Podcast Summary: "The Lord We Can Know" by Tim Keller
Podcast Information
- Title: Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life
- Host/Author: Tim Keller
- Episode: The Lord We Can Know
- Release Date: January 13, 2025
- Description: Sermons by Tim Keller, founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC and NY Times best-selling author of ”The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.” For more sermons and resources, visit www.gospelinlife.com.
Introduction: The Context of Hebrews Tim Keller begins his sermon by setting the stage for the epistle to the Hebrews, addressing a community deeply weary from life's sufferings and on the verge of giving up. He emphasizes that the writer of Hebrews seeks to fortify their faith and encourage perseverance through the teachings of the new covenant established by Jesus Christ.
"The Book of Hebrews was written to a group of people who were so exhausted by the sufferings of life that they were shaken to the core and were about to give up." (00:03)
Main Point: Jesus Came to End Religion Keller articulates the central thesis of his sermon: Jesus Christ did not come to establish a new religion but to abolish religion entirely. This profound shift is foundational to understanding the new covenant relationship God offers.
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Jesus as the High Priest and King
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Authority and Uniqueness: Jesus sits at the right hand of God's throne, symbolizing ultimate authority and a blend of priestly and royal roles—something unprecedented in religious history.
"In the Old Testament, you never have a priest who's a ruler... But Jesus is a priest-king." (00:41)
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Seated in the Sanctuary: Unlike traditional priests who minister actively, Jesus ministers while seated, signifying the completion of His sacrificial work and the end of the need for ongoing religious rituals.
"He has served in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man." (00:41)
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Religion’s Inevitability and Its Problems
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Persistent Power of Religion: Keller discusses how religion remains a potent force globally, contrary to the predictions of many Western intellectuals who foresaw its decline.
"Religion not only is strengthening and growing every place in the world... it's even starting to make a comeback in the academic world." (02:10)
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Conflicts Stemming from Religion: He highlights the inherent conflicts and divisions caused by religious systems, which often promote a sense of superiority and exclusivity among believers.
"Religion is based on the idea that you are bridging the gap... which often leads to exclusion, which sometimes leads to oppression." (08:30)
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Jesus’ Mission to Abolish Religion
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End of Religious Mediation: Jesus bridges the gap between humanity and God through His life, death, and resurrection, rendering traditional religious mediation obsolete.
"Jesus did not come to start a new religion... He came to end religion." (04:15)
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Final Sacrifice and Temple: By being the ultimate sacrifice and the final temple, Jesus fulfills all religious requirements, eliminating the need for continual sacrifices and rituals.
"Jesus is the final temple... He's the final sacrifice to end all sacrifices." (16:00)
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The New Covenant: From Religion to Relationship Keller delves into the nature of the new covenant, contrasting it sharply with the old covenant rooted in religious observance.
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Understanding a Covenant
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Beyond Contracts: A covenant is portrayed as an intimate, binding relationship that surpasses mere contractual agreements, embodying deep personal commitment and love.
"A covenant is a relationship that is totally binding and yet totally intimate at once." (20:55)
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Characteristics of the New Covenant Relationship
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Intimacy Over Formalism: The new covenant fosters a personal, intimate relationship with God, moving away from the impersonal and formal nature of traditional religion.
"Intimacy because you know his unconditional regard for you." (27:30)
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Equality Over Classism: In the new covenant, all believers are equal before God, dismantling the hierarchical structures that often lead to division and conflict in religious contexts.
"From the least of them to the greatest, there’s no difference. We’re all equally lost... completely egalitarian." (30:10)
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Community Over Individualism: Emphasizing the creation of a new, unified community, Keller explains that salvation through Jesus leads to a collective identity, transcending individualistic tendencies.
"We are part of a new community, the new humanity... the pilot program for the great future that he is going to produce." (35:45)
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Marks of the New Covenant Relationship
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Intimacy, Equality, and Community: Keller outlines three indicators that one is within the new covenant: a deep personal relationship with God, an inherent sense of equality among believers, and a strong, supportive community.
"The mark of the new covenant relationship is intimacy rather than formalism, equality versus classism, and community versus individualism." (37:20)
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Application: Living Out the New Covenant Keller urges listeners to embrace this transformative relationship with Jesus, moving beyond mere religious practices to experience genuine connection and community.
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Commitment Beyond Conditioning: Unlike religion's conditional approach, the new covenant calls for unconditional commitment, fostering true intimacy and mutual support among believers.
"If you’re in the new covenant, there’s intimacy rather than formalism, equality rather than classism, and community rather than individualism." (38:15)
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Personal Responsibility and Divine Response: He emphasizes that while the covenant requires personal commitment, it is founded on God's unwavering faithfulness and grace.
"God adjusted to us cosmically, infinitely on the cross. He adjusted to our sinfulness." (25:50)
Conclusion: Embracing the Relationship Keller wraps up by reinforcing the invitation to enter into this new covenant relationship with God, highlighting the profound intimacy and community it offers.
"Jesus Christ bound himself... the more binding a covenant is, the more intimate the relationship." (39:39)
Final Prayer and Encouragement In a heartfelt prayer, Keller asks for divine assistance in understanding and living out this covenant relationship, moving away from the confines of religion to embodying radical grace in everyday life.
"Father, help us understand what it means to live in a covenant relationship with you of love... through Jesus in His name we ask it. Amen." (39:39)
Takeaway Tim Keller's sermon, "The Lord We Can Know," offers a profound exploration of the transition from religion to a personal, intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. By dismantling the traditional structures of religion and emphasizing the new covenant's marks—intimacy, equality, and community—Keller invites listeners to embrace a transformative faith that transcends mere ritualistic practices. This message challenges believers to cultivate genuine connections with God and one another, reflecting the radical grace and unconditional love at the heart of Christianity.
Additional Resources For more sermons and resources, visit www.gospelandlife.com. Subscribe to the Gospel and Life newsletter to receive free articles, sermons, devotionals, and other resources. Stay connected with Tim Keller on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.