Filter by Categories
The Priesthood of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's uniqueness stands as a central truth, setting Him apart from all creation and any god devised by human imagination. He cannot be adequately compared to any other, for He transcends all qualities admired by mankind, demanding exclusive worship and allegiance. His holiness, a term that identifies this uniqueness, reveals His infinite majesty, immeasurable power, and perfect righteousness. He is absolutely free from any blemish, whether in morality, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, discernment, judgment, or mercy. His presence evokes an overpowering sense of sinfulness and filth in humans, yet He remains aware of their conduct, blessing or punishing accordingly. This holiness, far beyond mere morality, encompasses attitudes and perceptions as one conforms to His image. It is most essential in the priesthood, reflecting the command for all who serve Him to be holy, as He is holy. This command extends to everyone, regardless of status, under both the Old and New Covenants, emphasizing likeness to God in character and purpose. The first two commandments underscore His uniqueness, declaring that only He brought freedom and sustenance, making worship of Him the sole path to well-being and abundance. Holiness, as God's essence, produces awe and humility in those who encounter Him, causing even the powerful to shrink in recognition of their unworthiness before His dazzling purity. Yet, His command to be holy offers encouragement, showing that some measure of His holiness can be attained through an intimate relationship with Him. This attainment, supported by His Spirit, transforms one's nature and life, as seen in Moses, whose face glowed from being in God's presence. The challenge to be holy requires separation, self-control, and dedication, as one must keep the temple of God's Spirit clean, avoiding the filth of the world and carnality. God's holiness demands that His children strive for this quality, presenting their lives as living sacrifices, acceptable to Him. This pursuit, tied to love and spiritual growth, aligns with His purpose for resurrection and eternal life in His Kingdom. Thanksgiving, as an expression of dependence and humility, fosters this relationship, ensuring His favor and strength against false doctrines. Ultimately, God's call to holiness, especially emphasized for the priesthood, serves as a constant reminder to all His people to strive for His standards. This involves the entirety of one's relationship with Him through study, prayer, fasting, and service, preparing each one to fulfill the role of priests in His Kingdom.
The Priesthood of God (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God's holiness is far more than mere morality; it is a term that encapsulates His uniqueness. He is holy, meaning different, separate, set apart, and a cut above all others. As the Bible describes Him, He is beyond simply being distinct—He is numinous, evoking awe and reverence. This quality is also synonymous with being irrational, inscrutable, and mysterious to human understanding, as He is so far beyond us that we cannot fully grasp or relate to Him. When people encounter Him, they are overwhelmed, feeling filthy by comparison and awed to the point of cringing in His dreadful, inescapable presence. Though unique, He is clean, majestic, dynamic, and pure in all His actions and judgments, embodying love personified. Our responsibility, therefore, is to strive for holiness, though we will never reach His level in this life. God calls us to aim for moral holiness, reflecting His nature as much as possible, as we are being created in the image of Jesus Christ to be a kingdom of priests.
The Priesthood of God (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We must endure chastening and correction to grow in holiness and become priests. In the qualifications of a Melchizedek priest, zeal and holiness are mandatory.
God the Father in the Old Testament
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Hebrew Scriptures reveal the existence of the Father. Deuteronomy 6:4 refers to God as one, signifying unity of purpose and identical character.
Holiness (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHoly things are set apart from the rest, consecrated, sanctified, and transcendentally separate. God wants to transform us into that very image.
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. By quoting the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Christ declares that the Lord is utterly unique—without equal in nature, character, authority, or saving power—and calls His people to hear, understand, and obey this truth. Because God alone is the sovereign Creator and Redeemer, believers are commanded to love Him with unwavering, sacrificial devotion, embracing Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. This wholehearted love flows from an intimate knowledge of God and demands the complete surrender of every affection, thought, breath, ability, and purpose, leading to a deep and authentic relationship with the one true and incomparable God.
The Third Commandment: Idolatry
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn the the Third Commandment, God's name describes His character, attributes, and nature. If we bear God's name, we must reflect His image and His character.