New Covenant OPC Sermon Podcast

In part 2 pastor Grasso explains the difference between outward and inward sanctification, showing that outward sanctification is a real and important category.

In Hebrews 5:11-6:3 the author speaks about the difficulty of explaining Christ’s priesthood to the church.  The reason it is difficult is not because of the material, which is admittedly complex, but rather that the church has become slow of hearing.  The church has become like those who need milk, not solid food.  In the Christian faith, there is an expectation that...

In Matthew 12:15-21 Matthew shows that Jesus healing many shows that he is the one who fulfills Isaiah 42:1-4, the first Servant Song speaking about the coming Messiah.  Christ is the chosen one of God, loved by him, filled with the Spirit, who brings salvation to the Gentiles.  He is the humble savior, mighty enough to defeat all enemies and gentle enough to care for those who...

In part 1 on sanctification pastor Grasso explains that sanctification entails both being set apart for God and living a godly life.

In John 20:19-23 Christ breathes the Spirit on His disciples.  John describes this action in ways similar to Genesis 2:7 where God breathed the breath of life into Adam’s nostrils.  Christ, the author of the new creation, who became a life-giving Spirit through His resurrection, sovereignly brings dead sinners to life through the giving of the Spirit.  Thus, anyone in...

In John 19:28-30, Jesus declares His work to be finished on the cross.  What is He declaring to be finished? Pastor Grasso shows that this is the culmination of Christ’s work of new creation.  As God completed His work on the sixth day and declared everything very good, so too, Christ on the cross declares His work to be completed.  All of those in Him have entered th...

In Hebrews 5:1-10, the author begins his comparison of Christ, a priest after the order of Melchizedek, with the sons of Aaron, the levitical priests.  Christ is superior to them in that He is able to sympathize with His people without sin, has learned obedience through what He suffered, and offered prayers to God for His and our deliverance.  Through all of this the one who wa...

In Matthew 12:1-8, the Pharisees oppose Jesus because of his apparently lax views on the Sabbath.  Christ shows that his position on the teaching is in line with Scripture, but more than that, Christ is greater than the temple and Lord of the Sabbath.  He is the one who determines what is or is not appropriate on the Sabbath because He is its Lord. Every doctrine must be inform...

In part 4 on justification pastor Grasso explains how one is justified: by faith. This is the only instrument in justification. Works cannot save as the Catholics teach, neither can faith itself be the basis of justification as the Arminians teach. Faith laying hold of Christ is the only hope for the Christian.

NCOPC...

NCOPC...

In Hebrews 4:12-13, the author concludes the great exhortation begun in 3:7.  Do not harden yourself when you hear the Word of God because the Word of God is living and active, it pierces to the deepest part of you, and is able to judge everything about you.  This is true because God is the one who speaks this Word.  He is the judge of all the earth, whom you cannot e...

In Matthew 11:25-27, after seeing unbelief and describing the judgment that will come to those who don’t believe, Christ responds.  It can be difficult to see many turn away from the gospel in unbelief.  What does Jesus do when he sees this? He gives thanks to God. Christ shows that even unbelief demonstrates the greatness of God’s sovereign grace.  God uses unbelief...

In part 3 on justification pastor Grasso explains how Christ’s work is the basis for justification. The righteousness given to a believer is that of Jesus Christ. Pastor Grasso shows how the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension all contribute to our justification.

In Hebrews 4:9-10, the author speaks about a “sabbath rest” that remains for the people of God (v. 9).  He then shoes how Christ has rested from his works as God did from his (v. 10), providing the basis for this rest.  Pastor Grasso defends this reading of verse 10 and shows the ways in which Christ’s work of redemption is related to creation and, more particularly, the new creation.&nb...

In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus denounces several cities for not believing the gospel though they had seen so many of his works.  In each case he declares that unbelief in these situations will lead to a greater judgment than notoriously sinful Old Testament cities.  The point being made is that rejection of the Gospel is the worst possible sin and will lead to the greatest judgment.  Ju...

In Hebrews 4:1-11 the author builds on the exhortation given in 3:7-19.  He shows that the oath forbidding some to enter God’s rest implies a promise for all of those who will hear the Word of God with faith.  Those who hear with faith will enter into the rest of God, which is the true fulfillment of the rest spoken of at creation in Genesis 2:2.  This Sabbath rest has been won for...

In Matthew 11:16-19 Jesus describes the generation that is rejecting him.  He describes them as children sitting in a marketplace and demanding that others dance and mourn according to their whims.  It is a picture of a generation that seeks to demand God conform to them rather than be conformed to the image of Christ. This caused the people to complain about John being overly strict wit...

In part 3 on justification pastor Grasso explains how Christ’s work is the basis for justification. The righteousness given to a believer is that of Jesus Christ. Pastor Grasso shows how the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension all contribute to our justification.

Pastor Grasso explains the significance of the various elements in the Reformed liturgy.

In Hebrews 3:7-19 the author of Hebrews exhorts the people of God to remain faithful to God in light of the example of unfaithfulness of God’s people in the wilderness under Moses.  All of them had received great blessings, just as all in the church have great blessings.  They still turned away, however.  Their unfaithfulness carries an implicit exhortation to all who live after the...

In Matthew 11:7-15 Christ explains the greatest of John.  His greatness comes from his place in redemptive history as the forerunner of the Messiah.  His coming means that the end-time kingdom of God has been established.  Christ says that those who understand this are desperately seeking to enter the kingdom of God.  As great as John is, all of those who enter this kingdom aft...

Pastor Grasso explains the differences between Roman Catholic worship, modern worship, and Reformed worship.

In Hebrews 3:1-6, the author compares Christ to Moses.  Moses was the greatest OT prophet and was “faithful in all God’s house” (Num 12:7).  Having shown that Christ truly became a man, lowering himself below the angels, the author now shows that he is greater than the greatest of men, Moses.  Whereas Moses is faithful in God’s house as the servant of God. Christ is faithful over Go...

In Matthew 11:1-6, Matthew begins recording responses to Christ’s ministry (chs. 11-12).  Here, surprisingly, John the Baptist sends messengers from prison to ask Jesus if he really is “the coming one”.  Jesus responds to John’s doubts by pointing John to Scripture, while showing him that he is the fulfillment of it, and by pronouncing a blessing on all those who remain true to him. &nbs...