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Hebrews (Part Nine): Chapter 1: Jesus' Exultation and Christianity's Claims
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ, begotten by God, stands as the central figure in the divine proclamation of Psalm 2, where He is twice called the Son of God, as well as the Anointed One and the Messiah. This unique identification is reinforced in John 1:17, which names Him the only begotten Son, a title exclusive to Jesus of Nazareth, distinguishing Him from angels or any other being in mankind's history. He is the Son in the bosom of the Father, having declared Him, as stated in the scriptures. The declaration of Psalm 2, made hundreds of years before His birth, was literally assigned by God the Father at the moment Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, marking the start of His human life of thirty-three and a half years. Even in the womb, He was God, just as the Father is God, sharing the same divine nature. At His birth, He became exalted to a position He had not held before, embodying both God and man simultaneously, sinless and fitting as a sacrifice to pay for humanity's sins. Jesus did not need to qualify for the office of High Priest in the ordinary sense, as He was already God when the prophecy was uttered and remained God upon conception in Mary's womb. His role as High Priest under the New Covenant was fulfilled from the moment of His ministry, performing the responsibilities without needing further qualification. God placed His own Son in this position, just as He was already King and the payment for sins, fulfilling these roles with divine authority. Hebrews 1 further establishes Jesus' 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 for eternity. His appointment to these threefold offices—Prophet, Priest, and King—is rooted in His love for righteousness and hatred of lawlessness, setting Him above all others as the perfect leader anointed by God. His sinless life and divine nature affirm His eternal significance as the door to salvation, indispensable to humanity's well-being.
God Is . . . What?
Booklet by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ, begotten by God, reveals a profound relationship within the divine Family. Through the power of His Holy Spirit, God the Father impregnated Mary, and His Seed, Jesus, was called Immanuel, God with us. He is named the only begotten of the Father, indicating two separate Beings, as it is impossible for any being to father or beget Himself. Jesus' own testimony shows He came to declare the Father, stating that only He, who came from God, has seen the Father. Before His ministry, Israel had only hints of the Father's existence, but part of His mission was to reveal this distinct Personality. Furthermore, Jesus' resurrection and ascension underscore this distinction; He was resurrected by a separate Being and ascended to sit at His Father's right hand in the third heaven, affirming He could not ascend to Himself. This relationship illustrates two Beings, equal in nature as God, yet distinct in authority, with Jesus submitting His will to the Father, as seen in His prayer in Gethsemane, "not My will, but Yours, be done." Together, They work in harmony as one Family, offering the hope of oneness with Them to those who inherit Their Kingdom.
Hebrews (Part Three): Who Was Jesus? (cont.)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ, begotten by God, stands as a unique and unparalleled figure in all of history. He is described as the only begotten, a term translated from the Greek "monogenes," which conveys a sense of endearment and singularity, emphasizing His one-of-a-kind relationship with the Father. This term, used specifically of Him five times in John's gospel, sets Him apart from all other beings referred to as sons of God in Scripture, highlighting His distinct and divine connection with the Father. Unlike human family relationships, His bond with the Father is unoriginated, not stemming from earthly or heavenly generation, but existing eternally as a separate personality with the same character as the Father. John's deliberate grammatical choices in his gospel intensify this uniqueness, omitting the definite article before "only begotten" and "Father" to clarify and emphasize that Jesus is the sole Son, sharing the very nature of the One who sent Him. This portrayal severs Him from all earthly human generational ties, affirming that He was generated from above by God, standing absolutely unique above all who have ever been born. The apostle's purpose is to demonstrate the immense glory witnessed in Jesus during His earthly ministry, underscoring His unparalleled greatness. Furthermore, Jesus is identified as the Word, present with God from the beginning, through whom all things were made and given life. This reality confirms His unoriginated existence alongside the Father, with no time when They were apart. His role as the creative energy of the universe, sustaining and upholding all creation, reveals His boundless power and essential importance to all life. As the source of light and life, He provides spiritual illumination, enabling comprehension of life's purpose when His teachings are accepted and followed, distinguishing His light as true and helpful above all others.
Hebrews (Part Two): Who Was Jesus?
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The New Covenant, central to God's purpose in building His Family, was delivered and lived by God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. This teaching-and-example-setting responsibility was entrusted to no one else in all of creation, highlighting its profound importance. Jesus is the major theme of the book of Hebrews, where His role and significance are extensively detailed. God Himself commanded, "Hear Him," emphasizing that Jesus surpasses even the greatest prophets like Moses and Elijah in importance. Jesus, introduced as the actual literal Creator of the universe in John 1:1-5, is man's Creator and life-giver, a truth of stunning magnitude. He is the promised Seed, the Messiah, born as Jesus of Nazareth, who has become our Savior, Teacher, Elder Brother, and King. Prophecies in Isaiah 11:1-4 and 11:10-11 affirm His identity as the Son of God, endowed with the Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and righteousness. As the only begotten Son of the Father, Jesus is unique, one of a kind, with no competitors. He is full of grace and truth, declaring the Father whom no one has seen. His relationship with the Father is un-generated, not originating through human means, but existing eternally as the Father does. Jesus and the Father are one in character, sharing an inseparable unity. Even as the Father has always existed, so has the Son, being every bit as much God as the Father. Jesus began His ministry by preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, detailing the overall goal of God's way of life. He added personal examples of His conduct, setting the standards of God's way, and shared His life with the apostles in a physical and spiritual relationship. He affirmed that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, underscoring God's personal involvement in each conversion. Jesus also chose His followers out of the world, indicating a deeply personal and family-oriented focus in the New Covenant, contrasting with the more national focus of the Old Covenant.
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.
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.
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.
John (Part Four)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe apostle John has provided at least eight separate forms of witness, establishing the veracity of Jesus Christ's identity as God in the flesh.
Psalms: Book One (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughBecause Jesus is God's Son, we can avoid the rod of His anger by paying respect with worshipful awe. We must know both His instruction and Him personally.