Playlist:

playlist Go to the Justification (topic) playlist

Are You Justified?

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

'Justification' is a theological term that many do not understand, thinking that it is a complex point of doctrine. But it is not as difficult as it may seem.


The Fruit of Justification

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The subject of justification confuses a great many people. In fact, much of nominal Christianity, even theologians, do not understand the Bible's teaching on it.


Salvation: The Path to God's Kingdom (Part One)

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

God's plan of salvation has past, present, and future aspects, and each has its own rewards. The Bible uses 'salvation' and its related words just over 600 times.


Saved By Faith Alone?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Protestantism is based on Luther's insistence that Christians are saved by faith alone. But is the really true? It is true of justification, not salvation.


No Works Is No Good!

CGG Weekly

The 'no works' doctrine says that all one has to do is believe in Jesus and accept His grace, and one's sins will be forgiven. This has disastrous effects.


What Is Real Conversion? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Some in Antioch believed the preaching of the persecuted Christians, and they not only agreed with the teaching but also changed or transformed their lives.


Living By Faith and God's Grace (Part Two)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

'Grace' is a term that represents God's awesome generosity toward us, His continuously flowing blessings and saving acts. It goes beyond just forgiveness.


Basic Doctrines: Salvation

Bible Study by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Are you saved already or are you being saved? What is salvation anyway? What part do we play? Here is a study of God's Word on salvation.


Was God's Law Nailed to the Cross?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn

Many use Colossians 2:14 to 'prove' God's law is done away, but is this really what Paul means? Examining the whole counsel of God reveals Paul's intent.


Is Obedience Required Before Receiving God's Holy Spirit?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Acts 5:32 declares that God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him, yet some argue that keeping God's law is not necessary. What is the truth?


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Three)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

We have been called, not just to believe in Christ, but also to overcome sin, which takes a great deal of effort. Justification requires a response.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The yoke of bondage Paul refers to in Galatians was a combination of the code of regulations added by the Pharisees and Gnostic ritualism, not God's Law.


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Four)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The Bible makes it plain that salvation is by grace, but it is also clear that we are 'created in Christ Jesus for good works.' Grace and works fit together.


What Was the Law 'Added Because of Transgressions'?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Some think Galatians 3:19 means that God's law has been done away, but critical misunderstandings have led people astray on this verse.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Nine)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

A summary of the Covenants, Grace, and Law series, reiterating the differences in the Covenants and the respective places of grace and law in God's purpose.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

In Galatians, Paul took issue with the Halakhah, not God's word. Halakhah was a massive collection of human opinion that placed a yoke on its followers.


What Is Propitiation? (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Propitiation is the way God and man can be reconciled and experience a profitable relationship.


Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The two men who go to the Temple to pray contrast in character, belief, and self-examination. The contrast shows how to be justified before God.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Justification does not 'do away' with the law; it brings us into alignment with it, imputing the righteousness of Christ and giving access to God for sanctification.


What Do You Mean . . . Salvation?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Not one in a hundred knows what salvation is—how to get it or when you will receive it. Don't be too sure you do! Here is the truth, made plain.


Why Hebrews Was Written (Part One)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God inspired the book of Hebrews to answer the difficult questions church members were struggling with during the tumultuous first decades of the church.


Living by Faith: God's Grace (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because we are all sinners, we have earned only death; justification is not earned, but must come through faith and believing God as did our father Abraham.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Justification is not the end of the salvation process, but merely the opening to sanctification, where we bear fruit and give evidence of God's Spirit in us.


Completing Sanctification

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

An emphasis on hyper-grace is wrong-headed, denying any need for repentance and overcoming, and totally at odds with the teachings of Jesus Christ.


Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Six)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Works cannot earn us salvation. However, they play many vital roles in our Christian walk toward the Kingdom of God, especially in developing holiness.


Dead to the Law?

'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Romans 7:4 says we are 'dead to the law through ... Christ.' What does this mean? The context shows that it refers to the 'old man' that perished at baptism.


Is God a False Minister?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Those who advocate doctrinal change portray God as a confused and false minister who lacks the power to instruct his chosen leaders to 'get it right.'


Reconciliation (Part Two): Christ's Work

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

After reconciliation, there can finally be a meeting of minds as we are fashioned into a new creation, invited to sit in heavenly places, created for good works.


Why We Must Put Out Leaven

Article by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)

Why must we put leaven out, yet we do not have to circumcise our baby boys? Is deleavening 'Old Covenant'?


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.


Paul: Grace, Law, and Obedience

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Paul's writings, because of their complexity, are frequently twisted to say that he was anti-law. By denigrating God's law, the unconverted set their own standards.


What Do You Mean . . . the Unpardonable Sin?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Can a Christian commit a sin, and still be a Christian? Or would this be 'the unpardonable sin'? Or would it prove he never was a Christian?


Sovereignty, Election, and Grace (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Grace's influence extends beyond justification, into the sanctification stage where the believer yields himself to righteousness, keeping God's commandments.


James and Unleavened Bread (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The book of James applies to us after the sanctification process has begun. The most effective way of eliminating sin is to do righteousness.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ will empower us, but will not live our lives for us. The marching orders for our pilgrimage derive from God's Word, containing His holy law.


The Christian Fight (Part Four)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

While we must express some of our own faith as we come to salvation, most of saving faith is a gift of God. Abel and Enoch illustrate the pattern of faith.


Faith and the Christian Fight (Part Two)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Everything that we go through has been engineered by God. We are His workmanship, created for good works, a response to the faith He has given us.


Amazing Grace

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The old song speaks of "Amazing Grace" but do we really understand just how amazing it is? The Bible reveals some details on this vital topic.


Where Is God's True Church Today?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Where can we find the true religion, the true church, in all this confusion? Only the church Christ founded and heads today has the answers to eternal life.


Grace Upon Grace

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Forgiveness is only the beginning of the grace process, enabling us to grow to the stature of Christ. Paradoxically, grace puts us under obligation to obey.


Acts (Part Fourteen)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The people of Lystra and Derbe mistake Paul for Hermes and Barnabas for Zeus. When Paul convinces the crowds that he and Barnabas are not gods, they are rejected.


What Kind of Faith is Required for Salvation?

Herbert W. Armstrong Booklet

Millions who say they believe in Jesus Christ have no salvation at all because they trust in the wrong kind of faith. Saving faith is largely misunderstood.


Abraham's Sacrifice (Part One): Faith Perfected

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Scriptures place a paramount importance on sacrifice. Abraham's 'sacrifice' of Isaac confirmed him to the position of father of the faithful.


Limiting the Holy One of Israel (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

We limit God through our willful sin and disobedience, pride and self confidence, ignorance and blindness, and our fear of following Him.


The Promises of God

Sermon by John O. Reid

In this time of confusion and rapid change, we have a desperate need for something solid to hold onto. Some of the most secure things are the promises of God.


Peace with God Through Christ

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The only possibility of attaining peace is a relationship with God—peace with God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which must continually be refined.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The days, months, and times of Galatians 4:10 do not refer to God's Holy Days (which are not weak or beggarly), but to pagan rites the Galatians came out of.


Does Doctrine Really Matter? (Part Eleven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because of Dispensationalism, many believe there is an adversarial relationship between law and grace, as though they cannot be complementary.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The New Covenant, which writes God's law onto the heart, in no way does away with any aspect of the law. Works do not justify us, they sanctify us.


The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twelve)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The fault of the Old Covenant was with the hearts of the people. Christ took it upon Himself to amend the fault enabling us to keep the commandments.