Sermons on Christ's Office
1 Samuel 2:27-36
In 1 Samuel 2:27-36 a man of God confronts Eli about the sins of his sons and by extension Eli’s own sins. He pronounces a word of judgment against Eli but also promises that God will raise up a faithful priest after God’s own heart. Samuel is the type of the faithful priest, which ultimately refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:1-41
As a prophet Christ reveals to us by his Word and Spirit the will of God for our salvation. This he does today, as the greatest of all prophets, by pouring out the Spirit upon his people and by calling men to preach the Word.
Romans 3:21-26
How does Christ’s death relate to Christ’s work as a prophet? Christ’s death reveals who God is. In Romans 3:21-26 Paul speaks about the way in which Christ’s death shows God to be both just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Christ. Christ’s death shows forth the righteousness of God. The cross does not only reveal these things about God but is the perfect revelation of God. All of God’s attributes are revealed in the death…
1 Samuel 2:11-26
In 1 Samuel 2:11-26 two different kinds of priests are contrasted. On the one hand is Samuel with his godly mother supporting him. On the other hand are the sexually immoral and impious sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas. As Samuel provides a contrast between two kinds of kings, so too it teaches that there are two kinds of priests. Christ is the fulfillment of this priesthood, being not only the king after God’s own heart, but the priest after…
1 Samuel 2:1-10
In 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah sings a song of praise to God for giving her a son. This song contains the major themes found in the books of Samuel. By giving Hannah a son, God has shown his preference for the humble. He often works to exalt the humble while also humbling the exalted. These things show the almighty sovereignty of God. Such an action can be seen in the calling of David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, and ultimately…
1 Samuel 1:1-20
Pastor Grasso gives an overview of the books of Samuel, focusing on the themes of kingship and the house of God. The books of Samuel recount the transition from Judges to Kings. The books of Samuel are not against kingship, but rather make it clear that there is a particular kind of king that must be sought and that king is not a king like all of the other nations but the king after God’s own heart. This is the…
Hebrews 1-13
The genre of the book of Hebrews is self described as a “word of exhortation”, which was a phrase used in the ancient church to describe a sermon. Therefore, it is good to consider the letter as a whole. Pastor Grasso reads the letter as a sermon.
Hebrews 10:11-18
In Hebrews 10:11-18 the author brings the longest theological section of the book to a close. Summing up his previous arguments he notes that the priests stand each day offering the same sacrifices that cannot take away sins, whereas Christ has once and for all been seated at the right hand of the Father, having definitively completed His work. All of this forms the basis for the exhortations to follow: Since we have a great high priest, let us hold…
Hebrews 9:23-28
In Hebrews 9:23-28 the author explains the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. Pastor Grasso explains the distinction between propitiation and expiation to understand these two elements of the atonement. Propitiation is the satisfaction of God’s wrath. Expiation is cleansing from sin. Christ’s blood, however, has a cosmic element to its cleansing. As Adam’s fall resulted in the world being subject to corruption, so too, in Christ’s death, the world is cleansed so as to bring forth a new creation.
Hebrews 9:15-22
In Hebrews 9:15-22 the author explains the significance of Christ being the mediator of the new covenant. As the mediator of the covenant He had to die to instituted the testamentary aspect of the covenant. Is the new covenant a testament? Yes, because it grants the right to an inheritance. The glory of the mediator is seen in that by His blood this inheritance is now in place for His people and by that same blood He has cleansed us…
Hebrews 9:11-14
In Hebrews 9:11-14 the author to the Hebrews shows that Christ’s ministry in the better and more perfect tent, the tent not of this creation, made without hands has opened the way to God and cleanses the worshipper in order to give him a clear conscience before God. What could not be done under the old covenant has been accomplished by Christ in the new.
Hebrews 9:1-10
In Hebrews 9:1-10 the author explains the basics of the ministry of the priests in the tabernacle and shows that the tabernacle ministry points to the ministry of Christ while also indicating that the way to God has not yet been opened. Shadow must give way to substance if the people of God are to approach Him. The levitical ministry also was unable to perfect the worshipper in regard to his conscience. What could not be done in the old…