THE CORRECT LENS

Table of Contents

1. Introduction and Ministry Update
2. Understanding the Need for the Correct Lens
3. The Importance of Recognizing Different Covenants
4. The Old Covenant System and the Remembrance of Sin
5. The One Sacrifice of Jesus and the New Covenant Reality
6. The Danger of Reading Scripture with the Wrong Lens
7. The Complication of Bible Translations
8. Viewing Scripture Through the Lens of Grace
9. Living in the Covenant Between the Father and the Son

Introduction and Ministry Update

Pastor Leonard and Pastor Lori begin the message by greeting the audience and expressing gratitude for the support and encouragement they continually receive from viewers and ministry partners. They thank their listeners for their gifts, letters, emails, and financial support, acknowledging that these blessings help the ministry continue spreading the gospel of grace to people around the world.

Pastor Leonard shares that they had recently been ministering in Johnson City, New York, at United with Christ International, where they experienced a powerful time of fellowship and teaching. He expresses confidence that those who listened to the service were blessed by the message the Lord gave him to share.

They also mention relationships with believers around the world, including friends in Europe, such as Johan in the Netherlands. Pastor Leonard notes how modern technology allows believers across nations to remain connected and encouraged in the message of grace.

This introduction sets the tone for the teaching by highlighting the global impact of the gospel and the shared fellowship believers have through Christ.

Understanding the Need for the Correct Lens

Pastor Leonard then introduces the central theme of the teaching: the importance of reading the Bible through the correct lens.

He explains that when the apostle Paul preached the gospel of Jesus Christ, his primary emphasis was not on teaching people to study what we now call the Old Testament scriptures in isolation. Instead, Paul preached the revelation of Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.

Pastor Leonard clarifies that he is not dismissing the Old Testament. Rather, he emphasizes that the Old Testament must be read through the correct lens—the lens of the grace of Jesus Christ.

When Scripture is read without this lens, it can become confusing and lead to misunderstanding about the nature of God. Jesus Christ reveals the true nature of the Father as a God of love, mercy, and grace. Without interpreting Scripture through the revelation of Christ, people may form incorrect conclusions about God’s character. Thus, the correct lens for understanding the Bible is the gospel of grace revealed through Jesus Christ.

The Importance of Recognizing Different Covenants

Pastor Leonard continues by explaining that confusion often arises when believers fail to differentiate between the covenants found in Scripture.

He explains that the Bible contains multiple covenants, and it is essential to understand which covenant applies to believers today. The covenant that Christians live under is the New Covenant, which he describes as the better covenant established through Jesus Christ.

He also points out an important distinction: the section of the Bible commonly called the “New Testament” does not automatically mean “New Covenant.” Within the writings of the New Testament, there are still elements of both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant appearing side by side.

Because of this, believers must learn to rightly divide Scripture and recognize which passages reflect the Old Covenant system and which reveal the completed work of Christ under the New Covenant. Without this understanding, people may mix covenant teachings and become confused about their standing before God.

The Old Covenant System and the Remembrance of Sin

Pastor Leonard references teachings from the Old Covenant that emphasize humanity’s sinfulness.

Romans 3:10-"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one."

Romans 3:23- "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

He explains that these statements were true under the Old Covenant system, where humanity’s sinfulness was constantly highlighted. In many religious settings today, people are still taught to continually come to the altar to confess their sins repeatedly, emphasizing their unworthiness and guilt. This approach mirrors the Old Covenant system, where sacrifices were offered repeatedly but never truly removed sin.

Pastor Leonard then turns to the book of Hebrews to illustrate this system.

Hebrews 10:1-2- "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins."

He explains that under the Old Covenant, people would bring sacrifices for sin again and again. However, those sacrifices never removed sin completely. Instead, they left people with a continued remembrance of sin. After offering sacrifices, people would leave with the same awareness of guilt because the system itself could not remove the problem of sin.

The One Sacrifice of Jesus and the New Covenant Reality

Pastor Leonard then contrasts the Old Covenant system with the finished work of Jesus Christ. He explains that while the Old Covenant sacrifices could not remove sin, the sacrifice of Jesus accomplished what those sacrifices never could.

Hebrews 10:14- "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."

According to Pastor Leonard, this verse reveals the central truth of the gospel: Jesus’ single sacrifice permanently accomplished what the Old Covenant sacrifices never could. Through Christ’s sacrifice. Believers are perfected forever.
Believers are sanctified once and for all.

However, many Christians struggle to experience this reality because they continue to approach God with an Old Covenant mindset. They continue repeating practices that resemble the Old Covenant pattern of constant sacrifice and confession, never realizing that Christ has already finished the work.

Because of this misunderstanding, believers often fail to fully step into the freedom and assurance provided by the New Covenant.

The Danger of Reading Scripture with the Wrong Lens

Pastor Leonard emphasizes again that reading Scripture with the wrong perspective can lead to confusion. Without the correct lens of grace, people may constantly question their relationship with God. They may wonder why certain things happen, why prayers appear unanswered, or why they feel uncertain about their standing before God.

He believes this confusion often comes from reading Scripture through the wrong interpretive lens—mixing Old Covenant requirements with New Covenant grace. The proper approach, he says, is to interpret Scripture through the completed work of Jesus Christ.

The Complication of Bible Translations

Pastor Leonard also discusses how Bible translations can sometimes contribute to confusion.

He explains that many translations exist, and because translations are created by human beings, they can contain subjective interpretations.

He emphasizes that Scripture was not originally given as a dictated translation but has been translated and interpreted over time. Because of this, differences between translations can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.

Therefore, he encourages believers not to rely solely on translation differences but to maintain a consistent interpretive lens centered on the New Covenant and the finished work of Christ. Understanding which covenant applies helps believers interpret Scripture correctly even when translations vary.

Viewing Scripture Through the Lens of Grace

Pastor Leonard then explains how he personally reads Old Testament passages.

When he encounters verses that say believers “must,” “have to,” or “should,” he interprets those passages through the lens of Christ’s completed work. Instead of seeing those statements as requirements for believers today, he views them in light of what Jesus has already accomplished. Because Christ fulfilled the law and completed the work, believers now inherit the blessings and promises of God through faith in Jesus.

This perspective allows believers to read the Old Testament without confusion while recognizing that Christ has already fulfilled the conditions of the covenant.

Pastor Lori agrees and shares that understanding the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant was foundational for her spiritual growth. Once she understood the role of the covenants and the centrality of Jesus in Scripture, the Bible became much clearer. She also emphasizes that the Old Testament ultimately points to Jesus and that believers should look for grace and the revelation of Christ throughout its pages.

Living in the Covenant Between the Father and the Son

Pastor Leonard concludes by explaining that the New Covenant is a covenant established between the Father and the Son.

Jesus fulfilled the work of the covenant through His life, sacrifice, and resurrection. Because of this, believers enter into that covenant not through their own efforts but through faith in Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s work, believers become heirs and even joint heirs with Him. Their position before God is not based on their performance but on the finished work of Jesus.

This truth, Pastor Leonard says, places believers in a secure and safe position within God’s covenant. He encourages listeners to share the message of grace with others, noting that many people still live with a veil over their understanding of the gospel. By sharing the message of the finished work of Christ, believers can help others experience the freedom of the gospel of grace.

Thank you for taking the time to read this teaching from Pastors Leonard and Lori Rola. We hope this message helped you see the importance of reading Scripture through the correct lens—the lens of Jesus Christ and His finished work. If this teaching blessed you, please consider sharing it with others so they, too, can discover the freedom and assurance found in the gospel of grace.