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The Beauty of God's Law

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's law is a profound expression of divine beauty, embodying harmony, purpose, and a wonderful outcome that many fail to recognize. It is not merely a set of rules but the very counsel of God, reflecting the breadth and depth of His truth. This law possesses a beauty that worldly individuals often cannot perceive, viewing it instead as a curse rather than a blessing. They miss its inherent goodness and attractiveness, unable to appreciate its value. Human nature exhibits a natural antagonism toward God's law, rooted in carnality and selfishness, compounded by satan's influence and societal pressures. This hostility renders unconverted individuals incapable of subjecting themselves to His instructions, living in a state of rebellion against God. Many, even among nominal Christians, reject His law outright, preferring a theology that demands no obedience and offers rewards without sacrifice. They suppress the evident truths of God, prioritizing their unrighteous desires and stifling His revelation to continue a selfish, ungodly lifestyle. God's response to this rejection is to allow humanity to experience the consequences of their rebellion. He permits them to follow their desires, learning through hardship the futility of living without Him. Their rejection of His law is a denial of His authority, as they seek to define right and wrong for themselves, avoiding guilt and accountability. Yet, God's law remains in force over all people throughout their lives, defining sin and righteousness without compelling action. It stands as a neutral yet positive tool, holy, just, and good, designed to lead us toward goodness when used properly. The beauty of God's law manifests in its communal benefits. When kept, it fosters harmony and profitability in community living, ensuring rest, trust, and peace among neighbors. It extends blessings to all within one's sphere of influence, from family to strangers, promoting a way of life that benefits entire nations and ultimately the world. Keeping His law is an expression of loving one's neighbor, creating an environment where life is easier and less stressful. Furthermore, obedience to God's law results in abundant blessings and His favor. It spares one from the automatic curses of disobedience and brings significant benefits, both physical and spiritual. God promises a prosperous life to the obedient, with endeavors flourishing and ultimate honor in His Kingdom. His blessings exceed imagination, ensuring basic needs are met and offering spiritual riches as we prepare for His Kingdom. God's law also provides insight into ourselves, illuminating the path forward. It offers guidance, reveals our stumblings, and shows how to recover, acting as a perfect law of liberty that instructs and benefits when practiced. Additionally, it revives, strengthens, and encourages, instilling hope, delight, liberty, good judgment, knowledge, and understanding. It edifies, building us up as we walk in His commandments. Ultimately, the beauty of God's law is beyond compare, an expression of His very mind in words. It encapsulates the promise of eternal life, a beauty that surpasses description, reflecting His nature and way. All things of God, including His law, are holy, just, good, spiritual, pure, and beautiful, simultaneously attractive and sublime, exalting the mind and spirit when approached with the right attitude. Any perceived ugliness or curse arises from our own contributions, not from His perfect design.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Under both the Old and New Covenants, refusal to keep to keep God's Law severs the relationship. God's law protects us and brings us quality life.

'But I Say to You' (Part One): The Spirit of the Law

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our righteousness must exceed the that of the Pharisees, keeping God's law in the spirit rather than in the letter, replacing the law of death with the law of life.

The Jerusalem Council's Conclusion

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God's Law is presented as holy, just, and good, a spiritual guide for living in righteousness. As expressed in Romans 7:12, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, just, and good. Further, in Romans 7:14, it is acknowledged as spiritual, contrasting with human carnality, and in Romans 7:22, Paul delights in the law of God according to the inward man. This reverence stands in stark contrast to the burdensome customs and traditions of Judaism, referred to as the law of Moses in Acts 15, which Peter describes as an unbearable yoke that neither their fathers nor they could bear. God's Law, unlike these man-made accretions, is not presented as a burden but as a divine standard that David, in Psalm 19, cherished for its justice and holiness. The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 does not abolish God's Law but addresses specific issues for Gentile converts without negating the broader commandments. James, in Acts 15:21, notes that Moses has been preached in every city and read in the synagogues every Sabbath, implying that Gentiles are already familiar with God's requirements. The four prohibitions given—abstaining from things polluted by idols, sexual immorality, things strangled, and blood—are not a replacement for God's Law but are highlighted to address rampant Gentile sins that could offend Jewish brethren and disrupt church unity. These instructions aim to facilitate fellowship, not to suggest that only these rules apply. Throughout the New Testament, the necessity of keeping God's Law is reaffirmed for both Jew and Gentile. Jesus, in Matthew 19:17-19, instructs to keep the commandments, listing several from the Ten Commandments and summarizing them with love for neighbor. Galatians 5:19-20, Colossians 3:5, Hebrews 4:9, and I Corinthians 5:7-8 further emphasize adherence to God's Law, covering aspects like sexual purity, idolatry, Sabbath-keeping, and observing feasts. The notion that the Jerusalem Council's decision nullifies God's Law is dismissed as ludicrous, as James lacked the authority to decree such a change, and the ongoing teaching of the law in synagogues and churches underscores its enduring relevance. God's Law also defines sin and guides righteous living, as reinforced in Romans 3. Justification by faith does not void or abolish the law but establishes it in its proper place, not as a means of justification, but as a code to live by before God, aiding growth toward the fullness of Christ. Thus, God's Law remains a vital standard for all, upheld amidst specific situational instructions and cultural considerations.

The Christian Paradox (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We have two conflicting natures: a downward-pulling carnal nature versus a divine nature imparted by God's Holy Spirit, continually at odds, seen in Romans 7.