New Covenant OPC Sermon Podcast

 

The author ends his letter with a glorious benediction. Pastor Grasso explains the purpose of benedictions in general and the significance of the one in the letter to the Hebrews.

In Proverbs 6:20-35 Solomon gives another warning against the sin of adultery, even saying that adultery is worse than other forms of sexual sin.  Adultery is by its very nature destructive.  Flee this sin. Turn to Christ.

In Hebrews 13:7-16 the author explains that christians ought to obey their leaders rather than be led away after the false teachings of others who emphasize an earthly altar.  The passage is a reminder that our faith focuses on the world to come rather than this one.

In Proverbs 6:12-19 Solomon describes the wicked.  Whereas the godly devote every part of themselves to godliness, the wicked devote themselves to ungodliness.  As such they are opposed by God since they do the things He hates.

In Hebrews 13:7-19 the author focuses on the need of the church to submit to leaders.  They are to consider the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.  This passage shows the high calling leaders in the church have as well as the obligation of church members to submit

In Proverbs 6:6-11 Solomon speaks about the sin of laziness.  Hard work is a virtue that Christians ought to strive for.  Solomon explains how nature itself teaches this: the ant works hard to store up food even without anyone telling them they need to.

In the exhortations in the book of Hebrews the author has highlighted the need to strive together for faith. In Hebrews 13:1-6 he gives practical instruction concerning how christians ought to love one another so as to edify one another and strengthen the body for perseverance.

In Proverbs 6:1-5 Solomon speaks about the danger of putting up security for a stranger.  The reason this is dangerous is because people are sinful.  Belief in the general goodness of mankind is pervasive, but it is also wrong and leads to foolish decisions.

In Hebrews 12:25-29 the author gives a final exhortation not to turn away from the Lord. Since there are greater privileges in the New Covenant associated with approach to Mt. Zion, the christian ought not to refuse him who speaks from heaven.  This all the more since he has received as unshakeable kingdom.

In Proverbs 5:15-20 Solomon encourages his son to rejoice in the wife of his youth rather than go after an adulteress.  Sexual intimacy in marriage is a good thing to pursue and is a check against sexual sins.

In Hebrews 12:18-24 the author uses the figures of Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion to highlight the differences between the Old Covenant and the New.  The New Covenant is both more glorious and provides more sure access to God.  Those who approached God in the Old Covenant did so with fear and trembling.  Now through the blood of Christ we can approach with confidence.

In Proverbs 5:1-14, 21-23 Solomon warns against the adulteress who tempts young men to sin. Though sexual sins appear tempting, they lead to death.  The wise are able to understand this and live in the fear of the Lord.

In Hebrews 12:14-17 the author exhorts the church to pursue peace and holiness.  Pursuing these things ought to be done in the context of the church as a whole, with every member seeking to encourage others.

“Religion is mainly in the affections” (Richard Sibbes).  God wants the heart.  In Proverbs 4:20-27 Solomon tells his son to keep his heart above all else.  Let your heart be reserved for God.  You have been betrothed to one bridegroom, O Christian.  Let your heart and everything else be devoted to God.

Though Eve was deceived first, yet salvation would come through her ability to bear children.  The biblical theological theme of childbearing tells the story of salvation.  Christian women, therefore, ought not to be fooled by the deception of feminism which seeks to take women out of the home.  Though it is difficult work, it is in bearing and rearing children that the kingdom of G...

Genesis 3:15, the miraculous births of the Old Testament, and the predictions about Zion all culminate in the birth of Christ through the virgin Mary.  Salvation has come through the birth of a child, a child who was and is the eternal Son of God.  This birth is the culmination of that which was spoken by the prophets.  Salvation has come through childbearing.

One of the ways the prophets develop the promise that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent is by describing salvation as Zion giving birth.  Zion, the recipient of the promises, the city of God, will give birth to the Messiah.  Not only that, but all Christians have Zion as their mother.  Salvation is childbearing.  The pains of exile were but the pains of l...

Throughout the Old Testament there are miraculous births that are recorded: Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Hannah and Elkanah.  These miraculous births show forth God’s power and show that He will always be faithful to His promise to bring one from the seed of the woman to crush the head of the serpent.  Ultimately, these miraculous births point to the greatest of all births: Chri...

Genesis 3:15 is often recognized as the very first gospel promise.  The promise states that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.  What is sometimes not appreciated is that this promise comes in the context of childbearing, thereby showing the importance of childbearing in God’s redemptive plan.  The attack on traditional roles for women is, therefore, an attack...

In Hebrews 12:4-13 the author shows the positive element of suffering.  Because God loves you and sent his Son to die for you, the things you suffer come to you as fatherly discipline.  This is a benefit of adoption that all of God’s children enjoy.  If you are outside of Christ, you do not have this benefit.  The author to the Hebrews says that the one who does not experience...

Just as God separated light from darkness on the first day of creation, so too there are two paths: one of light and one of darkness.  These two paths lead to different places.  The way of light leads to life, the way of darkness leads to death.  In Proverbs 4:10-19 Solomon exhorts his son to stay on the path of life.

How can you run the race of faith well?  The author to the Hebrews says Look to Jesus.  The doctrine of Christ is the centerpiece of the letter to the Hebrews and the implications for life are clear: those who know Christ endure.  He is the author and perfecter of faith, the one who died, and yet was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of God.

In Proverbs 4:1-9 Solomon shows that he learned wisdom from his father, David, and is passing this wisdom down to his son.  Solomon shows by way of example that wisdom has a generational element to it.  It is passed down through godly instruction in the home.  Every Christian must seek to pass along this wisdom to the next generation in the home and in the church.