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

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's generosity is a profound expression of His nature, as He freely gives grace without obligation or constraint. He is not compelled or duty-bound to extend His benevolence; rather, it is entirely an act of His character to give, save, and help those less fortunate than Himself. His gifts are not based on what we think we have earned or feel entitled to, but solely on His purpose and love. He owes us nothing but death due to our sins, yet He chooses to bestow wonderful gifts, starting with life itself as our Creator, and extending to the hope of something far greater. His grace, as seen in Ephesians 2:4-8, demonstrates His richness in mercy and great love, making us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses. By grace, we are saved through faith, a gift from God, not of ourselves. This unmerited divine assistance is the foundation of our salvation, given freely without any entitlement on our part. Every aspect of our spiritual existence, from air to breathe to spiritual understanding, is a result of His generous provision. In James 4:6-10, we see that He gives more grace, especially when needed to overcome challenges, promising to lift up the humble. His generosity is boundless, as illustrated in Exodus 20:4-6 and Exodus 34:5-7, where His mercy, expressed as chesed, extends to thousands of generations for those who love Him, far outweighing His punishment. This chesed, often translated as mercy, kindness, or steadfast love, reflects His faithful covenant commitment, seen in Deuteronomy 7:7-9, where His love and faithfulness to His promises endure for a thousand generations. Lamentations 3:22-24 further reveals His mercies as new every morning, grounding our hope in His unchanging faithfulness. Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 affirm His immutable nature, with Jesus Christ being the same yesterday, today, and forever, assuring us that He will never leave nor forsake us. His generosity, rooted in His character, is the source of our hope and salvation, given not because we deserve it, but because He loves us and delights in giving.

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

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

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.

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.

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

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

God's generosity is expressed most fully through grace, which originates with the Father and reaches humanity through Jesus Christ as the ordained channel. This grace appears in many forms as a continuous flow of unmerited gifts that rescue, empower, and sustain the sons of God. It is never earned or owed, since all have sinned and deserve only death; rather, it flows freely from God's character as He works out His purpose of creating people in His image. The same generosity is seen in the incarnation, sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who continues to supply grace as High Priest. Through the Spirit of truth the Father and Son personally indwell believers, teaching, guiding, and enabling them to keep God's commandments and overcome. This gifting supplies power for witness, wisdom to discern Satan's systems, and daily provision that meets every need connected to salvation, just as the manna, cloud, and fire sustained Israel. Justification itself demonstrates this generosity at its clearest, declaring sinners righteous by faith rather than works and thereby removing the barrier of guilt so that sanctification can proceed. Grace further functions as ongoing instruction that produces sober, righteous living and zealous good works while preserving believers from overwhelming temptation. Because this generosity is purposeful and wise, it directs every act toward the recipient's preparation for the Kingdom, assuring that no trial exceeds what can be borne and that escape is always supplied. In this way God's generosity forms the single most important factor in salvation from beginning to end, moving the called from enmity to reconciliation, from sin to the character image of Christ, and from death to the hope of eternal life with Him.

Using God's Given Authority

Sermon by Mark Schindler

God has gifted all His called-out ones, expecting them to use those gifts with the pillars of godly wisdom for the edification of the Body of Christ.

Seeking God's Will (Part Three): Patience

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

We must adopt God's perspective on time, developing longsuffering and developing tranquility under adversity, waiting patiently on God.

Forgiveness and Hope

CGG Weekly by John Reiss

Forgiveness concerns each of us, and without God's forbearance, we would have absolutely no hope for anything beyond this brief, physical life.

Why We Tithe (Part 3)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God uses tithing as a learning experience to teach us to give as He does, helping to fashion us into His image. Our generosity reflects God's generosity.

Parable of the Persistent Friend

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Unlike the sleeping friend, God is not reluctant to answer our prayers, but He does want us to be diligent and patient in our requests.

The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Water Into Wine (Part Two)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

In performing the miracle at Cana, Jesus gave a command that may have seemed strange at the time. Jesus shows the connection between obedience and blessings.

Giving and Receiving

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Both giving and gracefully receiving are equally essential for personal and spiritual growth. Receiving fostering humility and strengthens relationships.

The Sabbath: Redemption

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God has blessed us with the Sabbath, a period of holy time, when He redeems us from the clutches of our carnality and this evil world.

Our Merciful and Faithful Provider

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The experiences of ancient Israel, bad and good, guide us in our spiritual pilgrimage to our Promised Land. The book of Deuteronomy is a strong foundation.

More Blessed To Give Than Receive

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's generosity operates through a divine principle that places giving ahead of receiving, as illustrated when Peter, acting in the name of Jesus Christ, offered healing, strength, and a restored relationship with God to the lame man rather than the alms requested. This act demonstrates how God transforms limited human offerings into abundant blessings that exceed the original request. The material develops this theme by outlining five interconnected principles. First, sowing must precede reaping, so that any expectation of return begins with an act of generous giving. Second, the compensation received may differ in kind from what is given, since God determines the form, timing, and measure of the return in order to meet the giver's true needs and prevent selfish motives. Third, a generous spirit applied across all areas of life, including time, encouragement, kindness, and correction, multiplies good outcomes beyond material exchange. Fourth, the entire process rests on God's purpose at its foundation, ensuring that no one outgives Him and that He enlarges the giver's capacity for further generosity. Fifth, God enriches the original giver specifically to produce a harvest of liberality that generates thanksgiving both to Him and to others. These principles connect directly to the broader message that an abundant life arises from freely giving what one has received, whether spiritual insight, resources, or personal effort, thereby eliminating cynicism and fulfilling the duty to support the weak while participating in God's ongoing work of blessing.

Mercy, Pilgrimage, and Providence

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Our experience in overcoming and developing character will be fraught with difficulties, but God will provide the power to get through all the anguish.

Defining Grace

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The entire life of Christ was a manifestation of God's grace, revealing the nature of God by means of a life lived to give us an example to follow.

John's Feeding of the 5,000

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The only miracle recorded in all four Gospels is the feeding of the 5,000, a profound sign that Jesus Christ exclusively is the Bread of Life.