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Metaphors of God's Word

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God has supplied His Word as a precious gift, a source of reliable knowledge about Him and His way of life. Without the Bible, we would be lost in a sea of information, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood or discern what is truly important. In John 6:63, Jesus Christ declares that His words are spirit and life, setting them apart from all other words. Unlike human words, His words originate from a Spirit Being and carry a supremely spiritual nature, infused with His Spirit to produce godly life and, ultimately, eternal life when understood and applied by those who possess God's Spirit. This life-giving quality requires a connection at both ends of the communication process, where the receiver, empowered by God's Spirit, must put these words into practice to bring about transformation. Jesus emphasizes that His words are not focused on physical matters but on spiritual lessons and creation, aiming to shape us into His image. His words are dynamic, lively, and powerful, far beyond mere ink on a page. They actively work within us, whether we are aware of it or not, to create spiritual growth. As a life-giving force, God's Word contrasts sharply with the flesh, which produces nothing but death, while His Spirit and words emanate from the same divine source to generate life. This ongoing spiritual creation is the greater part of His plan, supported by the physical environment He has provided, ensuring that His words continue to produce life in those who receive and act upon them.

Words of Life, Words of Death

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. Maas

By exposing the negative self-talk, we can turn the self-imposed words of death into words of life.

The Fruit of the Spirit

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Fruit is a frequent symbol in the Bible, most prominently in the fruit of the Spirit. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in us.

A Primer On Spirit

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Spirit is an invisible force, the effects of which are clear by its manifestations. Spirit can be discerned by thinking through and evaluating its effects.

Appearing Before God (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

When God speaks, His words are never futile or useless. He never utters a word in vain. Genesis 1 shows what resulted from God speaking just a handful of sentences!

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's Spirit is the essence of His mind rather than a third person. With this Spirit, God opens our minds, dwells in us, and transfers His nature to us.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The architects of the trinity doctrine admit that it is a 'somewhat unsteady silhouette', requiring assumptions and inferences, but unsupportable by Scripture.

Words Versus Images

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Spiritually, relying on images leads to shallowness of thought at best and idolatry at its worst. Virtually everything we know about God comes through words.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Being 'in Christ' does not refer to location, but instead our 'concern with' or 'involvement with' Him—and He with us.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

There are varieties of spirit, motivating people to 'go with the flow' and conform to a sheep-like mob psychology. Satan's spirit encourages sinfulness.

Life in the Church

Sermon by David C. Grabbe

Outwardly, many members in Sardis bore Christ's name, but like the apparently religious Pharisees, they were in reality hypocrites, full of dead men's bones.

Image and Likeness of God (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The numerous figures of speech describing God's body parts substantiate that God has shape and form and occupies a specific location.

Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 6)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ emphasizes that the internal, weightier matters, which change the heart, take precedence over external ceremonial concerns that don't change the heart.

How Does God Help Us? (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The trials we go through are part of His providence, putting us into humility and determining what really motivates us.

Unity (Part 4): The Voice of God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The voice of God, whether expressed through thunder, events of His providence, handiwork of creation, or the preaching of His truth, is recognizable to His flock.

Separation and Oneness With God

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Since the beginning, God's purpose has been to bring all things into harmony with Him, giving mankind a respite from the heaviness of a sin-laden world.

Seeking God in the Mundane

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Pentecostalism, with its sensationalism, is dangerous to a true believer. God is more interested in quietness and meekness than in bombastic displays of power.

God's Powerful Gospel

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The true gospel includes the complete revelation of God of His plan to reproduce Himself. If a gospel does not produce repentance and faith, it is false.

Defining Logos (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The 'word of the Lord' came (appeared) to Abraham, suggesting that the Word (dabar, the Hebrew equivalent of logos) is a Being, the 'Lord God.'

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Four)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

John 6 has always been a difficult chapter to explain. However, Jesus' teaching is clear. Here is what it means to us.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Three)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We are what we eat. The same can apply spiritually to what we put into our minds. God wants us to desire His Word with the eagerness of a baby craving milk.

The W's and H's of Meditation (Part Five)

Sermon by David F. Maas

If we stockpile God's Word into our nervous systems, even though our outer man is decaying while our inner self is being renewed, we will nurture our spiritual legacy.

Four Views of Christ (Part 3)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The dominant emphasis of Matthew is the kingly qualities of Jesus as a descendant of the royal house of David, representing the Lion of Judah.

Mightier Than the Sword (Part Six)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Rousseau's malignant ideas have metastasized into a virulent cancer of collectivism, socialism and Communism, the centralization of power.

Our Trusted Source of Truth (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The veracity of the Scriptures is something we can take to the bank, in essence our only protection against the torrent of deception we face today.

A Cure for News Depression

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The overwhelmingly depressing news must be counterbalanced by edifying news, namely God's Word. The Scripture, with its life-giving words, provides hope.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 7)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jeremiah compares studying and meditating upon God's Word to physical eating, enabling a person to receive spiritual energy, vitality, and health.