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GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION

760. Contrasting the Ten Commandments With the Gospel

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Church-goers and believers have frequently been disoriented and in a place of confusion by being exposed to a combination of two very different covenants, resulting in “the Christian religion.” Often we’ve been taught to cling to a ministry that Jesus came to deliver people from.

The Ten Commandments is our starting point on this week’s program, with more to come in the weeks ahead. The Apostle Paul called those stone tablets from the Old Covenant the ministry of death and condemnation—hardly a recipe for life and peace.



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758. Hebrews 12-13: Grace: The Author and Perfecter of Faith

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In our final program of our Hebrews series, the writer takes the last couple chapters to exhort and encourage believers to live in grace and allow it to be our motivation and teacher.

He finishes with the good news of: “Grace be with you all.” A big change from what would’ve been said if they were still under the previous covenant of law and commandments.



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743. 15th Anniversary Program #3

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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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Why A Revelation of Jesus Changes Everything

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Are you exhausted from trying to get it all right? If so, this is gonna help you. It’s a dialogue of a recent conversation between a friend and myself and this friend, who has also been exhausted, just happens to be receiving a revelation of Jesus! My Friend: Jesus has really been doing a work […]

742. 15th Anniversary Program #2

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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

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

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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.



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My One And Only New Year’s Resolution

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I have one and only one new year’s resolution for 2020. It’s the same resolution I’ve had for the past 8 years, ever since I came into a revelation of the person of Jesus as the person of grace! My one and only new year’s resolution in 2020 is to keep my eyes on Him […]

God’s Restoring Grace

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Every person has a divinely implanted destiny and purpose, and we can never really be fully satisfied unless we live out that destiny and purpose through Christ.

Ecclesiastes says,

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy]…. —Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMP)

But there are many things that can hinder or destroy our destiny and sabotage the fulfillment of God’s purposes for our lives! But most believers are usually able to trust God to restore their lives from the consequences related to these kinds of destructions.

What If We Mess Up?

What happens if we are the ones who have failed and hindered our own life’s purposes? This is usually where we struggle to trust God.
David, made a really powerful observation:

…Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction…. —Psalms 103:2-4 (KJV)

God is willing and able to restore our destructions.

The Power of Sin to Destroy vs the Power of Grace to Restore
The gospel reveals that the power of sin and iniquity to DESTROY your life, is never greater than the power of God’s love and grace to RESTORE your life!

…But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded. —Romans 5:20 (AMP)

This truth is so apparent in Paul’s life and ministry because he had firsthand experience of the power of God’s grace on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–9). Paul wanted to destroy every Christian and was on a mission to do so. On the road to Damascus, he encountered Jesus.

The Whole Outlook Changes

On the road to Damascus, sin in Paul’s life was abounding, increasing and overflowing.

Every person has a divinely implanted destiny and purpose, and we can never really be fully satisfied unless we live out that destiny and purpose through Christ. But Paul said,

…Yet, though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God his grace is wider and deeper still! … but now GRACE IS THE RULING FACTOR. —Romans 5:20 (Phillips)

When you trust in the Lord and His finished work, the whole outlook changes! Even in our greatest failures, God’s grace is more powerful to heal, deliver and restore, than the power of sin to hinder, sabotage and destroy! You’re never out of God’s reach to restore you and fulfill His purposes for your life!

God Has No Expectations of Us, Just Expectancy for Us

Scripture reveals that God has no “expectations” of us, but rather only has an “expectancy” for us.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. —Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP)

If God had expectations of us, He would be disappointed all the time. But He only has an expectancy for our gifts, callings and ministries. Therefore, He’s never disappointed in us. He only has hope and is excited for us! God is always ready, willing and able to help us get where we need to go in life, no matter how many times we’ve failed.

God Can Recalculate! I’m glad I have a navigation app on my phone. When driving in unfamiliar cities, I put the address of my desired destination into the app, and the voice will guide me where I need to go. If I take a wrong turn or exit, the app will immediately recalculate and get me back on track.

If we are able to devise an app to help us stay on track, how much more is God able to recalculate our failures to help us get where we need to go in life!

And I am convinced and sure … that He Who began a good work in you will continue … developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. —Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes

730. Red Letters Were Not Always Meant for You

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“Jesus said it, I believe it.” “It’s a red-letter verse!” “We should obey everything Jesus said.” “When Jesus spoke to His disciples, it means He was speaking to us.”

These are a few of the comments you’ve probably heard over the years regarding the words of Jesus. What the pulpit may have neglected to tell you is that Jesus was born under the law and spoke about things regarding the Old Covenant in order to redeem the Jewish people from that bondage — it has become a covenant that is obsolete. Religion has copied and pasted many red-letter verses onto the church wall that were never meant to be applied into the lives of believers. We don’t discard these words of Jesus, but we embrace them within the proper context of the New Covenant and awaken to grace and truth realized through the Person of Jesus.



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Jesus Changes Everything: And We are Safe and Sound

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The validity of the New Testament Gospel message is based upon the crucifixion of Christ, signifying the finished work of the cross.
When it comes to interpreting Scripture, we need to have a Christ- centered view. Jesus, and what He accomplished on the cross, CHANGED EVERYTHING!

The New Covenant – A Superior Covenant

When we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we must understand that Jesus on the cross changed everything by establishing a new and far superior covenant.

…He [Christ] has acquired a [priestly] ministry which is as much superior and more excellent [than the old] as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, [because] it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises. —Hebrews 8:6 (AMP)

This makes it very clear that Jesus’ priestly ministry is superior, and He is the Mediator of a superior covenant than the Old Covenant!

The New Covenant is a superior one between the Father and the Son!

It is a covenant eternally established and ratified between God the Father and God the Son! An Arbiter is a person who has the power and authority to decide what will be done and accepted, someone with entire authority and control. A Mediator is a person who acts as a guarantee! Jesus, on our behalf, has the authority to decide what will be done and accepted. Furthermore, Jesus is the One who is guaranteeing the terms, conditions and legal requirements of the New Covenant are already fulfilled on our behalf! We don’t have to fulfill any requirements to keep the covenant.

Jesus changed everything, and we are safe and sound through Him!

The New Covenant is superior based upon better promises.

Under the Old Covenant the promises were dependent upon our ability to perform certain requirements. But
the New Covenant surpasses the old because it’s enacted upon far better, higher, nobler and unconditional promises!

Jesus changed everything, and we are safe and sound through Him!

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. —2 Corinthians 1:20 (AMP)

All the promises of God in Him are now YES and AMEN!

The New Covenant is superior because of sin removed!

Hebrews says that by a single offering Jesus established the New Covenant, which is superior and more excellent because
our sin was eternally taken away, leaving us to serve God with a clear conscience and a promise that He will never again remember our sin! (Heb. 10:14-17)

The New Covenant is superior because of justification by faith!

The Old Covenant was one of fault finding, but the New Covenant is one of justification by faith! In Matthew, Jesus said,…except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. —Matthew 5:20 (KJV) Exceed means to superabound in quantity and quality, to be in excess, or to excel!

What Jesus was saying is unless you have a righteousness that is far more superior than the righteousness of the Old Covenant, both in quantity and quality, you will never enter into kingdom living! Paul said that because of the finished work of Jesus, we are made righteous, a righteousness that is far superior to righteousness under the Old Covenant.

The New Covenant is superior because of no judgment!

The Old Covenant was one of judgment and punishment, but in the New Covenant, punishment and judgment have been satisfied!
There has always been only one way we can have access to God and confidence and peace before Him—by faith in the finished work of Christ alone! It’s essential that we absolutely know that we are no longer under the Old Covenant. We are now safe and sound in a new, superior covenant of grace through Jesus Christ!

 

728. Religious Requirements – or Grace (Choose One)

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When we consider the Bible as one book (instead of many books), we begin to jumble things together within the two primary covenants that were never meant to be mixed. When we see God’s commandments with conditions attached throughout much of the Old Testament, and when we assume Jesus was always speaking instruction to us who would become future believers, it can easily result in us filtering new covenant writings from the apostles through a particular mindset that leads us away from grace and back to a foundation of works.

This week’s program will help to differentiate between requirements which demanded perfect results … compared to exhortations delivered by grace. The former would seek to establish identity by trying to work at becoming something we haven’t achieved. The latter starts at the finish line, as we realize we have been made new and are already declared the righteousness of God.



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