Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Podcast from the Past: Rules or Relationship?

December 27, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Mike and Joel are taking a break from creating a fresh podcast this Christmas week, but why not take a trip to the past with us! We're going back a few years to Podcast #149, entitled "Rules or Relationship?" This podcast originally aired on July 27, 2008. We hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas, and we're looking forward to more grace talk in 2016!

We'll be back next week, taking a look at the inheritance we have in Christ.

528. Born of a Woman, Born Under the Law

December 20, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Our discussion this week leads us to the birth of Christ and a look at some things that seem to rarely be a part of the conversation. Galatians 4:4-5 states..."God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." All of the ceremonial requirements from the Mosaic law had to be followed and applied after the birth of Jesus in order for his ministry to be valid under the Old Covenant. And what about the traditional view of those wise men from the manger scene? Merry Christmas!

527. Is the Law An Expression of God’s Character?

December 13, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It has often been taught that the law that came through Moses is an expression of God's character. We frequently begin to assume such phrases are actually found in the Bible. If this is an accurate statement, we should ask the question as to whether God went through a change or if his character went through some sort of transformation. Of course, we know God doesn't change, but with the New Covenant replacing the first one, we find there was a change of priesthood (Jesus Christ) and therefore a change of law occurred. Although the law was a reflection of God's perfection, we should avoid comparing it with God himself and realize it was Jesus (grace) who was manifested as an expression of God's character.

526. Is God Enabling Us to Keep the Commandments?

December 6, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Even after the cross where we abide in Christ and have entered into a new and better covenant, the religious crowd will advocate that Jesus now empowers us to fulfill the law. They claim the law from the former covenant did not end and the commandments within that law are still meant to be followed by Christian believers in order to acquire or maintain life, righteousness and sanctification. The question that never gets fully addressed is this: Exactly which of the 613 laws are to be followed and which are no longer meant to be applied? We discuss the inconsistencies with this type of mixed covenant teaching.

525. The Curse of Seeking Self Improvement

November 29, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

It's one of the biggest deceptions known to mankind - the attempt to achieve a higher level of personal improvement through our works and efforts. Adam and Eve were distracted by the glossy appearance of its fruit and the rest of the world followed suit. Israel demonstrated the futility of trying to establish their own righteousness through the works of the law by pursuing a level of improvement that would make them acceptable to God. It falls short every time and fortunately, it is something Jesus redeemed us from.

524. The Christian’s Relationship to the Law

November 22, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The mixed covenant culture found in the church world has brought a wide variety of confusion among believers in Christ. As Gentiles who had come to faith in the early church, what were they instructed by the lovers of the law from the Jerusalem church who still believed the law was in effect? Even those elders shared that Gentiles were not to be troubled with keeping the law. What we fail to realize is there was no list of old rules given to the church from the law, because in Christ we have no relationship to that law from the former covenant because it was replaced with God's Spirit in us.

523. Grafted Into Israel… Or Something Else?

November 22, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

"We are engrafted Jews." It's another one of those commonly used phrases we often hear in Christianity. This week we take a look at the context surrounding the idea that we Gentile believers were grafted into Israel. What we'll discover is that both Jew and Gentile were grafted into Christ. Jesus broke down the barrier that had kept us non-Jewish people separated "so that in Himself He might make the two (Jew/Gentile) into one new man."

522. You Will Know Them By Their Fruits – Know Who?

November 8, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

In the seventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus made the statement, "You will know them by their fruits." We often think this is how we'll know those who are considered to be sincere believers, but the context is being aware of false prophets. They are the ones focusing on establishing themselves with good works, performance and attempting to produce their own fruit. You will know them by their fruits. This is in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, which is not produced by our good works but rather by God who bears His fruit through us.

521. The Fruit of the Spirit, Not the Works of the Law

November 1, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Although many Christians will work and strive to produce good fruit, sometimes they end up back under a system of works or a modernized version of the Mosaic law. There was fruit involved for those Jewish people who were under the law of works, but it brought fruit for death. In the new covenant of Jesus Christ, we have been freed into the new way of life in the Spirit. Instead of working to produce fruit through our efforts, we simply rest and abide in Christ and the Spirit bears His fruit through us.

520. Teaching the Law Results in Fruitless Discussion

October 25, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The Apostle Paul stated some have strayed from the good things of love, a pure heart and a good conscience, and have turned to fruitless discussion. How? By wanting to be teachers of law. The law from the Old Covenant had a purpose, but it was not meant for the righteous in Christ. It was a tutor to point people to faith and the promise of life found in Jesus Christ. Now that faith has come, the tutor is no longer needed. Instead of abiding in the letter that kills with a creed of "thou shall not," as believers we have the living God within to bear His fruit, against which there is no law.

519. Old Testament Vs. The New: What Changed?

October 18, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Some may conclude the Bible seems to have a split personality between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Some of the differences can seem somewhat confusing, especially when portions of both are mixed into various Christian doctrines. So what changed? Was it God? No, he doesn't change. But there was a change to a different covenant, which resulted in a change of law and a change of priesthood. Our discussion this week revolves around these changes and what it means for us today in Christ.

518. The Old Covenant Had to End and Be Replaced

October 11, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Let's describe the Old Covenant God made with Israel: It caused sin to increase, it brought death, condemnation, it once had glory but came to an end and no longer has glory. Why? In order for a new and better covenant to be established through Jesus Christ, the old arrangement had to be completely put aside. It was replaced with the New Covenant of Jesus Christ which took the place of that former law. These are not covenants that are compatible with each other.