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The Father-Son Relationship (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and the Son are one in character, purpose, and plan, working in perfect agreement, yet They are distinct Beings with different levels of authority and responsibilities. Jesus Himself states that the Father is greater than He, clearly indicating They are not co-equal, despite both being rightly called God. Their unity does not contradict this distinction, as seen in Jesus' prayer in John 17, where He desires for believers to be one with the Father and the Son to the same degree that They are one. This oneness reflects a shared mind and purpose, not a merging of identity. Just as believers will be one with the Father without being co-equal with Him, so too is the Son one with the Father while remaining in a position of submission, carrying out the Father's commands as the Channel through whom the Father's purpose is fulfilled. The Father is the Source of all things, and the Son is the means through which all is worked out, demonstrating Their cooperative roles in creation and redemption without conflict.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe unity of the Father and the Son is not expressed in a oneness of substance, but in the Son's loving obedience to the Father. They are of one mind, with the Son submitting totally and completely, even though He Himself is God. The Father is the Source, and the Son is the means through whom the Father has revealed Himself. Both are of the God-kind, yet they are not equal in function and responsibility. The Father is supreme, the Absolute Deity, and the Head, while the Son is subordinate and submissive to Him. The Son directed worship to the Father, and instructed us to pray to Him, though we may also pray to the Son. They are two distinct personalities with clear differences in operation and rank. The glory of the Son is revealed in doing the Father's will perfectly, serving as an example for us to follow in submission to the Father. Christ is the perfect complement of the Father, filling up, completing, and making perfect the revelation of the Father to mankind. Though He could be seen and heard, He is not revealing Himself primarily, but acting for the Father as a distinct Being.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and the Son are one, not as a single person, but in perfect agreement and unity of mind regarding the operations of Their purpose. This oneness is the goal toward which They are drawing us, though we are not yet fully at one with Them due to remnants of the carnal mind within us. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17 that we might be one as They are one, emphasizing our responsibility to make choices aligned with Their purpose to achieve this unity. Their relationship, revealed in the New Testament as Father and Son, reflects a family dynamic, with both Beings working in perfect harmony. Despite being separate Beings, Jesus declared in John 10:30 that They are one, underscoring Their shared nature and purpose. Both are of the God kind, equal in terms of Their eternal, uncreated essence, yet distinct in authority and function, with the Father as the greater in hierarchical order. This unity and relationship highlight the profound bond between the Father and the Son, guiding us toward becoming part of Their divine purpose.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and Son are separate; the Father is the source of all power, while the Son serves as the channel through which we interface with the Father.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and the Son are two distinct beings, not co-equal as the trinity doctrine proclaims, but with the Son deferring to the Father in all things.
Christ's Revelation of the Father
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJohn 1:1-3 reveals Jesus' pedigree as the Logos (Spokesman), whose function was to declare or reveal the Father. He had existed with His Father from eternity.
God the Father (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus reveals that the Father has always had supreme authority, and that He and His Father are absolutely at one in purpose. We must conform to their image.
Our Father
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. ReidEmotional and spiritual well-being of children improves when fathers fulfill their role. People from dysfunctional families have a skewed image of God.
Who Do You Trust? (Part One)
Sermon by Mark SchindlerCynical finger-pointing has destroyed confidence in every human institution, whether political, educational, scientific, and religious.
Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God, before He created Adam and Eve, preternaturally planned the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save humanity from the curse of sin and death.
Hebrews (Part Three): Who Was Jesus? (cont.)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)John identifies Christ as co-eternal with the Father, equal in character, but subordinate in authority. Christ's sonship was unique; He was the 'only Begotten Son.'
The Nature of God: Elohim
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnderstanding Elohim teaches us about the nature of God and where our lives are headed. Elohim refers to a plural family unit in the process of expanding.
Malachi's Appeal to Backsliders (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMalachi assures the people of Judah that if they repent, God's favor will resume, but if they continue defiling the Covenant, a day of reckoning will come.
Hebrews (Part Two): Who Was Jesus?
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)If we understand the function of the Old Covenant as explained in Leviticus, we will better understand the New Covenant and not reject the law of the Savior.
Jesus Christ: First Savior, Second High Priest, Third King
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews teaches that our relationship to Christ as our Savior, High Priest, and King is the key to salvation. He shows us the way to the Father.
The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's Spirit is the essence of His mind rather than a third person. With this Spirit, God opens our minds, dwells in us, and transfers His nature to us.
Hebrews (Part Seven): Greater than Angels
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The book of Hebrews systematically proves Christ's superiority to patriarchs, prophets, the Levitical Priesthood, and angels, establishing His credentials.
United With Whom?
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeOur relationship with God is the key to unity with the brethren. When we are all just like Christ, we will also all resemble each other—and there will be unity.
All in All (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The end of the sanctification process is when Christ will have defeated all enemies and put all things under His feet. Then, God the Father will be all in all.
Our Divine Destiny
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's called-ones have been given the ability to decipher the scattered concepts, revealing the purpose of their destiny throughout the Scriptures.