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What Is Repentance? (Part One)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The gospel accounts reveal that John the Baptist was tasked by God to prepare the way of the LORD, proclaiming repentance as the foundation of his message with the call, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Jesus Christ echoed this same urgent call when He began His ministry, emphasizing repentance as essential to the gospel. After His resurrection, He instructed His disciples to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name to all nations. The apostle Paul later declared that God commands all men everywhere to repent, highlighting the impending judgment. Paul's preaching focused on a repentance that involves a radical moral turn away from sin and toward God, accompanied by appropriate works that demonstrate this change in behavior. True repentance always includes a transformation in conduct, requiring individual effort to alter one's life.

One Nation Under God (Part One)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

As the Great Tribulation concludes, the remnant of Israelites will reach a point of readiness to submit to God, the Father, and to Jesus Christ, Their King. To become one nation under God in the Millennium, they must undergo significant changes, developing qualities, attitudes, and character traits of contrition. National repentance and renewal, as exemplified by the Jews under Ezra and Nehemiah, provide a pattern for this transformation. During Nehemiah's time, after the exile, God began to renew His people in the land to fulfill His promises. This renewal required hard work, both corporately and individually, through public ceremonies of confession and recognition of dependence on God's grace. The purpose of Nehemiah's leadership was not only to rebuild Jerusalem's walls but to rebuild the nation through true worship and a relationship with God. This spiritual renewal involved key elements: the reading of God's law, confession of sin, and covenant renewal. National repentance started with the word of God, as Ezra read the law publicly, leading to a profound impact on the people. Their sorrow for sin was evident as they wept upon hearing the law, convicted of their unfaithfulness, though they were urged to rejoice on that holy day. Five vital steps marked this national renewal. First, Ezra began with prayer, establishing the significance of the law as divinely inspired and awakening anticipation of God's work among the people. Second, the public reading of God's word was conducted with great reverence, as the people stood in awe. Third, the explanation of the law by leaders ensured understanding and application in daily life. Fourth, sorrow over sin emerged as genuine repentance, with intense grief that required intervention to balance with joy. Fifth, the people's lives began to revolve around God's holy days, rediscovering and enthusiastically following instructions for worship, particularly the Feast of Tabernacles, as a reminder of God's provision. The repentance in Nehemiah's time was both individual and corporate, with the people confessing their sins and those of their ancestors, acknowledging collective guilt. This movement, linked to the reading of God's law, was genuine and sustained, not manipulated by leaders but driven by God's inspiration. A long formal prayer by the Levites praised God's greatness, reviewed Israel's history of rebellion contrasted with God's mercy, and appealed for relief from distress, emphasizing God's patience and goodness. The people pledged faithfulness through a solemn covenant, setting a model for spiritual renewal. This pattern of national repentance and renewal parallels what the Israelites must undergo as they emerge from the Great Tribulation into the Millennium. They will need to follow similar steps—prayer, engagement with God's word, understanding, sorrow for sin, and commitment to worship—to achieve spiritual recovery and become one nation under God.

Freedom and Security?

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The crisis facing this nation can only be resolved by a change in its character. When a nation is obedient to God, He is faithful to provide personal freedom, abundance, and national security in full measure. However, when a nation is disobedient, these blessings are removed. Freedom and security are not mutually exclusive, but they demand a great personal sacrifice: submission to God. Unless this nation is willing to make this sacrifice, maintaining both individual freedom and national security will remain an obscure dream.

Divine Warning

Article by John W. Ritenbaugh

The terrorist attacks of September 11 were a divine warning, especially to God's church, to return speedily to a right relationship with Him.

Christian Reaction to Terror

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Events of this nature should be a wake up call to repent to all who survive! We should focus on our own guilt, our failure to live up to God's standards.

Katrina, Rita, Trumpets, and Judgment

Sermonette by John W. Ritenbaugh

God exercised incredible restraint and mercy considering the magnitude of our national sins. Natural disasters should lead us all to reflect and repent.

9-11 and American Decadence

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

This morning marked the eighth anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center buildings in New York City by Islamic fundamentalists. ...

A Cause of Terrorism

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

God is allowing these increasing acts of terrorism as punishment for our peoples' forsaking the Covenant with Him and despising His holy law.

Is God to Blame?

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The 9/11 bombings were tragic and terrible. Some have since asked, 'Was God involved? Is He to blame?' These tough questions have challenging answers.

Divine Warning

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh

On 9/11, the political and spiritual leadership of America absolved itself from any culpability, refusing to acknowledge our national collective sins.

Peace and Safety

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

Without national repentance, there will be national calamity. Being the world's sole superpower matters not a whit if God is against us.

Who Is America's Greatest Enemy?

'WorldWatch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The United States stands weakened by worldwide conditions, but its foreign enemies cannot match its power. Its real foe lies much closer.

Humanism Dominates

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

The secular humanists, infiltrating education, entertainment, and government, have undermined the virtue and sullied the purity of America.

Liberal Lunacy (Part One)

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Progressive humanists are neither satisfied with God's standards nor common sense, but strive to replace them with something they deem to be 'better.'

Israel: Future

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

What is in store for the nations of Israel? Is their future promising or bleak—or both? This article concludes a three-part series on the people of Israel.

If You Do Not Obey My Voice

Commentary by Martin G. Collins

America's infrastructure, educational standards, and economy, etc. are beginning to flag, largely from disobedience to God's laws and squandering blessings.

Everywhere But Up

Commentary by Joseph B. Baity

Western society is looking to technology, medicine and government for solutions to its seemingly unsolvable problems, looking everywhere but up.

A Great Victory - But!

Commentary by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade is a step back from the brink of destruction, but the moral climate of the United States has not changed.

Are We Already In Captivity?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Major curses, including economic oppression, famine, pestilence, mental illness, alien invasion, the scattering of modern Israel are yet to occur.

Prepare to Meet Your God! (Part Two)

Article by John W. Ritenbaugh and Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Because of God's intimate relationship by covenant with Israel and His church, His people have a greater responsibility to follow His instructions.

Christian Reaction to Terror

Sermonette by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Asaph's godly and humane reaction to the attack on Judah contrasts greatly with America's more self-righteous and vindictive approach.

What Will It Take?

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

What would have to happen for us to wake up and, instead of rolling over and going back to sleep, actually turn back to God with the entirety of our being?

Hananiah's Error

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

Hananiah made a significant mistake: prophesying good when God had called for destruction. While God's will is for good, the timing makes all the difference.

The Book of Joel (Part One)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

When Joel describes the devastating locust plagues, instead of promising a silver lining on a very black cloud, he says things are going to get intensely worse.

Micah (Part One): Hope for the Hopeless

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The prophecy of Micah had a delayed effect, taking many years before a reformer emerged on the scene. Jeremiah's life was spared because of the memory of Micah.

The Doctrine of Israel (Part Three): A Cycle of Rebellion

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Israel consistently cycles through God's deliverance, apostasy through idolatry and immorality, God's chastening, national repentance, then deliverance again.

The Second Exodus (Part Three)

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

At some point in the near future, the modern descendants of Israel will learn of their true identity—and have to face the consequences of that knowledge.

Micah (Part Three): Who Is a God Like You?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Micah 5 describes legal proceedings against the people who have rejected God, promising a harsh retribution but future restoration for a physical remnant.

Zephaniah (Part Two): God's Wrath on the Whole World

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though the Gentiles will be punished, only Israelites had a special relationship with God, and consequently were more accountable for their failure.

Amos (Part Seven)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

God, through His prophets, warns that He will chasten His people with increasing severity until they repent and begin to reflect His characteristics.

Joy in Our Time

Commentary by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Attainment of calm joy does not come from anything earthly, but it comes from God, and is dependent upon inculcating godly love.

The Sacred Assemblies

Sermonette by David C. Grabbe

The Last Day of Unleavened Bread and the Eighth Day are the only designated "sacred assemblies," which require a greater degree of solemnity for reflection.

Deuteronomy and Holiness

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God has provided the God-plane marriage relationship to teach us how to submit to one another, sacrificing our self-centeredness for the benefit of our spouse.

Lamentations (Part Four; 1989)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

The prophets and the religious leaders bear the greatest blame for the destruction by providing a quasi-religion and not teaching the Law of God.