Messianic Audio Teachings

In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul teaches a short discourse contrasting the glory of the Old Covenant and the glory of the New Covenant, employing the metaphor of the veil that concealed the light of Moses' face. This passage is frequently understood to imply replacement theology the cancellation of the Torah, but a closer look reveals a the role of the Torah in both old and new covenants.

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:7-11)

This lecture was included in the First Fruits of Zion audio-teaching What About the New Covenant?

Are "dead works" the "works of the Law"? Does the book of Hebrews tell us to repent from Torah observance when it speaks of "repentance from dead works."

What are the basic teachings of Messiah mentioned in Hebrews 6:1-3? Discover the meaning of repentance from dead works in this eighteenth installment of sermons on the epistle to the Hebrews.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And this we will do if God permits. (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Where did the first Christians go to church? Our third teaching on the book of Hebrews takes a look at the Jewish believers and their relationship to the Temple and Levitical worship system in the first century and looks for the possible occasion that inspired the writing of the epistle. Learn about the sacred place of assembly where the Jerusalem community of disciples used to gather daily for prayer.

And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. (Act 5:12)

What were the sacrifices supposed to accomplish? The writer of the book of Hebrews maintains that the animal sacrifices offered in the Temple cannot grant forgiveness for the world to come or the reward of eternal life. If so, why did God command the Israelites to offer sacrifices?

The contents of this discussion contributed to the First Fruits of Zion audio-teaching What About the Sacrifices?.

This sermon marks one year in Beth Immanuel's study of the epistle to the Hebrews, so it features a brief review of the first eight chapters of the book.

The second elementary teaching of the Messiah in Hebrews 6:12 is called faith toward God, but how does “faith towards God” function as a distinctive, unique, hallmark of first century Messianic Judaism? All sects of Judaism believed in God. Even the Sadducees believed in God. Find out how Yeshua transformed the faith of his followers, and get a fresh handle on what it means to believe in Jesus and to be born again. This teaching includes a discussion on the relationship between Messianic Judaism and the rest of the Jewish people in the form of the parable of the man with two daughters.

What role in the creation of all things did the Son play? From where did the apostles derive their high view of Messiah in His divinity? This teaching explores early apsotolic mysticism. Take a quick immersion into the Christology of the apostles and the writer of the book of Hebrews based on the prologue to the book of Hebrews.

...His Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature (Hebrews 1:2-3).

Do the sacrifices take away sins or not? The Torah seems to indicate that they do, but the writer of the book of Hebrews says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Dive into Hebrews 10 with an entertaining, fast-paced discussion of an apostolic midrash on Psalm 40 and it's appearance in the argument regarding the suffering of the Messiah as an atoning sacrifice for sin.

Why do we "lay hands" on the sick? What does the ceremony of laying on of hands actually mean?

The writer of the book of Hebrews lists the laying on of hands as one of the elementary teachings of the Messiah. What is the laying on of hands and what did it signify to the early believers? Listen to a rapidly moving Bible study on the subject of semichah in the apostolic era.

The writer of the book of Hebrews indicates that the Torah was spoken by angels. In this teaching, D. Thomas Lancaster takes a look at first-century angelology to understand the apostolic concept of the Torah being delivered by angels and what role that concept plays in the argument in Hebrews 2.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (Hebrews 2:1-3)