Jesus Christ's teachings guide followers to obey God's commandments, emphasizing love and obedience as inseparable. He fulfilled the law, rejecting human traditions that distort it, and intensified its standards, equating hatred with murder and lust with adultery. He defined the law's foundation as love for God and neighbor, linking friendship with Him to obedience. Jesus taught separation from worldly customs, focusing on the coming Kingdom of God, not earthly politics. From the cross, He expressed forgiveness, hope, and trust in God, completing His redemptive work. His teachings are the essence of prophecy, providing the baseline for understanding God's revelation and guiding toward salvation and the Kingdom of God.

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Is Jesus Christ a Christian?

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Jesus Christ's teachings stand as the ultimate guide for those who seek to follow Him. He rebuked religious leaders for making God's word ineffective through their traditions, declaring in Matthew chapter 7 that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, rejecting human traditions that distort its purpose. In Matthew chapter 19, He connects eternal life to keeping the commandments, stating, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. In John chapter 14, He emphasizes, if you love Me, keep My commandments, teaching that love and obedience are inseparable. He raised the standard of the law, declaring that hatred breaks the commandment against murder and lust breaks the one against adultery, intensifying its requirements rather than dismissing them. Regarding worship, Jesus warned against adopting man-made traditions, quoting Isaiah in Mark chapter 7, saying, this people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. He observed the holy days listed in Leviticus 23, such as the Passover, Feast of Trumpets, and Feast of Tabernacles, as well as the seventh-day Sabbath, aligning His practice with God's instructions rather than the customs of surrounding nations. Jesus also defined the foundation of the law as love, teaching in Matthew chapter 22 that the greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself, stating that on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. In John chapter 15, He declares, greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends, and affirms, you are My friends if you do whatever I command you, linking friendship with God to obedience. He lived this love by sacrificing Himself, demonstrating the ultimate obedience to the Father. When He returns, Jesus will recognize those who are His friends, those who obey all His commandments, worship the Father according to His instructions, and live a lifestyle rooted in love for God and others, as He taught in Matthew chapter 7, where He warns that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father, declaring to the disobedient, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.

Would Jesus Christ Vote? (Part Two)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Despite this evil world being full of selfish, abusive leaders and sinful, miserable people, God sent His Son Jesus Christ with a specific purpose to bring the good news of an entirely new way of life and a new governmental system headed by God the Father and Himself. Jesus taught the good news of the coming Kingdom of God to anyone who could hear Him, though He knew most would not heed His words. He did not come to enter into earthly politics or to make this world better, but made it clear that His Kingdom was not of this world, even though He was born to be King. While Jesus preached to the world by warning it, He remained separate from its politics, focusing primarily on His disciples, whom He taught God's way of life. He called them out of this present, evil age, out of its customs, philosophies, and ways, to a life of separation from the world, instructing them to follow Him. Though His disciples must live in the world, Jesus taught that they should not be of it, living as foreigners and ambassadors for His coming Kingdom. When questioned about paying taxes to Caesar, Jesus replied to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's, pointing out a distinction between God's Kingdom and the nations of the world, while affirming His ultimate loyalty to God.

The Last Words of Jesus Christ

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Jesus Christ's teachings from the cross on the day of His crucifixion are recorded in the New Testament. His final words, spread across the four gospels, provide a profound message of love, forgiveness, and hope. Jesus spoke seven times from the cross: three times to God the Father and four times to those nearby. Each statement offers insight into His thoughts during His greatest agony. First, Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do," seeking forgiveness for those crucifying Him, extending this plea to all humanity. This reflects His love and commitment to serve those who sin out of ignorance. Second, Jesus encouraged a repentant thief beside Him, promising hope for the future, demonstrating His concern for others even in His suffering. This interaction highlights the hope available to those who believe in Him and change their lives. Third, Jesus expressed concern for His mother's welfare, entrusting her care to His disciple John. This act of love shows His commitment to family responsibility despite His imminent death. In His fourth statement, Jesus cried out, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" This cry of feeling forsaken by God underscores the depth of His suffering and the reality of His humanity, as He bore the sins of mankind alone. Fifth, Jesus expressed His physical need for a drink, fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy and showing His humanity and the reality of His suffering. This request also highlighted His obedience to the Father's will. Sixth, Jesus declared, "It is finished," signifying the completion of His redemptive work on earth. This statement affirmed that the penalty for the sins of the world was paid in full. Finally, Jesus said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit," demonstrating His trust in God even at the moment of death. This last statement reaffirmed His dedication to serving God and His complete trust in the Father. These teachings from the cross encapsulate Jesus' message of love, forgiveness, and hope, serving as a powerful testament to His ministry and sacrifice for all humanity.

The Teaching of Jesus and Prophecy

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ's teachings are the key to understanding prophecy and the entirety of God's revelation. His message, the gospel, is the essence and governing force of prophecy. The testimony of Jesus, which includes His life and teachings, takes precedence over all other revelations in the Bible. This is evident in the Transfiguration, where God emphasizes hearing Jesus above Moses and Elijah, indicating that Jesus' words are the bedrock on which all else is built. Jesus' teachings provide the baseline for interpreting the Old Testament and understanding end-time events, as seen in the Olivet Prophecy. His message unlocks the mysteries of true righteousness and guides us toward the establishment of the Kingdom of God and our salvation.

Jesus and the Feast (Part One): Alignment With God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

During the Feast of Tabernacles, as recorded in John 7, Jesus Christ delivered profound teachings that emphasized timing, true doctrine, righteous judgment, and divine origins. He spoke amidst tension, aware that the Jewish authorities sought to kill Him, yet He asserted that His time had not yet come, highlighting the importance of aligning with God's timetable. In response to His brothers' worldly advice to gain popularity at the feast, He rejected self-centered motives, emphasizing that His actions were guided by divine purpose. When teaching in the Temple, Jesus astonished the authorities with His knowledge, despite lacking their formal training. He declared that His teaching was not His own but came from the Father who sent Him, affirming that doing God's will verifies the divine source of His message. He challenged the authorities' credentials by pointing to His perfect obedience to the Father, implying that rejecting His teaching was tantamount to rejecting God Himself. He further taught that to discern the truth of His message, one must have a proper attitude—desiring to do God's will—and the right motivation—to glorify God rather than self. Jesus also confronted the authorities' hypocrisy, using the law given through Moses as an example. He noted their failure to keep it, as evidenced by their intent to kill Him, which violated the commandment against murder. He urged them to judge with righteous judgment, a hallmark of His character as Messiah, prioritizing God's will over superficial or ritualistic observance. He illustrated this with a past healing on the Sabbath, showing that acts of love and restoration align with God's purpose, surpassing strict legalism. Addressing the crowd's confusion about His origins and their expectations of the Messiah, Jesus publicly proclaimed that while they thought they knew Him, His true source was God, whom they did not truly know. He emphasized His deep, eternal relationship with the Father, asserting that seeing Him was akin to seeing the Father. Despite the authorities' anger and desire to seize Him, His hour had not yet come, and some among the crowd accepted His words, supported by His miracles. Through these teachings at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus conveyed that His message and authority originate from the Father, urging all to trust in the truth He imparts, to align their judgment with God's will, and to practice the truth with the right attitude and motivation for spiritual understanding and growth.

Christ's Mission Statement

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Luke 4:16-21 and Mark 1:14-15, statements from Christ made at approximately the same time, constitute the composite mission statement directed at His disciples.

Hebrews (Part Five): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Jesus Christ stands as the centerpiece of our spiritual journey, embodying a vital connection without which we can achieve nothing in terms of God's creative spiritual purpose. He declared in John 15:5, "Without Me, you can do nothing," emphasizing His role as the vine to which we must remain connected to bear fruit. This underscores His indispensable importance to our lives and salvation. His teachings reveal a profound method of instruction, radically different from any prior divine approach. As a unique God-Man, He lived out His responsibilities before the twelve apostles He personally appointed, revealing the Father, Himself, the gospel, and His way of life. Through a combination of formal teachings and living examples over three and a half years, He traveled across Israel, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God. His actions and reactions in real-life situations provided lessons that shaped the content of the gospels and epistles, learned by the apostles on the fly. Moreover, His love for His followers was demonstrated to the uttermost, as He sacrificed His life for their spiritual benefit. This act of ultimate devotion, giving Himself in death, exemplifies a depth of commitment no teacher could surpass. His method continues to guide us, as we learn through teachings and apply them day by day, growing within the love of the Father and the Son. During the transfiguration, as recorded in Matthew 17, God Himself commanded, "This is My beloved Son, hear Him," highlighting the unparalleled importance of His teachings over even the greatest figures in Israelitish history, such as Moses and Elijah. When the cloud dissipated, only Christ remained visible, signifying that His greater glory and teachings must be our focus. God's directive urges us to separate from other voices and concentrate on hearing His Son.

Jesus, Jairus, the Woman, and Faith

'Ready Answer' by Ted E. Bowling

The story of Jairus' daughter's healing contains lessons of humility, faith, and patience. Though a Jewish religious authority, Jairus believed Jesus.

Would Jesus Approve of Same-Sex Marriage?

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The absence of any outright scriptural condemnation of homosexuality from the lips of Jesus has been a mainstay of so-called Christian, pro-gay rhetoric.

Misunderstood Truth

CGG Weekly by Mike Fuhrer

Some might wonder, with the Holy Spirit guiding us, can we be led astray? For the answer, all we need to do is to look around.

The Beatitudes, Part One: The Sermon on the Mount

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

The Sermon on the Mount is as vitally important today as when Christ preached it. It contains the way we are to live as God's representatives on this earth.

The True Gospel

Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

There are many 'gospels' in the world but only one true gospel—the message that Christ brought about the good news of His coming Kingdom!

Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

Christ's words at His trial regarding sitting at God's right hand and coming on clouds sound like His return, but they have another fulfillment altogether.

Matthew (Part Four)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Matthew's encapsulation of the Beatitudes, the essence of Jesus Christ's teaching, contains the foundation of His teaching through the entirety of His ministry.

Matthew (Part One)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Matthew wrote his account with the Jews in mind, repeatedly saying, 'This was done to fulfill the prophets,' emphasizing the law and the Kingdom of God.

Matthew (Part Twelve)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

To establish sound doctrine, we must build on the foundation Christ's teaching, taking the straight and narrow course rather than the wisdom of this world.

As I Breathe

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

Some in the church of God have succumbed to the lie that we do not need to be overly concerned about sinning because we are under God's grace.

'But I Say to You' (Part Seven): Love Your Enemies

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Many scriptures direct us to show kindness to strangers and even our enemies who persecute us. With God's Spirit, we override the fight or flight response.

'But I Say to You' (Part One): The Spirit of the Law

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our righteousness must exceed the that of the Pharisees, keeping God's law in the spirit rather than in the letter, replacing the law of death with the law of life.

Hebrews: Its Background (Part Eight)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Hebrews emphasizes that spiritual growth and glorification depends on an individual's relationship with Christ, the centerpiece of the Book of Hebrews.

Parable of the Good Samaritan

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

This well-known parable describes working compassion as contrasted to selfishness. It also clarifies just who is our neighbor.

He Came to Reintroduce a Way of Life

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Jesus Christ did not come to start a new religion, but instead reintroduce a way of life that would liberate people from sin.

What Does It Mean to Take Up the Cross?

'Ready Answer' by David C. Grabbe

Jesus commands His followers to take our cross and follow Him. Does He mean to carry a pagan symbol, or is there a deeper meaning to His weighty words?