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Christ as Redeemer
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ is our Redeemer, having saved us from our sins by taking their penalty, death, upon Himself. He paid the price for our rebellion against God with His own life. We have been redeemed by His blood shed on our behalf. The concept of redemption involves buying back and paying a steep cost to restore someone to a former condition or ownership. Christ redeems sinners from the death penalty they have incurred through their transgressions by sacrificing His priceless life. Like Boaz, who willingly took up the responsibility to be Ruth's kinsman-redeemer, Christ gave all He had, His perfect, sinless life, to redeem His Bride. He works relentlessly to save us and prepare us for His Kingdom, ensuring that every price is fully paid and every legal requirement is fulfilled. His redemption is lawful, ensuring our status before Him is unquestionable. Everyone will know that we belong to Him.
The Last Jubilee
Sermonette by Bill OnisickThe Jubilee was designed to keep the family whole. The Jubilee provided guardrails to prevent them from obsessing about acquiring wealth.
Redeemed, But Waiting for Redemption
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeRedemption is a continual spiritual process not completed until the end of the sanctification process. Passover commemorates what Christ's death set in motion.
Christ's Death, Resurrection, and Ascension
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus of Nazareth, the Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, the Messiah, died 1,964 years ago on the day of the Passover, Nisan 14, fulfilling the type of the Passover lamb. His ghastly death and the terrible scourging He endured bought us back, redeeming us as the blood of the lamb redeemed the firstborn of Israel from the tenth plague. Like the Passover lamb, He bled to death, expiring as an innocent and pure Man, having never sinned, just as the lamb was without blemish. We call Him our Redeemer because, being sinless, His blood covers our sins when we accept Him as our Savior, redeeming us from the second death. Through His death, He took upon Himself the sins of all humanity and paid the penalty of death for us all, freeing us from the second death and enabling us to receive God's gift of eternal life. His crucifixion and death had to occur on Nisan 14 to perfectly fulfill the type of the Passover lamb. Shortly after His resurrection, He ascended to His Father's throne in heaven to be accepted as our Redeemer and High Priest, qualifying as our sinless Savior to be our Mediator before God and Head of the Church. Because He lived a perfect life and died as our Redeemer and Savior, without succumbing to sin, He qualified to be our King, awaiting the Father's signal to return to earth as its Lord and King with power and authority to conquer evil and rule with a rod of iron.
According to His Pleasure
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod finds profound pleasure in the fulfillment of His will, particularly through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. It pleased God to bruise Him, as Isaiah describes, not out of cruelty, but because it was acceptable to Him for His Son to be crushed by many sorrows in order to accomplish His purpose. This act of striking Jesus Christ, the One He loved most, was tied to His goal of bringing many sons to glory, revealing His breathtaking grace and willingness to endure temporary agony for the ultimate pleasure of expanding His kingdom family. The Hebrew term 'ratsah,' meaning to be pleased or satisfied, underscores that God found satisfaction in this sacrifice, as it moved formerly separated people into an acceptable stance with Him, providing peace. Jesus Christ Himself is satisfied, knowing His work and sacrifice achieved this reconciliation. Through His life, teachings, service, and sacrifice, the pleasure of the Lord prospers in His hand, with Jesus being precious and a source of great delight to the Father. Though His crucifixion by wicked men was painful, it was determined beforehand by God, not as an accident or martyrdom, but as a deliberate sacrifice for the sins of the world. In His resurrection, He triumphed over every enemy, prolonging His days to live forever and claiming the spoils of victory in the spiritual battle. By resisting Satan's temptation of a temporary physical kingdom, Jesus maintained the vision of the future glorious spiritual kingdom of God, enduring beating, humiliation, and death to produce the result God desired. His obedience, even unto death, led to God highly exalting Him. The suffering of Jesus Christ, as seen in His broken body during the Passover observance, symbolized by the broken bread and shed blood, holds deep significance. Isaiah prophesies that by His stripes, we are healed, addressing first the sicknesses of the mind and spirit. His body, though not broken in bone, was torn by severe beating and whipping, bearing welts, lacerations, and wounds, spilling His blood for our transgressions and iniquities, bringing peace and healing through His chastisement. God's pleasure in these sufferings stems from the eternal redemption achieved for His people, not from enjoyment of the suffering itself, but from the overwhelming good foreseen as the end result. Jesus knew beyond doubt that His death would be pleasing to His Father, as it accomplished the redemption planned from eternity. Thus, God's ultimate pleasure lies in the spiritual healing and preparation of His people for His kingdom through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Six)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsHusbands must be humble (willing to sacrifice), imitating the behavior of Christ, striving to attain reconciliation and atonement with their wives.
Parables of Matthew 13 (Part 3): Hidden Treasure
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe church constitutes Christ's treasure, hidden in the world, purchased and redeemed with Christ's blood. The Pearl of Great Price depicts a rich merchant (Christ), the only one who had the means to redeem His church. The Dragnet symbolizes the scope of God's calling while the separation process indicates God's high standards of selection, indicating a time of righteous and impartial judgment. The Householder parable shows the responsibility of the ministry to be authoritative interpreters of scripture, using what they have learned and experienced to instruct the people.
The Love of Christ
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsOnly with the help of God's Holy Spirit are we able to fathom the dimensions of width, breadth, length, and depth of Jesus Christ's and the Father's love.

God's List
Article by Mark SchindlerOskar Schindler was determined to rescue as many Jews as possible from the horrors of the Final Solution. God acts in a similar way with His people.
Themes of Ruth (Part Three): Redemption
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus redeemed us with His shed blood from the penalty of our sins, but He also works as our High Priest, continually redeeming us until we are resurrected.
Will You Marry Me? (Part Two)
Article by StaffThe story of Boaz and Ruth and the cup of betrothal at Passover ask us to consider: Are we committed to this wonderful relationship with our Fiance?

Worthy to Take the Scroll
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeThough often skipped, Revelation 5 narrates an event of tremendous magnitude: the opening of the divine scroll. What is the scroll, and why did John weep?
The Law of the Firstborn
Article by StaffIt is an unusual fact that the subjects of God's spring holy days and firstborns appear in the same contexts. Here is what this means to us.
'Unto Us a Son Is Given'
CGG Weekly by Richard T. RitenbaughIt is high time for our conception of Christ to rise above the mere physical, which Christmas tends to emphasize, to the glories of His present and future work.
The Lamb of Revelation
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeIn Revelation, John refers to Christ as the Lamb more than any other designation because of His role of Redeemer, which is different from a sin offering.
Worthy to Take the Scroll
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeThe sealed scroll most resembles a title deed, which can only be opened by the redeemer of the property. The rightful owner of the title deed is Jesus Christ.
Boaz and Pentecost
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe name of Boaz (a type of Christ) appears many times more than Ruth (a type of the church), indicating Christ's intense work on behalf of the church.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Six): The Sin Offering
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus' perfect offering of Himself for us fulfilled the sin offering of Leviticus 4. Our acceptance of His offering for atonement puts us under obligation.
Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God, before He created Adam and Eve, preternaturally planned the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save humanity from the curse of sin and death.
Debt and Obligation
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe live in a time when people have acquired a weak sense of obligation to family, society, or nation. Because sin cannot be undone, all are debtors to God.
Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Because of His sinless life, Jesus' death was unnatural, abnormal, unreasonable, but all that was God's preternatural solution for the salvation of mankind.
Themes of Ruth (Part Two): God's Providence
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs we count the 50 days toward Pentecost, we should consider the events of our lives, coming to understand that they reveal God's on-going maintenance.

The Lamb of Revelation (Part Two)
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeIn Exodus 13, lambs redeem the firstborn. The Lamb of God delivers sinners from the death penalty, but another redemption will occur at Christ's return.

The Elements of Motivation (Part Four): Obligation
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughUnderstanding our obligation to Christ leads to a deeply held loyalty to Him. Our redemption should make us strive to please Him in every facet of life.