Welcome to Day 2624 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2624 – New Testament Orientation – The Story of the New Testament

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2624 of our trek. The purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Each Tuesday, I will share the messages I have delivered at Putnam Congregational Church this year. This is the second of twelve messages covering a New Testament Orientation. Today’s messages are titled The Story of the New Testament. I pray it will be a conduit for learning and encouragement for you.

Putnam Church Message – 05/04/2025

Sermon Series: New Testament Orientation

Message 2: The Story of the New Testament

Last week, we discussed What is the New Testament and concluded that it is the collection of inspired writings in the common tongue, shared among us, and carrying divine authority.

Today, we delve into the very heart of the story these writings tell in a message, ‘The Story of the New Testament,’ with Romans 5:8-11 as our core verses. Let’s read those verses to set the stage for our story today.
⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Since this is the story of the New Testament, I will present it as a dramatic reading. Let’s picture ourselves living towards the end of the first century, and I am a Rabbi who is a believer in Yeshua. I will tell you where this story is heading, because knowing the destination helps us make sense of the journey. (Blanket) It’s like looking at a woven tapestry – up close, you see individual threads, but when you step back, you see the magnificent pattern emerging. That pattern, that big story, is what gives meaning to all the individual threads. Let us begin with prayer, asking the God of the Story to open our ears and hearts to hear it truly.

Opening Prayer:

Eternal God, the God of Creation, the God of the Covenant, the God of our fathers! You are the Author of life, the Weaver of history, the Master Storyteller. From the beginning, You have been revealing Yourself to us; through the cosmos, You spread out like a tent, Through the whispers of the wind and the mighty roar of the sea, And most especially, through Your dealings with humanity, with our people Israel.

As we explore this New Testament story, Challenge our assumptions, deepen our faith, and transform our lives. May we find our place within this divine drama, and live as loyal participants in Your unfolding plan. We ask all this in the name of Yeshua, the one who is the beginning and the end of this chapter, and the hope of the next. Amen.

My friends, as I see it, and as we are coming to understand it through the teachings of the apostles and these new inspired writings, the grand story of the Bible – and specifically the New Testament chapter – revolves around three main themes, woven together by the hand of God: Bulletin Insert

First: The ultimate blessing upon a ‘family’ – a chosen people, now expanded, who choose to be loyal to Yahweh above all other gods.

Second: The ultimate judgment upon certain divine beings who misused the authority God had delegated to them.

Third: Yahweh’s deep love for and the glorious enthronement of Yeshua the Messiah over all His present and future creation.

Let us trace this story together, picking up where the Old Testament left off. The scrolls of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther tell of a remnant of our people returning from Babylonian captivity. They faced immense challenges – rebuilding the Temple, the walls of Jerusalem, and their lives. But even as they returned,/a subtle tension remained. At the end of Ezra and Nehemiah, there’s a strong emphasis on separating from Gentile influence and maintaining Jewish purity. The thinking was, “We must keep ourselves distinct, loyal to Yahweh alone, and this means separation.” There was a waiting, a longing for Yahweh to restore Israel fully, to bring final blessing and establish His kingdom.

Then came centuries of silence. No prophetic voice, no direct word from God that we could all recognize. Yet, during this time, events were unfolding that shaped our world and prepared the way. Israel struggled for independence, leading to the Maccabean revolt and a brief period of self-rule. This era further emphasized Jewish identity and purity – what we ate, how we lived, our Sabbath observance – these became markers of our loyalty to Yahweh and our distinctness from the surrounding Gentile world. This focus on purity, while rooted in the Torah, became a central defining feature of Jewish life. We were waiting for Yahweh, and we believed our careful adherence to purity laws was essential for His favor.

By the time the New Testament story opens, Rome is in charge. Our land is occupied, ruled by a puppet king like Herod, who, despite rebuilding and expanding our Temple into a marvel of the ancient world, paganized it by incorporating foreign architectural styles and even employing priests with questionable loyalties to Yahweh alone. The Temple, meant to be the center of pure worship, was compromised.

Yet, even in this complex time, there were those among us who were “waiting for the comfort of Israel,” as Luke’s Gospel tells us (Luke 1). People like Simeon and Anna, devout individuals living lives of righteousness, eagerly anticipating God’s action. Their righteousness, remember, shows that people could indeed walk faithfully with God even before Yeshua’s arrival. The salvation Yeshua brings is profound, but it builds upon God’s ongoing relationship with humanity.

Then, seemingly out of the wilderness, a voice cries out – John the Baptist (Luke 3, Matthew 3). He is a prophet, a figure reminiscent of Elijah, breaking the centuries of silence. His message is urgent: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” He is announcing that the time we have been waiting is at hand. The Messiah, the Anointed One, the one who would bring Israel back to full loyalty to Yahweh, is coming! But even John doesn’t fully know who He is or what His coming will entail.

The story then introduces us to Yeshua. John’s Gospel (John 1) speaks of Him in breathtaking terms, describing Him as the unique Word of God, existing with God from the beginning, full of grace and truth. And at Yeshua’s immersion by John, the heavens are torn open, and God’s own voice declares, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Luke 3:22 NLT). From the very outset, the story highlights Yahweh’s profound love for Yeshua and His unique identity.

Yeshua’s life unfolds as a model of perfect loyalty to Yahweh. Think of the heroes of our past – Moses, David, Elijah. They were mighty servants of God but stumbled, sinned, and failed to live out God’s desired loyalty perfectly. But Yeshua walks in perfect obedience. Every decision, every action, demonstrates what it truly means to love Yahweh with all one’s heart, soul, and mind. He embodies the Torah’s deepest intent – not just outward observance, but complete devotion to God and love for neighbor.

Then comes a pivotal moment, one often misunderstood. Yeshua is led into the wilderness, not just to be tempted by The Satan in a personal test of obedience, but, as we understand from the narrative in Luke 4, to confront the very authority that Satan had usurped. Remember the story of Babel in Genesis 11, where humanity’s rebellion led to the confusion of languages and the scattering of nations? In most ancient Israelite understandings, God then delegated authority over these scattered nations to various divine beings. Over time, some of these beings became corrupted, misusing their authority and leading people away from Yahweh. As the adversary, The Satan was at the head of this fallen host.

In the wilderness, Yeshua doesn’t just resist temptation; He reclaims the authority that had been misused. He dismantles Satan’s claim, not through a show of force (that would come later), but through perfect loyalty and reliance on God’s word. This act in the wilderness is the foundational victory that inaugurates Yeshua’s public ministry.

Immediately following this, we see Yeshua confronting demonic spirits (Mark 3:11). These are, in our understanding, the agents of those divine beings who had misused their delegated authority. When they encounter Yeshua, they cringe; they fall down before Him, recognizing His supreme authority. His exorcisms are not merely acts of healing; they are declarations of His victory in the wilderness and the inbreaking of God’s kingdom, a kingdom where the powers of darkness are being overthrown.

Yeshua also fulfills the Torah. This doesn’t mean He simply checks off every box of every commandment. It means He lives out its ultimate purpose. He demonstrates that loyalty to Yahweh is not primarily about rigid adherence to external purity codes, but about the condition of the heart and acts of compassion. When He touches a leper (against Levitical law), or allows a ritually impure woman to touch Him, or eats with known sinners, He is not disregarding the Torah. He is showing that sacred space is being redefined in His presence, and God’s priority is not separation from impurity but purification and restoration. He is clarifying what true loyalty looks like under the dawning light of His kingdom.

(Object Lesson): Imagine holding a piece of broken pottery. Under the old understanding, if you were pure and touched this impure thing, you would become impure and need cleansing. It was about avoiding contamination. Now, imagine Yeshua picking up that same piece of broken pottery. In His hands, it doesn’t make Him impure; instead, He makes it whole, cleansed, restored. The power flows from Him outward, overcoming impurity.

(Modern Analogy): This is like the difference between a quarantine zone and a hospital. A quarantine zone is about keeping something contagious out to protect the healthy. A hospital, however, is a place where the sick are brought in to be healed by those with the power to overcome the illness. Yeshua operates like the ultimate hospital, bringing God’s cleansing and healing power into contact with impurity to make it clean.

Yeshua’s parables are central to His teaching (Mark 4:34). He uses simple, everyday stories – farming, fishing, family life – to explain the profound truths of the Kingdom of God. This shows His desire to meet people where they are, speaking in terms they can understand, just as the New Testament would later be written in the common language. His teachings were filled with “witticisms, truisms, aphorisms” – memorable, impactful sayings that stuck with His listeners and challenged their conventional thinking about God and His kingdom.

Shockingly, after demonstrating His authority over demons and disease, Yeshua begins to tell His disciples that He must suffer and die. This was utterly unexpected! How could the Messiah, the one who had just taken authority from Satan, submit to death, the ultimate act of the enemy? Our prophets spoke of a Messiah who would reign, conquer Israel’s enemies, and establish an everlasting kingdom of peace. While some passages, like Isaiah 53, spoke of a suffering figure,/Jewish interpretation had not typically seen this as referring to a suffering Messiah.

Peter, bless his eager heart, exemplifies our confusion and resistance (Matthew 16:21-23). “No, Lord!” he protests. “This will never happen to you!” It was inconceivable. How could death, especially a violent, painful death at the hands of the Romans, possibly fit into God’s plan for His Anointed King? We, too, struggle with this. Death is terrifying. We avoid it, we mourn it. To imagine the Messiah willingly embracing it was bewildering.

Yet, the story continues. Yeshua does suffer, and He does die. And at the moment of His death, a powerful sign occurs: the curtain in the Temple is torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). For us, this curtain separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, the dwelling place of God’s presence. Its tearing signifies that the old way of accessing God, through the Temple system with its sacrifices and priests, is fundamentally changed. It means that access to God is now open to all, and the Temple, already paganized by Herod, is no longer the central point of sacred encounters.

But the story does not end with death. On the third day, Yeshua is resurrected! (Luke 24). This was another astonishing, unforeseen event. It is the cornerstone of our faith, confirmed by witnesses and the power of God Himself. The resurrection proves that death does not have the final word, and it validates all that Yeshua claimed and did.

Because of His resurrection, Yeshua is elevated to the highest position of authority. As He tells His disciples in Matthew 28:18 (NLT), “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” He is not just the Messiah of Israel; He is Lord of Lords, King of Kings, sovereign over all creation, over all earthly rulers, and yes, even over those divine beings who rebelled. The term “Lord Jesus Christ,” which becomes common in the apostles’ teaching,/signifies this ascended, authoritative status.

With this authority, Yeshua commissions His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations. This is the “Kerygma,” the core message they are to proclaim: the story of Yeshua’s death, burial, and resurrection, and His subsequent enthronement as Lord over all. This message, this story, is the key that allows everyone – not just Jews, but Gentiles too – to join Abraham’s family, the family of those loyal to Yahweh.

The book of Acts tells the story of this message spreading. Persecution in Jerusalem scatters the believers, and they carry the message with them (Acts 8). Philip preaches to the Samaritans, people we had long viewed with suspicion and separation. The gospel reaches as far as Antioch in Syria, where believers are first called “Christians.”

A critical turning point comes in Acts 10, with the story of Peter and Cornelius. Peter, a devout Jew, receives a vision telling him to eat foods that were considered unclean according to the Torah. He protests, “Never, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean” (Acts 10:14 NLT). But God insists, “Don’t call anything unclean that God has made clean” (Acts 10:15 NLT). This vision, repeated three times, prepares Peter to meet Cornelius, a Gentile, and realize that God is offering salvation and inclusion in His family, not just to Jews, but to Gentiles as they are, without requiring them to first become Jewish proselytes and adhere to all the purity laws.

The core conflict in Acts is not whether people can be saved, but whether Jews and Gentiles, once saved, can truly come together as one family, sharing table fellowship, overcoming centuries of ingrained separation and purity concerns. The repeated coming of the Holy Spirit upon Gentile believers in Acts (Acts 10, Acts 15) is God’s powerful affirmation that these Gentiles are truly “in,” fully accepted into the family, purifying them not through ritual observance but through the indwelling of His Spirit.

Paul, once a persecutor of believers, becomes the primary messenger of this truth to the Gentile world (Acts 9). He travels from city to city, entering synagogues first, then the marketplace, proclaiming the same ancient story of Abraham, but with a crucial update: because of Yeshua’s Lordship, the family of Yahweh now includes Gentiles by faith, without requiring them to live like Jews. “If you are a Gentile, remain a Gentile,” he essentially says, “and if you are a Jew, remain a Jew, for in Messiah Yeshua, you are one in Him.”

As the apostles and other leaders reflected on Yeshua’s death, they began to understand its profound meaning. It wasn’t just a tragic end but a purposeful act with multiple layers of significance. It was a spiritual victory over the demonic powers, somehow disarming them through His suffering. It was the “Gentile Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7), delivering those under the power of darkness, just as the Passover lamb delivered Israel from Egypt. It was a ritual cleansing, a final and complete sacrifice that purifies those who have faith in Him, addressing the deeply felt need for purity that was so central to our understanding.

As the New Testament story draws to a close, we see the implications of Yeshua’s work for how we live. The intricate details of Torah observance, while still holding spiritual lessons, are no longer the means by which one enters or stays in God’s family, especially for Gentiles. The focus shifts to “righteousness of loyalty” – a life characterized by faithfulness and devotion to Yeshua, lived out in love for God and neighbor, empowered by the Spirit.

Paul clarifies that morality is essential for those who follow Yahweh (Romans 12). For many Gentiles, religion and morality were separate spheres. Paul teaches that serving Yahweh, the truly moral God, must include living a moral life, characterized by the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. ¹   (Gal 5:22-23)

The story even includes Paul collecting financial aid from predominantly Gentile churches to send to the Jewish believers in Jerusalem who were suffering from famine. Think of the cultural significance: “impure” Gentile money being handled by Paul and delivered to “pure” Jewish hands. This act of sharing and mutual support is a powerful demonstration of the unity of the new family in Messiah.

We learn that Yeshua’s kingdom is “already here, but not yet fully visible.” It’s a quiet kingdom, not established through political or military might, but growing within individuals and communities as they live under Yeshua’s Lordship. Yet, for those living in the Roman Empire, surrounded by false gods, idols, and the worship of the Emperor, the temptation to compromise loyalty to Yeshua is immense. Spiritual warfare is a reality, a battle against the forces that seek to draw us away from exclusive devotion to Yahweh and His Messiah.

The New Testament also looks forward. Yeshua promised to “come again,” and the early believers eagerly anticipated this return. What will it be like? When will it happen? These questions fill the pages of the later New Testament writings. We also hear language like “born again” (John 3, 1 Peter 1:3). While some may think of this as a spiritual rebirth that happens at conversion, the original context and broader biblical story suggest it is fundamentally linked to the resurrection – both Yeshua’s resurrection as the firstborn from the dead, and our future resurrection when we receive new, incorruptible bodies. To be “born again” is to have the promise and certainty of future resurrection life in the Messiah.

In that future, the story hints at a remarkable destiny for those loyal to Yeshua: we are somehow destined to share in His reign, perhaps even taking the place of those divine beings who failed in their stewardship. The story ends with the promise of a new heavens and earth, the Global Eden. (Revelation 21-22), a renewed creation where there will be no more tears, death, or pain, and God Himself will dwell with His redeemed family forever.

(Object Lesson): Imagine looking at a well-worn map that shows your journey so far, with many twists and turns, rugged terrain, and moments of rest. The Old Testament is like the first part of that map. Now, imagine receiving an updated section of the map, one that shows the path through a surprising, challenging gorge (the suffering and death of Messiah) but then opens out onto a glorious, previously unimaginable landscape, leading to a city of light. The New Testament is that next section of the map, confirming the journey already taken and revealing the glorious path ahead.

(Modern Analogy): This is like watching a multi-season television series. You get invested in the characters and plotlines of the early seasons (Old Testament). Then, a new season begins (New Testament) that dramatically shifts the plot, introduces surprising twists, and reveals the true purpose of events that happened much earlier. You can’t jump into the new season without understanding the previous ones, and the new season re-contextualizes everything you thought you knew.

This is the story of the New Testament, as we are coming to grasp it. It’s a story of continuity and surprising fulfillment,/of expanded blessing and ultimate judgment,/of divine love and cosmic enthronement.

Now, what does this mean for us, here and now?

Applications and Takeaways:

1. See Your Life as Part of the Big Story:
   • (Expanded Narrative/Illustration): Think of a young believer in Corinth, perhaps a Gentile from a background where many gods were worshipped. Before hearing the gospel, their life story might have been shaped by the myths of Roman deities, the demands of Caesar worship, and the uncertainties of fate. Their identity was tied to their family, city, and social status. Then, they hear the story of Yeshua – His life, death, resurrection, and enthronement as the one true Lord. Suddenly, their individual story is swept up into something infinitely larger, the grand narrative of God’s plan for all creation. They realize their loyalty is now owed to Yeshua above all others, and they belong to a new family, a global community of believers. Their everyday struggles – whether to eat food offered to idols, how to relate to their non-believing family, how to live a moral life in a pagan society – now gain cosmic significance because they are now players in God’s unfolding drama.
   • (Modern Connection): In our modern world, we often define ourselves by our nationality, our profession, our hobbies, our achievements, or even our struggles. We might feel like isolated characters in our own small stories. But the New Testament story reminds us that our lives are part of something far greater. When we place our faith in Yeshua, we are grafted into the ancient family of God, participants in His redemptive plan that stretches from creation to the new creation. Our daily choices, our acts of loyalty to Yeshua, our interactions with others, our struggles against temptation – these are not insignificant; they are moments within the grand narrative. Our takeaway is to intentionally see our lives through the lens of this big story. How does the story of God’s blessing, judgment, and Yeshua’s enthronement shape my understanding of who I am and what I should do? It calls us to live purposefully, knowing we are part of God’s epic work in the world.
   • Summary: Your personal story is part of God’s grand narrative of blessing, judgment, and Yeshua’s enthronement; live intentionally as a participant in His unfolding plan.
2. Embrace the Expanded Family and True Purity:
   • (Expanded Narrative/Illustration): Picture a devout Jewish believer in Jerusalem who has followed Yeshua. They grew up with a deep understanding of purity laws, of separating from Gentiles, of the Temple as the sacred center. Now, they hear reports of Peter eating with Cornelius, of Gentiles receiving the Holy Spirit, and of Paul preaching that Gentiles don’t need to be circumcised or keep all the Mosaic laws to be part of Yeshua’s followers. This would be incredibly challenging, perhaps even scandalous! It requires a radical shift in thinking, a recognition that God’s family is larger than they ever imagined, and that true purity comes not from external regulations but from being made new by Yeshua and His Spirit. It meant overcoming deeply ingrained cultural and religious barriers to embrace those who were once considered “outsiders.”
   • (Modern Connection): Our world is often divided by nationality, ethnicity, social class, political views, or religious backgrounds. We can easily fall into patterns of “us versus them.” The New Testament story of the inclusion of the Gentiles is a powerful challenge to any mindset that limits God’s family or defines purity and acceptance by external markers. Our takeaway is to embrace the scale of God’s family in Messiah Yeshua. This means actively seeking unity with believers from different backgrounds, breaking down barriers, and practicing hospitality. It also means understanding that true spiritual purity is an inner transformation wrought by the Spirit, not merely adherence to external rules of our own making. It calls us to love and accept others as/God in Messiah has loved and accepted us.
   • Summary: God’s family in Yeshua is expanded to include all who are loyal to Him, regardless of background; embrace this diverse family and understand that true purity is an inner work of the Spirit, not external observance.

3. Live with Loyalty to the Enthroned Messiah:
   • (Expanded Narrative/Illustration): Imagine living in a Roman city in the first century. Every day, you see statues of the Emperor, hear talk of his divinity, and feel the pressure to participate in civic religion, which involves worshipping Roman gods and offering sacrifices. Your livelihood, your safety, and your social standing might depend on showing loyalty to the Emperor and the pantheon of gods. But you have heard the story of Yeshua, who has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, who is the true Lord of Lords. He now claims your loyalty. This means refusing to participate in idolatrous practices, even if it means facing persecution or hardship. It means living by His teachings, even when they conflict with the values of the surrounding culture. Your life becomes an act of conscious, active loyalty to the enthroned King.
   • (Modern Connection): While we may not face overt pressure to worship other gods or physical idols, we live in a world that constantly demands our loyalty and attention – to money, power, status, entertainment, political ideologies, or personal comfort. These can become functional “gods” that compete for the devotion that belongs only to Yeshua. The New Testament story of Yeshua’s enthronement as Lord over all earthly and spiritual authority calls us to radical loyalty to Him. Our takeaway is to live our lives in conscious submission to Yeshua’s Lordship. This means making choices that reflect His values, prioritizing His will above our own desires or the demands of the world, and trusting in His ultimate authority and victory. It’s a daily decision to serve the enthroned King, confident that our loyalty is not in vain but is part of the unfolding story of His reign.
   • Summary: Yeshua is the enthroned Lord over all; live your life in conscious and active loyalty to Him above all competing claims.

The story of the New Testament is a powerful, challenging, and hopeful narrative. It re-frames everything that came before and sets the stage for all that is yet to come. It is the story of God’s faithfulness, the revelation of His love in Yeshua, the dismantling of the powers of darkness, the expansion of His family, and the certain hope of a new creation under the perfect reign of His Messiah.

May we immerse ourselves in this story, understand its depths, find our place within its pages, and live lives that bear witness to its truth, for the glory of God and the honor of our enthroned Lord Yeshua.

Closing Prayer:

Gracious God, Thank You for this incredible story! Thank You for revealing Your character and Your plan through the ages, Culminating in the life, death, resurrection, and enthronement of Yeshua, Your Son. We are humbled and awed to be included in this grand narrative, To be part of the expanded family of those who are loyal to You.

Help us live out this story’s implications in our daily lives. May we never forget that we are characters in Your divine drama, and that our choices matter in the context of Your eternal purposes. Empower us by Your Spirit to break down barriers and embrace all who are in Messiah, To live lives of true purity, reflecting the transformation>You have wrought within us. Strengthen our resolve to live with unwavering loyalty to Yeshua, our enthroned Lord, Resisting the temptations of this world and the subtle claims of competing allegiances.

As we continue to explore the books of the New Testament, May each one deepen our understanding of this magnificent story, and equip us to live more fully as Your faithful people. Protect us, guide us, and sustain us until that glorious day when the story reaches its ultimate conclusion, and we dwell with You in the new heavens and new earth, the Global Eden. All praise and honor be to You, our God, Through Yeshua the Messiah, the King of the Story. Amen.

Next week will be lesson 3 in our New Testament Orientation series. Our third lesson will be: The Culture and Cosmology of the Intertestamental Period. The core verse is: Galatians 3:26-29