Bible Study Radio

Exodus (Program #78) – The Blood of the Covenant (1)

All genuine believers in Christ who experienced redemption are familiar with and surely have a deep appreciation for the blood of Christ. But listen to Moses’ word in Exodus 24, “And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said, Here is the blood of the covenant, which Jehovah has made with you in accordance with all these words.”  What is the blood of the covenant?  Stay with us as we explore this divine reality and marvelous truth on today’s life study of the Bible.

We come again today to the broadcast, the recording actually in the holy land today from the hotel room in Jerusalem.

It’s good to be here especially here in Jerusalem. All the things we’re seeing here are just pictures of the divine realities in God’s economy. The listeners are in for real treat because we will see the highest function of the Lord’s precious blood in this broadcast.

This phrase the blood of the covenant is one that we need to pay attention to not only appears in Exodus 24, but the apostle Paul uses the term applying it to the new covenant in the New Testament. But we are going to see a marvelous picture today and how full it is.  As mention in the opening word, I think all of us as believers have an appreciation of the blood hopefully we all realize that without it we have no way to be forgiven of our sins. But what about this further term the blood of the covenant, what is that referring to?

As mentioned in the book of Hebrews 13 where Paul uses this phrase, the blood of an eternal covenant. And then Exodus 24:8 “behold the blood of the covenant” then also when the Lord instituted His table on the night He was betrayed He said “this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  What we’ll see in this broadcast is when we said the blood of the covenant we were talking about is the highest function of the Lord’s blood when it is applied to us. On the one hand the Lord’s blood, by His blood and through the shedding of the blood He redeemed us, He purchased us with His own blood. #2 by the shedding of His blood and by our confession of our sins we were cleansed with the blood continuously of all our sins. We confess our sins He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from every sin. But there is even a higher function of the blood and this is the blood of the covenant. The function of the blood of the covenant is to usher us into God Himself. Through the blood we were redeemed, by the blood we are forgiven and by the application of the Lord’s precious blood to our being we are ushered in to God. We are ushered into Christ, Who is the reality of the new covenant.  This is why it is called the blood of the covenant.  The New covenant which the Lord enacted at the table, the reality of that covenant is God Himself. So what’s the application of the precious blood does Is that it ushered us into God Himself so that we may enjoy God in Christ as everything to us.

Exodus (Program #77) – The Enactment of the Covenant (2)

According to our natural concept the almighty God, the creator, the Holy One has given us the law that we might observe it and keep it. Although this religious concept is common among all believers, is far off from God’s intention, God’s New Testament Economy.

Mark (Program #29) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (3)

During the period of His gospel service, the Lord Jesus was traveling from Galilee first north toward Caesarea Philippi and Mount Hermon.  Then returning south all the way to Jerusalem. With Him on this long journey which took roughly three years were a small number of faithful disciples particularly Peter, James and John were with the Lord step by step.  And thorough out this period they witness first hand all the items, including the miracles, the teachings, the healing and His dealing with the religious opposers.

As those who desire to know Him and to know His word richly today, we need to realize that this long journey and all these events were not random. From the beginning the Lord’s intention was to arrive at Jerusalem, the religious, cultural and governmental capital.  For it must be in Jerusalem during the specific month and even on the appointed day that He would be offered up as the Lamb of God to accomplish His all redeeming and all-inclusive death.  But we also need to realize that all the preceding event were part of the Lord’s preparation and in addition for the real preparation of His disciples not just to be witnesses but to be those who would pass through His death and enter into the reality of His resurrection.

Mark (Program #28) – The Preparation of the Slave-Savior for His Redemptive Service (1) & (2)

At the end of a nearly three years long journey with His disciples the Lord Jesus at the end of His gospel ministry makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Just six days before the time of His sacrificial death on the cross the Lord Jesus surprises His disciples confounds His opposers and thoroughly captivated the hearts of the people of the great city of Jerusalem.

During these final days, Jesus was finished performing the miracles, the great teachings, the casting out of demons even the healing and the cleansing of lepers. For now He is totally focus on the preparation necessary for His death, His burial, His resurrection and ultimately His ascension.  Mark chapter 11 gives us a marvelous account of these six days of preparation.

Exodus (Program #76) – The Enactment of the Covenant (1)

The book of Exodus is a story of God delivering His people Israel out of bondage and slavery in Egypt. He led them from Egypt through the Red Sea and into the wilderness, where they wondered for forty years. God gave them the law, His commandments and the ordinances in this wilderness time. Was it His intention for them to just simply take the law that He has given and carry it out? Or did God first need to reveal Himself and His heart desire?  He rescue them, delivering them from their bondage in Egypt and brought them to the wilderness to have an intimate fellowship with Him.

One thing we realized on this trip that actually salvation is a journey. And all of us as believers, we’re on a spiritual journey. And actually God in Christ as the Spirit within us, He is journeying within us, He is imparting Himself into us, dispensing Himself into us. And He is leading us into more experiences of Him and into more enjoyment of Him.  We begin this trip by tracing the journeys of Abraham and then we went to Egypt and we follow the journey of Moses, all the way from his birth in Egypt to His being taken up by the Lord at Mount Nebo.  Now, we are here in Galilee, we are going to see the incarnated God carry out His major part of His ministry. The Lord is revealing more of Himself inwardly into us as we see these places together.

Mark (Program #27) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (16) & (17)

The second half of Mark chapter 10 brings us to the city of Jericho. The Lord Jesus has arrived at this place very near Jerusalem, near the end of the long journey He had taken with His disciples. Jesus knew that the time of His appointed death on the cross to be the real Lamb of God was only days away and He would not be kept from that hour.

Twice before on this journey on the way to Jerusalem the Lord had spoken to His disciples of approaching rejection and death in Jerusalem. But the disciples never seem to hear the words. And so here the Lord mentions it again for the third time. But still the disciples had neither ears to hear nor eyes to see as these verses in Mark 10 so clearly illustrate. Beginning at verse 32-37:

“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus led the way before them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that were about to happen to Him:  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles, And they will mock Him and spit at Him and scourge Him, and they will kill Him. And after three days He will rise. And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying to Him, Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask You.  And He said to them, What do you want Me to do for you?  And they said to Him, Grant to us to sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.“

Exodus (Program #75) – The Angel of Jehovah for His People (3)

Prior to taking possession of the promised good land, God’s people were commanded to fully and absolutely drive out the pagan tribes from that land. Failure to do so will result in the people sharing in the sins of these pagan occupants. History clearly shows that this ultimately is the case. This pagan enemies became the source of the sin of God’s people, Israel.  What is the source of our sins? And how does the Lord command us to deal with this source?   We can learn a lot about ourselves by following the story of God’s people Israel in the pages of Exodus.

We have seen so much in the book of Exodus these Old Testament stories are really all pictures of things that have very real and current New Testament relevant in our experience. That’s why we are here today in Exodus 23. It deals in parts the Lord’s command to the children of Israel to drive these pagan tribes completely out of their land.  Exodus 23:31-33 “And I will set your border form the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River, for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out form before you. You shall make no covenant with them or with their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

Mark (Program #26) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (15)

Mark chapter 10 present us with 3 cases all related to whether or not believers will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.  The best known of this cases concern a rich young man who approach the Lord Jesus wanting to what he must do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s word shocked the young man as well as the Lord’s disciples. For He instructed him to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Well, the young man turned and walked away knowing that he was not able to meet such a demand. And then this famous exchange took place between the Lord Jesus and His followers.

Mark 10:23-27: “And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, How difficult it will be for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus again answered and said to them, Children, how difficult it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.  But they were astonished beyond measure and said among themselves, Then who can be saved?  Looking upon them, Jesus said, With men it is impossible, but not with God, for all things are possible with God.“

Exodus (Program #74) – The Angel of Jehovah for His People to take Possession of the Promised Land (2)

In the book of Philippians, the apostle Paul uses a striking expression, “that I may gain Christ.”  Of course when we get saved, in a sense we can say that Christ has gained us.  But what is it for us to gain Him?  A wonderful picture from the Old Testament that will help us to see this reality is given in the book of Exodus.   As the Lord unveil to His people, the way for them to possess the good land.  Stay with us today for a rich and enlightening life study of the Bible.

This message today is a continuation of yesterday’s program from Exodus 23.  Verses 20, 21 and 22 “I am now sending an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be careful before Him, and listen to His voice; do not rebel against Him, for He will not pardon your transgression; for My name is in Him.  But if you will indeed listen to His voice and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.”

Mark (Program #25) – The Move of the Slave-Savior’s Gospel Service (14)

Most of us remembered from our childhood the story of the rich man who came to Jesus asking what he must to do in order to have eternal life. The Lord’s answer instructing the man to go and sell all that he possessed and to give the proceed to the poor was more than the young man could bear. So he turned away and in despair of his inability to do what seems to be required.

The Lord’s disciples also expressed their dismay over His words to this young ruler to which the Lord answered, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

This passage from Mark chapter 10 though famous as a Bible story is also one that has perplexed many students of the Bible for there is no place in the scripture where we were given of such a requirement in order to be saved. Our salvation is by faith and not according to our works, such as selling all and giving all to the poor. And how should we understand such a story?