God's Gift of Eternal Life Blog

The purpose of this blog is two fold: 1) to accurately describe how one may receive the free gift of eternal life--Jesus Himself said in John 6:47 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life." NKJV and 2) to explore the Word of God in such a way that it will be supplementally edifying to what you're learning from your local church as well as contribute to the spiritual growth of believers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Weekly Bible Study – February 1, 2021; Lessons we can learn from the Doctrine of Fear.

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.

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 known unconfessed 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 [your unknown or forgotten sins] ." NKJV [New King James Version] [italics added]; we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, 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 simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.

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 3:14-15, 16, 17, 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 McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary: God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

Lessons we can learn from the Doctrine of Fear.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

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

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary: God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

Lessons we can learn from the Doctrine of Fear.

One of the main areas that believers need to beware of thinking that they are mature believers in some areas and they also think they’re going forward when in reality, they are not. For remember what our LORD said in Mat 7:16, “You will know them by their fruits.”

Mat 7:18, “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.”

Now, as we will see, it all begins because they have the wrong mental attitude and their mental attitude is carrying them backwards not forwards. And as long as this type of individual remains arrogant and refuses to admit their negative decisions they will live in the arrogant skills.

Self-justification, self-deception, and self-absorption, are all excuses that they use. Paul warned us about this in the last days when he said in 2Ti 3:1-7, But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men [believers] will be lovers of self [the three arrogant skills: self-justification, self-deception, self-absorption], lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful [lack of capacity], unholy, unloving, implacable, malicious gossips, without self-control [no virtue in control of the soul], brutal, not lovers of intrinsic good, treacherous, thoughtless, pumped up with arrogance, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of GOD; who adhere to a superficial form of the spiritual life, but they have denied its power; consequently, avoid such persons as these. For among them are those who creep into homes and seduce silly women overwhelmed by their sins, led on by multifarious lusts, always learning but never able to come to an epignosis knowledge of the truth.

Isaiah describes this in Isa 44:20, He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

Your mental attitude is so important because that’s where you develop your proper motivation and it also where you do most of your sinning, in the mental attitude.

These mental attitude sins include arrogance, pride, jealousy, implacability, bitterness, vindictiveness, inordinate ambition and inordinate competition, all motivational sins, and sinful thoughts such as fear, guilt, worry, anger, judging, hatred, even murder. And these are the sins that destroy your life. Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and how we spend our time. Let’s look at some mental attitude sins. Let’s begin with arrogance.

Arrogance is the antithesis of grace, the total blindness to the grace of GOD. Arrogance is synonymous with vanity, which is empty pride in regard to one’s person, attainments, or possessions coupled with an excessive desire to be noticed, a lust for attention, lust for approval or praise from others. Arrogance deceives its victim.

Jer 49:16, “As for the terror of you, The arrogance of your heart has deceived you.”

Arrogance will bring dishonor in your life, Prov 11:2, “When arrogance comes, then come dishonor.”

Arrogance will cause self-destruction, Prov 16:18, “Arrogance precedes destruction, and before a fall there is a lifestyle of arrogance.”

Now, all of that takes place in the mental attitude.

Pride. Pride is defined by inordinate self-esteem, conceit and a pre-occupation with self. Pride also means rejection of authority beginning with the mental attitude of thinking evil.

Arrogance, Pride, Conceit, is the original sin of the greatest genius creature of all time. We call him Satan or the Devil, but his original name was son of the morning, Heylel. He was the first creature to enter into this sin. In fact, it is the original sin found in the fallen angels in the pre-historic angelic conflict. It is the one sin that motivated Satan to rebel. It is the one sin that motivated the fallen angels to rebel. It is the one sin that motivated the woman in the garden to sin.

Pr 8:13, “The respect for the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.”

Pr 16:5, “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.”

Jealousy. Jealousy is older than the human race because jealousy existed in eternity past when Lucifer, the son of the morning, became jealous of GOD. The first case of jealousy in the human race surfaced when Cain became jealous of his brother Abel and he ended up murdering his broth Cain because of jealousy. Scripture describes jealousy as cruel; Sos 8:6; filled with anger and revenge; Pr 6:34; and frustrating, Pr 27:4.

Pr 6:34, “For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.”

In fact. there was one occurrence of jealousy recorded in England in 1966, which shows the potential destructive results of jealousy. It was called in England the “Morbidly Jealous Murderer.”

“Morbid jealousy accounted for 12% of insane male murderers incarcerated at Broadmoor in England. The crime was most frequently committed by beating to death with a club or strangulation. Most morbidly jealous murderers are male. Most victims are wives or mistresses. On the average, these murderers had been married 10 years and had been delusional for half that time.”

So, as you can see, jealousy can be a very serious mental attitude sin. Jealousy is a self-destructive mental attitude and a system of thinking form the kosmos or the world system.

Jm 3:14-16, But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your right lobes, do not be arrogant and lie against the truth. This wisdom [jealousy is called a form of wisdom] is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist there is disorder and every evil thing.”

Jealousy will always create instability and disorder in the life of the believer.”

Pr 14:30, “A tranquil heart is life to the body, But jealousy is rottenness to the bones.”

Jealousy is self-destructive, JobB 5:2, “For jealousy slays the foolish man,” As goes your mental attitude, so goes your health. Jealousy is the worst of all the mental attitude sins because it is the strongest of the mental attitude sins. Jealousy is the strongest mental attitude sin, Pr 27:34.

Pride is the worst sin and is the other side of the coin from jealousy. Pr 27:3, “A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.”

The “stone” in this passage is overt jealousy and anger; the “sand” is subtle jealousy.

Pr 27:4, “Wrath is fierce; and anger is a flood; but who can stand before jealousy.”

So great was the sin of jealousy in Israel that a special offering was made for it (Num 5:11; 31). It is very difficult to get over jealousy. Jealousy invariably is a symptom of neurotic insecurity. No one can make you jealous unless you let them.

Implacability. Then there is the mental attitude sin of the one that most believers are facing during this crisis implacability, and that is the mental attitude of fear.

The Doctrine of Fear. Definition.

Fear is used two ways in the Bible. Fear is used for a mental attitude sin, characterized by panic when in a dangerous situation as well as intimidation. Fear is a painful emotional distress aroused by impending pain, danger, disaster, evil or by illusions regarding the same. It can be fear of something that is real something imaginable. But the point is fear will torment you and punish you.

Fear is self-induced misery. 1Jo 4:18, There is no fear in virtue-love; but mature love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not matured in love. Fear is worry, apprehension, consternation, or horror. Consternation is when a person becomes paralyzed toward their problems. Usually they run away from the problem like a frightened horse or they close their doors and hide from society. In fact, it’s not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live. And that’s what fear will do it will paralyze you. Fear is also an active feeling of dread, of which fright and terror are the more intense degrees. Fear is also used in the Bible for reverence, respect, or awe. It is a reverence manifesting itself in obedience. In this respect, fear is a Christian virtue, 1Pe 2:17, Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear GOD, honor the king.

So, the meaning of the word “fear” in the Bible is determined by the context in which it is used. Neglect or rejection of the mystery doctrine of the Church-age and failure to utilize its fantastic problem-solving devices result in many problems, including fear. We are designed by GOD to be rational creatures, but fear can make us irrational. Therefore, fear is an irrational and emotional sin. In fact, many believers have discovered that when you face your fear, most of the time you will discover that it was not really such a big threat after all. For the believer, fear is failure to learn and apply Bible doctrine to the problems of life, and failure to learn and utilize the problem-solving devices. Fear is also a part of the emotional complex of sins. Fear is made up of a whole system of sins which include worry, anxiety, insecurity, incapability of doctrinal application, and therefore inability to use the problem-solving devices.

Rom 14:23, “…whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Fear includes all the problems of emotionalism, for fear is an emotional sin. Many sins involve only thinking but fear involves emotion and little or no thinking. The Christian loser is bogged down and hindered from his advance by various categories of sins and arrogance related to fear. Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. The only thing we have to fear is Heb 4:1-3, Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to really live. Look at Heb 13:6 so that we confidently say, “The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?”

And this is a quotation of Psa 56:4, “In GOD, whose word I praise, In GOD I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”

To face your fears and not be afraid is the final test of maturity. Fear is crippling, it shackles those who could do great things and keeps them from even attempting that which they could possibly achieve. Fear chokes and kills dreams and creativity and the most interesting thing about fear is that it is a learned behavior.

The Snowballing Principle of Fear.

First of all, the more things you surrender to fear, the more things you fear. Today you may be worried about only one thing; tomorrow about two things, etc. And soon you become so emotionally involved in fear that you have no identity. Irrationality means loss of identity, which means the accumulation of fear until you are afraid of life. And fear is something that, if not controlled, continues to develop in your life until you have no capacity to enjoy life and as a believer you become a loser.

Speaking of the ungodly David said in Psa 53:5, “There they were in great fear where no fear had been;”

You see fear is irrational thinking, there was no reason to fear! One of the motivations for becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol is fear of life, anxiety, worry, and tension. So, to the extent to which you surrender to fear, the greater is your capacity for fear. Fear destroys happiness. Where the fear is, happiness is not. And that’s because there is no way you can have true love or true happiness apart from a healthy mental attitude. And fear destroys the mental attitude.

So, the greater your capacity for fear, the more you increase the power of fear in your life. And the more you increase the power of fear in your life, the greater your mind set as a loser believer and the greater your chances of failure to execute the PPOG through the mechanics of the spiritual life under equal opportunity.

Look at Exo 14:10, And as Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them,

The verb to look is Qal imperfect of nasa which means that they kept staring and concentrated on Pharaoh’s army, the oncoming problem. And by concentrating on Pharaoh’s army, the problem, they were overwhelmed by fear and they completely forgot the grace of GOD and the power of GOD and the marvelous deliverance that they had experienced just a week or so before.

They concentrated on the wrong thing! They concentrated on the problem! And they not only panicked but they began to do something which all of us have been guilty of at some time “they began to whine and complain.” Whining and complaining Christians are not going to solve their problems! If you’re complaining, you’re concentrating on the wrong thing. And, we have all done this at some time in our lives! We concentrate on the circumstances of pressure rather than the principles of doctrine. We concentrate on the disaster rather than the solution!

Exo 14:11-14, Then they said to Moses, “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” But Moses said to the people, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Notice that first they had to be stabilized in their mentality or else some of them would have turned back to the Egyptians “begging to be slaves”! And you’ll live like a slave unless you learn to become stabilized under pressure. The Jews faced extermination from the pursuing chariot army of Pharaoh. They were not trained in war, They were in a hopeless situation. So, Moses told the Jews “do not fear”! When you’re in a hopeless situation that’s when you need to think! The LORD will fight for you while you will keep your mouth shut! You see, that’s the whole concept of the faith rest drill. In grace, the LORD fights our battles!

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.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Internet Church Service – January 31, 2021; Stop chasing the spectacular and start listening for that still, small voice within you.

EMBEDDED VIDEO SERMON in HD – WITH NOTES

Stop chasing the spectacular and start listening for that still, small voice within you.

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name, and Praise the Lord Our God in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME

from - Romans 8:38-39

Hymn #1

Hymn #2

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word or participating in a Communion Service, so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your unconfessed sins privately directly to God the Father. This will assure that you are in fellowship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry, also called the convincing ministry will then be able to teach you as the Holy Spirit is the real teacher and the pastor’s message is the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to convince you what you are learning is true or not.

1 John 1:9, says—“If we confess (simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown and forgotten sins];” NKJV (New King James Version); we call this REBOUND, read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. REBOUND

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 to God; the issue for you is to believe by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life and you will be saved the very second you believe in Him:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “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 Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift 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: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 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 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:

Our Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Terms used by RMBM

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

Sermon

NOTES

Unlike the bible study, these notes are not just for reading without watching the video. These notes are more designed to follow along during the sermon and to bring up the “hover pop-up scripture references” (some websites may require to left click the link, if that doesn’t work then look them up in your Bible) when the Pastor asks everyone to turn to that passage in their bibles.

Sermon: Stop chasing the spectacular and start listening for that still, small voice within you.

1. Gn 3:9, “Where are you?”

2. Gn 4:9, “Where is your brother or sister?”

3. Gn 16:8, Where are you going?”

4. Num 22:9, “Who are these men or individuals with you?”

5. 1Ki 19:9 “What are you doing here”

6. 2Ki 5:25 “Where have you been”

7. My Question = “When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be”

If I were to quote some passages this evening that are taken from the Bible, I would like you to think about the answers objectively and indirectly.

Focus in on the questions that God gave certain individuals at certain times and then focus in on how important the answers are, if you were given the very same questions I am going to quote from the Bible.

The answers that you give, if you are honest with yourself, it will reveal where you are spiritually.

1. The first question is that in Gen 3:9, the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Are you in a place where you are growing in God’s grace and knowledge or are you in a place where the apostle Paul said would exist in the last days; 2Ti 3:1-5.

The one place that the majority of believers live in described by the next verse in 2Ti 3:2, where men or people will be “lovers of self.”

Jannes and Jambres were the two magicians the Pharaoh called to match the miracles of Aaron and Moses.

The apostle Paul warned about those resisting the Gospel and those who reject Bible doctrine because they want to be entertained by the “magicians” or the dog and pony show in our day.

These type of apostate believers have no idea why they were created.

No idea of the Angelic Conflict.

No idea of how to communicate the Gospel properly.

No idea of the why there is Sin, Satan, and Suffering.

No idea of the Hypostatic Union and what undiminished deity and true humanity means concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

No idea of the Church-age.

No idea of Mystery Doctrine.

No idea of the Total depravity of all mankind.

The only real measuring stick that we have is how many believers fulfill Mat 5:13-14 as it relates to the principle of the Pivot.

Our Lord did not go around advertising or promoting His spiritual abilities.

Why wouldn’t He want His miracles spread around for all to hear?

Why not make a big deal out of raising the dead, opening up the eyes of the blind or having the hearing restored or given for the first time to the deaf?

The problem is our emotions change all the time.

They’re not lasting nor do they bring about the permanent change mankind so desperately needs.

When they would see or hear of the miraculous things He did, their emotions went wild.

They sought Him to see the spectacular, the dog and pony show, the circus of the holy rollers.

Where were the masses and throngs or crowds as He hung on the cross?

When the “show” leaves town they stay excited for a short while but because there is no root in their relationship with Jesus the excitement fades and off they go into life as usual.

This happens when we seek Him based on our emotions and not our desire of a relationship.

He didn’t want to attract people for the wrong reasons.

He didn’t want to overemphasize the miraculous because He knew what they needed was much deeper than fireworks, dogs and ponies.

They needed a relationship with their Savior, not an autograph from an entertainer.

Jesus plainly told them; “the kingdom of God does not come with observation.”

Stop chasing the spectacular and start listening for that still, small voice within you.

KJ”s = 1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Psa 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Excite you, Yes. But save you? No.

A real, heart-based relationship with Jesus Christ never burns out. Nor will it ever disappear.

1. The first question is that in Gen 3:9, the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”

Are you in a place where you are growing in God’s grace or are you in a place where you are a spiritual disgrace?

A question I have asked you through-out the years — “When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be?”

2. Gn 4:9, what would you say if the Lord said to you what He said to Cain after he murdered his brother; the Lord said, “Where is Abel your brother?” Or “Where is your brother or sister.”

“Do you even care where they are?

Jn15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

3. The third doctrinal question from the Bible is in Gn 16:8 where our Lord spoke to “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, and He asked where have you come from and where are you going?”

Sarai, Abram’s wife had borne him no children and so she had her Egyptian maid Hagar have a child for Abraham.

Where have you come from and where are you going?”

Sometimes it’s good to remind ourselves where we have come from.

It’s a good thing to remember a good thing but sometimes we need to be reminded of where the Lord took us from and where He placed us.

Psa 103:1-2, Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, {bless} His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;

Hagar was honest when the Lord asked her a question and she said; “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”

3. The third doctrinal question from the Bible is in Gn 16:8 where our Lord spoke to “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, and He asked where have you come from and where are you going?”

Do you even know where have you come from and where are you going?”

Are you fleeing away from the calling of God upon your life.

4. In Num 22:9 God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

Prov 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

5. The fifth question comes from 1Ki 19:9, Elijah came to a cave and he was depressed and so the Lord said “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

“What are you doing here?”

(Past) What have you done?

(Present) What are you doing?

(Future) What are you planning to do?

6. 2Ki 5:25 Elisha said to his servant, one whom he depended upon, “Where have you been?”

The sad thing but the good thing is that Elisha’s servant was honest with Elisha when he said, “Your servant went nowhere.”

7. The last question is from me which says; “When you get to where you’re going, where are you going to be?”

Hymn #3

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 of their eternal future.

Monday, January 25, 2021

Weekly Bible Study – January 25, 2021; Lesson The Mystery of the Corona Virus. What the Word of GOD has to say!

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

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

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary: God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

The Mystery of the Corona Virus. What the Word of GOD has to say!

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

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

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary: God’s Word is taught Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

The Mystery of the Corona Virus. What the Word of GOD has to say!

While there may be a lot of things going on behind the scenes regarding the #coronavirus, it is vital for us to remember who is in control of the Universe and therefor the virus.

By that I mean who is in control of the entire universe and what is His purpose for us why are we here? These are some of the questions that should stimulate our curiosity concerning what is really going on in the world today and what is our part in that. For example, we have quoted 2Co 5:7 hundreds of times before, but do we truly believe it? 2Co 5:7, for we walk by faith, not by sight. One of the manifestations of “walking by faith, not by sight” is that when we walk by faith (pistis – doctrine), we do not allow the garbage from the Cosmic system to be our guidance or our light. We receive and learn what is needed as far as “current day news,” but ultimately, we need to be sure that the Word of GOD is our final authority and not what man says, no matter what!

For in Acts 5:29, if it comes down to doing what man says contrary to what GOD says, then, “We must obey GOD rather than men.” The point is that we need to be prepared and ready for whatever is coming our way and that is why in Rom 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Everyday, especially today, you ought to have some sanctified time that you have set apart for you and GOD, when you can either pray, or just talk to GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit. We are to operate in that divine order of praying to the Father, in the name of the Son, under the power of GOD the Holy Spirit, which is the wisdom of GOD incorporating all three members of the GODhead in the powerful weapon of prayer.

Prayer is not often regarded as a weapon by most believers, but prayer is one of the greatest weapons we have. If you are having trouble with a relationship in your life, you can use the Problem-Solving Devices to HELP YOU handle the problem, but they might not help the person you’re having the problem with. This is why the Apostle Paul would say such things as Rom 12:18, If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. You can be at peace with yourself concerning how you have treated the other person that you may be having a problem with but, at the same time, they are not willing to be at peace with you. We can pray for guidance and direction in the relationship that we may be having trouble with, but we cannot pray that GOD would violate the free wills or the volition of those involved. The doctrinal principle that I wanted to emphasize was something I began with Friday evening from Prov 16.

Prov 16:4, “The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

Let me show you what our LORD thinks whenever chaos, war, sickness, famines, and major disasters happen during human history.

Isa 43:1-6, But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

For I am the Lord your GOD, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Since you are precious in My sight, Since you are honored and I love you, I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, And gather you from the west. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth,

Now, here is another reminder of who’s in charge, Isa 43:7, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Remember the principles again. They are stated right here in Isa 43:7. We are called by HIS name. We’ve been created for HIS glory, And we have been formed and made by Him., even whom I have made. The reason for “all things” is giving to us once again which is the fact that “All things have been created for His glory;” Rev 4:11.

In Isa 43:21, notice what our Lord said about those whom He formed or created: “The people whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise.

All things are controlled by our Lord, even the so-called bad things that causes believers to freak out and live in fear according to. For there is actually a passage in the Word of GOD that warns us about listening to bad news. When we realize and are totally convinced that “all things” are designed for Him to receive glory then when it comes to all things or anything, this should be our attitude.

Eph 5:20, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to GOD, even the Father.

How many things?

What kind of things?

Eph 5:20 says, …for all things…

Speaking of the things that we all must face because of Him and our desire to bring Him glory. 1Th 5:18, we give thanks for everything; for this is GOD’s will for you in Christ Jesus. When you are faced with “bad news” or things that are threatening to your life and the lives of your loved ones, such as family and friends, do you respond or do you react?

Well that all depends upon your response in Col 1:13-15, For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. And He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a good thing or what appears to be a bad thing, this is our thing to keep on thinking about.

Col 1:16-18, For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.

Notice whether it is something or everything, our Lord is still in control of all things. Therefore, what right do we have to make ourselves miserable by worrying or living in fear because we listen to the bad news that Satan and his kingdom of darkness promote with their lies.

1Jo 4:16-18, And we have come to know and have believed the love which GOD has for us. GOD is love, and the one who abides in love abides in GOD, and GOD abides in him.

By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Here is where love and truth drive out fear. We have so many promises in the word of GOD. In fact, we forget at times when fear begins to control our soul where the information that causes us to fear comes from?

Most of you know where it comes from! It comes from Jn 8:44, the father of lies, the devil, who does not stand or stay with the truth, because there is no truth in him.

We are also warned in Rev 12:9 that the GOD of this world (Satan in 2Co 4:4), controls the atmosphere (Eph 2:2) and deceives the whole world (Rev 12:9).

Rev 12:9, And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

If these things are true, and, of course, they are, then what should our attitude be like when the Cosmic System causes us to question what is going on in this world that has been created for our Lord to be glorified.

We need to make a choice!

As the Lord said to Moses in Deut 30:15-20, “See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your GOD, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your GOD may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.

But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other GODs and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish. You shall not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your GOD, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

As Elijah said in 1Ki 18:21, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is GOD, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word. (Figures right?)

There are two more passages I want to show you before we learn to glorify the Lord, you must handle fear. The first one is actually a tremendous illustration of how believers respond to “bad news,” literally, in Jer 49:23-25.

I told you last year or so ago to watch Damascus, because it was going to be a very important city in the end times. It was Damascus, the capital of Syria, that I said would have a unique calling upon it that would wake up the city and destroy it.

Jer 49:23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed.

What was the problem concerning Damascus? The problem was that they were all prospering, but they forgot the source of their prosperity, Jehovah Elohim, known to us as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

He was also known to them as Jehovah Jireh who is “the Lord who provides,” and who also had prospered Damascus, Hamath, and Arpad, who forgot how thankful they should all be to the Lord.

These believers were the type of believers that Rev 3 talks about as being lukewarm and no longer excited about the blessings and the promises that the Lord had given to them. They thought and bragged about the fact that they had become rich and wealthy, and have need of nothing”. But the Lord said: They do not know that they are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

These are some of the problems that Damascus and Hamath and Arpad had as cities who were now fallen under divine discipline because they rejected the “good news” and dwelt upon the “bad news.” It is also interesting to note the different responses that took place in the different cities even though they had the same environment.

Just like we are seeing today with different people coming up with different ideas and reasons as to what we are going through, not only in our nation, but throughout the entire world.

In the past, I gave you some examples from the Word of GOD where individuals were brought up in the same environment but turned out quite differently, including differences in their eternal home, which is either Heaven or the Eternal lake of Fire. For example, there was:

Cain and Abel – same environment but different results.

Jacob and Esau – same environment but different results.

Joseph and his brothers. same environment but different results.

Solomon and Absalom – same environment but different results.

One of the most prominent illustrations found under this principle is Moses and Pharaoh. Knowing anything about ancient Egypt, we would have to put Moses and the Pharaoh of Egypt in the same category, they were successful, wealthy, powerful, wise and great military soldiers. Both were rich men who were also brought up in the same environment but turned out differently.

The whole point is that there is no place for complaining about your environment, your parents, your siblings, your gender, your nationality, the day of your birth and the day of your death. Remember what our good friend Solomon taught us about the day of our birth and the day of our death?

Ecc 3:1-2, There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven A time to give birth, and a time to die.

Go forward to Ecc 7:1, A good name is better than a good ointment, And the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth.

Ecc 8:8, No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death.

All of these principles were taught in “Damascus, Hamath and Arpad,” cities who were put to shame and became disheartened when they heard the bad news. They became disheartened and all thy could think about was their fears.

Now, there are a few different areas that we need to note when we talk about fear. First of all, fear is a system of thinking that GOD has designed or created within man to be on the alert for things he may be about to face. In that sense, there are times when fear is good because it serves as a warning of something to come.

As a system of thinking, fear will cause you and I to be on the alert because of the fear of present danger. Also, as a system of thinking, we are told to fear that we might miss out on all the gracious blessings and promises of entering into GOD’s rest. In fact, we are warned and told that we “should all fear” missing out on receiving GOD’s highest and best, including His rest.

Not only should we fear that we may miss out on the promises of GOD, we should also fear that we have not entered into GOD’s rest through His doctrines. As you can see, there can be some benefits when it comes to fear.

This is why John said in 1Jo 4:18, There is no fear in virtue-love; but mature love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not matured in love.

Fear is worry, apprehension, consternation, or horror. Consternation is when a person becomes paralyzed toward their problems.

Fear is an active feeling of dread, of which fright and terror are the more intense degrees. All I can say is if all things are for Him, what do we have to fear?

We are designed by GOD to be rational creatures; fear makes us irrational. Fear is an irrational and emotional sin most of the time.

Jer 49:23, Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed.

Fear is a self-induced misery that we are told in this passage causes believers even to be stressed out when they hear “bad news.” Fear is also said to be disheartened which is an emotional reaction filled with depression and self-justification and sin enslaved to discouragement and negativity.

In Jer 49:24 notice that it says, “Damascus has become helpless;” There is no hope for those who have become helpless because of the fear. Emotional Rebellion of the soul produces even believers to become useless and helpless.

We are told that this fear causes others to flee when no one is even chasing after them; Prov 28:1, The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.

I hope that you are noting and appreciating the passage that the Lord gave me to give to you especially in light of all that is going on in the world today.

What has really impressed me these past few weeks has been the fact that the Bible is a supernatural book filled with supernatural knowledge and fulfilled prophecy, and yet the average individual won’t even take some time to examine the evidence. If you are an honest student of the Word of GOD, and truly desire to know the truth concerning why you have been created and for what purpose and reason are you here, all you have to do is believe.

Isa 41:10 ”So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your GOD. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psa 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Phil 4:6-7, not be worried about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Jn 14:27, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

2Ti 1:7, “For GOD has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Isa 43:1, “But now, this is what the Lord says…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”

Jos 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your GOD will be with you wherever you go.”

Isa 35:4, “Tell everyone who is discouraged, Be strong and don’t be afraid! GOD is coming to your rescue…”

Mr 6:50, “Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Deut 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your GOD goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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.

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Internet Church Service – January 24, 2021; The sins of omission result from not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.

EMBEDDED VIDEO SERMON in HD – WITH NOTES

The sins of omission result from not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name, and Praise the Lord Our God in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME

from - Romans 8:38-39

Hymn #1

Hymn #2

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word or participating in a Communion Service, so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately directly to God the Father. This will assure that you are in fellowship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit’s convicting ministry, also called the convincing ministry will then be able to teach you as the Holy Spirit is the real teacher and the pastor’s message is the vehicle the Holy Spirit uses to convince you what you are learning is true or not.

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me [Jesus Christ] has everlasting life.” NKJV

Our Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Terms used by RMBM

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

Sermon

NOTES

Sermon: The sins of omission result from not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.

1. “True Vine” = The Doctrine of the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ with emphasis on the deity that our Lord possesses.

2. “True Vine” = The Hypostatic Union and the fact that our Lord is the God-man, undiminished deity and true humanity in Him forever.

“True Vine” = a reference to the fact that our Lord is the “Great I Am” which is what He said in Jn 15:1 “I am the true vine.” Or He keeps on being the Great I Am.

3. The third principle of doctrine where our Lord says at the end of verse 1, “My Father is the vinedresser” refers to the Doctrine of logistical grace.

4. “In Christ,” as New creatures or as New Spiritual Species = “Every branch in Me” which is a reference to Baptism of the Spirit not WATER!

5. Jn 15:2b, our Lord goes on to say; “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away, which refers to the Doctrine of Divine Discipline.

6. The third principle found in Jn 15:2c, where it says; “and every branch that bears fruit” referring to the fruit of the Spirit manifested by the believer who abides in Christ.

7. Jn 15:2d, “and every {branch} that bears fruit. He prunes it [suffering for blessing], that it may bear more fruit [the doctrine of divine good].

This is also when the “wall of fire” is placed around us by the invisible allies that we all have in the angelic realm along with our very own guardian angel.

Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

Divine good: Gen 50:20 “And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Exo 14:13 “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever.

Moses and all the Jews realized that they would never see the Egyptians forever which meant separation at death carried over to eternity.

Exo 14:14 “The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.”

Added to that, the Elect Angels and the Old Testament believers revealed that no weapon that is formed against us will prosper; Isa 54:17.

Isa 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.

Then the next part of the verse is to the heritage of the servants of the Lord, “And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.”

In the New Testament, we are told in 2Co 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but {only} for the truth.

No matter how much we try or someone else tries, we are told that “We can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.”

As our Lord warned His disciples in Mark 9:40 “For he who is not against us is for us.

Matt 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Our Lord warned His disciples in Mark 9:40 “He who is not against us is for us.

Mark 9:40 “He who is not against us is for us.

Matt 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Mark 9:40 “For he who is not against us is for us.

Matt 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me;”

Matt 12:30 He who does not gather with Me scatters.

All three of these principles can apply, first, to believers who are not against us but for us.

Phil 2:1 Since therefore there is encouragement in Christ, since there is comfort from virtue-love, since there is fellowship of the Spirit, since there is tendernesses and compassions,

Phil 2:2 Bring to completion my inner happiness [in your life] by thinking the same things, maintaining the same virtue-love, united in soul, concentrating on the same objective.

Phil 2:3 Do nothing motivated by contentiousness or ambitious pride, but with humility of mind [by means of grace orientation] let each of you keep on considering one another as more important than himself;

Phil 2:4 do not merely be regarding your own personal interests, but also for the personal interests of others.

Phil 2:5 “Keep on thinking this [doctrine] within yourselves which was also resident in Christ Jesus,”

If we are not against our Lord we are for Him and His people; Mar 9:40 “For he who is not against us is for us.

Matt 12:30, He tells us with His disciples that if we are not with Him, we are against Him.

We cannot just standby and do nothing especially when our Lord has bought us and set us free.

Do you believe 1Co 3:16-17, which says “Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

1Co 3:17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

Then finally in Matt 12:30, if we do not gather with Him then we will automatically scatter.

Our Lord says the same thing but in a different way and if we are not with Him that means that we are against Him.

You cannot just sit back and do nothing because if you keep on doing nothing then you will eventually live in the sins of Omission.

Sins of omission are failure to do something one can and ought to do.

The sins of omission are sins that result from not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.

Prin: We cannot just standby and do nothing.

Prin: To do nothing is to be against Him.

Jn 15:3 speaks of salvation through the accurate interpretation of this passage.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither {can} you, unless you abide in Me [and that will bring us to the doctrine of Positional Truth].

Jn 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches [Union with Christ]; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Jn 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up [Discipline]; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. [Wood, hay, and straw; 1Co 3:11-15].

Jn 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you [the Doctrine of Prayer].

It’s impersonal because it does not love because of the person being loved but it’s impersonal because it depends upon the one doing the loving, and therefore, the believer.

It’s unconditional love because it does not require that the one being loved meets all the conditions of the one doing the loving.

Jn 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. = [The fulfillment of the PPOG and the PDS].

Jn 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and {that} your joy may be made full = [The doctrine of Happiness or Contentment].

This passage is the end of the upper room discourse and the beginning of our Lord’s (lonely) walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.

We now go from the Gethsemane, or from the upper room into the Garden of Gethsemane.

Just outside of the Garden He spoke, Jn 15 and 16, both of which chapters we will note in some detail.

In verses 1 8 we have the production of phase 2, living the spiritual life in time.

Then in Jn 15: 9 17, we have a dissertation on true biblical meaning of love.

Finally, in John15: 18 27, we have the hostility of the cosmos or the world system.

We have the production of phase 2, we have the dissertation on the doctrine of impersonal love, and we have the hostility of the cosmos or the cosmic system towards believers.

Our Lord teaches us to perform divine good through the “Vine and Branch” metaphor of John 15.

The “vinedresser” metaphor portrays God the Father as the author of the predesigned plan of God.

The “vine” metaphor portrays the humanity of Jesus Christ during the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union.

The Vine is also the basis for the production of divine good or “fruit bearing.”

The vine metaphor emphasizes the fact that all precedence and all production of divine good in the Church-age comes from the Vine, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fruit from the branch is a metaphor for the Church-age believer.

However, no fruit (or production) can be any better than the vine that produces it.

Because of positional sanctification (our union with Christ) and the grace provision of the filling of the Spirit, it is possible for the believer to produce divine good.

The phrase “in Me” is a reference to the believer in union with Christ — If you do not know or understand the doctrine of positional truth and the doctrine of union with Christ, you have been wasting a lot of time!!

We are the branches in union with the Vine, Jesus Christ.

1. Dead branches representing dead works, or production skills without spiritual skills.

2. Live branches representing divine good, with spiritual skills as the basis for production skills.

The branch in Christ that does not bear fruit represents the believer who does not produce divine good.

God the Father removes all dead wood and dead branches, branches that produce dead works.

He removes the dead works through punitive suffering in two categories:

a. The law of volitional responsibility;

b. Divine discipline.

“Every healthy tree produces good fruit. And every diseased tree produces worthless [degenerate, or evil] fruit.

Pruning is necessary for properly redistributing the “energy” for production.

The branch that bears fruit must be pruned occasionally so that the spiritual skills will increase and maximize.

Principle: Just as God provides divine discipline and punitive action for the one who bears no fruit, He also provides suffering for blessing for the fruit bearer.

Hymn #3

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 of their eternal future.

God's Gift of Eternal Life Blog

Sunday, January 31, 2021

Weekly Bible Study – February 1, 2021; Lessons we can learn from the Doctrine of Fear.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Internet Church Service – January 31, 2021; Stop chasing the spectacular and start listening for that still, small voice within you.

Monday, January 25, 2021

Weekly Bible Study – January 25, 2021; Lesson The Mystery of the Corona Virus. What the Word of GOD has to say!

Saturday, January 23, 2021

Internet Church Service – January 24, 2021; The sins of omission result from not doing something God’s Word teaches that we should do.

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