NT Framework - The Church is a new thing, not Spiritual Israel

Can God put His plans on pause? And then, at a later date, perhaps even much later, resume His original plan? And in the meantime, work through a different group of people?

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Transcript

Setting Up New Testament Mysteries

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

What Mystery Means In Scripture

Two Comings And A New Era

A New Way To Be Great

Foot Washing As Servant Leadership

Greatness Through The Cross

The New Commandment Explained

Sacrificial Love As The Standard

SPEAKER_01 0:10

Let's look at some of these new truths. These are what we call mystery truths. Now, the word mystery is used throughout our New Testament a number of times. Don't think of this word like Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie. I mean, that's how we think of it. A mystery, like we've got to solve this thing, like who done it? Who done it? The mystery, this Greek word musterion, means something kept secret or hidden, unrevealed. So it's some truth or truths that have been unrevealed up to this period in history. In other words, put it this way: the Old Testament doesn't ever talk about these truths. So they were mysteries in the sense that nobody had access to them or knew them. They were hidden in God. They were a part of his omniscience that he had not revealed up until this time. And most of these mystery truths, of course, relate to this parenthetical period between what we know now as two comings. But they didn't know. Right? So there are truths that relate to this period. So I want to march through some of these. First of all, John 13, 1. Notice the mention of his ascension. Now, before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come, that he would depart out of this world to the Father, having soon to depart out of this world. So there's a reference to the coming ascension, right? Verse 3 also. In other words, I'm going to say the word new a whole lot because these are new truths that he is revealing here that will be for the church. So, first one is a new way to become great. Okay. Great when? Well, great in the kingdom to come. So when he had washed their feet and taken his garments and reclined at the table again, he said to them. Now he's going to ask them a question about what he had done. What he had done is wash their feet. In the ancient world, you didn't have Nikes and you didn't have things like that. You had mostly sandals and you didn't have paved roads, you had dusty streets, and so if you go anywhere, you're going to be dusty all over your feet. And it was a servant's or slaves' task to wash a visitor's feet. It was considered a very menial and low task, the task of those who were the lowest class in society. And Jesus washed their feet. And then he asked them at the end of verse 12, Do you know what I've done to you? You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. And in fact, he was teaching them something. This was a teaching moment. He says, If I then the Lord and the teacher, and I mean he is the Lord of all, I mean, he's Lord of the universe. He's the King of all creation. And he says, And if I washed your feet, you ought also to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, I truly I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I've chosen. He's, you know, not speaking of Judas, obviously. Judas is the one who was not chosen. But is the script that the scripture may be fulfilled, and he goes on. But the point that I want to bring up here, the example of the foot washing, and there's one group of Christians that has made this a third ordinance. We won't talk about that now. I don't think it's a third ordinance. We have the Lord's Supper and we have believers' baptism. But there's a group that says that what Jesus is saying here is an ordinance for the church. We ought to wash one another's feet, and one denomination actually does that. They will wash, physically wash one another's feet. What he's teaching, of course, is humble servanthood. That we should serve one another. And that that's the way to greatness in the kingdom to come. Not serving oneself, not putting oneself on a pedestal, but serving others and making oneselves the least of all, even a slave of all. He is the one who will be great in the kingdom. And he teaches this also in Matthew 18 and other places. And so Jesus, of course, will be the greatest. And the reason that he will be the greatest in the kingdom is because he became slave of all. How did he become our slave? By taking our place on the cross, by taking our penalty on himself. And so he will be elevated to be greatest of all. So in this life, we're supposed to mirror him in the sense of servanthood and serve one another. This is a new way to greatness. Serve one another. Now, John 13, 33, we have a new commandment, John 13, 33. Little children, I am with you a little while longer, indicating again the ascension, right? That's uh hinted at there. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, where I'm going you cannot come. A new commandment I give to you that you love one another. Now wait a minute. Leviticus says that you should love your neighbor as yourself. How is this a new commandment? The next words tell us why. Or how. Even as I love you. It's a type of love. It's not new that we should love one another. That was already there. But loving them in a specific way. That's the new commandment. This could never have been given before because his example of loving had never been demonstrated before. His way of loving is to give himself sacrificially for us. And he's now saying, I want you to love one another sacrificially as I have loved you. So a new commandment.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube at Underspoken Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in the room.