How the Gospel Brings Us To Glory

Introduction: The more I learn about what God has done for us in Christ, the more I am amazed at the Serpent’s answer to Eve when she quoted God’s restriction on eating the tree of knowledge of good and evil: “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God…” There are two observations we might have from this text:

And yet, God created us in his image—“Well sure,” we say, “But we sinned, and that hope is all gone. Besides, we will never be like God, we are just lucky to get to heaven!” 

That may be the common belief, but there are two verses that we have talked about previously that counter that belief.

Let’s explore what glory is and how the Gospel brings us glory.

Conclusion: Have you ever thought about what it will be like to see each other again in that heavenly kingdom? In some ways it seems that it will be utterly shocking. In this life we will have followed our Savior in beholding his glory, gradually transformed from our old self to a new, glorious self. But it will never be complete until that final day when we are united with the Lord.

Each of us sees our flaws and are frustrated by them. As we grow and conquer some, we begin to see others, and other people see these flaws in us. But on that day, we will see each other in a new light – a person clothed in glory without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish. Crowned with honor; crowned with glory!

Until that time, such hope should cause us to look at each other quite differently. There is a “glorious us” awaiting. 

Berry Kercheville

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The Gospel Begins with a Covenant, part 2

Deuteronomy 29-30

Introduction: In Romans 10, when Paul described “righteousness based on law,” he quoted Deuteronomy 27:26, “Cursed is anyone who does not fulfill the words of this law by doing them.” But Paul followed by quoting Deuteronomy 30:11-14, “For this commandment which I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it far off…that we may hear it and do it.” Therefore, Paul quoted from the same sermon in which Moses spoke of the curse of the Law, but also spoke of “righteousness based on faith” so that it was possible to be obedient to God and live. 

The turning point from being cursed to having life is 29:1. God made an additional covenant “besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.” Though the hope of mercy was embedded within the Law (Exodus 20:5-6), it was not explicitly described,  as a covenant that would be found in Christ.

Therefore, this text was both an encouragement to Israel and a  foreshadow of God’s covenant with us. Since Paul referred to this text to show how we can have life, we need to study it carefully because it is the basis for our life or death. We learn exactly what God expects of us as we live in his covenant.

Please remember, if you are a Christian, you entered into this covenant. Your salvation or condemnation is before us in these chapters. And as pointed out in the first lesson, our heart is critical to this covenant.

Conclusion: Embedded in the Gospel is a covenant––a marriage covenant at that!. And, embedded in the covenant is a circumcised heart that loves God with all his heart and soul, and will be careful to obey him. 

Cf. Hebrews 8:10, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Why did God say the above? Because that describes people in his covenant! 

There is only one way to win this battle. You must pursue God with all the strength you have. You cannot wake up every morning with your own will and your own desires filling your heart. It is the pursuit of God, hungering and thirsting for him, that will give you life. It is the pursuit of a lifetime because the Gospel is a pursuit for glory.

Berry Kercheville

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