Unbinding the Bible
By Joshua Yoder
Unbinding the BibleMay 02, 2024
191 - JESUS Inherits the Promises
In this episode, starting with 2 Corinthians 1:20 and Galatians 3:16, we'll see that Jesus himself is the fulfillment of all of God's promises, even his promises to his people, Israel. As we saw in episode 190 - Jesus "Fills In" Israel, Jesus serves not only as Israel's representative head, but as Israel itself, thus receiving all of the promises God made to Israel, and then freely offering those blessings to anyone who believes in him - Jew or Gentile.
Key passages from today's episode: 2 Corinthians 1:20; Galatians 3:13-14, 16, 27-29; John 10:16; Romans 4:13; 1 Corinthians 10:1; 12:2; Ephesians 1:5; Revelation 19:10.
190 - Jesus "Fills In" Israel
In this episode, we'll look at how Jesus fulfills all that Israel, as a people, was supposed to be. Jesus acts as Israel's representative head and also embodies the nation itself. Everything really does hinge on the person of Jesus! Get this right, and your ability to correctly interpret the New Testament will skyrocket.
Passages referenced in this episode:
2 Corinthians 1:20; Luke 24:44-47; John 11:45-53; Isaiah 49:1-6; Matthew 1-5; John 1:47-51; Genesis 28:12-19; John 4; John 15:1-11
189 - From Eden to the Ends of the Earth
In this episode, we'll continue our mini-series on "the land" of Israel-Palestine. We'll focus our attention specifically on how the Bible itself frames our understanding of "the land," particularly as it relates to both the garden of Eden and to the entire world. In this episode, we'll see that the garden of Eden is to the land what the land is to the entire world. In other words:
Garden --> Land --> World
Thinking about the biblical story in this way is immensely helpful and makes sense of so much of the Bible's story.
188 - The Land Belongs to God
In this episode, we'll dive in to what the OT says about the land. Who owns the land? Were there any conditions placed on those living in the land? Do promises of "forever" mean "unending"? And why did God grant the land to Israel in the first place?
187 - God's Chosen People?
In this episode, we're beginning another mini-series, this time to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from a biblical perspective. How should Christians think about this? Who are "God's people"? Does Israel have a divine "right" to the land? Was the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 a fulfillment of biblical prophecy? And how did Jesus think of himself in relation to Israel?
We'll address these questions and many others throughout our series. And I invite you to send me questions of your own!
186 - "Coming Down Out of Heaven From God"
In this episode, we'll wrap up our mini-series on heaven by looking at Revelation 21:1-4. In it we'll see the holy city coming down out of heaven from God so that God can forever dwell among his people, like he initially did in the garden of Eden.
185 - Why I Don't Believe in the Rapture
In keeping with our mini-series on heaven, I decided to synthesize all my points against the escapist-mindset belief in the Rapture and put them all into one episode. These are my scriptural and philosophical reasons for rejecting this modern imposition on the biblical text, seeing no scriptural reason for interpreting Jesus and Paul as speaking about anything other than Jesus' second coming. The work of redemption, as we've seen, is heaven coming to the earth, not a heavenward trajectory from the earth.
But I welcome your feedback!
Feel free to email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com
184 - Palestine, the Rapture, and Revelation
In this episode, I tie together several themes that are intersecting in my own life and ministry and do my best to connect them to our series on heaven. I then set us up for where we're headed on the podcast and encourage Christians to allow their faith to get as close to "real life" as possible, for that is where things will make the most sense.
183 - "Our Citizenship is in Heaven"
In this episode, we'll explore the reality that Christians are citizens of heaven and are called to not only root their identities there, but also choose to live out reality as it exists in "the heavens" in their daily interactions with others on "the earth."
There's a huge need today for a true Christian identity to grip the hearts of God's people. And this teaching is where all good identity understanding comes from. This is an episode every Christian needs to listen to!
182 - "Prepare A Place For You"
In this episode, we'll look at John 13:31-14:23 and see just what Jesus means by going to "prepare a place for you" (14:2). We'll address several common assumptions about this passage and what Jesus may or may not be saying and then I'll offer what I believe is a more faithful way of reading this text, which puts Jesus, not heaven, at the center.
181 - Jesus is Heaven on Earth
In this episode, we'll shift our discussion of heaven onto Jesus himself. How do the gospel writers portray Jesus? In what ways does Jesus bring the blessings of the heavens to the earth? We'll consider a few OT passages and compare them with several NT passages to highlight how Jesus himself becomes heaven on the earth.
180 - The Union of Heaven and Earth
In this episode, we'll start at the very beginning of the Bible by looking at Genesis 1:1. We'll see that at this very early stage (in the world's first temple, called the garden of Eden), God's space (the heavens) overlapped with man's space (the earth). And the trajectory of redemption is that these two spaces would fully overlap once again.
179 - Let's Talk About Heaven
In this episode, we're starting a new series looking at what the Bible actually teaches about heaven. No, we're not going to do an in-depth examination of what heaven will be like. Rather, I want us to think biblically and with a kingdom perspective as we allow Jesus to define for us what "heaven" means in the first place. And yes, that may lead us to challenge the "Earth now, Heaven and Hell later" narrative that many of us have been taught to believe.
Mentioned on this episode were several resources:
What if Jesus Was Serious About Heaven?
The Skeletons in God's Closet
The Temple and the Church's Mission
Tim Mackie from The Bible Project - Heaven and Earth (YouTube)
178 - The Authority of Jesus
In this episode, we'll wrap up Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. We'll look at Matthew's summary of Jesus' teaching from 7:28-29 and tackle the topic of Jesus' authority - what it means and why it matters.
177 - A House Built on the Rock
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' words from Matthew 7:23-27 - his final thoughts in his masterful sermon. We'll spend some time talking about wise and foolish people and why it's so important to recognize that Jesus is in fact talking about DOING SOMETHING with his words besides just listening to them. And we'll end our time looking at Proverbs 9, which will help us understand Jesus' wisdom teaching even better.
BONUS 6 - Sacred Wholeness
If you found my story intriguing, you can follow me on Instagram: @sacredwholeness - "emphasizing the integration of body, mind, and soul to promote healing and wholeness."
176 - "I Never Knew You"
In this episode, we'll look at Jesus' sobering words from Matthew 7:21-23, and recognize the importance of this truth:
"What comes into GOD'S mind when HE thinks about YOU is the most important thing about you."
175 - "You Will Recognize Them By Their Fruits"
174 - The Narrow Gate
173 - Sensitivity and Love
172 - Healing Our Sickness*
A great book packed with insights on this topic is Greg Boyd's, Repenting of Religion. I HIGHLY recommend it!
171 - The Log and the Speck
170 - "Seek First the Kingdom of God"
169 - Light, Darkness, and Treasures
168 - "And When You Fast"
167 - The Lord's Prayer
166 - Hidden Righteousness
165 - Love Your Enemies
164 - Retaliation
In other news, this episode marks the 200th episode of Unbinding the Bible! If you have an episode or two that have meant a lot to you, I'd love to hear about it. Please email me at UnbindingTheBible@gmail.com.
By the Book: Fight Like Jesus
You can find Jason on Instagram and Facebook, or on his website @ www.jasonporterfield.com/
163 - Religious Manipulation
162 - Divorce and Remarriage
THROWBACK THURSDAY: By the Book: The Skeletons in God's Closet
I know you'll appreciate Joshua's insights, and I encourage you to read his book if you haven't already.
161 - Lustful Looking
160 - Anger and Contempt*
159 - Kingdom Righteousness*
158 - Salt and Light
By the Book: Having the Mind of Christ
And if you'd like to find Matt online, you can do so at www.gravityleadership.com
157 - Persecution & Privilege
156 - Blessed are the Peacemakers
155 - Those Whom the LORD Protects
154 - The Glory of the LORD - A Christmas Reflection*
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Unbinding the Bible will resume in January 2023.
153 - Who Really Is Blessed?
152 - "Repent, For the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand"
I referenced several books in today's episode:
Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Amy-Jill Levine
The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, by Dallas Willard
What If Jesus Was Serious? A Visual Guide to the Teachings of Jesus We Love to Ignore, by Skye Jethani
151 - The Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven
150 - Learning the Power-Under Way of Jesus
149 - Beating Our Swords Into Plowshares
148 - Grinding Down Our Golden Calf
I quoted Ben Cremer several times in this episode. He has a weekly newsletter you can sign up to receive filled with thoughtful reflections on how the Christian faith intersects with politics and culture. You can sign up to receive his newsletter here.