327. From Death to Life - Not from Bad to Good

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So often, believers are caught up with "doing" rather than "being." You have not only been redeemed and forgiven but you were once dead and have now been made alive. God has accepted you, but not because you started trying to do all the right things. He has accepted you because of what Christ did on our behalf and because we are "in Him."

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

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326. God Has Stopped Forgiving

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We take a deeper look at forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin has canceled out all judgment, punishment, obligation and debt. God did not provide this for us based on our reaction towards him but rather because of His unconditional love for us (John 3:16-17). He wanted to do it!

The act of forgiveness from God has already been extended to us and is something that is done; a work that has been completed at the cross of Christ. We don't have to beg God for something that He wanted to give and has already provided. Through belief, we can experience the blessing and freedom of forgiveness.

Growing in this grace will help us to understand the new person we have become in Him.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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325. Redemption & Forgiveness (and what they mean)

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This week we take a look at two words frequently used in Christian circles but are often not fully understood: redemption and forgiveness. Growing in our understanding of what they mean can make a big difference towards walking in the freedom that God has provided for us through the blood of Jesus Christ. Being redeemed and forgiven is not temporary nor does it come and go based on your actions and circumstances.

It may be hard to believe but we've managed to tap into more really good news for the 325th podcast in a row.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

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324. Are We Commanded to Love God?

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We continue to look at New Covenant living and compare it to the previous (old) covenant. One way of contrasting the two covenants is to understand what they teach about love. Most of us have been taught that we are required to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. But is this really something that is meant for New Covenant believers or is it another burdensome commandment that by our own efforts is impossible to keep? The focus of the OC demanded that we love God. The focus of the NC reveals God's unconditional love for US. Understanding this truth will enable us to freely love God in return and by His Spirit within we'll be able to extend it to others. Attempting to live by the command to love is a recipe for failure.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

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323. Contrasting the Two Covenants

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Is the New Covenant a continuation of the old? That's what some have been led to believe but this one thing has caused much confusion in peoples' lives....They do not belong together. The old covenant had its purpose but the writer in Hebrews draws some clear distinctions between the old and the new, even going so far as to say the old has become obsolete. Understanding this truth will help you in your walk of freedom and grace.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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Mick Mooney - December 2011 - Part 2

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Well, we didn't stick to our 20 minute time limit... haha! But Part 2 of my chat with Mick Mooney is well worth listening to, as Mick goes even deeper into exposing the heart of God and the reality of the living Christ in us.  Mick helps us to move away from mere head knowledge about God to actually knowing Christ.

The Bible, and the information that we can get from it about God, is absolutely wonderful. But just like the law, mere information and doctrine/theology is nothing more than "written code" and can minister death and condemnation to us if not understood from the heart of God and from the reality of actually knowing Him. God is huge!  And Mick keeps pointing back to the reality of Christ and to the truth that the Spirit of God is sufficiently enough for us.

Also, hear Mick's take on the account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, as well as other happenings in the book of Acts.  Are these accounts meant as doctrine for us to live by, or are they perhaps stories of real happenings in a yet-to-be-matured church that was still finding its way?

As always, I believe you'll find Mick's insights to be thought-provoking and refreshing.

Check out all the things that Mick is up to on his website, searchingforgrace.com.

Here's a link to Part 1 of the interview.

In addition, I had a four part interview with Mick about a year and a half ago. Here's the first part of that interview, with links to the other parts as well.

322. When Did the New Covenant Begin?

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The chronology of our Bibles might lead us to think the that New Covenant began at the beginning of the writings that we call the New Testament. Many make the assumption that it all started with the birth of Jesus at the beginning of Matthew (Mark, Luke or John). During the Christmas season, more than ever we realize that the birth of Jesus was and is something to celebrate. God became a human, born of a woman and as we stated last week, He was born under the Law.

Another word for testament in the Greek is the word "covenant." This week we examine how the scripture reveals that a testament or covenant is not in effect until after the testator dies. The idea that the New Covenant began at Jesus' birth has led to much confusion about the books referred to as "the Gospels."

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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Mick Mooney - December 2011 - Part 1

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It's been a while, but it's time for another Growing in Grace Together podcast! Joel's special guest this time is Mick Mooney, who is known for his Searching for Grace comic strip and who has recently authored a book called Grace Apart From Law.  This is a two part conversation, and the second part will be posted in a few days.

Listen in as we hear Mick's thoughts on all kinds of things, including, but not limited to, how we can understand life in Christ apart from the law, and life in the Spirit instead.  What is the difference?  It's helpful to understand the proper reason the law was given.  Also, we discuss the idea of looking at the Scriptures as a whole, rather than taking lone verses and passages to 'prove our points' and build entire doctrines.

Mick also helps us to take a look at some of the people who wrote the scriptures, such Peter as one example, and how they didn't really understand the gospel right away, and in fact it took them years until they came to understand the true gospel.  I think you'll find Mick's insight on this very revealing and helpful.  We are all on a journey of learning and discovery, and so we can allow ourselves and one another to have time and breathing room to understand the fullness of Christ and the glorious gospel.

Check out all the things that Mick is up to on his website, searchingforgrace.com.

Here's a link to Part 2 of the interview.

In addition, I had a four part interview with Mick about a year and a half ago. Here's the first part of that interview, with links to the other parts as well.

321. Jesus Taught the Law

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In the sermon on the mount in the book of Matthew, Jesus began to teach in a way the Jews had never heard before. But was Jesus providing new principles for living under the new covenant or was he teaching the old Law in a more revealing way to help those Jewish people understand they needed something other than the commandments of the law?

The book of Galatians states that Jesus was born of a woman, born under the Law. He was indeed the Son of God in the flesh but Jesus was a prophet under the old covenant. Many of His teachings were aimed specifically at the Jews of that day by holding up the Law as a tutor that would lead people to His life instead of trying to keep commandments that could never make them right with God.

Jesus taught the Law but it was intended to make us guilty before God, yet from the beginning He never intended for us to keep it. There is a better way...Him.

Here's this week's GIG-Bite, a quick sample of this week's program.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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320. Performing Old Covenant Ceremony Lands Paul in Prison

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It sounds strange that someone would end up in prison for trying to keep the law. Yet that's what happened to the Apostle Paul. Sort of.

Jewish Christian leaders had an intense disagreement with Paul and some other apostles regarding this controversy that Paul taught of forsaking the law of Moses. In the effort to find common ground, Paul agreed to participate in an old covenant type of purification ceremony (which included an animal sacrifice). The Jewish leadership was eager to show other Jews that Paul walked according to their customs and also kept the law.

Afterwards, Paul would speak about the amazing ministry of Christ to the Gentiles. But that would cause the crowd of legalistic zealots to lose control which led to Paul's arrest and ultimately to prison where he would eventually write much of the New Testament. Based on Paul's NT writings, perhaps this experience caused Paul to realize there could be no compromise when it came to Faith and Law.

"Watch" this episode on YouTube.
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