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Hebrews (Part Four): Who Was Jesus?
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ stands as a figure of unparalleled glory, unique and great above all who have ever lived. His characteristics, marked by profound love and unstinting generosity, were expressed humbly and abundantly for the eternal well-being of His creation. Within Him resided the intellectual powers to design and bring into existence this vast creation, populating it with stars, planets, angels, humans, animals, fish, and birds, showcasing an immense investment of divine creativity. His glory is further revealed in His willingness to take on the responsibilities of humanity, ultimately giving His divine life in death to pay for our sins. The apostles witnessed a portion of His glory during the years they spent learning from Him, observing the stark contrast between mankind's rejection and His outpouring of love. His glory is rooted in the eternal truth that He has always been God, never ceasing to hold this divine nature even while assuming human form. As the only begotten Son, He has existed from eternity alongside the Father, a reality that distinguishes Him as one of a kind. His qualifications as High Priest are announced with resounding clarity. He is the only begotten Son, unique among all except the Father. He is appointed Heir of all things, assuring dignity, dominion, and continuance in administration. As the Creator of all things, He faithfully cares for what He has made, including humanity. He embodies the brightness of God's glory and the express image of His Person, reflecting the Father's purpose and character without inferiority. He upholds the universe by the Word of His power, preserving and managing His creation with unwavering dominion. He Himself purged us of our sins, a paramount glory that prepares us for His Kingdom in alignment with the Father's purpose. Now re-established at the right hand of God, He surveys all creation, second only to the Father in rulership, witnessing His faithfulness to the divine purpose.
Hebrews (Part Five): Who Was Jesus?
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ stands as the centerpiece of creation, unmatched in importance except by the Father. His glory is revealed through His essential role in connecting humanity to eternity and its splendors. Without a vital connection to Him, nothing of spiritual significance can be achieved, as He Himself declared that apart from Him, nothing can be done in terms of God's creative spiritual purpose. His qualifications as High Priest are profound and numerous, beginning with His unique status as the only begotten Son of God, a position of unparalleled rank. He is appointed Heir of all things, assuring ownership, dignity, and dominion, which confirms that the church is in capable hands. As the Creator of all things, He gives life to all living beings, demonstrating His thoughtful care, orderly intelligence, and power, ensuring faithful care for His creation with humanity in mind. Jesus Christ embodies the brightness of God's glory and is the express image of His person, reflecting the Father's purpose and character completely. He reveals the Father, making God's glorious realities sharply defined to those called by God. Without Him, the Father's existence and glory would remain unknown. He upholds all things in the universe by the word of His power, preserving all that exists and affirming His faithful dominion and management of creation, ensuring it will never disappear. Among His highest glories benefiting mankind, He Himself purged humanity of sins, a critical aspect of His rulership as He prepares us for His Kingdom, unwavering in purpose even to the point of giving His life. Positioned at the right hand of God in heaven, He surveys all creation, second only to the Father in rulership, witnessing His faithfulness to the Father's purpose. As the captain of salvation, He leads as a chief leader and pioneer, inspiring deeds of valor through obedience to the Father, suffering to achieve God's glory, and exemplifying the way of glory into God's Kingdom. His teaching surpasses all others, as affirmed by the Father's command to hear Him above all, highlighting the greater glory connected with His instruction. Through His life and sacrifice, He loved to the uttermost, giving Himself in death for the spiritual benefit of those who follow Him.
Passing By in Glory
Sermonette by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus' walking on the water in the pitch-black darkness of early morning, revealing Himself to the disciples, alludes to the time God passed by Moses.
Christ Coming in the Flesh
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ, in His profound humility, relinquished His equality with the Father to become a lowly servant in the likeness of a human being. He, known as Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God and the Son of Man, committed Himself to the task of redeeming mankind, humbling Himself further through obedience even unto death by crucifixion. Throughout His life as a fleshly human, He retained His essential personality and character as God, embodying as much of the divine nature as a man could hold while still being human. His glory, though muted to fit human capacity, shone through as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. In His example and speech, He revealed the goodness and truth of God, showcasing the glory of the Father through His actions. After His resurrection, He was received up into glory, regaining all the splendor He had before becoming a man, and more, as the Redeemer, High Priest, and soon-coming King.
Glory and Oneness
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIn Christ's Passover prayer, He states that the glory the Father had given Him had also been given to the disciples. Christ's glory is the key to being one.
Jesus in the Feasts (Part Five): Tabernacles
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe should consider the temporary dwellings as a foreshadowing of Christ as our ultimate Tabernacle—the divine presence with and within His people
The Glory of God (Part 3): From Glory to Glory
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWe must not limit God's glory to something physical like fire or cloud, but rather recognize God's glory as radiating from His character, which we can share.
Jesus on His Second Coming
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOnly the Father knows the precise time of Christ's return, but the message to all Christians is to be vigilant and busy overcoming that we may see Him in glory.
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughLike with the heroes of faith, our testing will be commensurate with the job God has prepared for us. We must make our relationship with God our top priority.
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah
Sermonette by John ReissLooking forward to the promises that God wants to give to billions of His human creations inspires us to keep on striving through the trials and struggles.
Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeChrist's words at His trial regarding sitting at God's right hand and coming on clouds sound like His return, but they have another fulfillment altogether.
Fully Man and Fully God? (1994)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is often misunderstood. The phrase 'fully man and fully God' does not have biblical support; Christ's real nature is much more meaningful.
Fully Man and Fully God?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is called both 'Son of Man' and 'Son of God,' raising weighty questions about His nature. Could He have both full humanity and full divinity?
I Can Only Imagine
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaThe predestinated, called-out saints, when God finishes His creative work, will be like Jesus Christ, offspring of Almighty God and will see Him as He is.
In The Likeness of Men!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus was subjected to the same experiences as the rest of us, having the appearance, experiences, the capability of receiving injury and suffering temptation.
Armor of Light
Sermonette by Bill OnisickGod commands His people to walk in the light, radiating the unfathomable brilliance of the Father and Son Who are within them.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus referred to His Father as 'My God,' indicating that They do not share equality, preeminence, or superiority. They are equal in kind, but one is subordinate.
John (Part Three)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughEven many extra-biblical sources such as Tacitus, Seconius, Justin Martyr, Pliny, and Josephus corroborate and validate the biblical accounts of Jesus.
Hebrews (Part Thirteen): Chapter 2, A Mind-Bending Purpose (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The Jewish converts to the Way, although having had the benefit of Messianic prophecies, did not recognize the powerful significance of Psalm 8.
God In Us
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamThe force of the preposition 'in' reveals that the Father loves us to the same degree that He loves Jesus Christ. We must reciprocate their love.
The Resurrection: A Central Pillar
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChrist's resurrection is of paramount importance to us, because Jesus alone has the keys to our own resurrection and eternal life as firstfruits.
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.