Acts (Program #3) – Introduction and the Preparation
In the gospel of Matthew, Peter has an exalted moment, where at one time he sees Christ as the son of the living God. Then, a few short verses later, the Lord turns to him and rebukes him, saying “Get behind me Satan”.
What does this show us about our brother Peter? What does this show us about our own need of spiritual growth, maturity, even training?
1 & 2 Samuel (Program #29) – The Unique Work of the Processed Triune God
In 2 Samuel, the Lord through the Prophet Nathan prophesied to David the king, “Moreover Jehovah declares to you that Jehovah will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which will come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. It is he who will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” Properly understood, this passage constitutes one of the greatest prophecies in the entire Old Testament.
In Matthew in the New Testament, chapter 16, the Lord Jesus makes a similar prophecy to His disciples. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” This passage equally constitutes one of the greatest prophecies in the New Testament as well. God’s desire to build a dwelling for Himself and for us, from the beginning of the Bible through to the very end.
Luke (Program #1) – Introduction, Subject and Contents of the Gospel (1)
The New Testament begins with four different accounts of the life of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Matthew is profound presenting us with Christ as the king in His kingdom; John is mysterious, showing us Christ as the very God; but Luke though not as profound or as mysterious is altogether sweet and pleasant because Luke unveils Jesus Christ as a man. A man who is both sweet and pleasant because His living displays and expresses the very nature and essence of God lived out in His perfect humanity. This is not just a man but the Man-Saviour.
Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole inhabited earth for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
All believers would like to know when the Lord Jesus will come again. Even many who do not profess to believe are intrigued by this question as well. The gospel of Matthew, more than any other book in scripture, gives us clear and definite signs. The chief among all its prophecies is one contained in this verse. The preaching not of the general common gospel, but rather the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom.
For a Christian, no other event recorded in scripture can compare with the resurrection of Christ. It uniquely embodies the critical component of our faith. To many, it demonstrates God’s ultimate power. But if our eyes are open, even I would say “blessed”, we see not God’s power manifested in the raising of Christ Jesus from the dead so much as we see His righteousness.
Matthew (Program #73) - Man’s Unrighteousness and God’s Righteousness
The Crucifixion of Christ – probably no other deed in human history manifested so completely the depths of unrighteousness that mankind is capable of. Yet at the same time, no other event afforded God such an opportunity to manifest His Righteousness so perfectly.
Matthew (Program #72) – Judged, Crucified and Buried
The Gospel of Mark, chapter 15, tells us that Jesus was crucified at the third hour of the Jewish day, or nine o’clock in the morning. He hung there for six full hours before yielding His final breath – six hours, unlike any other in human history. For in that day, both the wickedness and unrighteousness of man were displayed as never before or since; as well as the absolute righteousness of our Holy and Just God. The account of these 6 hours in the gospel of Matthew is surely something that no one should miss.
Matthew (Program #71) – Pressed in Gethsemane, Judged by the Sanhedrin, and Denied by Peter
Most Christians are familiar with Peter’s denial of Christ on the night before His crucifixion. Many have likely wondered how such an apostle, who had been so close to the Lord Jesus for more than three years, could have so utterly failed Him at this critical moment. But actually, what this account reveals is not just a defect in our brother Peter, but the absolute inability of all of us to meet the demand of God’s kingdom with our natural life.
Matthew (Program #70) – A Test to All the People and the Establishing of the Kingdom
Of all the Old Testament practices and rituals, perhaps the most important was the Passover feast. The Lord Jesus, in chapter 26 of Matthew, enjoyed the last Passover feast with His disciples. And He also instituted the first Lord’s Table with His disciples.
Matthew (Program #69) – Prophecy of the Kingdom (8)
In Matthew 25, the Lord Jesus reveals that when He comes back to earth, He will sit on the throne of His glory in judgement of the unbelievers who are alive at His Coming. How will He judge them? Well, not as we might think. For as unbelievers, they cannot be judged according to the gospel of grace. Yet the righteous ones in this judgement are able to enter into eternal life. The mystery of the eternal gospel is our focus today.