God's law embodies the commands He has given to enable His people to live as He created them to live. This law remains a permanent, perpetual, and eternal guide that brings joy and serves as a counselor, a song, an object of love, and a lamp to illuminate one's way. Jesus Christ affirms its enduring authority, declaring that not even the smallest part will pass away until all is fulfilled. He did not come to abolish the law but to explain and fulfill it. God's law is holy, just, good, and spiritual, standing as the law of liberty rather than bondage. It is not burdensome but provides structure and guidance that leads to blessings and harmonious relations.

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God's Law Is Eternal

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God'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 Weekly

God'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. Ritenbaugh

In 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. Ritenbaugh

God'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. Ritenbaugh

God's Law is presented as honorable and liberating, in stark contrast to the burdensome elements of the world. In James 2:11-12, it is described as the law of liberty, standing in opposition to the bondage mentioned in Galatians 4:3, where bondage under worldly elements is seen as suppressing and holding one captive. Liberty and bondage are mutually exclusive, and thus, the law of God is not a position of bondage. As stated in I John 5:3, the love of God is shown in keeping His commandments, which are not grievous, unlike the grievous nature of bondage. Keeping God's commandments is freeing and liberating, not a burden, for love always supports and liberates. When compared with Galatians 4:3, it becomes evident that the elements of the world and their associated bondage are not related to God's law. God's law is a law of love and liberty, intended to lead us to Christ, as affirmed in Galatians 3:24, where the law is described as a schoolmaster bringing us to Christ for justification by faith. It is not a yoke unable to be borne, unlike the burdensome practices of Judaism criticized in Matthew 23:4 and Acts 15:10. Jesus Himself, in Matthew 15:3-6, rebukes the Pharisees for transgressing God's commandments with their traditions, showing that God's law is honorable and not to be set aside by human doctrines.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's purpose extends beyond merely saving us; it encompasses the restoration of all things, the reproduction of Himself, and the creation of children in His image, alongside the reestablishment of His government on earth. Within this grand design, the New Covenant fits seamlessly, aligning with His intent to restore what was lost through rebellion. God's law remains central to this purpose, as it is neither nullified nor diminished by faith, grace, or justification. As Romans 3:31 affirms, faith does not void the law but establishes it, indicating that no law—whether man's, church's, or God's—is done away with through justification. The carnal mind, as described in Romans 8:7, stands in enmity against God, refusing to submit to His law and revealing an inherent anti-law bias. This resistance often manifests in subtle implications that God's laws, such as those concerning the Sabbath, tithing, holy days, and food, are restrictive and harsh, echoing the deception employed by satan in Genesis 3 to question God's fairness and governance. Yet, God's law is not burdensome; it is holy, just, and good, as stated in Romans 7:12. Its requirements are fair and right, designed to foster love for God and fellow man, as reiterated in I John 5:3, where keeping His commandments is defined as the love of God, and they are not grievous. Justification, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, does not abolish the law but aligns us with it, imputing Christ's righteousness to us so that we may fulfill its just requirements, as seen in Romans 8:1-4. This process enables us to approach God without condemnation and to grow in a relationship with Him, not to discard His laws but to uphold them as guides for our well-being. The law serves as a friend, given by a loving Father to protect and mature His children, ensuring they prosper in all things without hindrance from evil. Ultimately, the New Covenant does not eliminate laws but creates the circumstances to enhance faith, leading to salvation. It prepares us to willingly submit to God's perfect laws and loving government, fostering the development needed to attain perfection and inherit the Kingdom of God. God's law remains an eternal, spiritual standard—pure, fair, and righteous—contrasting with our fleshly weaknesses, yet guiding us toward His divine purpose.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's law forms a vital part of the package by which He creates sons in His image. The Ten Commandments constitute a package within the greater package of the faith once delivered. Each commandment serves a purpose in the creation of the Kingdom. Alterations to any part affect the whole outcome. God's law is not bad. Some laws may impose a burden, yet the burden arises from past disobedience rather than from the law itself. When repentance occurs, prior disobedience comes to the fore and creates the burden. Getting into alignment with God's laws imposes that burden only because obedience has not occurred before. The law works no wrath where it is kept. Justification by grace through faith aligns a person with the standards of the law. It does not do away with the law or remove the necessity of keeping it. The voice of God uttered the Ten Commandments as the body of the way into the Kingdom. That way remains pure, clear, and unambiguous.

The Bible Does Not Have All the Answers!

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus magnified the law and made it honorable. He expanded the law from its mere letter to cover all of life by developing overall principles that go beyond simple statements. The Pharisees made minutia of the law instead. Jesus saw the law as the basic yet living and beneficial guide to godly living and as the foundation on which to build and grow. Using the law the way the Pharisees did brought death and not life. Jesus saw it as positive and wide open with opportunities to serve while the way of the Pharisees was negative and rigid and confining. Jesus blew up the law by making it bigger and broader in its coverage. The Pharisees went in the other direction and made the law more particular and detailed in its coverage. Jesus took the specific law and expanded it to cover all of life. This approach made the law honorable by applying the spirit of the law.

The Commandments (Part Six)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ fulfills the prophecy that He will magnify the law and make it honorable. This magnification involves enlarging the law to reveal its full intent and details rather than limiting it to outward actions. In the Sermon on the Mount He shows that hatred constitutes the spirit of the sixth commandment and that lust in the heart breaks the intent of the seventh commandment. The same principle applies to the Sabbath. Christ restores the Sabbath to its original divine function by demonstrating through example that the day serves redemption, liberation from bondage, joy, peace, and service to others. He performs healings on the Sabbath that free people from physical and spiritual oppression, thereby affirming the law's honorable purpose of keeping humanity free from the effects of sin and idolatry. By these acts He identifies His redemptive mission with the liberating intent of the Sabbath and upholds the binding obligation of the law rather than abolishing it.

Sabbathkeeping (Part 4)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God instructs that the Sabbath must be called honorable, a designation meaning right, proper, appropriate, fitting, and worthy in contrast to every other day of the week. This status flows directly from the commandment in Exodus 20, which identifies the seventh day as belonging exclusively to the Creator, set apart at creation and hallowed for His worship and service. The rendering in Deuteronomy 5 adds the dimension of redemption, so the day simultaneously memorializes both creation and deliverance from slavery, establishing it as the appointed sign of the relationship between God and His people. Because the day is honorable, any attitude that treats it as a burden is rejected outright, since such a view would make God Himself a burden. Honor is expressed practically by turning from personal ways, pleasure, and words in order to perform His desire, will, and preference. This shifts the focus from the amount of energy expended to the purpose for which it is expended, requiring righteous judgment based on the principles of creation, redemption, necessity, and mercy. Examples throughout Scripture illustrate that actions aligned with God's pleasure—such as priestly service, emergency relief, or acts of compassion—supersede ordinary restrictions, while self-serving activities do not. The same standard governs New Testament practice, where Jesus magnified the commandment by demonstrating that mercy and covenant obligations rightly take precedence. Thus the honorable observance of the Sabbath regulates relationships with God and man, preserves the sign of covenant identity, and advances the divine purpose of forming people in His image.

Elements of Motivation (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's law is honorable because it fully embodies His own character and nature. As God is holy, so the law is holy; as God is love, so the law is love; as God is perfect, spiritual, righteous, true, good, everlasting, just, and light, so the law shares each of these qualities without variation. Because the law is identical with God's person, any attack upon the law constitutes an attack upon God Himself. His law travels with Him wherever He goes, and His Spirit fills creation with that same righteous standard. When His Spirit renews a person, the law is written upon the heart, producing the very character of God within the believer. This honorable status of the law directly supports the obligation to observe and obey it. Correct doctrine concerning the law holds value only when put into practice, and those who have received much instruction bear greater responsibility to live by it. The fear of God supplies the needed motivation for such obedience, beginning as the foundation of knowledge and wisdom and maturing into reverential awe that prompts wholehearted conformity to His commandments. Without this fear, procrastination and conformity to the world readily displace faithful observance, yet the law's enduring honor remains unchanged and continues to call believers to growth in grace.

Biblical Principles of Justice (Part One)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

All 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. Ritenbaugh

Goodness 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. Ritenbaugh

Jesus' 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.