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Hebrews (Part Nine): Chapter 1: Jesus' Exultation and Christianity's Claims
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ's divinity is a profound truth that underscores His unique identity and role in God's purpose. He is identified as the only begotten Son of God, declared in Psalm 2 as the Son, the Anointed One, and the Messiah, distinguishing Him from all others in history, including angels. As John 1:17 reveals, He is the unique Son in the bosom of the Father, having declared Him to mankind. Even at His conception in Mary's womb, He was God, sharing the same divine nature as the Father, demonstrating that They are of the same kind. At the moment of His birth, Jesus became exalted to a position He had not held before, fulfilling the role of the New Covenant High Priest. He did not need to qualify for this office in the ordinary sense, as He was already God when the prophecy was uttered and remained divine while becoming human. His sinless life, akin to the purity of animal sacrifices, made Him the fitting sacrifice to pay for humanity's sins, embodying both human and divine natures simultaneously. His death and resurrection completed this purpose, affirming His eternal authority. Hebrews 1 further establishes His divine qualifications, portraying Him as the Son through whom God spoke prophetically, the High Priest who provided purification for sins, and the King ruling from His throne. Appointed by God because He loves righteousness and hates lawlessness, He stands head and shoulders above all others, anointed with the oil of gladness. His divinity is explicitly confirmed in Hebrews 1:8 and John 1:1-2, where He is addressed as God, reflecting the perfect image of the Father in character and purpose. Jesus' divine glory, witnessed in John 1 and Hebrews 1, leaves mankind without excuse, shining forth like the sun in His demeanor and recorded by countless witnesses. His actions, impossible for a mere created being, such as calming seas or healing from a distance, distinguish Him as Creator God. His atonement for sin, accomplished by Himself as stated in Hebrews 1:3, opens the door to salvation, guaranteed by the Father's authority. Exalted to the Father's right hand after His resurrection, He works with the Father to complete Their unfailing plan for mankind. Even at His birth, angels worshipped Him, and wise men paid homage without rebuke, affirming His divinity from the womb. Hebrews 1:14 highlights mankind's worth in God's eyes, as angels serve humanity to usher them into His Kingdom, reflecting the immense value God places on His creation. Jesus, unchanging as declared in Hebrews 13:8, offers safety and stability amidst earthly turmoil, remaining the same yesterday, today, and forever. His divine nature and authority demand mankind's attention, as He is the door to salvation, the link between life and death, and the indispensable Leader for all eternity.
Jesus Is God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe divinity of Jesus Christ stands as a fundamental truth essential to understanding God's word, faith, and salvation. If Jesus was not who He and the Word of God claim Him to be, then He was merely a deceptive figure, and there is no Savior. He declared that He was the God of the Old Testament, a truth recorded in the Bible. The apostles taught that Jesus was God in the flesh, born of the virgin Mary in Bethlehem, and raised in Nazareth. Challenges to this truth, such as Gnostic philosophies asserting that God as pure spirit could not mix with defiled flesh, threaten the integrity of the Bible as the Word of God. Jesus Himself testified to His divine origin, stating that He came down from heaven and returned there, a unique claim no other person has made. His words carry unmatched authority, surpassing even great figures like Moses, as He asserted that His teachings provide the spiritual nourishment for eternal life. His point of origin in heaven grants His message a weight that other religious teachers cannot match, affirming that true spiritual knowledge must come from Him. Scriptural accounts further confirm His divinity. Jesus is described as inhabiting eternity, uncreated, and existing before all things, alongside the Father, both as God in kind. He is the one who has always interfaced with mankind, while the Father remains in the background for future revelation. As the Word, He was present at the beginning of God's revelation and plan, involved in the creation of all things, becoming flesh to dwell among men. Jesus' preeminence is evident as Creator, Redeemer, and Instructor, possessing divinity in human form. He emptied Himself of divine privileges to become mortal, yet remained God, subject to death like humanity. His eternal existence is affirmed even at the end of His earthly life, confirming that He is uncreated God, a truth upheld by both the Living Word and the written word. This divine nature underscores the immense price paid for humanity's liberty, a payment no lesser being could satisfy.
Christ's Revelation of the Father
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughJesus Christ's divinity is a central theme that underscores His unique identity and mission. From His earliest recorded words in Luke 2, He demonstrated an acute awareness of His divine origin, knowing that His true Father was God in heaven, not any man. He understood that His Father had a purpose and a work to be done, and He was sent to accomplish it, showing eagerness to fulfill this divine mission even at a young age. His first statements revolved around His relationship with His Father and the business He was to undertake, setting the tone for His life's work. Throughout His ministry, Jesus faced misunderstanding, particularly when speaking of His relationship with His Father. The Jews, bound by their limited conception of a singular divine Being, often reacted with confusion or hostility, viewing His claims as blasphemy. Yet, one of His primary tasks was to reveal the existence of His Father in heaven, declaring His sovereignty and power. This revelation was essential to explain who governed the universe while Jesus walked the earth in human form, limited by flesh, yet still divine. John's Gospel emphasizes Jesus' divinity by presenting Him as the Word, existing from eternity past alongside God, both divine and ever together. As the Creator, the Word spoke all things into existence, establishing His authority as the One to be heeded. John further portrays Jesus as the only begotten of the Father, the literal Son, mirroring His Father so perfectly that seeing Him was akin to seeing the Father. This intimate likeness allowed Jesus to declare that He and His Father are one, a unity of thought, word, and action that underpinned His entire ministry. Jesus' relationship with His Father was marked by constant communication and presence, a fellowship so profound that They were in each other, providing Him strength amidst hostility. This bond was evident in His teachings and works, all authorized and guided by His Father, reflecting His Father's will in every action. The Father's intimate involvement in Jesus' life, from His upbringing to His ministry, ensured that everything He did bore the imprint of divine purpose. John describes Jesus as being in the bosom of the Father, illustrating an inseparable, enduring love and closeness. This intimacy allowed Jesus to expound and explain His Father extensively, not merely introducing Him but unfolding His character through teachings and actions. Jesus' mission was to make His Father known, providing a foundational understanding vital for salvation, as eternal life hinges on knowing both the Father and the Son. Through contemplation of Jesus, observing and meditating on His words and deeds, one gains insight into the Father. This process of seeing, believing, and living in the light mirrors the intimate fellowship Jesus shared with His Father, a relationship He desires to extend to all, drawing them into unity with both the Father and Himself.
Jesus' Pre-Existence
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughIt's not just an intellectual exercise to say Jesus was the God of the Old Testament - we must truly believe and submit to Him as eternal God and Savior.
The High Christology of Colossians
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughHigh Christology as a doctrinal stance was not enough to prevent the eventual apostasy of those in Asia Minor. Doctrine must produce the right conduct.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Ten): Christianity's Claims
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHere are twelve claims that the Father, the Son, and Their way of life make upon humanity, giving mankind no excuse for its failure to respond to God.
Four Views of Christ (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Gospels are Christ's biography. They also illustrate the typology of Revelation 4:7 depicting a lion, ox, man, and eagle, giving a picture of Christ's character.
Four Views of Christ (Part 6)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughChrist provides a model of how to live a godly life in the flesh, living life the way God lives it. Using His light, we can navigate our way in this world.
Handwriting on the Wall: Cultural Christianity
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh'Cultural Christianity' is a Christ-free, worldly adaptation of faith used for cultural identity, often embraced for its social influence, lacking true devotion.
The Changing Face of Mainstream Christianity
'WorldWatch' by Joseph B. BaitySome basic tenets of mainstream Christian churches in the United States are markedly different from what they were just a few decades ago in critical areas.
Fully Man and Fully God?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is called both 'Son of Man' and 'Son of God,' raising weighty questions about His nature. Could He have both full humanity and full divinity?
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus referred to His Father as 'My God,' indicating that They do not share equality, preeminence, or superiority. They are equal in kind, but one is subordinate.
Fully Man and Fully God? (1994)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ is often misunderstood. The phrase 'fully man and fully God' does not have biblical support; Christ's real nature is much more meaningful.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Eight): Hebrews 1
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHebrews 1 delivers a knock-out punch to skeptics like many first-century Jews who claimed He falls short in qualifying as our High Priest and Savior.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAlthough Christ is not the Absolute Deity, He is nevertheless the complement of the Father. He had a pre-existence as the God of the Old Testament.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and Son are separate; the Father is the source of all power, while the Son serves as the channel through which we interface with the Father.
In The Likeness of Men!
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus was subjected to the same experiences as the rest of us, having the appearance, experiences, the capability of receiving injury and suffering temptation.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism
Article by David C. GrabbeWe can glimpse Gnosticism in Paul's epistles to the Galatians and Colossians, in which he combats Gnosticism's twisting of the truth of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews (Part Eight): Greater Than Angels (cont.)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Hebrews 1:3-4 describes the dramatic transitional period in which God begot Christ, making Him the only human being who could qualify as our Messiah and Savior.
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.
Hebrews (Part Thirteen): Chapter 2, A Mind-Bending Purpose (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The Jewish converts to the Way, although having had the benefit of Messianic prophecies, did not recognize the powerful significance of Psalm 8.
You Are My Witnesses That I Am God
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsChrist's trial and crucifixion were not historical accidents; rather, God prophesied both events in minute detail in Old Testament scriptures.
Power Belongs to God (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughHuman beings, even those who have been called, have an innate fear that God will not always provide. This fear originates in doubt about God's power.
Who Was the Samaritan Woman at the Well?
Sermon by Ted E. BowlingThe woman was the first Gentile convert and an evangelist to her fellow Samaritans, who clearly did not consider her an outcast or immoral woman.
Holiness (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo appropriate the name of God means to represent His attributes, character and nature. Our behavior must imitate Christ just as Christ revealed God the Father.
John (Part Two)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn emphasizes the reality of Jesus as the Logos (a word revealing hidden thought), the manifestation of God in the flesh, emphasizing His preexistence and divinity.
Rock of Salvation or of Offense?
Sermon by Mark SchindlerIf we do not fully trust in Jesus Christ as our salvation, we will encounter Him as a stumbling block, offense, or tripping point.