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

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate voice we must hear, surpassing all others in authority and glory. As declared in Matthew 17 during the Transfiguration, God Himself commanded, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" eclipsing even the revered figures of Moses and Elijah, whose glory fades in comparison to His infinite greatness. In Hebrews 1:2, the deliberate phrasing "spoken to us in Son" emphasizes that He is the final and perfect channel through whom God speaks, distinct from the fragmentary messages of prophets, dreams, or visions. When the Son speaks, it is as though the Father Himself is speaking, for They are one, and through Him all blessings of divine knowledge flow. As the Commander in Chief of the church, Jesus Christ holds supreme authority, granted by the Father, to direct and use the church and each member as He sees fit, without restraint, for His purposes. We are called to follow Him, to hear Him above all others, and to walk as He walked, imitating Him in every aspect of life, for He is always better, the dominant theme of superiority throughout Hebrews. Our relationship with Him is vital, as He Himself states in John 15:5, "Without Me you can do nothing," underscoring our complete dependence on Him to produce fruit that glorifies God and secures our place in His Kingdom.

Hebrews (Part Two): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Under the New Covenant, God emphasizes the paramount importance of Jesus Christ, commanding His followers to hear Him above all others. Despite the reverence for figures like Moses and Elijah, God declares that Jesus surpasses them in significance, urging all to listen to Him as the ultimate authority. This directive from God underscores that Jesus is more important than any other who has lived on this earth, establishing Him as the central figure to follow. Jesus began His ministry by preaching the gospel, detailing the overall goal of God's way of life, and reinforcing His teachings with personal examples of conduct. He shared His life with the apostles, fostering both a physical and spiritual relationship with them. He clearly stated His identity to the people of Jerusalem multiple times, stressing His oneness with the Father, a truth that was often too profound for many to accept. Moreover, Jesus is introduced as the literal Creator of the universe, man's Creator, and life-giver. The apostles had the unique privilege of hearing His voice, seeing Him, and touching Him, knowing He was their Creator. This realization grew over time, becoming an unshakable belief by the time of His crucifixion that He was both their Creator and Savior. Jesus Himself affirms that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, highlighting that hearing and understanding the gospel alone does not suffice without God's personal call to each individual.

Christ's Revelation of the Father

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Jesus Christ is the most misunderstood person who has ever walked the earth. People hear His words or read His words and purposely misunderstand them because they do not like them. Jesus Christ came to reveal the existence of His Father in heaven. As the Word He is a communicating being known as a speaker of truth. God the Father said of Him at the Transfiguration that people must hear Him. His words are to be used as a foundation to interpret and understand everything else that God has revealed. Jesus explained the Father extensively throughout His ministry through teachings and actions that the Father authorized. Eternal life requires knowing the Father and the Son. Contemplation of the Son leads to understanding the Father and to intimate fellowship with both.

Hebrews (Part Five): Who Was Jesus?

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God commands that His beloved Son be heard. The Father states that the greater glory is connected with the teaching of Jesus Christ. The instruction is clear that Moses and Elijah disappear from view. In a word many voices can be heard in the world but God says to separate from them and concentrate on hearing His Son. The opportunity exists to hear the Christ who has all the qualifications to be the leader. Jesus Christ taught in a manner radically different from anything that had ever been tried by a God Being before. His life as a unique God and Man was literally experienced before twelve men whom He specifically appointed to follow Him. The content of what became the gospels the other epistles and the epistle to the Hebrews was learned by the apostles on the fly as it were in the midst of life as it was being practiced in literal day by day real life situations. Teaching was done by Christ through a combination of formal sit down sessions combined with living lessons as Jesus exemplified them by His life and as He verbally taught during real times. At the end of this method of teaching by God in the flesh a major extent of His love was revealed by giving Himself in death sacrificing His life for the spiritual benefit of those following. The same basic process modified a little bit to meet the situation is followed as the church nears the end of the age but learning occurs in much the same way. A teaching a sit down session occurs but application of what is learned must occur day by day inch by inch as growth occurs within the love of the Father and the Son.

Deuteronomy: Hearing

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

By listening, taking heed, and drinking in of God's Word daily, we take on the wisdom of God, upending and making foolish the wisdom of man.

Jesus on His Second Coming

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Only the Father knows the precise time of Christ's return, but the message to all Christians is to be vigilant and busy overcoming that we may see Him in glory.

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.

Hebrews (Part Six): God's Salvation Communication

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

God personally communicated with Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and to us through His Son. With the Scriptures, God teaches His faithful today.

Hebrews (Part Fourteen): Chapter 2, A Mind Bending Purpose (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Without a meaningful relationship with Christ, God's people cannot possibly bear fruit. Our responsibility is to yield to God's creative work in our lives.

Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Eternal life is to live a quality life as God lives, having developed a close relationship with God, living by faith and accepting His sovereignty over all.

'But I Say to You' (Part Four): Divorce

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

When divorce takes place, spiritual growth from the relationship stops, but when conflict escalates within a dying relationship, no growth can occur either.

The Judgments

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Multiple billions of people have lived and died without even hearing the name of Jesus Christ. But God has distinct periods of judgment and resurrection.

Filling the Void

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

More important than putting out sin is the vital need to continually ingest unleavened bread, that is, the Bread of Life, namely the words of Jesus Christ.

Deuteronomy: Being Careful

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our care in following God's instructions must be thorough, leaving no place for inattention, short cuts, negligence, or doing only enough to get by.

What's Your Source?

Commentary by David C. Grabbe

No matter how finely tuned is one's baloney detector, wrong-headed thinking etches wrong concepts into minds around the world, even in the church of God.

Truth (Part 1)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

If we are going to search for truth, we should not be seeking it in the philosophies of men, but rather in the fullness of truth found in God's revelation.