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Overcoming (Part 2): Self-Justification

Bible Study by Staff

A great impediment to overcoming our sins is self-justification. We tend to excuse ourselves for what we do, and this only makes it harder to become like God.


Job, Self-Righteousness, and Humility

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The story of Job reveals a man whom God forced to see himself as he really was, and his true self-image paved the way to a leap forward in spiritual growth.


Job and Self-Evaluation (Part Three): Attitude

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Job had not achieved spiritual maturity, but had assumed the arrogant stance of attempting to debate the Creator on his own level.


Job and Self-Evaluation (Part One): Job's Character

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The lessons of the book of Job, which carry distinct New Covenant insights, applies to all. Job was complete, yet had spiritually stalled.


The Sin of Self-Deception

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In our relationship with God, we must emphasize principle over pragmatism. If we are led into deception, it is because our carnal nature wanted it that way.


Self-Government and Responsibility (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jacob's Trouble, or the Great Tribulation, comes about because people are not meeting their God-given responsibilities: keeping His Commandments.


Self-Government and Responsibility (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our experiences prepare us to be a better judge or king. Though we may exercise righteous judgment, we dare not pass judgment nor justify sin in ourselves.


Patterns of Resistance (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Joseph B. Baity

A vicious circle begins with elevating ourselves in relation to God, which leads to our failure to submit. Separated from God, we then lie to ourselves, neglecting any opportunity for repentance.


Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The two men who go to the Temple to pray contrast in character, belief, and self-examination. The contrast shows how to be justified before God.


Examine Oneself

Sermonette by Ronny H. Graham

To avoid taking the Passover in an unworthy manner, we are to put ourselves on trial, making an ardent effort to detect our shortcomings.


Hate the Sin, But Love and Forgive the Sinner

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

One of the deadliest afflictions we can develop is a self-righteous, vindictive 'Phineas' complex, seizing the sword of the Lord to correct a fellow member.


Blame Games

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

The tendency to point fingers at others is hard-wired into human nature. Mistakes are the portals of discovery if we admit them and learn from them.


Has Humanity Reached Total Depravity? (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God in us by His Spirit accounts for any real good that we may do. Otherwise, we would be just like everyone else: altogether evil continually.


Conspiracy Theory (Part Two)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Conspiracies are characterized by two or more people who fear loss of status or power, believing that they are justified to remove the perceived threat.


The Talking Blood (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God the Father does not take the minimization of His Son's sacrifice lightly, as some Protestant theologians imply with their cheap grace doctrine.


Our Hidden Enemy

CGG Weekly by John O. Reid

One of our greatest enemies lurks within us, poised to bring disaster upon us if we allow it to take control. This devious enemy even hides its motives from itself.


What Does God Really Want? (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Good Samaritan parable teaches that unless one practices doing good rather than just knowing good, his faith will be severely compromised.


Ecclesiastes Resumed (Part Twenty-Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Psalm 73 describes someone seeing the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, but it is not true that people in the world are leading superior lives.


God Will Understand

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God pays attention to the small things we may excuse in ourselves, sins we commit in weakness. God's patience does not constitute approval of our sin.


Leadership and Covenants (Part Seven)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Our sinful nature drives us to disobey God's laws, just as Adam and Eve transgressed by choosing the way of death. Such choices have made this evil world.


Leadership and the Covenants (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

All of the sufferings in the present had their origin in the Garden of Eden when our parents sinned, seemingly in secret. The effects of sins radiate outward.


God Works in Mysterious Ways (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our carnal nature's desire to satisfy an addictive self-centeredness can eventually overrule the Christian's loyalty to God and His commandments.


The Leaven of Double-Mindedness

CGG Weekly by Joshua Montgomery

Christians must deal with double-mindedness because the flesh and spirit contend for our hearts. We overcome it by being of one mind with Christ.


Sin (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Though influenced by Satan and the world, sin is still a personal choice. Christ's sacrifice and God's Spirit provide our only defense against its pulls.


Truth (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

With the Spirit of God—the light of God—we see the true shape and form of things, and reality appears as something we can see clearly. We find truth.


God Works in Marvelous Ways (Part Two)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's mysteries have been in plain sight from the beginning of time, but carnality has obscured them from mankind.


Patterns of Resistance

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

One of man's twisted thought patterns has two parts: (1) We seek to elevate ourselves above God, and (2) we lie to ourselves about the first pattern.


Faith in the Healer

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must establish an iron clad trust in God for spiritual matters, including healing, rather than having a misguided trust in self or other human beings.


Sin (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Though relatively neutral at its inception, human nature is subject to a deadly magnetic pull toward self-centeredness, deceit, and sin.