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God's Law Is Eternal
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod's law expresses the expectations for the moral and spiritual conduct of Israel and the church, embodying the commands He has given to enable His people to live as He created them to live. This law is not temporary but remains a permanent, perpetual, and eternal guide. It is described with various terms such as testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances, ways, and word, highlighting its comprehensive nature. God's law is a delight to live by, bringing joy and serving as a reliable path that guards a person's life, acting as a counselor, a song, an object of love, and a lamp to illuminate one's way. The law originates from God, is intended for human benefit, provides a steadfast guide to living, and enlightens understanding. Jesus Christ affirms its enduring authority, declaring that it would be easier for heaven and earth to be destroyed than for God's law to perish. He emphasizes its eternal nature, stating that not even the smallest part will pass away until all is fulfilled. Christ did not come to abolish the law but to explain and fulfill it, showing how it must be kept in both letter and spirit, thus confirming its continued relevance. God's law reveals deviations from righteousness, exposing how far short humanity falls from His glory. Christ embodied the law in His life, demonstrating perfect obedience and conformity to its commands, setting an example for all. He bore the penalty of the law for humanity's sins, further vindicating its sanctity without compromising its perfection. If kept, this law produces and maintains a peaceful and happy society, though no human has kept it perfectly due to sin. The law defines sin and serves as a mirror to show human corruption, emphasizing that salvation comes not by works but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. It stands as an unchanging standard, and altering it would undermine its power to convict and convert, leaving no true rule for righteousness. God's law remains eternal, demanding obedience forever, and will be fully fulfilled in believers at the resurrection, when their nature will be perfectly conformed to His will, bringing joy in holiness within His Kingdom.
The Beauty of the Law
CGG WeeklyGod's laws stand in stark contrast to the flawed regulations of man, embodying a universality and harmony that form a beautiful, corrective, and constructive system. When properly observed, these laws work toward an even more beautiful goal, guiding humanity with perfection. As the Engineer of the human mind, God accounts for every factor and outcome of individual choices, shaping minds and characters into His image through a unified body of eternal laws. Unlike human laws imposed upon systems, God's laws are inseparable from the essential nature of His creation, inherently part of it, as seen in the unbreakable link between His creation and His law. These laws are not burdensome but a comfort and guide, ensuring that obedience transforms us into God's image, while disobedience inevitably brings negative consequences. To deny God's laws is to deny reality itself. They are a blessing, offering instruction on how the world functions, providing guidance to direct our paths, and creatively forming righteous character within us. Despite their dynamic power and perfect integration with creation, God's laws remain beautifully simple, encapsulated in the command to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Law and Spirit Together
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIn the journey of spiritual growth, God's Law and the Holy Spirit stand as two essential gifts bestowed by a benevolent Father in Heaven. Delivered in two significant installments—first, the Law at Mount Sinai to the children of Israel about 3,450 years ago, and then the Holy Spirit to the early Church in Jerusalem 1,966 years ago—these tools are designed for us to attain godly character and enter His Kingdom. Without them, such a goal would be unattainable. They are good and perfect gifts from the Father of Lights, meant to be used in proper proportion, much like justice and mercy, to produce godly fruit. God's Law provides structure, guidelines, and boundaries indispensable for spiritual maturity. It is holy, just, and good, setting apart a specific way of life that leads to eternal blessings and harmonious relations. When viewed through the spiritual intent, as guided by the Holy Spirit, the Law becomes a delight rather than a burden. It offers freedom to choose, to consider, and to do good within its righteous boundaries. Overemphasis on the Law alone, however, can lead to oppression, fear, and rigidity, stifling creativity and initiative, as seen in societies burdened by excessive regulations or in the harsh interpretations by scribes and Pharisees, which defiled and oppressed rather than uplifted. When balanced with the Holy Spirit, the Law's righteous requirements can be fulfilled in us. This balance was exemplified by Jesus Christ, who understood the spiritual intent behind the Law, allowing compassion and love to guide decisions within its framework. True worship, as He taught, must encompass both spirit and truth—God's revealed way of life encapsulated in His Law. Together, these elements enable us to live righteously, transforming our mindset to focus on spiritual goals and peace, rather than fleshly desires, as we strive toward the Kingdom of God.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's Law is holy, just, good, and spiritual, as affirmed by Paul in Romans 7:9-14, where it is made clear that the law was ordained to life, not death, and reveals sin rather than provokes it. In Romans 3:20, it is stated that by the law comes the knowledge of sin, underscoring its purpose to show what sin is, not to give life, as further clarified in Galatians 3:21. The carnal mind, described in Romans 8:7 as enmity against God, resists subjection to His law, often blaming it for sin rather than acknowledging personal responsibility. Yet, God's laws are not unkind or constrictive without purpose; they are legislated in love, reflecting His character of concern, as seen in Romans 10:1-3, where ignorance of God's righteousness—His law—leads to establishing one's own standards instead of submitting to His. Jesus Christ Himself declares in Matthew 5:17-19 that He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill them, asserting that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law until all is fulfilled. He emphasizes that breaking even the least of these commandments and teaching others to do so results in being called least in the kingdom of heaven, while doing and teaching them brings greatness. This clear statement establishes the enduring honor of God's law within His kingdom's foundational principles. The examples of Christ and His apostles further honor God's law by their observance of specific commands, such as the Sabbath, which is holy to the Lord, as noted in Exodus 31:15-17. This covenant, set to continue as long as there are generations of Israelites, ties back to Creation, affirming its eternal significance. In Luke 4:16, it was Christ's custom to attend the synagogue on the Sabbath, demonstrating His commitment, and in Mark 2:27-28, He declares the Sabbath was made for man and that He is its Lord. Following His steps, as urged in I Peter 2:21 and I Corinthians 11:1 by Paul, means honoring the Sabbath and other laws as He did, showing their continued relevance. God's overall purpose, to create man in His image as stated in Genesis 1:26, aligns with His unchanging nature, affirmed in Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8, where Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His laws reflect this reliability and order, guiding us to live by faith in His absolute truth. In Deuteronomy 30:15-16 and 19, God sets before us life and death, commanding us to love Him, walk in His ways, and keep His commandments to live and be blessed, honoring His law as the path to life. Matthew 19:16-18 reinforces this, with Jesus instructing that entering eternal life involves keeping the commandments, specifically citing several from the Ten Commandments. Psalm 119 extols the value of God's law, describing the blessedness of those who walk in it, keep His testimonies, and seek Him wholeheartedly, delighting in His commandments as the way to cleanse and direct one's path. To deny God's law is to deny God Himself, as it reveals much about His character and expectations for those being created in His image, serving as the roadmap for living according to His will. God's law, in its eternal nature, remains honorable, guiding us toward holiness and reflecting His love, as Jesus affirmed that none of it would pass until all is fulfilled.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe days, months, and times of Galatians 4:10 do not refer to God's Holy Days (which are not weak or beggarly), but to pagan rites the Galatians came out of.
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.
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 Bible Does Not Have All the Answers!
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughWhile the Bible does not contain all knowledge, it does contain foundational principles, enabling people to live in a godly, spiritual manner.
The Commandments (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughGod gave the Sabbath to His people so they can know Him intimately. Idolatry, scattering, and captivity are the natural consequences of Sabbath-breaking.
Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe need to develop righteous judgment about what constitutes a genuine Sabbath emergency and what may be a deceptive rationalization of our human nature.
Elements of Motivation (Part One)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFearing God leads to a determination not to bring shame on God's name or offending and hurting the relationship between God and us.
Biblical Principles of Justice (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAll authority for law and justice resides in God; when God is taken out of the picture, darkness and chaos dominate. God's laws create a better life and character.
In Search of a Clear World View (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)The responsibility given to the church Christ has called out of this world is to expand His teachings, magnifying them and making them clear and honorable.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughGoodness is a nebulous concept, used to describe everything from a tasty snack to God's sublime character. But God's character defines what goodness is.
Eden, The Garden, and The Two Trees (Part Three)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus' crucifixion took place outside the camp of Israel, just outside the border of the Garden of Eden, the general area where the Miphkad Altar stood.