Bible in Life

One of the ways the already and not yet shapes our life is that we are citizens of heaven living in the present evil age. This means we are to live out the life of heaven in the cities and countries where we live ... to be a colony of heaven on earth. 

The apostle Paul calls us to this when he says, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" - Philippians 3:20. 

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Flesh vs. Spirit is often talked about as if Christians have two natures that are battling within them, the flesh (the so-called "sinful nature") and the Spirit. But this fails to pay close enough attention to Paul’s language … and how it’s shaped by the already, not yet overlap we’ve been talking about. Paul speaks of either being of the flesh or of the Spirit - both/and. 

So in this episode we'll explore:

• two key texts - Romans 8:1-9 and Galatians 5:16-24.
• what Paul means by flesh
• how to walk by the Spirit

So that, here in the meantime, we can follow Jesus more fully. Because you can’t follow Jesus unless you walk with the Spirit!

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

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Temptation…who doesn’t experience it? And who doesn't at times yield to it? 

We are all confronted by temptation and sin. 

So here’s the question:

How can Paul say we’ve died to sin?

But that's what he says in Romans 6:1-2:

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Far from it! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 

In this episode we explore the tension we experience between Paul's statement that we're dead to sin and the ongoing reality of sin in our life. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

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Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

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Redeemed.

If you’re a follower of Jesus, you are redeemed - correct?

Well yes, of course. 

We sing songs celebrating it. 

We praise Jesus for being our redeemer. 

We have verses like 1 Peter 1:18-19

8 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 

So yes, we are redeemed. 

But saying yes, we have redemption doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s only partially true. There's more to the story of redemption than that.  

Yes we have redemption, but we’re also looking forward to the day of redemption.

This is the tension we live with in the meantime. 

 

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Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

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Have you ever felt this tension?

On the one hand, the New Testament says we a more than conquerors. 

On the other hand, it says through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

Victory now. 

Suffering, weakness, and hardship now. 

This tension shapes everything the New Testament says about following Jesus. And if we overemphasize either one we will not only distort everything the New Testament say but we'll have a distorted experience of following Jesus. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

 

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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Leviticus 10 records a shocking and surprising story... God puts to death two priests, Nadab and Abihu, two sons of Aaron. Moses explains why God did this: approaching God is serious business. His holiness must be honored. He must not be treated as ordinary, profane. As priests, these two were supposed to model for Israel the consecration necessary for being a “kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6), but instead they showed flagrant disregard for God’s command. God needed to drive home the point: “I will be treated as holy.”

This happened on other occasions too. When the priests ignored God’s instructions for how to transport the ark and Uzzah touched the ark to stabilize it, God put him to death (1 Chron 13:9-10). When Ananias and Sapphira lied before the church about their offering, God put them to death too (Acts 5:1-11). 

Each of these incidents occur at key moments in the history of God’s people and make the same point: God is not someone to be trifled with. He is holy and his holiness must be taken seriously. 

We need to remember that although God has redeemed us by his grace, he calls us to be holy and to honor him as holy. Our Father, hallowed be your name. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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The apostle Paul says that the Law is "holy and righteous and good" (Romans 7:12). But he also says that Law's job is done. Why is this? What's wrong with the Law? 

Paul answers that question in Romans 7-8. He tells us the Law was weak. And because the Law was weak, it was never intended to be the final answer to sin and death. In fact, in Galatians 3 Paul argues that the Law was never primary or meant to be permanent. It was given for a specific purpose and a specific time period.

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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Why Leviticus? 

Let's be honest, Leviticus isn't the most exciting reading! Sacrifices, priests, food laws, and other rituals too. What's the value of all of this?

I this episode, we reflect the purpose of Leviticus, noting that the whole book revolves around the idea of holiness. How can Israel be holy as God is holy? We discuss:

-that Leviticus is like a procedures manual for the priests. 

-the purposes of sacrifices

-the main point of the food laws

-and how all of that is intended to mark Israel out as God's holy people.

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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Since the Old Testament Law is still God's word for us (even though it's not God's covenant with us), how can we read it profitably? What was its original purpose? Of what benefit is it for us today?

Exodus 19:4-6 comes right between the Exodus (redemption) and the giving of the covenant and the Law. It states the purpose of the the nation of Israel - and thus the Law for Israel - like this: 

⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.Although the whole earth is mine, ⁶ you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

The apostle applies these words to Christians in 1 Peter 2:9-10 ... so our purpose is the same, and the Law can help us live that purpose out more fully. 

Tune in to this episode to hear these ideas fleshed out more fully. 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

 

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

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One of the really important things to remember when reading the Bible is that we're not the original audience. The Bible was written for us but not to us. And this is doubly so with the Old Testament Law. 

The Law was God's covenant with Israel, to form them as His holy people - a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:5-6). It is Israel's national charter. So it's not God's covenant with us today. Our covenant with God is in Christ, not the Law.

Nevertheless, the Law teaches us a ton about God's values, priorities, aims, and ambitions. It shows us how some of those worked out in a particular culture and context. And from that we can discern wisdom for today. 

 

Want to get more out of your Bible reading? Free Resource: 7 Ways to Immediately Get More Out of the Bible 

https://www.johnwhittaker.net/seven-ways

 

Support this ministry:

Set up a one-time or monthly donation at the link below.

http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/

 

The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: 

https://www.listenerscommentary.com

 

Connect with me:

Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram

Email - john@johnwhittaker.net

If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, via email.