Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

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.

517. Dead to Religious Rules, Alive to God

October 4, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

As we recognize the identity of righteousness that belongs to us in Jesus Christ, we can put away our own efforts and rest in him. Before the cross, the Jewish people were in bondage to the Mosaic law as it demanded a perfection the people could not attain. Their works were based on pursuing their own righteousness because they did not understand God's righteousness. We are declared perfected, justified and sanctified. As the Apostle Paul stated, "For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God."

In this podcast we mentioned a couple of past episodes in which we talked about how sanctification is not a process, but is a part of who we are in Christ (our identity). Here they are:
506. The Gift of Sanctification
507. As Jesus Is, So Also Are We

516. Leaving the Old Behind

September 27, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Continuing with our conversation on mixing the Old Covenant with the New, this week we discuss some common sense reasons from Scripture why the Old had to come to an end and be replaced with something very different. This is the basis for the gospel. If our life in Christ is meant to be centered around our dedication and effort, we've fallen back to a religious system that exalts ourselves and diminishes the work of Jesus Christ.

515. The Bible Blender

September 20, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The beliefs and mindsets of people in Christianity often have their roots planted deeply in a doctrinal mix of two very different covenants. We know all Scripture is truth but we can wrongly assume the entire Bible and everything in it is a book that is always meant to apply to us today in a personal way. Paul said to rightly divide the Word of Truth. What form of division is he talking about? The Old Covenant failed, came to an end and was replaced with something much better. The challenge for the typical believer of today is learning to separate these two covenants and having a complete change of mind about the gospel.

514. Randomly Addressing Commonly Held Beliefs (Part 2)

September 13, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Following up on last week's program, the tables are turned as Joel throws some spontaneous questions to Mike, addressing commonly held assumptions or beliefs found in most Christian circles or church doctrine. Discussions include: Asking for God's presence when we pray, dedicating our lives to God, and faith without works is dead.

513. Randomly Addressing Commonly Held Beliefs (Part 1)

September 6, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Doing something a little off the beaten path this week, Mike throws Joel some spontaneous questions or statements about common thoughts, assumptions or beliefs found in most Christian circles or church doctrine. Discussions include falling from grace and forgiving others in order to be forgiven.

Past podcasts related to this week's podcast:
The Sermon: Why Jesus Taught the Law
Jesus Ministering Condemnation
Fallen From Grace (Into What?)

512. Jesus Is Our Life Source – Not Pages In A Book

August 30, 2015 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

While the Scriptures provide us with information about truth and life, it is not our source of life. This can only come through the Person of Jesus Christ. The Bibles we use today are a wonderful way for us to connect with the gospel and provides us with instruction and training in God's righteousness, and will correct our wrong thinking. But life cannot be found in any other source except the Lord Jesus Christ.

Near the beginning of the podcast this week, we mentioned this encouraging song from Mercy Me: Flawless.