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God and Reality
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMany today, claiming to be Christian, feel free to reject the words of Jesus Christ, dismissing vital truths such as His resurrection or His return. In doing so, they unknowingly label God a liar, for He has declared, "This is My beloved Son. Believe you Him." To reject what Jesus said about Himself or what He will do is to deny the truth of God, who is true in all things. Such rejection reveals a lack of foundation, for without the truths that guide love for God and fellow man, their claims of love lack substance. This dismissal of God's reality, seen in scoffing at His promises like the return of Christ, is no small matter; it is willful contempt, an arrogance that deems God's Word irrelevant or unrealistic. By their lifestyles and attitudes, they demonstrate a belief that God's truth does not apply, further distancing themselves from the reality of His purpose and plan.
Is God's Inspiration of the Bible Imperfect?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn this evil, upside-down world, many reject God's truth with intense hatred, demonstrating, protesting, and rioting against it based on emotional reasons unrelated to their cause. Hypocritical critics claim to champion causes like immigrant rights while endorsing actions contrary to life, revealing their inconsistency. They demand freedom of speech but are intolerant of differing opinions, seeking to silence opposition. These attackers promote ideologies in conflict with peaceful values, while benefiting from the freedoms provided by the very culture they oppose. Christians face increasing verbal and physical attacks for their association with Jesus Christ, as vicious groups and individuals express hatred toward them and the sacred Word of God. Critics, including professors and scholars, take cheap shots at the Bible, claiming it is full of discrepancies and contradictions, treating it as myth or mere literature. They question the accuracy of God's written Word, attempting to cast doubt on His sovereignty. Many are willingly fooled by flagrant lies about the Bible's alleged imperfections, ignoring that God designed it perfectly according to His will and plan for salvation. The difficulties in the Bible, perceived as contradictions by skeptics, are intentional, meant to stimulate minds, inspire deeper thought, and lead to a search for truth. God has purposely designed the Bible with apparent discrepancies to test moral character and faithfulness. To those who reject His truth, the Scriptures become stumbling stones, revealing their hardened and rebellious attitudes. God sends confusion to those dedicated to error, causing them to believe lies, and rebukes presumptuous critics by their own failures, allowing sin to carry its inherent punishment. While a humble and reverent approach to these difficulties enhances perception of God's truth and strengthens faith, a fault-finding and dishonest manner turns them into instruments of judgment, linking critical skepticism to its appropriate penalty. God hides Himself from those who disobey Him, while revealing Himself to those who seek Him with their whole heart.
Do You See God?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnless we acknowledge God's sovereign authority in our lives, following through with the things we learn from scripture, we, like atheists, will not see God.
Prepare to Meet Your God! (The Book of Amos) (Part One)
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Amos is an astounding prophecy, closely paralleling the conditions in the Western world today. Amos reveals how unrighteousness undermines society.
Jesus and the Feast (Part One): Alignment With God
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughOnly in John 7 do we find some evidence of Tabernacles and the Eighth Day, providing a gold mine to discover what was on Jesus's mind during this time.
Prayer and Seeking God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughRather than having an apathetic relationship toward God, we must ardently, earnestly, and fervently seek God in order to imitate His behavior in our lives.
Humanism's Flooding Influence (Part One)
Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Humanism stems from the Renaissance, a time men felt free to exalt human reason and self-realization over religion and divine authority.
Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's calling is personal and individual rather than general, opening otherwise closed minds, replacing spiritual blindness with spiritual understanding.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe vast majority of Christian-professing churches has been saturated with pagan doctrines (like antinomianism and dispensationalism), derived from Gnosticism.
The Healing of a Man Born Blind (Part Three)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe must accept that there are some things for which we do not know the answer, and not all the things we 'know' are necessarily true.
Why Many Do Not Understand
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBiblical truth cannot be discerned by human intellect alone, but must be spiritually discerned. God has hidden spiritual truth from the majority for now.
Benefits of the Third Resurrection
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe Lake of Fire (Second Death or Third Resurrection), dreadful as it initially appears, produces both immediate as well as ultimate benefits or good.
Meet the Modern Pagans
Commentary by David C. GrabbeAllowing a freewheeling, inclusive approach to multicultural experiences, the new pagan Druid religion is highly eclectic, rejecting only Christianity.
Elements of Judgment (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We must emulate the ways of God, demonstrating justice in our lives, thoughts, words, and deeds, preparing to judge in God's Kingdom. Not all sins are equal.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMany professing Christians have rejected major tenets of the Bible, fashioning their own religions, giving themselves license to sin in selected areas.
Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe cosmology of ancient Greece, saturated with astrology and Gnostic dualism, filtered into the doctrines of the early church, creating corrupt doctrines.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Fifteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThings written in the Old Testament were written for us. The differences in the covenants focus on justification and access to God, not doing away with the law.
A Subtle Yet Devastating Curse
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeAmos 8:11 speaks of 'a famine...of hearing the words of the LORD.' Such a famine is occurring today: The words of God are available, but few can hear.
Man's Greatest Challenge (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIt is almost impossible to make sense out of this world if we try to process the voluminous information available in these days of exploding knowledge.