Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

750. Hebrews 9: Your Sins Are Not Covered by the Blood of Jesus

April 12, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The blood used during the Old Covenant ceremonies brought an atonement or covering which resulted in a temporary forgiveness under the law. You could walk into the church of St. Moses regularly and walk out covered in bull blood every single time and still not be free from the bondage of sin. It would always need to be repeated after the next sin occurred.

Jesus offered His own blood and went before the true and greater tabernacle of God on our behalf. It was a sacrifice that would need to be performed just once. Why? Because His perfect offering didn’t just cover our sins but it took them away forever, never to become an obstacle between us and God ever again.

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749. Hebrews 9: The New Covenant Began With Christ’s Death

April 5, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It’s easy to get confused about the Bible, the teachings of Jesus, and the New Covenant … if you are under the false assumption that the New Testament began with the birth of Jesus. The writer of Hebrews carefully explains to the new believers in his Jewish audience that before the Old Covenant would end and the New could begin, there had to be the death of the one who made the covenant.

The New Covenant couldn’t go into effect while the testator still lived. And like the first covenant, it would need to be established with blood. But this time, the blood being shed by the High Priest would do something very different that had never occurred before the cross during the Old Covenant era.

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748. Hebrews 9: The Failure of Ceremony and Sacrifice

March 29, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Priests appointed through the law under the Old Covenant always went into the tabernacle to offer the blood of animals for their own sins and the sins of the people. It was a temporary solution that needed to constantly be repeated because these gifts and sacrifices could not meet God’s requirement of perfection, and left the worshippers in a state of sin consciousness.

But when Christ appeared as High Priest (after the law), everything radically changed.

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747. Hebrews 8: One Bible – Two Different Covenants (Not to Be Mixed)

March 22, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

People often think of the Bible as one book, defined as God’s Word — and that all of it is meant to be applied to our lives. But the writer of Hebrews makes it very clear the first covenant contained within much of what is called The Old Testament, is very different than the new and better covenant established by Jesus Christ. These covenants are unalike and are not meant to be blended together.

If the first one that came through Moses had been faultless, there would have been no need to seek a second one which would be “more excellent.” This new way would take sin away, to be remembered no more by God. He would write new laws upon our hearts — not the old law or former commandments which only caused sin to increase. This New Covenant isn’t a revised version of the Old, but it replaced what Jesus brought to an end. The old way has become obsolete because it wasn’t based upon grace through faith.

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746. Hebrews 7: Jesus Became the Guarantee of a Better Covenant

March 15, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

In order for Jesus to become a permanent High Priest and for the New Covenant to be established, first the entire law of commandments which came through Moses had to be annulled and brought to an end. This promise or word of the oath occurred “after the law,” where the Son was made perfect forever.

The old priesthood and commandments from the law were defined as weak and useless by the writer of Hebrews—and couldn’t bring the required perfection for the people. This resulted in a better hope and a better covenant than what the Israelites had been under since they had escaped from Egypt. Jesus is that New Covenant of grace and we have been brought into Him.

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745. Hebrews 7: New Covenant High Priest College: “Melchizedek, Meet Jesus. Jesus, Meet Mel”

March 8, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Our series in the book of Hebrews has us in Chapter 7, where the writer explains how the mysterious character of Melchizedek is a type of Christ. Although Mel is only mentioned a few times in the Old Testament, he becomes instrumental with the writer of Hebrews who reveals how Jesus established a permanent priesthood, according to the order of Melchizedek.

The law which came through Moses had to come to an end — every jot and title — otherwise Jesus could not have been considered an authentic High Priest forever in this New Covenant. A complete change of law was needed.

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744. Hebrews 6: A Sure Anchor of Hope: Jesus the Forerunner Entered the Veil for Us

March 1, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

In our series from the book of Hebrews, it’s important to realize the writer is bringing good news and seeks to communicate a message of assurance—not fear. Everything here revolves around a certain guarantee we receive from the person of Jesus Christ. He is the one where our hope is found … not through our behavior, religious efforts and dedication.

Some Bible verses can appear to be scary on the surface when taken out of context, so keep reading and look for the refuge of assurance found only in Christ. Abraham is a great example of faith in action as he depended upon God to fulfill a promise … which ultimately would lead to a great High Priest, appointed through an oath—not the law.

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743. 15th Anniversary Program #3

February 23, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

This is the third and final anniversary program as Mike and Joel reminisce about doing the podcast for the past 15 years. The discussion includes some of the “favorite” subjects that have been foundational to the program and how gaining an understanding of them will help free people from religious bondage.

Also, you can search for topics on the Growing in Grace website. Growing in Grace is not a donation-based or listener-supported ministry but is supported by listeners sharing the good news with others.

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742. 15th Anniversary Program #2

February 16, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel continue reflecting about the past 15 years of doing the Growing in Grace podcast.

This week’s discussion includes: How grace made it easier to share the gospel with those who have been a victim of a works-based religious message, and how formal Bible education doesn’t qualify you to minister the gospel.

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741. 15th Anniversary Program #1

February 9, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel take a look back on 15 years of the Growing in Grace podcast.

The discussion this week includes: The Flintstones, how they met while doing radio, correspondence from listeners around the world, Daffy Duck, and the “aha” moment for Joel which transitioned him to a pure gospel of grace.

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740. Hebrews 5-6: Obedience and Repentance From Dead Works

February 2, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The enemy relishes to shoot Bible verses at people that are taken out of context, which can spawn fear and uncertainty into a works-based gospel, rather than a gospel based upon faith. We look at a couple of these verses in an attempt to shed some light on the bigger picture within the proper context. Sometimes the enemy is in our own back yard that we consider to be a safe place.

“Christ is salvation, but only for those who are obedient. You must obey everything Jesus said.” The fear factor: Am I obedient enough and where do I stand with God?

“It’s impossible to renew people to repentance who have fallen away.” The fear factor: Am I still saved?

This entire letter to Hebrew believers was a message of good news and reassurance found in what Jesus did … and not in what we do.

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739. Hebrews 4-5: The Word Became the High Priest

January 26, 2020 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

We have a High Priest in Jesus who passed through the heavens and was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. We can now boldly approach the throne of grace because He is able to sympathize while showing mercy and grace when we need it. Jesus is the confession we hold onto.

The priests under the law offered sacrifices for sin for the people and themselves because they were weak like everyone else. But Jesus was made perfect and became the source or author of eternal salvation, called by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek … which we’ll be talking more about in our Hebrews series.