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Prepare to Meet Your God (Part Five): Religion and Holiness
Article by John W. Ritenbaugh and Richard T. RitenbaughThe Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, as recorded by the prophet Amos, emphasizing the gravity of His pronouncement. Although His Word alone is sufficient, God occasionally swears oaths to underscore the seriousness of His declarations. As noted in Hebrews, when God made a promise to Abraham, having no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, affirming the unassailable certainty of His commitment. This act of swearing by His holiness reveals the depth of His affront at Israel's spiritual state, for despite being given His calling, promises, Word, and laws to become His sons and daughters, they stood in opposition to Him, showing no resemblance to His character. God expected to see His own attributes reflected in His people, yet He found instead a nation steeped in spiritual adultery, pursuing other gods and ways of life contrary to His own.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part Two)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughIsrael had every opportunity that the Gentiles did not have. God gave the Israelites gifts to live a better way, but they completely failed to reflect Him.
Amos (Part Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod, through His prophets, warns that He will chasten His people with increasing severity until they repent and begin to reflect His characteristics.
Amos (Part Eleven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAncient Israel had at the core of its religion an obsession to please the self at the expense of justice and the best interests of the disadvantaged.
Amos (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe favorite-son status of Israel was conditioned on accepting the terms of the covenant with God. Israel, then and now, has placed her trust in material things.
'But I Say to You' (Part Five): Oaths
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must grow in personal integrity, providing a witness for the truth to those around them, not needing the crutch of an oath to guarantee our integrity.
Hebrews (Part Seven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWith godly hope, we need to envision the successful accomplishment of God's purpose for us, realizing that God has bound that promise with an oath.
Abraham's Sacrifice (Part Five): Promises Confirmed
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSome critical scholars, unable to distinguish between conditional and unconditional promises, mistakenly jump to the conclusion that God cannot be trusted.
Hebrews (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood because Christ tenure is eternal rather than temporal, guaranteeing both continuity and quality.