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The Father-Son Relationship (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and the Son are one in character, purpose, and plan, working in perfect agreement, yet They are distinct Beings with different levels of authority and responsibilities. Jesus Himself states that the Father is greater than He, clearly indicating They are not co-equal, despite both being rightly called God. Their unity does not contradict this distinction, as seen in Jesus' prayer in John 17, where He desires for believers to be one with the Father and the Son to the same degree that They are one. This oneness reflects a shared mind and purpose, not a merging of identity. Just as believers will be one with the Father without being co-equal with Him, so too is the Son one with the Father while remaining in a position of submission, carrying out the Father's commands as the Channel through whom the Father's purpose is fulfilled. The Father is the Source of all things, and the Son is the means through which all is worked out, demonstrating Their cooperative roles in creation and redemption without conflict.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The unity of the Father and the Son is not expressed in a oneness of substance, but in the Son's loving obedience to the Father. They are of one mind, with the Son submitting totally and completely, even though He Himself is God. The Father is the Source, and the Son is the means through whom the Father has revealed Himself. Both are of the God-kind, yet they are not equal in function and responsibility. The Father is supreme, the Absolute Deity, and the Head, while the Son is subordinate and submissive to Him. The Son directed worship to the Father, and instructed us to pray to Him, though we may also pray to the Son. They are two distinct personalities with clear differences in operation and rank. The glory of the Son is revealed in doing the Father's will perfectly, serving as an example for us to follow in submission to the Father. Christ is the perfect complement of the Father, filling up, completing, and making perfect the revelation of the Father to mankind. Though He could be seen and heard, He is not revealing Himself primarily, but acting for the Father as a distinct Being.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and the Son are one, not as a single person, but in perfect agreement and unity of mind regarding the operations of Their purpose. This oneness is the goal toward which They are drawing us, though we are not yet fully at one with Them due to remnants of the carnal mind within us. Jesus Himself prayed in John 17 that we might be one as They are one, emphasizing our responsibility to make choices aligned with Their purpose to achieve this unity. Their relationship, revealed in the New Testament as Father and Son, reflects a family dynamic, with both Beings working in perfect harmony. Despite being separate Beings, Jesus declared in John 10:30 that They are one, underscoring Their shared nature and purpose. Both are of the God kind, equal in terms of Their eternal, uncreated essence, yet distinct in authority and function, with the Father as the greater in hierarchical order. This unity and relationship highlight the profound bond between the Father and the Son, guiding us toward becoming part of Their divine purpose.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and Son, though two distinct Personalities with separate responsibilities, cooperate so seamlessly in Their purpose that They appear as one. 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, serving as the Mediator between the Source and mankind. The Son, identified as the Image of the invisible God, reveals the Father's nature, enabling us to know Him, which is essential for eternal life. Through the Son, we behold the Father's power, wisdom, and flawless character, especially in His ultimate act of sacrifice as a man. The Son's role as Mediator requires Him to be both similar and dissimilar to the Father and to mankind, sharing the same Spirit and nature as the Father, yet being visible and audible to reveal Him to us. In this unique relationship, the Son perfectly submits to the Father, reflecting His actions and words, so that seeing the Son is akin to seeing the Father in character. Through the Son, we come to know the Father, as He is the expression and Image through whom a full revelation of the Father is made possible.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Seven)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus emphasizes a profound unity with the Father, declaring that He and the Father are one. Though They are two distinct Beings, They are perfectly unified in purpose and plan for mankind's benefit. This oneness signifies a deep relationship, where Jesus states that if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. He further explains that the works and words He performs are not of His own power but come from the Father through the Spirit that proceeds from Him. This unity is the secret of His power, demonstrating a spiritual connection that transcends physical separation. Jesus extends this concept of oneness to His followers, promising that He will not leave them alone but will come to them through His Spirit. He asserts that He Himself will dwell in them, manifesting Himself to those who love Him and keep His commandments. This indwelling is not attributed to a separate entity but to Christ Himself, as He states, "I will come to you." Through this Spirit, which is the Spirit of truth, He continues to guide, empower, and motivate His disciples invisibly, just as He did in the flesh. The oneness between the Father and the Son also implies that both are Spirit and holy, sharing the same essence. Jesus clarifies that it is He who lives in us, searching our hearts and preparing us for God's Kingdom. As the One who experienced human life, He is uniquely qualified to lead, guide, and correct us, ensuring that the hope of glory remains Christ in us, unifying us with the Father in purpose and spirit.

The Father-Son Relationship (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The Father and the Son, though both God, are two distinct beings with a relationship that reveals superior and inferior positions in Their operations within Their plan. 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 apprehension, whereas the Son is seen, heard, and reveals the Father. The Son declares that the Father is greater, gives Him the words to say, the judgments to make, and is the true Author and Power behind His mighty works. In all things, the Son defers and submits to the Father. Jesus states in John 17:3 that eternal life is knowing both the Father and the Son, emphasizing an intimate relationship where we become a part of Them, and They with us. For those hoping to be part of this oneness, knowing the Son is crucial as He is our example for achieving a deep, abiding relationship with the Father. Through the Son's submission, we see clearly what God's will is for us, and by following this pattern, God's purpose for us will be completed. The Son's consistent submission to the Father's will, even unto sacrificing His life, sets an example for all to follow. He came to do God's will before mankind, demonstrating that His sacrifice was not a one-time event but a lifelong commitment to never permit Himself to sin under any circumstance. This submission not only reveals the Father to us but also provides the reason for the Son's success in life and mission, showing us how to be successful in our relationship with both the Father and the Son. The Father commands, and the Son responds and submits, a dynamic underscored by the Son's statement that He always does what pleases the Father. This pattern of submission is what we are to emulate, recognizing that the Father is the Giver and the Son the Receiver, commissioned by a Superior and subject to Him. The Son is not the Father's rival but His Revealer, and this arrangement of subjection will never end, as the Son remains subject to the Father, who is greater and is the Son's God.

Christ's Revelation of the Father

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

John 1:1-3 reveals Jesus' pedigree as the Logos (Spokesman), whose function was to declare or reveal the Father. He had existed with His Father from eternity.

God the Father (Part 1)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus 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.

Our Father

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John O. Reid

Emotional and spiritual well-being of children improves when fathers fulfill their role. People from dysfunctional families have a skewed image of God.

Who Do You Trust? (Part One)

Sermon by Mark Schindler

Cynical finger-pointing has destroyed confidence in every human institution, whether political, educational, scientific, and religious.

Preternatural, Natural, Unnatural, Supernatural (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God, before He created Adam and Eve, preternaturally planned the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save humanity from the curse of sin and death.

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.'

The Nature of God: Elohim

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Understanding Elohim teaches us about the nature of God and where our lives are headed. Elohim refers to a plural family unit in the process of expanding.

Malachi's Appeal to Backsliders (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Malachi assures the people of Judah that if they repent, God's favor will resume, but if they continue defiling the Covenant, a day of reckoning will come.

Hebrews (Part Two): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

If we understand the function of the Old Covenant as explained in Leviticus, we will better understand the New Covenant and not reject the law of the Savior.

Jesus Christ: First Savior, Second High Priest, Third King

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The book of Hebrews teaches that our relationship to Christ as our Savior, High Priest, and King is the key to salvation. He shows us the way to the Father.

The Holy Spirit and the Trinity (Part Five)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's Spirit is the essence of His mind rather than a third person. With this Spirit, God opens our minds, dwells in us, and transfers His nature to us.

Hebrews (Part Seven): Greater than Angels

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The book of Hebrews systematically proves Christ's superiority to patriarchs, prophets, the Levitical Priesthood, and angels, establishing His credentials.

United With Whom?

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Our relationship with God is the key to unity with the brethren. When we are all just like Christ, we will also all resemble each other—and there will be unity.

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.

Our Divine Destiny

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God's called-ones have been given the ability to decipher the scattered concepts, revealing the purpose of their destiny throughout the Scriptures.