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Getting To Know God
Sermonette by John W. RitenbaughGetting to know God intimately, by virtue of His enabling us to experience life as He experiences life, makes the New Covenant vastly superior to the Old.
Do You Really Know God?
Sermon by Clyde FinkleaIn the teachings of Jesus, the phrase "Lord, Lord" carries a weighty significance, often signaling trouble and disappointment for those who utter it. This expression appears in His parables, highlighting a profound disconnect between claiming to know God and truly being known by Him. Jesus warns that many will call out "Lord, Lord," yet He will respond, "I do not know you," or "I never knew you," identifying them as workers of iniquity, lawlessness, and unrighteousness. This rejection underscores that mere verbal acknowledgment of His lordship is insufficient without a life of obedience and righteousness. In these parables, such as the one about the Ten Virgins, the foolish ones who were unprepared cry out "Lord, Lord," only to find the door shut against them. Similarly, others who claim familiarity with Him, saying they ate and drank with Him and heard His teachings, are turned away with the same stern declaration of not being known by Him. Jesus emphasizes that knowing God involves an intimate relationship, akin to that between a husband and wife, a bond of deep understanding and shared experience. Without this intimacy, marked by love and adherence to His commandments, those who call "Lord, Lord" face rejection, as they lack the true connection He seeks with His followers.
Life in the Church
Sermon by David C. GrabbeJesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, issues a stern warning about the contradiction of addressing Him as Lord while failing to obey His commands. He emphasizes that many will call Him Lord, believing they know Him, yet stand rejected due to their practice of lawlessness. Despite their works, even good works, He declares He does not know them because of their refusal to adhere to His Law. He further illustrates this by stating that it is not enough to simply call Him Lord; true entry into the Kingdom comes only to those who do the will of the Father. In another instance, He points out the inconsistency of acknowledging Him as Lord while disregarding His instructions, underscoring that a solid foundation is built only by those who act upon His sayings.
Glorifying God
Sermon by John O. ReidIn Luke 6, Jesus Christ speaks with authority on the importance of true obedience over mere words. He questions, "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" This piercing inquiry reveals that acknowledging Him as Lord is insufficient without action. He emphasizes that lip service without performance fails to honor Him. True glorification of God comes from building one's life on the foundation of His teachings, for any other foundation leads to ruin. Jesus Christ makes it clear that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, highlighting that obedience, not just profession, is the measure of faithfulness.
What Does God Really Want? (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIf we want to be like our Savior, then we will live the way He lived, keeping God's commandments — which exemplify the highest form of love.