False Christian teachings, trends….
Bible covenants
In the Mp3 lesson of this post, R C Sproul teaches about the making of the Mosaic covenant, the 10 Commandments and the ceremonial law. He made the topics understandable and interesting. His closing definitions about symbols and types were very interesting, particularly explanations about how the tabernacle symbolized Christ….
The Got Questions’ article of this post explains how Old Testaments events can prefigure NT events, and how that is a kind of prophecy. I wanted readers to see that because it will aid in understanding R C Sproul’s discussion of the Mosaic covenant, part 2, which is my post for tomorrow. He closed his discussion on the law by explaining symbols and types.
In this post, R C Sproul provided an explanation of God’s plan of redemption via covenants. He explained how the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants are related and many significant facts about the formation of the nation of Israel. If you are trying to understand the plot of the Bible and God’s plan of redemption, then you must understand the covenants. Part 2 of the Mosaic covenant will explain the role of the decalogue…. [My purposes in presenting this material, are to help readers discover that the Old and New Testaments are intimately connected via covenants; and that the way of salvation since Genesis 3, has been by God’s grace through Christ; and that there has only ever been ONE people of God, as is stated in Ephesians. Many believe there are two people of God: Israel and the church, because of erroneous dispensationalist dogma that have thoroughly permeated this culture for the past 190 years.]
This post contains a message by R C Sproul about the covenant God made with Adam and Eve, from his series, Promise Keeper. I already used some of Sproul’s material to show how the Abrahamic covenant was foundational to the incarnation; but I want to emphasize that more by considering the creation covenant God made with Adam and Eve and also the Mosaic covenant. The overall goal of this series is to show that the biblical account of God’s plan of redemption is addressed to His one people; furthermore, that since Genesis 3, there has only been one way of salvation, by grace via the atoning work and imputed righteousness of Christ. That is, the idea that Israel could earn salvation by any other way is biblically wrong; the idea that Israel and the church are two people of God is biblically wrong.
“The incarnation is the supreme example of fulfilled prophecy, or if you prefer it in a more experimental phrase, it is the supreme example of God’s faithfulness to his promises.” ―Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Luke 1:54-55 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” [This sermon explains the roots of the Christmas miracle of the incarnation of Jesus, Immanuel, who would save His people from their sins. The roots of this promise are found in the text of Genesis 3:15 and Genesis 12 covenant God made with Abraham. These things reveal an intimate connection between the testaments; that is, God’s plan of redemption via covenants runs across each testament binding them together, via the one-way of salvation through God’s grace in Christ.]
Some people have a hard time believing the promises made by Jesus because they were spoken about 2,000 years ago. But it’s important to remember that the birth of Christ itself fulfilled a promise made by God two millennia earlier. In this message, R.C. Sproul introduces us to a man named Abraham and to the covenant God made with him, showing that the Lord always keeps His promises and is never late in fulfilling them.
The purpose of this post is to present videos of Luke 1-3 and text, because therein listeners can hear about the covenant with Abraham (to be posted soon) and how it was the basis of the promises that Mary and Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist) spoke of when they praised the Lord. Luke 1-3 are included in this post because those chapters emphasize the fulfillment of this covenant and they also provide a genealogy of Jesus, which connects Him to Adam, Abraham and King David.
“Are we as Christians saved by works, or by faith alone? The key to understanding what part works and faith play in the drama of redemption is to understand the biblical structure and role of covenants. Without a proper understanding of covenants we fail to grasp the grandeur of Christ’s life and work. In this message, Dr. Sproul gives us the covenantal framework of redemption that finds full resolution in the work of Christ.”
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. But who is Jesus? Some say Jesus was a great man and ethical teacher. Some say he was nothing more than a human teacher like many who came before him and would come after him. …In the Old Testament God was present with His people through the temple and the manifestation of His glory. But in Bethlehem God became present with His people by being born of a virgin. …As God becomes present in Christ Jesus, it is a new presence and is better than the presence of the Old Covenant. The message of the incarnation goes far beyond the story of the birth of Jesus. He did not come into the world to merely be an example or to simply teach, but he came to die for sins.
A sermon by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Being Reconciled to God. “There is no human being that has sinned beyond the bounds of redemption and salvation in Christ Jesus. None.” …Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches through the account of the paralyzed man whose greatest need was fixed by Jesus. This man had heard that Jesus could heal him and had faith that Jesus could do it. His faith brought him to have his friends lower him through a roof to get to Jesus; he was a desperate man. Yet Jesus offers something so much more than just the physical healing of the man—Jesus forgives his sins. …To receive forgiveness and healing, we must have faith in Jesus, repent of sins, and obey his commands. We must accept his diagnosis of our need and his method of salvation. Dr. Lloyd-Jones reminds listeners that unless sins have been forgiven, no one is able to live a truly happy life regardless of how “good” their situation may be.