Guardians of Grace

This episode teaches listeners how to develop spiritual vision to discern the difference between the human (flesh) and the spiritual (Christ) in themselves and others.

Using passages from Genesis, Paul, and John, the speaker explains how being born again opens the eyes to the kingdom of God, enabling believers to recognize God’s activity, give Him credit for good works, and live in the new covenant.

Steve Lenart explores how the Holy Spirit enables believers to read and understand scripture, distinguishing spiritual sight and hearing from natural perception.

Using passages from Mark, Matthew, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, and Hebrews, the episode emphasizes abiding in Christ, receiving the Spirit’s wisdom and revelation, and training spiritual senses to discern flesh from spirit.

In this episode Steve Lennart examines John the Baptist's confrontation with the Pharisees and explains how their exchange reveals the judicial language of the new covenant: repentance, Spirit-birth, and works tested by fire.

He connects John, Jesus, Paul, and Revelation to show that true Christian living depends on Christ in us, not human effort, and outlines how believers can bear lasting fruit and store up rewards in heaven.

In this episode, Steve Lennart examines John the Baptist’s confrontation with the Pharisees at the Jordan, explaining key "terms of art" in the New Covenant—baptism, repentance, and being baptized with fire. Using passages from Matthew 3, John 3, 1 Corinthians 3, and Revelation, he shows how works done in human strength (the chaff) are burned up, while Spirit-led works (the wheat) are stored as heavenly treasure.

Steve emphasizes that repentance means changing one’s mind about who is the source of good deeds, urging listeners to rely on the Holy Spirit so their deeds bear fruit and receive reward in God’s judicial system.

Steve Lenart hosts Guardians of Grace in a focused Bible study on John the Baptist's confrontation with the Pharisees, unpacking the new covenant language behind baptism, repentance, wheat and chaff, and what it means to bear lasting fruit.

The episode contrasts human effort with Spirit-led life, explains the spiritual meaning of baptism and circumcision in Christ, and previews a deeper look at the new covenant's judicial system in the next episode.

Host Steve Lennart examines John the Baptist's confrontation with the Pharisees in Matthew 3, highlighting that they came to be baptized and introducing the new covenant meanings behind repentance, baptism, and judgment.

Referencing Hebrews 6, Romans 7, and Colossians 2, the episode explains key "terms of art"—dead works, the axe at the root, and the baptism of fire and the Spirit—to reveal how the new covenant's judicial system works.

This episode begins a series that reframes familiar gospel passages by teaching the distinct language and legal framework of the new covenant.

Steve Lenart examines John the Baptist’s rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 3, explaining new-covenant terms like wrath, repentance, fruit, and the fire and Spirit of baptism. He argues that John’s call was not about avoiding hell but about receiving the Spirit so believers can bear lasting spiritual fruit. Throughout, Lenart connects Matthew 3 to Romans and the New Covenant to reveal how these terms reshape how we read Scripture.

Hosts Bill and Steve explore what it truly means to be a disciple: experiencing the truth of Christ—"the I Am"—so the Spirit can live through us. They contrast human effort and law-based righteousness with relying on God’s Spirit, showing how acknowledging Jesus in all our ways turns off sin and brings freedom, rest, and the power of resurrection life.

The host opens a new study connecting 1 John with the rest of the Bible, focusing on Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7 about judgment.

The episode distinguishes judgments we must avoid (condemnation) from righteous discernment — knowing people by the fruit they bear and watching for false prophets and antichrists.

Practical guidance is given on fellowship: minister to the lost but do not closely fellowship with those living in the flesh, and give credit to Christ in you to store up treasures in heaven.

The episode closes with a prayer asking God to help listeners live by the Spirit and grow in discernment and fellowship that pleases the Lord.

Steve Lennart walks through Romans 9–10 to reveal a fresh perspective on the new covenant: salvation from shame and daily disappointment rather than only eternal deliverance. He contrasts Israel’s attempt to earn righteousness by the law with the Gentiles’ reception of righteousness by faith, explaining how the Spirit in us fulfills the law’s righteous requirements and enables Christ-centered living.

The episode emphasizes confessing Jesus as Lord, relying on the Spirit for transformed behavior, and giving Christ credit for the good in our lives so we won’t be ashamed. It points listeners to practical new-covenant living in family, community, and ministry.