Jesus Is Greater, Spurgeon on Christ's Atonement, and an Atheist's Question about Death

Welcome to The Think Institute’s Newsletter. Every Friday you get one idea from me, one quote from somebody else, and something important to think about. If you enjoy this, you will love our second YouTube channel. The first video just launched for you today—an introduction to a mysterious book of the Bible (Hebrews). If that sounds interesting, go there to watch now.

AN IDEA FROM ME

Jesus is greater. And this author [of Hebrews] is going to stack up Jesus against anything and anyone—whether it's a celestial being, whether it's a prophet, you name it. Jesus is the greatest.  Jesus Christ is superior to everyone and everything.  Jesus is the greatest prophet. He's the greatest king. He's the greatest Lord. And he's the greatest priest. Prophet, priest, and King. 

—From my first video on our new YouTube channel, “One of the Most MYSTERIOUS Books In the Bible (Hebrews Explained).”

A QUOTE FROM SOMEBODY ELSE

“There is no glory in God but what is also in Christ. Whatever God is, Christ is. Who will dare to turn his back on him? If this is God’s ambassador who comes clothed in the crimson robe of his own blood to redeem humanity, who will refuse the peace he brings? Is it not a wonderful thing that he made purification for our sins even before we had committed them? There they stood, before the sight of God, as already existent in all their hideousness... Yet the holy Christ, incapable of sin, stooped to make purification for sins.”

—Charles Spurgeon, commenting on Hebrews (from the CSB Spurgeon Study Bible)

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Here’s something I was asked by an atheist on a recent livestream debate: If sin is a matter of the heart and soul, then why does the physical body have to die? Why did Jesus have to die in his physical body in order to atone for our sins? 

(By the way, if you’re curious about how that went, you can watch my response here). 

YEAR-END CAMPAIGN UPDATE

At the end of 2024, we set a goal to raise $10,000 to fuel the mission of equipping believers and their families for the spiritual battle (Eph. 6:12). The campaign was called Every Believer Battle Ready, and I wanted to give you an update on how it went. While we did not reach our goal, together we raised $3,837. Thank you! Those funds will go a long way toward ensuring our newest initiatives—the second YouTube channel and the discipleship process in the Hammer & Anvil Society—get off to a great start. 

As you know, 2025 is now underway, and there are some truly exciting opportunities ahead of us. That means we need to find more members of our “ministry partner team” who will help us fund and fuel the work God has laid out for us this year. If you would like to help financially and prayerfully join with The Think Institute in this mission, please learn more here. Thank you!

In Christ, 

Joel Settecase