Here is a sermon I preached at Ryker’s Ridge Baptist Church on October 9, 2011. In this message, I try to explain the significance of the New Covenant for believers today. In doing so, I provide a bit of context for the listener by showing where the New Covenant fits into the overall metanarrative of Scripture. I then examine what Ezekiel has to say about the the New Covenant believer. Finally, I show the direction New Covenant believers are headed.

I hope you enjoy the message!

SERMON: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?: The Position, Essence, and Trajectory of the New Covenant People of God – Ezekiel 36:22-38

“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that he has borne witness concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has the life; he who does not have the son of God does not have the life.” –1 John 5: 9-12 (NASB)

The clarity with which John makes known the foundational truth of Christ’s supremacy –his complete divinity and humanity is far from ambiguous. Jesus is God. He’s not a lesser god, he’s not a mode of God, he’s not a representation of God. The inspiration of the Holy Scriptures is evidenced in John’s letter addressing the divinity of Christ –a stumbling block to belief by countless millions through the centuries. The word stands in stark opposition to nearly every belief system on the globe from Islam to Atheism. The denial of Christ’s being co-equal with God the father is a dangerous and deceptive doctrine of one of the most prominent contemporary cults: Jehovah’s Witnesses.

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Within the next few weeks I am planning to post an article on how believers should determine the will of God for their lives.  Before doing so, I would like to ask our readers a question: how do you determine the will of God for your life?  Feel free to write as much as you want in your response.  Also, you can focus your answer to particular issues like dating, marriage, college, jobs, friends, daily activities, etc.  Thanks!

Teaching the Old Testament to Students:

An Interview with Jonathan Akin, Pastor and Baptist 21 Contributer

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Jon, let’s get right into questions that I know you are passionate about…

Greg: How would you suggest combating the moral driven, breakthrough driven, and mostly Christ-less Old Testament teachings that is rampant in student and college ministries across the country?

Jon: I think there are 3 ways to combat it. First, Pastors/Youth Leaders need to teach student-leaders the Christ-centered nature of the Bible. The Bible is crystal clear that the whole Bible, including the OT, is about Jesus and is gospel-centered (Luke 24:27-45; John 5:39-47; 2 Cor. 1:20; 2 Tim. 3:14-15; Luke 16:19-30; etc.). So, teach leaders that this is the way the Bible should be read and taught. Second, Pastors/Youth Leaders need to model for student-leaders and students week-in and week-out how to read the Bible this way in the way that you teach from the OT specifically. Finally, train your youth leaders in how to do this. [...]