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Entrusted with Godly Holiness
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerIn Leviticus 19, the scriptures are part of the Holiness Chapters, which emphasize the eternal responsibilities and goals of God's principles of liberty for the Spirit-led Body of Christ. These scriptures, originally for the physical church of God in the wilderness, are intended for those currently called by God, to whom He has entrusted His holiness. This relationship with Him must endure forever and is being refined now through a significant separation from the ways of the world, both physically and spiritually. In Leviticus 21, an important lesson is highlighted, which should be a consuming fire within every believer. This lesson is crucial for those called to offer sacrifices to God, for themselves and for all of mankind who will follow under Jesus Christ. God has entrusted us with His holiness, which we must internalize and live out in our lives. This entrusted holiness and love will serve as a beacon of our unity with God for the world to see. This unity, marked by God's entrusted holiness, will also bring the wrath of a dying world upon those called now, but we must remain faithful in the place God is preparing for us through continuous growth, understanding, and love under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. God has given us this unique time to serve with Jesus Christ in a specifically prepared place within His body for eternity. We must be fervently driven in every aspect of our lives to grow in truth, love, and grace under His care. We have been entrusted with God's holiness, and we must diligently learn and live His Word. We must be careful and diligent with the holiness that has been entrusted to us, as judgment has begun with the household of God. God, who began a good work in us, will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. This is His holy way of life that He has entrusted to each one of us.
Holy as He is Holy
Sermonette by Ronny H. GrahamBecoming holy is a process that spans an entire lifetime, which includes embracing God's holy days and tithes. Becoming holy takes continuous practice
The Holiness Code
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe term 'holiness code' is applied to a section of Scripture, specifically Leviticus 17 through 26, which concentrates on sanctification or holiness. The word holiness appears frequently in these chapters, indicating that the main subject of these chapters is holiness. Holiness is God's essential nature, characterized by ultimate purity beyond human imagination. God's holiness is described as the quantum difference between human and divine, a wide gulf that human flesh, except in the person of Jesus Christ, could not handle. Holiness involves a legal declaration by God when individuals are set apart to Him by accepting the covenant, and a lifelong process of becoming holy through God's help and by doing His ways. This process is what New Testament writers refer to as sanctification. The holiness code teaches how to grow in righteous, godly character, reflecting God's character in thoughts, speech, and deeds. As individuals grow in Christ's image, they become holier, more sanctified, and set apart. The holiness code, reflecting God's unchanging character, remains in force. It teaches how God lives and helps individuals remain holy and build holy character. However, some laws within the code are no longer applicable in their literal form but remain relevant through their spiritual principles.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHoliness is a state of cleanliness, purity, blamelessness, and sacredness. It is closely associated with sanctification, which involves being set apart for God's purposes. God demands that those He has called to be His dwelling place must be holy as He is holy. This holiness extends to our conduct and sacrifices, requiring a clean life and sacrifices made acceptable through Jesus Christ. As a chosen generation and a royal priesthood, we are to offer up spiritual sacrifices and show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Holiness of God (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHoliness means transcendent purity. It indicates God's beyondness, His otherness, His aboveness. God is holy, and the word holy sums up everything we can know and say about Him, indicating the totality of His excellence. God's holiness is so great that it is beyond our comprehension. Our senses only transmit a vague likeness of Him, and our vocabulary is insufficient to describe His holiness fully. God has called us to be in His image and to be holy. He says, "Be holy, for I am holy." Holiness has practical applications to our lives. We are to be like God in a human fashion, embodying His goodness, reliability, truthfulness, love, justice, and beauty. God wants us to become holy in every aspect of our thinking, speaking, acting, working, loving, and attitudes. Becoming holy is the only way that we can fulfill the destiny for which God has created us. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord. Holiness is a fundamental requirement for every human being to enter into the Kingdom of God. Holiness involves relationships, and the most important relationship is with God. It is through a close relationship with Him, established through Jesus Christ, that the holiness of God is communicated to us. This relationship is vital for our transformation into holiness. The path to holiness is marked by steady progression in righteousness to sanctification. It is a process that involves growing in grace, which is a synonym for sanctification, and it is primarily the work of grace through the Holy Spirit, giving us victory over everything that defiles and producing within us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. The grace of God provides for us in the past, present, and will continue to do so until glorification, when the sanctification process will be finished, and we will shine with the radiant beauty of God. God's grace includes whatever gifts are needed, when they are needed, in the amount each person can rightly use in their circumstance. It is a cooperative effort with God, where we must make choices and exert our will, as well as His.
Holiness of God (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAs bearers of God's name, we must aspire to holiness. Perfecting holiness is the process by which we are transformed from the glory of man to the glory of God.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 5)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod gives conditions for acceptable sacrifices and offerings, differentiating the holy and authentic from the defiled, unclean and strange.
Holiness (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughHoly things are set apart from the rest, consecrated, sanctified, and transcendentally separate. God wants to transform us into that very image.
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.
Seeking God's Will (Part One): Holiness
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughDetermining the will of God is difficult to do unless we know the character of God. Holiness is the foundation for all of the other traits of God.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 4)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe bronze altar, made with the censers from the rebels, was a reminder of the folly of rebelling against holy things, replacing God's standards with human ones.
Humbleness is Our Only Path to Holiness
Sermonette by Bill OnisickFor to come near to God, we must be thoroughly cleansed inside and out. Self-affliction, enabled by fasting, creates humility—the only path to holiness.
Principled Living (Part Six): Becoming Holy
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughPentecost forces us to stand out from the crowd, separated as firstfruits for sanctification and holiness. God has called us to be different.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughDathan and Korah agitated for a democratization of priestly responsibilities. God shows that not everybody set apart is holy in the same way.
Sanctification and Holiness (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughIn Numbers 16-18, God performed several miracles to demonstrate conclusively that not everyone is called to the same function and that He remains the Boss.
Holiness (Part 1)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughTo appropriate the name of God means to represent His attributes, character and nature. Our behavior must imitate Christ just as Christ revealed God the Father.
Original Sin and Holiness
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)God gave Adam and Eve a neutral spirit and free moral agency; they chose the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, predisposing their offspring to sin.
The Priesthood of God (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Because God is holy, His people must also be holy, displaying the character of God. Holiness designates God-like qualities found in those sanctified by God.
Called To Be Saints (Part One)
CGG Weekly by David C. GrabbeOne of the greatest blessings we have been given as Christians is our calling by God. Jesus declared that only the Father determines who comes to the Son.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)From the beginning, God has set apart certain individuals, putting them through a sanctifying process, perfecting their character until they reflect His image.
We Must Work for What We Believe
Sermon by Mark SchindlerWiping out terrorists may seem clear-headed, but our viewpoint must be based on Micah 4:1-7, which describes a time when swords will be beaten into plowshares.

After Pentecost, Then What?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe holy days typify the steps in God's plan. What happens between Pentecost and Trumpets, the long summer months?
Deuteronomy (Part 7)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSanctification is an incremental process in which we systematically destroy the sin within us as our forebears were asked to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan.
Clean and Unclean Meats
Bible Study by Richard T. RitenbaughModerns sneer at the Bible's food laws, but God gave them for man's good. This study shows they are still in effect for us today.
Who Are We and Where Do We Fit? (Part One)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)If we really considered or believed in our hearts that our calling was truly a treasure, we would take extraordinary steps to prevent any loss of it.
Preparing to Rule (1993)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSanctification is both a state and a process—a time period between justification and glorification during which overcoming, purification, and holiness takes place.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)As the lives of the major biblical figures were predestined, so are our lives. God chooses, moves, and manages the lives of His servants.
Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Six)
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWorks cannot earn us salvation. However, they play many vital roles in our Christian walk toward the Kingdom of God, especially in developing holiness.
Amos (Part Six)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughThe favorite-son status of Israel was conditioned on accepting the terms of the covenant with God. Israel, then and now, has placed her trust in material things.
The Gift of Eternal Life
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsThe difference between living forever and eternal life is that longevity does not equate to quality of life. Living forever while enduring pain lacks appeal.
The Priesthood of God (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)Our responsibility as a royal priesthood and a kingdom of priests is to become holy as God is holy, exceeding the holiness of the Levitical priesthood.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow (Part Three)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We do not need to excessively fear Satan, his demons, or the world, but we should fear and respect the One who has complete involvement in our lives.
The Priesthood of God (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)A priest, having cognizance of his own weaknesses, has an obligation to empathize with other peoples' weaknesses and bear one another's burdens.
Building the Wall (Part Two)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughBuilding a wall requires standing, holding firm, showing alertness and a readiness for action, even if it requires self-denial and unpleasant dirty work.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Two)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe Sabbath is not a mere ceremonial observance, but identifies God's people as different, and consequently a perpetual irritant to the world.
Forms vs. Spirituality (Part 3)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughGod's holy law gives love its foundation, stability, and evenness, preventing it from degenerating into a sappy, sentimental feeling.
The Wall, Our Work
Sermonette by Christian D. HunterLike the nation of Judah under Nehemiah, we are building a spiritual wall of holiness, requiring a day-by-day effort to keep the world out and protect our families.
The Beatitudes, Part 6: The Pure in Heart
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughPurity before God is far more than just being clean. To Jesus, being pure in heart, described in the Beatitudes, touches on the very holiness of God.
What Is Prayer?
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPrayer to a tool we must learn to use. Because we take on the characteristics of those we are around, we should keep company with God continually though prayer.
The Handwriting Is on the Wall (2021)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerWhen comparing the Jewish Disneyland Succoth Extravaganza with the Holy Days kept by Israel, it is obvious that the veil still bars their understanding.
Elements of Judgment (Part Five)
Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)We dare not 'do away' anything that is part of God's mind, or we will not be in His image. Acts 15 did not give Gentiles exemption from keeping God's Law.
Where Is God's True Church Today?
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughWhere can we find the true religion, the true church, in all this confusion? Only the church Christ founded and heads today has the answers to eternal life.
Do You Really Want Just Any Eternal Life?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe have a natural desire for eternal life, but living endlessly would not be a blessing if our circumstances were miserable. Eternal life means quality of life.
Maintaining Good Health (Part 2)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe cleanliness laws in Leviticus, prescribing cleansing and quarantine, apply to the spiritual dimension as well. God will not tolerate uncleanness.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSatan has attempted to obliterate the sanctification step from the conversion process. Sanctification is produced by doing works pleasing to God.
The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughJustification is not the end of the salvation process, but merely the opening to sanctification, where we bear fruit and give evidence of God's Spirit in us.
God's Perseverance With His Saints (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod, as our true Shepherd, provides total protection of His called out-ones forever. Being kept in God's name refers to assimilating the attributes of God.
The Book of Daniel (Part One)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIf we look upon the Book of Daniel as a puzzle of prophecies, we miss the more important point that it gives strategies to remain godly in a godless venue.
The Offerings of Leviticus (Part Five): The Peace Offering, Sacrifice, and Love
'Personal' from John W. RitenbaughThe peace offering teaches many things, but one of its main symbols is fellowship. Our communion with the Father and the Son obligates us to pursue peace.
Unity (Part 6): Ephesians 4 (C)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughUnity has to come from the inside out, with God raising a leader which His people, having their minds opened by His Spirit, will voluntarily submit to.