New Covenant Priesthood (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOld Testament activities picture New Testament realities, elevated to their spiritual intent. The church has been chosen as a royal and holy priesthood.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Ten)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe term "covenant" describes an agreement made by two parties and "testament" to describe the one-sided commitment made by God to improve the promises.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eighteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPaul never taught any Jew to forsake the Law of Moses, but he did warn against Pharisaical additions for the expressed purpose of attaining justification.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughA 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-Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe 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.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe 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 Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJustification 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.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twelve)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe 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.
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Two): The Old Covenant
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod made the New Covenant because Jacob's offspring did not have what it took to fulfill the terms of the Old Covenant. The carnal mind is hostile to God's law.
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.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe New Covenant was designed by God to circumcise the heart, making it possible for God's laws to be written in our hearts and reflected in our behavior.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is doing more than merely saving people; He is producing children in His image. The difference between the covenants is in the quality of the faith.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJustification 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.
Ezekiel's Temple and the Covenants
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeA future Millennial temple (described in Ezekiel 40—48) will contain some elements of the Old Covenant, including animal sacrifices and Levitical priests.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Seventeen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Law (including the judgments, ordinances, and statutes), far from being done away, shows us our faults and outlines the way of mercy and love—how to live.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Fourteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughNo part of God's Law has been 'done away'. Jesus came to magnify the law, giving it a far more penetrating, spiritual application. Man flounders without law.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nineteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe spirit of the law does not do away with the letter of the law; without the letter, there is no spirit because there is no foundation. Examples show God's will.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnder 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.
Leadership and Covenants (Part Twenty-Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughMuch of Protestantism misconstrues the significance of the New Covenant as a 'free pass into Heaven' without paying attention to the Law within the Covenant.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe must become leaders in our own families, protecting them from the curses that are already falling on our nation. We have the obligation to fear God.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Thirteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs we participate in the New Covenant, we go through the stages of justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification as part of Christ's body.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Thirteen)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod is at work producing leadership in an organization that will follow Him, calling people into His family, carefully crafting it into a perfect organism.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe qualify to lead by internalizing the covenants, not only believing God, but doing what He says, realizing that the covenants are not complicated.
Forgiveness and the Perpetual Covenant of Peace
Sermon by Mark SchindlerIt is commonly thought that we pay no price for forgiveness, yet Scripture shows that God gives us significant responsibilities to be a part of His family.
Leadership and the Covenants (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are being trained to become leaders, but before we can lead, we must be able to carry out responsibilities, conforming to God's leadership and covenants.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eleven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIt is not the physical nation, but the spiritual remnant with whom God is working, circumcising their hearts and writing His laws in their minds.
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Six): New Testament Teaching
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThose who follow Christ are the true Israel, the Elect, and the Chosen, called by God to precede unfaithful physical Israel in the salvation process.
Teaching the Good News of the Promise
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerWe must teach God's ways to our offspring, orienting them to the way of give rather than get, admonishing them to purify themselves from the ways of the world.
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.
Have the Ten Commandments Passed Away?
'Ready Answer' by Earl L. Henn (1934-1997)Many Protestant denominations teach that God's law is done away, calling it 'the ministry of death.' Butt II Corinthians 3:7 does not support this.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Seven)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe epistle of Hebrews is so vital to Christians in the first century and now because it explains the unique place and power of Christianity's High Priest.
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part One)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod inspired the book of Hebrews to answer the difficult questions church members were struggling with during the tumultuous first decades of the church.
Is God a False Minister?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThose 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.'
Why Hebrews Was Written (Part Two)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ perfectly fulfilled His spiritual responsibilities and can now aid us in fulfilling ours, which includes keeping God's commandments.
Hebrews: Its Background (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAlthough God never intended the Old Covenant to endure eternally, the spiritual law (shared by both the old and new covenants) lasts forever.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe yoke grievous to bear (Acts 15:10) was not God's law, but an entire package of Pharisaic regulations that had been elevated to the level of God's law.
Hebrews: Its Background (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Book of Hebrews is a must-read for all members of God's church who seek the key for spiritual growth through a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
One by One Until Done
Sermon by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker refutes a heresy, stemming from a faulty interpretation of Jeremiah 31:34. Adherents of this heresy hold that God has not yet instituted the New Covenant, as indicated by the fact that the Church is deeply involved in teaching. In point of fact, teaching is a fundamental part of God's Work today. God instituted …
God Is Writing His Law
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeGod promises to write His Law on our hearts and minds. When we experience the consequences of our or others' sins, we lean the depth of how bad sin is.
Clean and Unclean Meats
Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughModerns sneer at the Bible's food laws, but God gave them for man's good. This study shows they are still in effect for us today.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSins committed presumptuously by people of high responsibility (leaders) are judged more rigorously than those sins committed by people in ignorance.
Hebrews (Part Eleven)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughHebrews emphasizes the infinite superiority of Christ's priesthood and one-time sacrifice as contrasted to the repetitive Aaronic sacrifices.
Elements of Judgment (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe need to learn to judge in a godly manner, putting merciful restraints on our tendency to condemn or jump to conclusions. One size does not fit all.
Hebrews (Part Eight)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's priesthood is superior to the Aaronic priesthood because Christ tenure is eternal rather than temporal, guaranteeing both continuity and quality.
Hebrews (Part Nine)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAfter the change from the Aaronic to the Melchizedek priesthood, it was also necessary to change the Covenant. The flaw was not the law, but the heart.
Hebrews (Part One): The Stage Is Set
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughEarly converts from Judaism claimed to accept the Law but had difficulty accepting the Lawgiver. Today, many claim to accept Christ, but will not accept His Law.
The Law's Purpose and Intent
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe effectiveness of a law is found in its purpose and intent rather than the letter. Love and mercy constitute the spiritual fulfillment of the Law.
Elements of Judgment (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe dare not 'do away' anything that is part of God's mind, or we will not be in His image. Acts 15 did not give Gentiles exemption from keeping God's Law.
The Promises of God
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)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.
Getting To Know God
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughGetting to know God intimately, by virtue of His enabling us to experience life as He experiences life, makes the New Covenant vastly superior to the Old.
Hebrews (Part Ten)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughEverything about the Priesthood of Christ is superior to the Levitical system, which only served as a type of the access to God that Jesus would fulfill.
Snapshots (Part Three)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeAmong the greatest challenges we face is not to let a bad snapshot—or even a whole progression of them—convince us that the journey is not worth continuing.
Colossian Law-Keeping
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNominal Christendom cannot see God's law even though it is in plain sight. In Colossians, Paul reiterates or alludes to all but one of the Ten Commandments.
On This Side of Jordan
Sermon by Charles WhitakerWhen the circumstance of sin ceases, what happens to the law? The concept of sin as a reality will be gone at a certain point in time.
Loving God's Law: The Thread of Reality
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by David F. MaasGod considered His law so important that He sent His Son to pay for the penalties we have accrued against it, giving us also a model as to how to keep the Law.
Elements of Judgment (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe last days of the Worldwide Church of God demonstrated a dearth of righteous judgment. God expects us to judge wisely within the parameters of His Law.
Our Bread of Life
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe world is confused on the timing of Christ's death and resurrection. It becomes clear by a proper understanding of the holy days, preparation days, and Sabbaths.
Patterns That We Live With
Sermon by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker, reflecting on God's practice of working in patterns, points out that God has wired our minds to think in patterns, such as circles. Gestalt psychologists have demonstrated that, given a set of dots that suggest a circle, our minds are prone to automatically fill in the pattern. Other ubiquitous patterns that …
Why Wasn't Jesus Christ Crucified at the Start of Passover?
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeJesus was crucified late on Abib 14, yet the Passover lambs were to be killed at the beginning of the 14th. The time of Christ's death is highly significant.
Born Again (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThings pertaining to the New Covenant can only be understood by those who have been circumcised in the heart, which equates to having been born again.
A Feast Message From Hebrews
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Bible shows a clear pattern of how people leave the faith: looking back, drawing back, looking elsewhere, and then going backward and refusing to hear.
Government (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughOur attitude toward government must be one of submission. The church cannot perform its function without the cooperation of the carnal civil governments.
Hebrews (Part Seven): Greater Than Angels
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews systematically proves Christ's superiority to patriarchs, prophets, the Levitical Priesthood, and angels, establishing His credentials.
'Done Away' Is Incorrect
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughProtestantism alleges that God's law is 'done away.' What Scripture shows, though, is that some aspects are not required presently, but God's law is eternal.
The Second Exodus (Part Three)
'Prophecy Watch' by David C. GrabbeAt some point in the near future, the modern descendants of Israel will learn of their true identity—and have to face the consequences of that knowledge.
The Purpose of Israel
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughGod chose ancient Israel 1) to be separate, 2) to demonstrate His love to them, 3) to keep His promises to Abraham, and 4) to make a covenant with them.
No One Else Matters (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughSin has tainted the most faithful leaders. Most (perhaps all) church leaders have skeletons in their closets, but we follow them as they follow Christ.
Hebrews (Part Two): Who Was Jesus?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we understand the function of the Old Covenant as explained in Leviticus, we will better understand the New Covenant and not reject the law of the Savior.
Jesus Christ: First Savior, Second High Priest, Third King
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe book of Hebrews teaches that our relationship to Christ as our Savior, High Priest, and King is the key to salvation. He shows us the way to the Father.
God's Power: Our Shield Against Apostasy
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGod is not only powerful, but He is the source of all power. We can tap into God's power to avoid slipping into apostasy.