New Covenant OPC Sermon Podcast

 

 

 

In Hebrews 11:23-31 the author explains the faith of Moses and others at the time of the exodus. During this time the people of God were greatly persecuted and yet Moses was willing to suffer with them though he grew up as Egyptian royalty. He did not fear Pharaoh and was willing to suffer with the people of God because he understood the hope of the gospel. By faith he conquered all opposition. By...

In Proverbs 3:21-26 Solomon shows the benefit of attaining wisdom: finding peace. Anxiety is rampant today. This is ultimately not a medical condition but a spiritual one. Peace is found by those who obtain wisdom. They are able to sleep soundly.

Abraham was asked to do the unthinkable: sacrifice his own son for God. How was he able to be in a place where he was willing to do it? The author gives the answer: he believed God was able to raise the dead. Faith looks to the hope of the coming resurrection.

In Proverbs 3:19-20 Solomon shows that the world was created by Wisdom, the Father creating all things through the Son, Wisdom. Wisdom thus has a benefit to man (3:13-18) and to God (3:19-20). The marks of God’s wise creation are everywhere. Atheists cannot account for it. Only those who fear God understand it.

Pastor Calvin Goligher (First OPC Sunnyvale) preaches from 1st Kings.

Many people pursue wealth and honor in their lives but few pursue wisdom. In Proverbs 3:13-18 Solomon shows that there is nothing greater than wisdom for by wisdom God has made all things. All of the treasures in the world cannot compare with her and those who find her find life.

Abraham went out from his country to go to a land he did not know.  When in that land he dwelt in a tent as a foreigner though God had promised it to him.  He died never receiving the thing promised. Did he die in vain? No. Why? He was not seeking an earthly city but a heavenly one. Such is the aim of all the faithful in every age.

Sometimes it appears that Christians are not blessed in this life. Is it worth it to be faithful to God? Solomon shows in Proverbs 3:1-12 that being faithful to God carries the promise of great blessing.

Pastor Grasso explains that Christ’s death was also substitutionary.  Christ died in our place.  If it was substitutionary then it must also be limited in scope, since not everyone will be saved from their sins.  All of this implies that the atonement was efficacious as well.  Christ accomplished all He set out to do.

Abel was killed by Cain. Enoch was taken so as not to see death. Noah was delivered from death by building the ark.  What do they have in common? The author shows in Hebrews 11:4-7 that faith delivers from death and triumphs over it. Abel’s blood still speaks. Enoch never saw death. Noah was delivered from the flood. As they triumphed through faith so will you.

In Proverbs 2:16-22, Solomon explains the second of two benefits of obtaining wisdom and gaining the knowledge of God: it will deliver you from faithless women who entice men to sin.  Sexual sins pose a particular danger and many are ensnared by them.  How can you stand against these?  Solomon says that wisdom will deliver you from the faithless woman.

What is faith? In Hebrews 11:1-3 the author shows that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.  This is what is needed to persevere in the face of great opposition in this world. Such is the way God’s people have always persevered and such is the way you must persevere today.

In Proverbs 2:12-15, 20-22, Solomon explains the first of two benefits of obtaining wisdom and gaining the knowledge of God: it will deliver you from perverse men who love wickedness.  Sinful men often boast about their sins and seek to draw others into their wickedness.  Ultimately, this path leads to death, but wisdom delivers those who obtain her from these that they might find life.

Pastor Grasso explains the legal nature of the atonement.  Christ stood in our legal place to take the penalty for our sins that we might be declared righteous by God.  This is part of the defense of the Reformed view of penal substitutionary atonement.

In Hebrews 10:32-39, the author exhorts the people to remain faithful to Christ.  He does this by reminding the Hebrew Christians of all they have been through, how they joyfully accepted the plundering of their property and were not ashamed to stand by those who were persecuted.  The author uses this as a basis for exhorting them to continue to persevere in the faith.  Remembering...

In Proverbs 2:1-11, Solomon speaks about the need for his son to heed the call of Wisdom, that the call of Christ.  Obtaining wisdom is first and foremost dependent on the fear of the Lord, but where does the fear of the Lord come from?  Solomon gives the answer here: heeding the call of the Son of God.  Those who heed Wisdom’s call will know God, fear Him, and understand justice an...

In Hebrews 10:26-31, the author, after encouraging the people to hold fast to their confession, offers a warning to all of those who turn away from Christ. Ultimately, the sin of apostasy is worse than any other. Not only that, but apostasy under the New Covenant is much worse than that under the Old. Here is the warning: do not turn away from Christ. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands o...

In Proverbs 1:20-33, Solomon describes the call of the enigmatic figure, Wisdom.  Who is this Wisdom who appears again in chapters 8 and 9?  In this text we learn that Wisdom will pour out the Spirit and make the one who heeds her know the Word.  These are the actions of God, making Wisdom equal to God and, as is clear from the passage in chapter 8, the Son of God. Solomon makes it...

Pastor Grasso explains the two elements of atonement: expiation and propitiation.  In expiation, as seen in the sin offering, our sins are cleansed.  In propitiation, as seen in the burnt offering, God’s wrath is satisfied.

In Hebrews 10:19-25 the author begins his final exhortation. In light of everything he has said about Christ and the entrance we through him to God and His exalted priesthood, how are you to live? What are the implications for the Christian life?  They are this: You must draw near to God in Christ, hold fast to your confession, and seek to stir up other Christians to love and good works.

In Proverbs 1:8-19 Solomon begins his instructions to his son.  In this world there are many temptations that we face and our children face.  How are we to resist temptations? How are you to instruct your children so that they are able to resist them? Solomon here gives a warning to his son explaining the kinds of things he will face, explaining what a gang might say, how they will try t...

Pastor Grasso gives an overview of the analogical day, framework hypothesis, and functional-ontological temple views of creation, showing their inadequacy.