Truth Over Traditions

The apostle Paul preached two gospels: the gospel of the grace of God for unbelievers and the gospel of kingdom inheritance for believers. Pastor Hollandsworth explains how the latter gospel was formerly a mystery, but was revealed by Paul to the Church of Jesus Christ, offering reward, glorification, and co-ruling as sons to glory in the coming kingdom, for those who qualify. 

Jesus exorcises multitudes of demons from two men who have superhuman strength and live as wild men among the tombs. But why does Jesus cast the demons into pigs? Pastor Hollandsworth explains the origin of demons and the remarkable significance of this miracle for national Israel and for us today. 

Jesus teaches about the high price required to be His disciple, which is a matter of sanctification, not salvation. Pastor Hollandsworth gives four requirements for discipleship, while pointing out that magnificent rewards can be earned for those who remain faithful to Jesus.

The parables of the hidden treasure, pearl of great price, and dragnet take the word of the kingdom out to the end of the age. Pastor Hollandsworth gives an interpretation for each parable, in light of context, demonstrating that one applies to Israel, one to the Church, and one shows the possible verdicts for believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 

Jesus shares the parables of the mustard seed and the leavened bread to describe how the kingdom inheritance offer will fare throughout the Church Age. Pastor Hollandsworth clarifies that these parables are not about the spread of the gospel of grace or the progress of the Church, but the corrupting work of Satan to destroy the word of the kingdom, as represented by the birds and the leaven.

In an effort to derail those who are on the pathway to becoming kingdom inheritors, Satan plants tares that represent believers who live lawlessly and teach erroneous views of the kingdom. Pastor Hollandsworth debunks the view that the tares are unbelievers who merely profess to be saved, and explains that the fire that burns the tares is a metaphor for the Judgment Seat fires.  

Jesus announces that his “brethren” are those who do His will and thus, going forward, He will speak to them in parables in order to conceal truth from those who are hard-hearted while revealing it to the open-hearted. Pastor Hollandsworth explains the parable of the four soils, each of which represents a different response to the kingdom inheritance message.

Jesus exorcises a demon from a man and heals the maladies the demon had caused. But the Pharisees, instead of rejoicing, accuse Jesus of doing this in the power of Satan. Pastor Hollandsworth discusses the meaning of Christ’s rebuke to the Pharisees, answering the questions: What is the unpardonable sin? To whom does it apply? Can Christians commit this sin today?

Jesus is invited to a Pharisee’s house for dinner. While there, a disreputable woman washes his feet with her tears and anoints them with fragrance. The Pharisee is incensed. Pastor Hollandsworth applies Christ’s lesson, that those who are forgiven much, love Him much. Those who perceive they have been forgiven little, love Him only a little.

Jesus blasts the cities of northern Galilee for refusing to repent, though they had been given so much more truth than any other region of the nation. He said it would be more tolerable for Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom in the day of judgment than for them. Pastor Hollandsworth explains this unusual statement and shows the application for modern day believers.

Satan manipulated the religious leadership of Israel to hijack Christ’s offer of kingdom inheritance by teaching the Jews were automatic inheritors by way of their heritage in Abraham. They literally kept multitudes out of the kingdom. Pastor Hollandsworth shows how the same is happening today throughout evangelical Christianity. 

Jesus uses the incredible faith of a Roman centurion to teach about the kingdom of heaven and who will be there, in contrast to those who will be relegated to outer darkness. Pastor Hollandsworth demonstrates from the Scriptures that outer darkness is not Hell and the kingdom of heaven is not Heaven. 

Matthew quotes Isa. 42, which refers prophetically to Jesus, the obedient Servant of God who came to replace Israel, the disobedient servant. Pastor Hollandsworth points out that He did not merely come to bring salvation to the Gentiles but also the hope of kingdom inheritance and glorification for those Gentiles who take up His offer.

Jesus is blasted by the Pharisees for picking grain and eating it on the Sabbath and for healing a man with a withered hand, but Luke says these events happened on “the second Sabbath after the first.” Pastor Hollandsworth explains three layers of symbolism in that statement, which lead to glorious eschatological applications.

After the Promised Land had been subdued, Caleb asked Joshua for the inheritance that Moses had promised for wholly following the Lord forty-five years earlier, at Kadesh-Barnea. Pastor Hollandsworth compares Caleb’s perseverance in faithfulness with the Christian’s call to persevere in hope, while anticipating reward. 

After healing a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees are furious. Jesus takes the opportunity to give a lengthy discourse on eternal life. Pastor Hollandsworth shares the correct translation of the Greek word translated eternal and answers critical questions: Is eternal life an end itself, or the means to an end? What is the difference between the gift of eternal life and the reward of eternal life? 

On the Sabbath Jesus healed a man at the Pool of Bethesda who had an infirmity for 38 years. Pastor Hollandsworth demonstrates that the religious leadership of Israel missed the critical importance of this sign, and that multitudes of church-age believers are missing it as well. 

While dining at a feast with tax collectors and sinners, who were repenting in Israel, Jesus blasts the Pharisees for their pride, legalism, and unwillingness to repent. He announces that He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Pastor Hollandsworth makes application to twenty-first century believers and churches. 

Are we to inspect the “fruit” of professing believers to determine if they are truly saved? Pastor Hollandsworth discusses this frequently misunderstood concept, reveals the identity of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and describes who will hear the awful verdict, “Depart from Me!”