Playlist: Jesus Christ as God/Lord of the Old Testament (topic)
God the Father in the Old Testament
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ is the YHWH who revealed Himself to Israel, made the covenant at Sinai, and was known as their one God, while the Father went unrevealed for roughly four thousand years until Jesus declared Him (John 1:18). John 1:1-3 shows God and the Word as two distinct, equal Beings, and the Old Testament's plural Elohim points …
Jesus Is God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus claimed to be the God of the Old Testament, and Scripture reports it, though Gnostic-influenced thought denies that Spirit-God could take on flesh. Faith in this truth is a gift of God that overcomes human pride. Jesus repeatedly stated that He came down from heaven (John 3:13; 6), a point of origin no other human shares …
Jesus in the Feasts (Part One): The Bread of Life
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughChrist opened the disciples' understanding to see that the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms are all about Him (Luke 24:44-45, 25-27; John 5:46). Beyond the roughly 300 prophecies He fulfilled, the Old Testament shows Him in pre-incarnate appearances, sometimes only as the Angel of the Lord, to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and …
The Glory of God (Part 2): In Christ
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe glory God revealed in the Old Testament, from the burning bush to the Shekinah cloud and fire that dwelt with Israel forty years, is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God was in the cloud, not merely symbolized by it, and the pillar was Emmanuel, "God with us," just as Christ later was. Yet God's real glory is not radiance but His …
The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe God of the fathers who met Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses was the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ, the divine Messenger or Angel of the Lord. Christ often uses third-person titles for Himself, so the appearance of two titles, such as the Lord and the Angel, does not mean two beings are speaking. Titles like Elohim, Creator, …
Christ's Revelation of the Father
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Word of John 1:1-3 is a divine Being who existed with God from eternity past and is the Creator by whom all things were made. John 1:18 says no one has seen God at any time, yet Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses and the seventy elders, Joshua, Gideon, and others plainly saw God in the Old Testament. The resolution is that the …
Jesus' Pre-Existence
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ is Yahweh, the God of the Old Testament, the Word who existed before His human birth and is the Creator, not a created being. Revelation 3:14 should read "Beginner" or "Author" of God's creation, as Colossians 1:15-17, Ephesians 3:9, Hebrews 1:2, and John 1:1-4 confirm that all things were made through Him. The …
The High Christology of Colossians
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHigh Christology teaches that the One who became Jesus Christ preexisted as the Word of God and was the God of the Old Testament, then became God in the flesh, and is God today and forever at the Father's right hand. The Old Testament itself points this way: the Messianic psalms (Psalm 2, Psalm 110) and prophecies in Isaiah, …
Hebrews (Part Six): God's Salvation Communication
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ is the Creator God who has never been anything less than God, not for a second, even as a human being. Hebrews 1 and John 1 show that the Son made the worlds, upholds all things by the word of His power, and is the one who declared the unseen Father. The Son born in Bethlehem is the same Person who existed from all …
Announcing . . . Christ's Birth!
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe angel's announcement to the shepherds, "a Savior, who is Christ the Lord," is literally "Messiah Yahweh" (YHVH in Aramaic). He is both the Messiah and the Lord of the Old Testament, so the message was not merely that a baby had been born in Bethlehem but that God has been born there, the One long awaited. Gabriel's words to …
Christ, the Chief Cornerstone
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ stands as the central and most vital part of our spiritual foundation, embodying the Chief Cornerstone upon which the church is built. In Ephesians 2:20, Paul emphasizes that the church rests on the prophets and apostles, with Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone, the primary support and anchor for all …
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.
Image and Likeness of God (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe revelation of Jesus Christ as God and LORD in the Old Testament is consistently shown through His appearances with form and shape like a man. In Genesis, the LORD appeared to Abraham, who saw Him as a man, bowed down, and worshipped Him, and He did not reject the worship. Abraham offered Him water to wash His feet and …
Christ Our Rock
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughMoses, in proclaiming the name of the Lord, first refers to Him as 'The Rock,' highlighting a central image of God in his song. This term, as used in Deuteronomy 32, suggests qualities of perfection, justice, truth, and righteousness, portraying God as enduring, unchanging, massive, majestic, strong, solid, stable, reliable, and …
The Glory of God (Part 1): The Shekinah
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Shekinah, the glorious visible presence of God, manifested as the pillar of cloud and fire, guided Israel out of Egypt during the Days of Unleavened Bread. This pillar, symbolizing God's presence, provided protection, illumination, and comfort to the Israelites as they journeyed toward the Promised Land. It was not merely a …
Seeking God in the Mundane
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the narrative of Elijah's life, we see a profound lesson about the nature of God's work, particularly through the One who is identified as the God of the Old Testament, Jesus Christ. He reveals Himself not in the sensational displays of power that Elijah often anticipated, such as the earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the …
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe Christian view of marriage is deeply rooted in the teaching of the Scriptures, encompassing both the Old and New Testaments. The apostle Paul draws his teachings from this unified source, recognizing that the LORD of the Old Testament and the Lord of the New Testament are the same Being who became the Son of God, Jesus …
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the journey of faith described in Hebrews 11, we find a profound recognition among the patriarchs and heroes of old regarding the identity of the One they served. Moses, for instance, esteemed the reproach of Christ as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, demonstrating an understanding of who He was long before His …
Passover and Hope
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBehind the despair and challenges of the world, the church, and personal struggles, there shines a blinding ray of hope through Jesus Christ. Our patience of hope rests in Him, the same God of the Old Testament, who has dealt with humanity as our High Priest throughout mankind's existence. Through Him, we come to know the …
One God and One God Only
Sermonette by Mike FordIn Genesis 22:11, the Angel of the LORD calls out to Abraham with urgency, and this is Christ Himself speaking, halting Abraham's action at the critical moment. As He watches this scene unfold, which mirrors His own future sacrifice, Christ's voice carries the weight of profound connection to Abraham's obedience. In Genesis …
Passover and I Corinthians 10
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn I Corinthians 10:1-5, the apostle Paul reveals a profound truth about the presence of Jesus Christ in the history of the Israelites. He declares that they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. This signifies that Jesus Christ was actively present with them during their wilderness journey, …
The Helper and the Angel of the Lord
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeJesus Christ is identified as the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament, the One who acted as the Messenger and Spokesman on God's behalf. In Exodus 23:20-22, the Lord declares that He sends an Angel before Israel to keep them in the way and bring them to the prepared place, warning them to obey His voice and not provoke Him, …
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is presented as the God of the Old Testament, the One through whom the Father, Absolute Deity, has always expressed Himself to mankind throughout the ages of Israel's history. John, in his Gospel, identifies Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and the God of the Old Testament right from the beginning, emphasizing that …
The Shepherd of Israel
Sermonette byPsalm 80 shows that the Shepherd of Israel sat between the Cherubim in the Holy of Holies, showing that Jesus Christ is the God who interacted with Israel.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is revealed as the God and Lord of the Old Testament, the One through whom mankind has always interacted. He is the Image of the invisible God, as stated in Colossians 1:15, appearing to and conversing with figures such as Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, and Joshua in various forms suited to the Father's purpose. …
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is revealed as God, possessing an eternal and uncreated nature, as affirmed in John 1:1-2, where He is identified as the Word who was with God and was God from the beginning. His preexistence is evident through various scriptures, such as John 3:13, where He declares that He came down from heaven, indicating He …
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ, though of the God-kind, is distinct from the Supreme God, the Father, and is not the Absolute Deity. Scriptures affirm that He pre-existed before His incarnation, was visible and audible to mankind, and was clearly seen by others as the God of the Old Testament. He was worshipped as God, yet He was not the Father, …
John (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is repeatedly presented as the God and Lord of the Old Testament through His own claims and the testimony of Scripture. In Matthew 5:20-22, He equates Himself with the Lord of the Old Testament by declaring, "For I say unto you," asserting His authority to expound the spirit of the law, unlike the prophets who …
The Angel and the Apostle
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeHebrews 1-2 establish Christ's superiority over angels, but notably do not mention the Angel of the Lord. Instead, the author handles the Angel differently.
John (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn presents Jesus Christ as God, the Creator, in the very opening of his book, asserting in John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This statement identifies Jesus of Nazareth as pre-existent, existing before time itself, in fellowship with God, and of divine nature. He is …
Bible Answers to The Da Vinci Code
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe New Testament clearly presents Jesus Christ as God, refuting claims that His divinity was a later invention. From the outset in Matthew 1:20-23, His divine nature is evident as He is conceived by the Holy Spirit and named Immanuel, meaning "God with us." This establishes, long before any later councils, that the early church …
Keeping Our Focus Through Stormy Seas
Sermonette by Ted E. BowlingDistractions of any type may cause us to shift our attention from our Creator, as Jesus' disciples did on that stormy night in the Sea of Galilee.
The Most Important Commandment
Sermonette by Clyde FinkleaJesus' answer to the scribe in Mark 12:28-30 reveals that the greatest commandment is rooted not only in what God requires, but in who God is.
Man's Greatest Challenge (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe central figure in the Bible, after God the Father, is Jesus Christ. The entire Old Testament points to His coming, while the New Testament contains His teaching, His life, and the teachings of His Church through the Apostles. The same God is present in both the Old and New Testaments; it is not a contrast between an old, …
Where Do We Go From Here?
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerThe Word who became Jesus Christ is revealed as the I AM, the overwhelming presence who spoke to Moses from the burning bush, declaring His eternal name. In Exodus 3:14-15, He proclaims, "I AM WHO I AM," instructing Moses to tell the children of Israel that I AM has sent him, a name to be remembered forever across all …
Faith versus Doubtful Things
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWhen Jesus came walking on the water, He was filling a role that in the Old Testament was reserved for God alone. The Greek Septuagint translation uses the exact same Greek phrasing in both Mark 6 and Job 9. In Mark 6:48 it states that He came to them walking on the sea. In Job 9:8 it says that He alone spreads out the heavens …
Peter's Pentecost Sermon
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPeter explains that David was king. Who was David's Lord? It was Yahweh . It was the One who became Jesus Christ. The One called the LORD is God the Father. So the Father said to the One who became Christ, Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool. Peter gets into another little point here. He is explaining …
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Nine): Philadelphia
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ is identified with titles such as the Holy One and the True One. These titles connect Him directly to the God of the Old Testament. The Holy One is a common Old Testament title that occurs about twenty times. It refers to the great Creator who made the expanse of the stars and knows them all by name. He is the One …
Letters to Seven Churches (Part Eleven): Laodicea
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn Christ's identification of Himself to the Laodicean church, He calls Himself the Amen. Amen is a Hebrew term originally expressing affirmation, so that when someone speaks and others reply amen they agree and say so be it. In Isaiah 65:16 Yahweh, God of the Old Testament, calls Himself the God of amen, the God of so be it. By …
John (Part Fifteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ stated that the people in John 8 were speaking to the One who was the Father of Old Testament Israel. They did not know that yet and never did recognize it. Jesus said to them that before Abraham was, He is I AM. They understood that He was claiming to be the Lord of the Old Testament. He was claiming to be the …
Abraham's Sacrifice (Part Four): Providence Manifested
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Angel of the Lord is not an angel as normally understood but none other than the One called the Word or the God of the Old Testament. The One who became Jesus Christ. This was the Lord. This is known from the context because of the response that now I know that you fear God and have not withheld your only son from Me. It was …
Do You Recognize This Man? (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ as God of the Old Testament inspired Solomon to write the Proverbs. He viewed the way of the wicked as an abomination. He loved those who followed righteousness. He administered harsh discipline to those who forsook the way. He ensured that those who hated correction would die. Jesus Christ as God of the Old …
How Satan Destroys Faith
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament as well. He created the earth. He sent the blood. He created all those earthquakes and earth movements that caused the waters to come up out of the ground. He split the Red Sea. He destroyed Egypt. He raised people from the dead. He killed 180,000 troops of Assyria in one fell swoop. …
Tithing
Sermon by John O. ReidJesus Christ was the God of the Old Testament, and He was Melchisedec. God the Father created all by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the God who set up the world. Everything was created through Him. No doubt, this Melchisedec was Jesus Christ. Paul taught that Abraham the father of the faithful tithed to Melchisedec. The Levites …
Hebrews (Part Fifteen)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughWe dare not allow a root of bitterness to spring up in us as a result of trials - those burdens intended by God to strengthen us and perfect us.