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The Father-Son Relationship (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a profound dynamic of unity and distinction. Jesus, as the Mediator between the Father, whom we refer to as the Absolute Deity, and mankind, holds a unique position, being of the God-kind yet subordinate to the Father. He Himself declared that He has a God, identifying this God as His Father, both during His time in the flesh and after His resurrection when transformed into spirit. Even as God in the flesh and now as God in spirit, He remains submissive to the Father, who is greater in function and responsibility. The Father is the supreme Head, the Source, while Jesus is the means through whom the Father reveals Himself. Jesus instructed us to pray to His Father, acknowledging the Father's supremacy, though we may also pray to Him. They are two distinct Personalities with clear differences in operation and rank, yet both are of the God-kind and worthy of worship. Jesus' glory lies not in being the Head, but in His perfect submission to the Father, carrying out the Father's will in every assignment, from preaching the gospel to dying for the sins of the world. This relationship is further illustrated by Jesus as the perfect Complement of the Father, filling up and completing the revelation of the Father to mankind. He is not the Absolute Deity but represents and expresses the Father's nature fully, as seen in His life and actions. Jesus distinguished Himself from the Father by stating that the Father is greater than He, that the Father sent Him, and that seeing Him is seeing the Father, affirming Their distinct identities. Through His loving obedience, Jesus exemplifies the unity of mind with the Father, setting an example for us to follow in submission to the Father's will.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a profound and distinct dynamic within the divine purpose. The Father is the Source of all things, the origin and the ultimate Object toward which all creation moves. Jesus Christ, the Son, serves as the Channel through whom the Father carries out His purpose, acting as the Conduit through which all is worked out. This distinction is consistently shown, with the Father as the Fountain of everything and the Son executing His commands in perfect agreement. There are two distinct Beings, both rightly called God, yet They are not co-equal. Jesus Himself testifies that the Father is greater than He, establishing a clear hierarchy despite Their unity in character, purpose, and plan. The Father never deals with humanity except through the Son, ensuring that all physical and spiritual creation—beginning with the Father—is carried out through Jesus Christ. Redemption and mediation continue this pattern, with the Son revealing the Father to those chosen, as the only means by which humanity may come to know Him. Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible Father, reflecting His glory and stamped with His character. While no one has seen the Father at any time, the Son manifests His nature, love, wisdom, power, mercy, and grace. Through seeing and understanding Jesus, humanity grasps the essence of the Father, who remains hidden to direct focus on the Son. This relationship underscores that the Father is the absolute Deity, the only wise God, eternal, immortal, and invisible, while Jesus, though God, holds a distinct and subordinate position by His own testimony. The unity between the Father and the Son does not imply equality but a shared purpose and mind, with Jesus praying that believers become one with Them in the same manner. This oneness reflects a harmony of purpose and character, not co-equality, as believers will also be distinct beings, yet one with the Father through the Son. Ultimately, Jesus turns everything over to the Father, completing the divine plan that begins and ends with Him, affirming the Father's supreme authority and role as the Source and Object of all creation.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a distinct dynamic of greater and lesser roles. The Father is consistently shown as the Source of all things, the only true God, and the Supreme God, while Jesus, as the Son, is the Image of that One God, reflecting His character, attitude, purpose, and virtues such as wisdom, mercy, and kindness. Jesus Himself declares that the Father is greater, establishing a hierarchy where They are not co-equal. As the Channel through whom all is being worked out, Jesus serves as the Revelator of the Father, the means by which the Father is known, and to know Him is eternal life. The Father provides Jesus with what He needs to fulfill His role, including the disciples and the words to share, further illustrating the Father's authority as the Source. Jesus, as the Expression or Word, continually points toward the Father, guiding others to Him through word and example, not merely by association or nearness. Throughout history, Jesus has been the Mediator between the Father and mankind, manifesting in various forms to suit the Father's purpose, yet always submitting to Him. Even in His highest and lowest manifestations, from the form of God to the form of a slave, Jesus carries out His responsibilities perfectly, reflecting the Father's heart and nature while remaining distinct from the Absolute Deity. The Father exalts Jesus above all except Himself, maintaining His supreme authority over the Son.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father is deeply rooted in Their unity and shared purpose. They are one in mind and Spirit, in perfect agreement regarding the operations of Their divine purpose, though They are not one person but distinct Beings. This relationship, while less detailed in the Old Testament, is abundantly clear in the New Testament, revealing Their familial bond as Father and Son. Jesus Himself declared this unity, emphasizing that They are of one mind, drawing us toward that same oneness with Them. The Father is revealed as the greater in authority, a truth Jesus openly acknowledged, stating that the Father is greater than He. This hierarchical arrangement does not diminish Jesus' divinity, as both are equally of the God kind, sharing the same eternal, uncreated nature. However, in terms of responsibility and function, the Father holds the supreme position, with Jesus submitting to Him, even after His resurrection, affirming that the Father remains His God. This submission is evident across time, as Jesus, even sixty years after His resurrection, still refers to the Father as His God, indicating One greater in authority over Him. Jesus' role includes revealing the Father, a responsibility He undertook with strong resolve to remove any vagueness from the Old Testament understanding. This revelation is vital, as knowing both the Father and the Son is linked to eternal life. While both are worthy of worship, and Jesus accepted such honor without rebuke due to His divine nature, the Father is the Absolute, the Supreme God, with no God beyond Him. Jesus, though fully God, functions under the Father's headship, carrying out Their shared plan and purpose, serving as our Lord, Savior, and High Priest, directly responsible for preparing us for the Kingdom of God.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a distinct hierarchy and dynamic of submission, clearly setting Them apart as two separate Beings of the God-kind. The Son, though divine, acknowledges a God above Him, as evidenced when He cried out on the stake, "My God, My God, Why have You forsaken Me?" This plea demonstrates His dependence on a higher power. Following His resurrection, He told Mary Magdalene that He must go to "My God and your God," affirming that He shares the same God as humanity. Scriptures further establish that God is the Head of Christ, indicating a structure of authority where the Father holds supremacy. The Father appointed Jesus Christ as the Head of all things to the church, showing that the superior designates the subordinate, thus negating any notion of equality in authority. Yet, this does not diminish Christ's glory, which lies in His absolute submission to the Father. Christ's role as the perfect Complement to the Father means He completes and reveals the Father's nature, acting not to showcase Himself but to manifest the Father's will. He stated, "The Father is greater than I," distinguishing Himself from the Supreme God, and affirmed that the Father sent Him, indicating He was dispatched by a distinct Being. Jesus further clarified this relationship by saying, "If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father," underscoring that He reflects the Father as His image, not as the same entity. His submission is evident in moments of personal struggle, such as when He questioned the rejection by His fellow Galileans, ultimately concluding that the Father had overruled Him by concealing revelation from those people. In this, He demonstrated His constant submission, declaring, "Not My will, but Yours be done," a principle He lived moment by moment. This submission reached its pinnacle at the crucifixion, where the Lesser yielded to the Greater, ensuring the fulfillment of Their purpose. Jesus' life exemplifies that all progress, power, wisdom, and truth came from the Father, energizing Him through obedience to the Father's will. His example teaches that submitting to the Father's sovereignty is the path to spiritual success, a lesson vital for all who follow Him.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Father and the Son are two distinct Personalities with unique responsibilities, yet They cooperate so seamlessly that They appear as one, though the Father is the greater of the Two. The Father is the Source from whom all begins and the Object toward which all moves, while the Son is the Channel through whom all is accomplished. The Son serves as the Mediator between the Father and mankind, being the One with whom humanity has always interacted. As the Image of the invisible God, as stated in Colossians 1:15, the Son reveals the Father's nature, enabling mankind to know Him, which is essential for eternal life. The Son, in all His representations to mankind, whether as Yahweh, Lord, or by numerous other names, consistently reflects the express character of the Father. Through the Son, the Father's power, wisdom, and flawless character are displayed, especially in His final form as a man, showing God's sacrificial and serving nature even to the point of death for His creation. The Son emptied Himself of equality with the Father, taking the form of a slave, as an example of humble obedience for mankind to follow. The Son's role as Mediator places Him uniquely between the Absolute Deity and mankind, possessing a Spirit directly from God and a human body subject to mortal frailties. This combination allows Him to communicate directly with the Father while understanding human conditions, needs, and potential, a capability the Father does not share. Though the Son is the Image of the Father in character, sharing the same nature, They are not identical, as the Son is a separate, unique Being, not co-equal with the Father. The Son's perfect submission to the Father is evident in His words and actions, speaking not His own words but those of the Father who sent Him. His mediation is not limited to a specific time but has existed from the beginning of creation, always revealing the Supreme God's position to mankind. The Son has a God, who is His Father, and even after His resurrection, He acknowledges this relationship, showing His continued submission to the Supreme Deity. Through the Son, mankind can see and hear the Father, as He reveals not only Himself but also His God, bridging the gap between the invisible, inaudible Father and humanity.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a distinct dynamic of superior and inferior positions in Their operations within Their plan, though not in Their nature or being. The Father is the Source, issuing orders, while the Son submits, is sent, and carries them out. The Father remains in the background, unseen and inaudible to human perception, whereas the Son is visible, audible, and serves as the Revealer of the Father. The Son declares that the Father is greater, providing Him with the words to speak, the judgments to make, and being the true Author and Power behind His mighty works. In all matters, the Son defers and submits to the Father, demonstrating a relationship that is not co-equal in operation. The Son's submission to the Father is evident throughout His life, as He consistently states that He always does the Father's will, living for it as His purpose. This submission is not a one-time act but a continuous commitment, beginning in the past and extending indefinitely, including sacrificing His life for mankind's sins. His sacrifice reveals the Father to us and provides the reason for His success in fulfilling His mission, setting an example for us to follow in our relationship with the Father. The Father commands, and the Son responds, always doing what pleases the Father, even to the point of enduring suffering and death for doing what is right. This relationship underscores that the Father is the Giver and the Son is the Receiver, with the Son commissioned by a Superior and subject to Him. The Son never sends the Father, nor does He command Him; these functions are never reversed. The Son acknowledges the Father as His God, whom He serves and worships, affirming that the Father is greater. This arrangement of subjection is enduring, as the Son will remain subject to the Father even when God's purpose reaches its fulfillment. Through imitating the Son's complete and total submission, we gain knowledge of the Father, as the Father is expressed through the Son, and this submission is the secret of the Son's spiritual strength, with the Father responding with every gift needed to complete His mission.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ's relationship with the Father reveals a profound unity and distinctiveness within the Godhead. He emphasizes this bond by stating that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. This relationship is central, as He declares that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father, showcasing a oneness that is both unique and unparalleled. He explains that the words He speaks and the works He performs are not of His own accord but come from the Father, highlighting Their perfect unity in purpose and plan for mankind's benefit. This oneness echoes the concept of cleaving, indicating a deep, intentional bond that requires abandoning worldly ties to stick to God. Jesus further clarifies that He and the Father are two distinct Beings yet unified, with the Father providing the power and instruction through the Spirit that proceeds from Him. He assures His disciples that He will not leave them comfortless but will come to them by means of His Spirit, the Spirit of truth, which is His own Spirit. He promises to manifest Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments, reinforcing that it is He who dwells in them, not a separate entity. This indwelling is described as Christ in us, the hope of glory, emphasizing that it is His presence that empowers and motivates. He also states that His departure to the Father is necessary for the Spirit to be given, enabling Him to be with many simultaneously as a Spirit Being. Both He and the Father, being Spirit and holy, are identified as Holy Spirit, living in us to guide and prepare us for God's Kingdom. Jesus, having experienced humanity, is uniquely equipped to lead and correct us as our High Priest, ensuring that it is He who searches our hearts and empowers us to overcome and glorify God.
Intimacy with Christ (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe don't really know something unless we have experienced it. Knowing God manifests itself in the way one lives, reflecting faithfulness and obedience.
Hebrews (Part Three): Who Was Jesus? (cont.)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)John identifies Christ as co-eternal with the Father, equal in character, but subordinate in authority. Christ's sonship was unique; He was the 'only Begotten Son.'
God the Father (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsJesus reveals that the Father has always had supreme authority, and that He and His Father are absolutely at one in purpose. We must conform to their image.
Honoring God the Father
Sermonette by Bill OnisickFather's Day may have originated when the Roman Catholic Church set aside March 19 to honor fatherhood.
The Ultimate Father's Day
Article by StaffFather's Day is a time we honor our human fathers, but a time is coming when our ultimate Father in heaven will be honored for eternity.
Fatherhood and Modern Temptations
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMany fathers abdicate their leadership responsibilities, becoming addicted to workaholism, television, or even pornography. The culture teeters on destruction

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.
All in All (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The end of the sanctification process is when Christ will have defeated all enemies and put all things under His feet. Then, God the Father will be all in all.