Wkly Bible Study for Dial-Up/Broadband, Sept 2, 2013

Principles the Lord has established which guarantee that the human race will not self-destruct.

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Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
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STUDY TITLE:

Principles the Lord has established which guarantee that the human race will not self-destruct.



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Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

We have been noting the Six Basic Principles the Lord has established which guarantee that the human race will never self-destruct and that mankind will live on this earth until the end of human history.

First, we have the division of languages (GEN 11:6-8), after the tower of Babel. This was so the human race would not think that the union of man with human power and human ability could some the problems of mankind.

Secondly, we have the principle of Nationalism. God is the one who gave nations and therefore, in the biblical interpretation of history, because the word of God which has never failed, and will never fail, will still come to pass, we saw the significance of Nationalism and the importance of the rejection of Internationalism.

The third principle is the concept of client nations to God. This all began with the nation of Israel who was called a holy or set-apart nation to God.

DEU 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God [separated or set apart for God]; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."

A client nation is a national entity under the sponsorship of God, assigned the responsibility for the preservation, communication, and fulfillment of the canon of Scripture. The one major reason that Jewish and Gentile client nations do not continue is because of negative volition toward Bible doctrine. Many of these nations were destroyed because of not understanding doctrines such as the difference between Israel and the Church, Dispensations, the Spiritual Life, and the Mystery Doctrine of the Church-age. In every case of Jewish apostasy within a Jewish client nation, both the clergy (prophets and priests), and the politicians of Israel are indicted along with the people.

In JER 6:9-11 we read, Thus says the Lord of hosts, [Jehovah of the armies], has said; To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed [they've tuned out God], And they cannot listen [they don't want to hear from Him]. Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. But I am full of the wrath of the Lord: I am weary with holding {it} in. Pour {it} out on the children in the street [even the children suffer because of association] And on the gathering of young men together; For both husband and wife shall be taken, The aged and the very old.

Jeremiah is saying that the wrath of God should come so that the people may wake up.

JER 6:12-13, "And their houses shall be turned over to others, [their homes will be given away] Their fields and their wives together [their loved ones]; For I will stretch out My hand Against the inhabitants of the land," declares the Lord. "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is greedy for gain, And from the prophet even to the priest Everyone deals falsely [or everyone manufactures lies]."

Everyone's after the dollar, little people and big people alike. The same thing is true in 2T 3:1-2 where the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil (see also 1Ti
6:10).

In JER 6:13, the prophets and priests, and everyone in between, twist and distort the truth of the Word of God. In MIC 3:11, Their leaders [their judges] pronounce judgment [literally sell verdicts] for a bribe, Her priests instruct for a price [market their teaching], And her prophets divine for money.

One of the signs that a nation is going down is when those who have spiritual information sell it. This is against what our Lord said in MAT 10:8-10, "Heal {the} sick, raise {the} dead, cleanse {the} lepers, cast out demons; freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for {your} journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support."

Those that respond and who have PVTD will support those who are responsible for the communication of the truth. In JER 6:14-15 they deal falsely or manufacture lies, in these verses academic dishonesty is called an abomination to the Lord.

JER 6:16 Thus says the Lord, "Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths [you're standing at the crossroads, look around], Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk {in it}.'

JER 6:17-19, "And I set watchmen over you [communicators of doctrinal truth] {saying,} 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.' Therefore hear, O nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold [learn from the biblical interpretation of history], I am bringing disaster on this people [My client nation], The fruit of their plans [letting them reap what they sow], Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law or doctrine, they have rejected it also."


God even provided watchmen for them to warn them, to set off the alarm, but the people didn't listen. They have ignored God's word, and had nothing but indifference, apathy, and even contempt for God's teachings. So the Lord took them out. Always remember ACT 10:34 God is not one to show partiality.

EZE 13:8-10, Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you," declares the Lord God. So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations [they see empty, false, and delusive visions and give lying prophecies]. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God. It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, 'Peace!' When there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall,"

The wall refers to false sense of security promoted from the lies of politicians trying to deceive the people, and the prophets and the priest teaching false doctrine for personal gain. The same could be said of people today who are ignoring the writing on the wall concerning our own nation.

In EZE 13:11-12, the Lord says that the politicians, priests, and prophets have lied. When the government and the spiritual leaders build a wall, the people are right behind them slapping on whitewash. So in verse 13, the Lord says, Tell those who are slapping on the whitewash, When the flooding rains come and the hailstones crash down and the hurricane sweeps, the walls, [man's solutions to man's problems], will collapse. Whitewash represents the political lies that saturate a client nation.

EZE 13:15-16 "Thus I shall spend My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash; and I shall say to you,'The wall is gone and its plasterers are gone, {along with} the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace, declares the Lord God."

The fourth basic principle the Lord has established which guarantees the continuance of the human race, until the end of human history is the salvation work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. This work on the Cross divides the human race into two categories, believers and unbelievers.

JOH 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

The only sin that causes an individual to not be able to enter into Heaven, the eternal state, is the sin of unbelief.

JOH 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

In COL 4:5, the apostle Paul says "Conduct yourselves by means of doctrine toward unbelievers, making the most of the opportunity."

If you really believe in God and His word you have to believe that the unbeliever will go to a place described as a place of torment described in LUK 16:27-28.

It's a place of unspeakable misery indicated by the term, "everlasting fire" (MAT 25:41). It's a place where the worm [conscience] never dies and the fire is never quenched (MAR 9:44). It's the Lake (which many believe to be a liquid form of lava) which burns with fire and brimstone (REV 21:8).

This place of eternal suffering is also called; A bottomless pit (REV 9:2), Outer darkness (MAT 8:12), Fire unquenchable (LUK 3:17), Furnace of fire (MAT 13:42), Blackness of darkness (Jud 13).

Seven times we are told in the scripture that there will weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This is a very real place, beyond the power of words to describe. If any of you have family members, friends, acquaintances, fellow-workers, or anyone that you come into contact with that are unbelievers, you should always be open to an opportunity to witness. If you really believe in God and His word you have to believe that the unbeliever will go to that final destiny, the eternal lake of fire. It's that place where the devil is thrown into described in REV 20:10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be ormented day and night forever and ever.

The apostle Paul realized how serious this was and therefore asked the early church to pray that he would have boldness concerning the communication of the Gospel in EPH 6:19 where he was talking about witnessing.

ROM 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile."


Witnessing is the responsibility of every believer. You should ask yourself if ROM 1:16 is a reality to you, are you ashamed of the Gospel? Are you embarrassed or afraid to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ in front of friends? Remember that God the Holy Spirit gives you the power that you need to be effective in witnessing.

ACT 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses.

2TI 4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. This applies to every believer.

The Church-age believer has two areas of responsibility in witnessing for Christ. First, the witness of the life, 2CO 3:3 "Being manifested that you are a letter from Christ, having been served by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God, not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the human heart."

Your life is to be a letter from Christ and therefore we have the witness of your life.

Secondly is the witness of the lips, 2CO 5:18-20, Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

There are three areas of evangelism in which the power of God the Holy Spirit functions in witnessing, they are given precisely in JOH 16:8-11, "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged."

The Holy Spirit will convict the world of three things:

1. Concerning sin (unbelief, not sins).

2. Righteousness.

3. Judgment.

The Gospel is good news, the good news is that every personal sin in human history was judged on the Cross. Personal sin is not the issue in salvation, and that's made very clear in the context. It says that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of "sin" that is singular. There's only one sin that is the issue when you are witnessing to someone and that is unbelief regarding the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one sin that takes a person to the eternal lake of fire and that is rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior. In witnessing personal sins are never the issue because all personal sins were judged on the Cross (2CO 5:14,15, 19, 1TI 2:4; 1TI 2:6; 1TI 4:10, TIT 2:11, HEB 2:9, 2PE 2:1, 1JO 2:2). This is called the doctrine of the unlimited atonement, which means that the Lord Jesus Christ died for every single member of the human race. There is no such thing as limited atonement taught in the Scripture. Our Lord and Savior died for the sins of the whole world. Our Lord allowed every infant to be born into sin because condemnation must precede salvation. Just as one person did it all wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, our Lord did it right and got us out of it (ROM 5:18-21).

The Grace of God invites us into eternal life, a life that goes on forever and ever. All members of the human race are born in sin. Jesus Christ, in His justice, died for the sins of the entire human race. So, personal sin is not an issue in witnessing, the issue is what do you think about the Lord Jesus Christ (ROM 22:42).

We are not to make an issue out of our own righteousness, and tell everyone how holy we are now that we are Christians. We are not to make an issue out of their unrighteousness and their bad habits or their lifestyle. It is always important to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ is "non posse peccare," meaning not able to sin.

This refers to the deity of Christ. As God, Jesus Christ is not able to sin.

But Jesus Christ is also said to be "posse non peccare," meaning able not to sin. This refers to the humanity of Christ inside the PPOG for His life.

The humanity of Christ was tempted in all ways that we are tempted, and far beyond any temptation we have ever experienced, and He remained perfect and He did not sin. He had the ability to sin because His humanity had volition. The Deity of Christ was impeccable and it was impeccability that qualified our Lord to become a lamb without spot and without blemish. Therefore, He could go to the Cross and be judged for the sins of the world.

He became "the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."


The perfect resurrected humanity of the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into the presence of God the Father where His righteousness was totally accepted in Heaven forever and ever. This is the only righteousness that is an issue in witnessing, the righteousness of Christ! When the Lord Jesus Christ ascended and was seated at the right hand of God, it was humanity that did so, only the humanity of Christ sits down!

In witnessing the only righteousness that we have the right to make an issue out of is the righteousness of Christ! When the Holy Spirit controls the soul of the one witnessing, it is He that reaches out to fallen man who is spiritually dead and points to the impeccability of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you're going to live with God forever you have to be as good as God is, and the only way you can do that is to have God's righteousness. The only way anyone can get God's righteousness is if He gives it to us, and that's what He did the day of our salvation. God the Holy Spirit reveals in common grace the principle that the righteousness of God is the only righteousness accepted in Heaven and the righteousness of God is imputed to us at the moment that we believe in Christ.

The third principle that the Holy Spirit will make an issue of when the believer is witnessing properly is found in JOH 16:11 And concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. Remember that Satan is the ruler of this world (JOH 12:31; JOH 14:30; JOH 16:11, 2CO 4:4, EPH 2:2). Prior to human history both Satan and all fallen angels were tried, judged, found guilty and sentence was passed. This is recorded very briefly in MAT 25:41 "the eternal fire has been prepared for the devil and his angels." This sentence was appealed by Satan with the result that mankind was created, and human history was designed by God as the environment for Satan's appeal trial! Mankind was created to bring glory to God in this appeal trial. Like angelic creatures, mankind was given free will to demonstrate to Satan and all fallen angels the validity of God's judgment on them. The human beings who reject the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior will share the condemnation of Satan and the fallen angels (REV 20:10-15).

The Fifth principle the Lord has established which guarantees the continuance of the human race, until the end of human history is the invisible impact and influence of the mature Church-age believer. This is where God blesses the client-nation through the pivot of mature believers. The greatest function and service in time is invisible to the general public. It is the function of the pivot of mature believers. In the Church-age, the mature believer is the stabilizer of history. The mature believer may not be recognized by the world, or for that matter even the Church, but he is the unseen hero of the Church-age as a part of the pivot. As goes the believer so goes the nation. This is true about a mature believer, when the rain descends and the floods come, he doesn't freak out.

Our Lord warned us about this in MAT 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine [Bible doctrine], and acts upon them [application of doctrine], may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended [a reference to the storms of trouble], and the floods came [adversaries and opposition against the members of the household], and the winds blew [the unexpected adversities], and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine [perceives doctrine], and does not act upon them [doesn't apply], will be like a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand [the ways of the world]. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and it fell, and great was its fall."

Earthly things; the ways of the world look good until the trials and difficulties of life prove their vanity. Heavenly things look inadequate until the trials and difficulties reveal their glory.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.