreve's book revealing the spiritual identity of God's people: WHO AM I? Dynamic Declarations of Who You Are in ChristMike Shreve's other podcast Revealing the True Light—a study on comparative religion themes, as well as mysterious or controversial biblical subjects: https://www.charismapodcastnetwork.com/show/revealingthetruelight

This sermon explores John 17:6-19, focusing on Jesus' prayer for His disciples just before His crucifixion. It emphasizes the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, highlighting Jesus' role in revealing the Father, the disciples' special relationship with God, and Christ's ongoing intercessory ministry. The sermon underscores the importance of faith in Christ, the power of His keeping and sanctifying work, and the comfort believers can find in Jesus' continual intercession. Key Points: Jesus manifested the Father's name (character) to His disciples The disciples were given to Christ by the Father Saving faith involves receiving, knowing, and believing the truth about Jesus Believers have a special relationship with God through Christ Jesus prays for the Father to keep and sanctify His disciples Christ's intercessory ministry preserves believers through suffering Sanctification occurs through God's Word and the apostles' ministry Scripture Reference: John 17:6-19 (primary focus) Exodus 34:5-7 Hebrews 7:25 Romans 8:34

The New Covenant: A Study of HebrewsIn this message from our Hebrews series, The New Covenant, Russ explores why the Old Covenant required blood and sacrifice — and what that reveals about the seriousness of sin and the depth of God's grace. Drawing from Hebrews 9, he explains how the sacrifices of the Old Testament were only a shadow pointing to Jesus, the perfect and final sacrifice whose blood brings complete forgiveness. This message unpacks the difference between the Old and New Covenants, what it means to “rightly divide the Word,” and why there truly is power in the blood of Jesus.Week 9: Hebrews 9:11-28

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems. He is greater than angels, prophets, Moses, and even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Mike Slayden

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems. He is greater than angels, prophets, Moses, and even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Mike Slayden

Dive deep into New Covenant Theology with the Hammer & Anvil Society. We're going to explore the concept of the Old Covenant Law as a unified, indivisible entity and discuss its temporary nature by divine design. You will discover how this understanding differentiates New Covenant Theology from Covenant Theology, and gain insights into the false tripartite division of the law. Learn why we say the Old Covenant law has been "decommissioned" and how Jesus Christ's fulfillment of the law brings in a brand new era. Men, get real accountability and knowledge to help you become the worldview leader your family and church need. Try out the Hammer & Anvil Society FREE. Learn more ➡️ https://hammerandanvil.circle.so/c/join/join-the-hammer-anvil-society----Check out our FREE CLASS on 3 Steps for Unleashing the POWER of Presuppositional Apologetics

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems. He is greater than angels, prophets, Moses, and even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Brad Bell

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems. He is greater than angels, prophets, Moses, and even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Brad Bell

Dive into this uplifting Double Edged Sword Podcast episode exploring Acts 15, where the Jerusalem Council, guided by the Holy Spirit, ruled against requiring circumcision for Gentile believers, fulfilling rather than abolishing the Old Covenant. Led by Peter, James, and Paul, their decision reflects a unified church, contrasting today's 45,000 denominations split by personal views and deception. Highlighting uniform liturgy, baptism's salvific role, and the Spirit's guidance over mere Scripture (1 Corinthians 1:10, 14:40), this episode urges unity in apostolic truth. Prophets Judas and Silas strengthened faith, not false predictions, as Antioch rejoiced in love and truth (1 Corinthians 13). Embrace Christ's unchanging Word (Hebrews 4:12) for a harmonious faith. Glory to His name!

Topics: Biblical Backsliding, You're Not a Backslider If You Don't "Fully Commit" to God, You're Not a Backslider If You're Sinning, The Word Backslide Is Not in the New Testament for a Reason, The Law Was Brought in so That Sin Would Increase (Romans 5:20), The Law is a Ministry of Death and Condemnation (2 Corinthians 3), You Are Now the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:11), You Are Now the House of God (Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 10), You Search the Scriptures because You Think that in Them You Have Life (John 5), The Law is Not of Faith (Galatians 3), Even when We are Faithless He Remains Faithful (2 Timothy 2:13), A Fearful Exception for the Unbelievers Who Insult Grace (Hebrews 10), It Is Good for Your Heart to Be Strengthened by Grace, Jesus is Grace, Jesus Is Grace, The Law Was Meant to Increase Sin, The Old Covenant is Now Obsolete (Hebrews 8), The New Covenant Is a New and Living Way, You Are Not Under the Law but Under Grace (Romans 6:14), If It's Based on Works It Cannot Be Based on Grace (Romans 11:6), If You Are Led by the Spirit You Are Not Under the Law (Galatians 5:18), God Found Fault with Israel, The New Covenant Is Based on Better Promises, The New Covenant Came through the Blood of Jesus, You Are a Beneficiary to the New Covenant, The Old Testament Uses the Word Backslide, The Context of Backsliding Was the Hebrews Sliding Away from Faith in the Old Covenant, Jesus Is the Gospel of Grace (Acts 20:24), Your Sins Are Not More Powerful than What He's Done, The Promises Made at the Cross Keeps This from Being Undone, Confession and Repentance Don't Maintain Your Salvation, You Are One Spirit with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17), Our Perfection Comes by Way of Trusting in What Jesus Has Done with His Blood, God Was Still Married to the "Backslider" in the Old TestamentSupport the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

The central theme of the Book of Hebrews is the supremacy of Jesus Christ over all Old Testament figures and systems. He is greater than angels, prophets, Moses, and even the Old Covenant itself. Jesus offers a superior rest, assurance, faith, and life. Ultimately, He is revealed as the founder and perfecter of our faith, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament pointed toward. Speaker: Brad Bell