Filter by Categories
Hebrews (Part Three): Who Was Jesus? (cont.)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Jesus Christ, not created, stands as a unique and unoriginated Being in His relationship with the Father. He is not originated on earth through human generation, nor in heaven, as His connection with the Father exists beyond the constraints of human familial ties. The apostle John emphasizes this in his gospel, particularly in the prologue of the first 18 verses, establishing that Jesus, identified as the Word, was with God and was God from the beginning. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made, underscoring His role as the source of all life and creation. John's use of the term "monogenes," translated as "only begotten," intensifies the uniqueness of Jesus, portraying Him as the sole Son who shares the character of the Father. This term, used without the definite article in Greek, highlights that Jesus stands alone in His divine relationship, distinct from all other references to "sons of God" in Scripture. His identity as the Word further reveals that He has always been with the Father, with no time existing when They were apart, affirming that Jesus is totally unoriginated. Moreover, Jesus upholds all creation by the word of His power, preserving and sustaining it continuously. This immense responsibility demonstrates His boundless power and critical role in maintaining the universe, showing that it is not self-generated but managed by Him. His life, light, and witness, as described by John, offer spiritual clarity and purpose, surpassing any other source, and remain essential for humanity's relationship with God.
Jesus Is God
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe concept that Jesus Christ is not created is central to understanding the truth of God's Word and the foundation of faith. If Jesus was not who He claims to be, as both He and the Word of God proclaim, then His identity and mission are undermined, leaving humanity without a Savior. Jesus declared that He was the God of the Old Testament, a truth consistently reported in the Bible, despite challenges that have arisen throughout history to dispute this claim. Jesus Himself testified to His divine origin, stating in John 3:13 that He came down from heaven and returned there, a unique journey no other human has undertaken. This establishes His preexistence and authority over spiritual matters, as only one who has been in God's presence could reveal such truths. Repeatedly, Jesus affirmed, "I came down from heaven," emphasizing His divine origin and the unparalleled weight of His words compared to other religious teachers. Scriptural accounts further support this truth. In John 1:1-3 and 1:14, it is revealed that the Word, who is Jesus, was in the beginning with God, was God, and became flesh, indicating He existed as God before creation. Isaiah 57:14-15 records Jesus claiming to inhabit eternity, having no beginning or end, thus confirming His uncreated nature alongside the Father. Colossians reinforces this by asserting Jesus' preeminence over all creation, stating that all things were made by Him, and in Him dwells the fullness of divinity bodily, further affirming He preceded all created things and was never created. Revelation 3:14, often misused to suggest otherwise, does not contradict this truth when understood correctly. Jesus confirms His eternal existence with the Father, aligning with the consistent testimony of both the Living Word and the written Word that our Savior is uncreated God. This truth stands firm against attempts to undermine faith, affirming the immense price paid for humanity's liberty, a price that demands our humble submission to His way of life.
Jesus' Pre-Existence
Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughMany fail to believe in the preexistence of Jesus Christ as the God of the Old Testament and the Word from the beginning. Some hold a narrow view of monotheism, insisting there is only one God and one person, thus rejecting Jesus Christ as divine. Others claim He was a created being, merely human and unworthy to be God, misinterpreting Revelation 3:14 where He calls Himself the Beginning of the creation of God. This phrase, correctly understood, means the Beginner or Author of God's creation, as the Greek word "archee" indicates an originating cause. In Colossians 1:15-17, it is clear that He is the Source of all creation, the One through whom all things were made. The New Testament affirms that Jesus Christ was not created but existed prior to His human birth, as the Creator of all things with a timeless, infinite preexistence. In Ephesians 3:9, Hebrews 1:2, and other passages, His role as the Originator of creation is evident. In Hebrews 7:1-3, the description of Melchizedek as King of righteousness and peace, without beginning or end, points to none other than the One who became Jesus Christ, a divine being eternal in nature. John 1:1-5 further establishes that Jesus, the Word, was with God and was God from the beginning, possessing self-sustaining life and the ability to give both physical and spiritual life. In Revelation 19 and 1 John 1:1-2, He is identified as the Word of Life, the eternal One who has always been with the Father. Jesus Himself declares His eternal nature in John 1:18, stating He has seen God, something only possible in His preexistent state. In John 3:12-13 and 3:31-32, John the Baptist confirms that Jesus knew heavenly things because He had seen and heard them firsthand in heaven before coming to earth as a man. In Luke 10:18, Jesus recounts witnessing satan fall like lightning from heaven, a literal event He observed and participated in, proving His presence at the rebellion's defeat. Jesus openly taught His divine preexistence, as seen in John 6:45-46, where He claims to have seen the Father, a feat only a divine being could accomplish. In John 8:52-57, He asserts His existence before Abraham, identifying Himself as the I AM, the God of the Old Testament who interacted with Abraham. Multiple times in John, He uses the phrase "I am" to connect Himself to divine titles such as the bread of life, the door, and the light of the world, titles only God can fulfill. In John 10:30, He declares unity with the Father, stating, "I and My Father are one," affirming His divine nature. In Matthew 23:37, Jesus expresses a personal, emotional connection to Israel's history, reminiscing as the Lord who led them out of Egypt and guided them through centuries, revealing His real memories as their God. Paul, in his writings, also identifies the Being who was with Israel in the wilderness as the same One who became our Savior, Jesus Christ. Finally, in Revelation 22, He reaffirms His identity as the Ever-Living One, the Creator from the beginning, and the God of the Old Testament, leaving no doubt of His eternal existence and divine authority.
The Father-Son Relationship (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJesus Christ and God the Father are one in spirit and purpose, purposing to draw us toward that same kind of unity that currently exists between them.
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 Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Holy Spirit is never venerated as a separate being. Our hope is the indwelling of Christ, used interchangeably with 'Spirit of God' and 'Spirit of Truth.'
Then Comes the End
Sermonette by David C. GrabbeChrist's return marks the beginning of the end of mankind's problems. However, His return will not be the final end, which comes when God is all in all.
Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism
Article by David C. GrabbeWe can glimpse Gnosticism in Paul's epistles to the Galatians and Colossians, in which he combats Gnosticism's twisting of the truth of Jesus Christ.
Keeping the Faith Once Delivered
Sermon by Kim MyersWinds of doctrine continue to blow through the church, including Sacred Names, new moons, and Christ's eternal pre-existence before His birth as a human.
Learning to Live in the Light
Sermon by Kim MyersThrough the indwelling of His Spirit, God has enabled us to walk exclusively in the Light. However, three forces work against living this lifestyle.
Testing the Spirits (Part 1)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe Apostle John exhorts us to test and discern the spirits, judging between the true and the false, using the scripture as the steady standard of truth.
Was Jesus Created by God (Revelation 3:14)?
Bible Questions & AnswersAs the Creator or Originator of all things, Jesus is the Head and Governor of all creatures; He is the King of creation, not created Himself.