Weekly Bible Study, January 29, 2024, The Doctrine of Heaven.

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.

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] your sins [known unconfessed 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. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? 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

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:

Weekly Bible Study, January 29, 2024, The Doctrine of Heaven.

The Doctrine of Heaven.

In our continued study of Philippians 1:21 in which verse Paul as a mature believer claims that living is for Christ and dying is profit, we have now entered into a study of the Doctrine of Heaven. The believer's physical death is a profit in that his soul and human spirit are thereafter transferred to heaven. Though heaven is beyond the understanding of man's finite mind and imagination let us try to note, in our limited vocabulary, the splendor and glory of our eternal destination!

Throughout human history prophets have received glimpses of the glory of God in heavenly places. For example, Ezekiel's vision of Eze 1:26-28. Or the apostle Paul having actually visited heaven which is one of the reasons. he dogmatically considered death to be a profit or promotion. God also took John to visit the New Jerusalem which is where we receive our major description of it in Revelation chapters 21 and 22. But regardless of the descriptions we receive, when our eyes finally fall upon our Lord Jesus Christ in His FULL GLORY, seated on His throne in the New Jerusalem in heaven, we will be fixed in awe and complete devotion. The best of all our experiences before this point will pale when faced with the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all His splendor! Heaven exemplifies all that makes up God's essence and perfect grace. At that time we will see and know Him in full. Right now in time we can only know Him in part, 1Corinthians 13:12, but in heaven His fullness will be exposed before us! Such a time should be the believer's source of encouragement and anticipation.

Heaven, by way of definition, is the dwelling place of God and his angels variously conceived of as the place where the blessed will live after death. It is also a place of great beauty and pleasure. The dwelling place of God, i.e., His abode is in the third heaven. Distinction must be made since theologically there are three heavens.

The first heaven is that which we see, the clouds of the air, our immediately encompassing atmosphere, Acts 14:17.

The second heaven is known as the stellar universe i.e., the galaxy beyond earth's immediate atmosphere where angels engage in spiritual warfare, Eph 6:12.

And the third heaven in its celestial magnificence is the abode of God, Hebrews 8:1, and is located beyond the stellar universe to the north according to the Psalms and the book of Isaiah. In the third heaven there is found the capital city of the eternal state, the New Jerusalem, Revelation chapters Rev 21:1-27 and Rev 22:1-21.

The New Jerusalem is the present and future location of the throne of God and the seat of our Lord Jesus Christ. Upon our physical death, it is there our interim bodies will congregate in the presence of our Lord, in the midst of the beauty and grandeur of the New Jerusalem. It is also where our resurrected bodies will congregate after the Rapture and Judgment Seat of Christ. This is what Paul saw when he was taken to heaven which is why we find it no surprise that he was not incredibly ecstatic about coming back to earth.

Of course, whatever the will of God had for his life he happily complied with but his sight was on heaven! It's strange that believers today claim to want to go to heaven but they do not want to die. If their faith were strong enough, they would know that what lies beyond physical death is of profit! Let us go through the chain of events which occur when the believer is triumphantly released from his physical body.

At the moment your physical body breaths it's last the (believer's) soul and human spirit exit the human body and enter the interim body noted in 2Corinthians 5:1-8 at which point the believer is met by angels who are sent to escort him on his breathtaking journey to heaven. Why is an angelic escort sent? Is it because God thinks we will get lost? No, it is because of the fact that fallen angels can prohibit space travel between heaven and earth according to the account noted in Daniel 10:12-13 in which the angel who was sent to aid Daniel was delayed 21 days by the fallen angels in the atmosphere.

You must remember the angelic conflict drives fallen angels to try and botch up whatever they can within God's plan and realm. Another example of the foul play of fallen angels would be Satan's attempt to steal the physical body of Moses to mislead God's people. So, Daniel 10:1-13 describes the type of battles that take place in the spirit world. Battles that if we could see would cause us to be so frightened, we wouldn't leave our houses.

Now, when the Rapture of the church occurs, we are told that in a second of time we will be face to face with the Lord in the clouds of the air, 1Th 4:17; 1Co 15:52. But when we die physically and the angels come to escort us to our home in heaven, it is a glorious journey. We do not die and in a second are face to face with the Lord, there is nowhere in Scripture that indicates this second in time transfer at death. Our ascent is one of leisure and beauty. Heaven is billions and billions of light years away, what we experience during our ascension to the third heaven goes far beyond our best vacation!!

We rise through the clouds free from any physical impediments we knew in our human bodies. We are free also from the laws of gravity and are lightly rising in a quiet, pleasant fashion.

We are also faced with angels who are smiling and beautiful. We continue to rise above the clouds through the planets and stars that we use to gaze up at on earth and speculate about. What our astronauts were renown for we are casually passing by. We continue to sweep upward into the third heaven which is beyond the sun and stars and has a glorious illumination of its own. It appears so cheerful and enchanting due to the presence of the Shekinah Glory, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. No sun is needed here in this heavenly city that we are approaching, the city called The New Jerusalem, which is the capital of heaven.

As we approach the holy city, we are aghast at its overwhelming beauty. We are unable to speak having never before seen such radiant and majestic delight. The angels smile knowing that for us to behold this sight is completely exhilarating! They probably receive just as much pleasure watching our response. This city is a very real and unique city, it is not a mirage or some type of mystical projection. It is an enormous city who's architect and builder is God, Hebrews 11:10. It is a city in which the perfect will of God is done! Think of the most breathtaking place you have been or seen, well it cannot even compare to this perfect and holy city! It's mind blowing! Even if you could contact loved ones on earth to share with them your experience you wouldn't be able to describe it. When God took the apostle John to visit the New Jerusalem John found it very difficult to describe in language of human accommodation and so likened it as unto a bride who is arrayed in her most beautiful and extravagant attire.

Surrounding the enormous city, the newly deceased believer who we shall here forth call the newly alive believer, notes a commanding and stunning wall which is described in Revelation 21:1-27. This wall is 72 yards tall and 1,500 miles long on each side, forming a perfect cube around the holy city, which city is also 1,500 miles high! The foundation of this grand wall is made up of twelve foundation stones on which are written the names of the twelve apostles. Each foundational stone is 500 miles long with an apostles name engraved and gilded into it, our apostles being: Peter, Andrew, the 2 James', John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Paul.

Is this to say that these men are monuments of greatness? No! It is rather a show of God's awesome grace. We are all mere men and in as such are objects of God's grace. All these men though they have all failed, have their names engraved into the immense foundational stones of the wall surrounding the eternal city, expounding on the fact of God's grace. In fact, the focus in this city is the grace and magnificence of God. It is a city where God's perfect will is done! Now, attached onto each of these twelve foundational stones is an enormous precious stone. In fact, the same stones which were placed in the Ephod (i.e., the breastplate of the Jewish high priest), Exo 28:21, are also the stones which make up the wall surrounding the New Jerusalem. The stones are as follows:

1) Jasper, a translucent stone probably what we today know as a diamond.

2) Sapphire, a blue stone with a star seen within.

3) Chalcedony, a bluish white stone.

4) Emerald, a bright green stone.

5) Sardonyx, a white/orangish red stone.

6) Sardius, a blood red stone.

7) Chrysolite, a yellow/green stone.

8) Beryl, a bluish green stone.

9) Topaz, a yellow-gold stone.

10) Chrysoprase, a greenish stone.

11) Jacinth, a red/yellow stone.

12) Amethyst, a purple stone.

And within each one of these immense precious stones is found a gate like that of a huge pearl. Why a pearl, for the reason of serving as a constant reminder of the price Jesus Christ paid on our behalf. A pearl is formed from the suffering of it's host, the oyster. Above each pearl gate is a plaque with a name of one of the Tribes of Israel. So here's the picture... each side of the wall has three foundational stones each with an apostles name on it and on top of each foundational stone is attached a huge precious stone making up the wall. These stones are semi-transparent through which the radiance of the Shekinah Glory within shines out.

Set in each brilliant stone is a gate, so there are three gates on each side and above each gate is a plaque with a name inscribed on it. The names inscribed above each gate make up the twelve tribes of Israel, again pointing to the grace of God. So on the East wall above the gates we have inscribed the Tribe names of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. On the south wall we have Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. On the west wall we have Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. And, on the north wall we have Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. And standing at each of the twelve gates is an angel, representing victory in the angelic conflict, they are also there to serve us. None of these angels "deserve" to be standing before the city of God, also another representation of the grace of God. Note, that these gates are not used to keep anyone out but to channel the incoming traffic. Nor do we have to answer any trick questions to enter the "pearly gates".

But, because it is so overwhelming we might just feel inclined to stand at the gates starring at this splendid wall for all eternity. So, the angels make sure we find our awe-struck little selves around the holy city. Next the angels take us to meet our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ! We cascade through the golden, glassy streets of the city. We ascend to the high point of the city, called Mount Zion, on which is situated our Lord's throne. Yes, we will finally see the splendor and glory of the majesty on high, Isa 35:2! That which we have been eagerly anticipating all our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ - face to face in all His fullness! If we could we would faint but no longer being hindered by a human body we proceed forward accompanied by angels.

When our eyes finally fall upon the One who saved us, redeemed us, reconciled us to God and offered us the occupancy of this glorious city we fall in worship, in gratitude, and complete humility at the feet of our precious love, so gracious and selfless. We melt in adoration before Him as He welcomes us to His home, the home He went to prepare for us. We gaze up at His wrenching brilliance,

we find that His gaze is beyond description, far greater than the most dazzling and beautiful of sunsets that had ever moved our souls on earth. How we loved His word on earth and how it moved us then, but to meet Him face to face brings us near the feeling of explosion!

After meeting TLJC [The Lord Jesus Christ] on His throne we are shown to our welcoming committee of loved ones who have gone before us! There is a joyous reunion as we catch up on the grand accounts of heaven. Our loved ones show us around the New Jerusalem, our new and eternal home.

We see that the throne of God is at the peak of Mount Zion and that there are miles and miles of indescribably majestic terrain which stretch from the throne down to the 1,500 mile wide square base. We marvel at it's enormous size, a perfect cube of 1,500 miles wide by 1,500 miles long by 1,500 miles high. We are no longer bound to mere horizontal travel, but our interim bodies now include vertical travel and this grand city climbs 1,500 miles upward!

Level after level of the most beautiful architecture we have ever seen! Oh that house on earth that we though was so pretty is poverty in light of God's perfectly designed and majestically built city. We also notice that there are twelve rivers flowing through the New Jerusalem from God's throne. These rivers are perfectly clear and one is able to see right down to their crystal bottoms! We are told that these waters offer supernatural power in liquid form.

On each side of these sparkling rivers are beautiful heavenly orchards with twelve kinds of fruit. The leaves of these trees are used for the healing of the nations, indicating that there will be nations in heaven, but no enmity between them. The old sin nature was left far, far behind in the dead physical body. Away with it went our selfish desires and the things of the earth as noted in Gal 5:19-21. In heaven we will not only have perfect fellowship with God but with each other. We will knit together through the perfect impersonal love of God. We will all reside in perfect righteousness with no old sin nature!

We will always walk in the light, 1Jo 1:7. In heaven everything is done according to the perfect will of God. In heaven, all the misery caused by being self-centered will no longer exist.

Hence we will love all as we love TLJC. It will be just as natural for us to be unselfish in heaven as it is natural for us to be selfish here on earth. We are all to some degree self oriented, we can't avoid it since we have an old sin nature. In heaven we will be NON POSSE PECARRE, that is not able to sin. Just as Jesus Christ incarnate was not able to sin in His deity yet able to sin (POSSE NON PECARRE) in His flesh.

We will no longer be held captive by our flesh and so we will be unable to sin. We will reside in our new nature forever. Every day spent in our earthly body is another day we are not face to face with our Lord. But it is also another day we are afforded the opportunity to glorify God on earth by our decisions for His plan in the angelic conflict. Through the work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we have a new home waiting for us! A hearth warmer than any known on this earth, a brilliance grander than any splendor experienced in this life. This is why the apostle Paul states in Phi 1:21 that to die is profit!! He has seen the New Jerusalem as we too will someday see it. That should be our anticipation, that should be our energy.

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.

January 28, 2024; The Angelic Conflict - Part 56 is in HD Audio ONLY; with hover pop-up scripture references in Notes.

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, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed 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. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? 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, The Christ alone for eternal life [salvation] and you will be saved [receive Eternal Life] the very micro 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 [Num 21:4-9], even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [the cross], 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;” if just hover doesn’t work, do a “control-left-click,” 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.

The Angelic Conflict - Part 56 - Point 15. - Operation Footstool, the Ultimate Triumph of the Angelic Conflict

a. The first mention principle = God indicates in the first mention of a subject the truth about that subject as it relates to other passages of Scripture.

The first mention principle = the first occurrence of a word, expression, or a verse is the key to its subsequent meaning and a guide to truth connected with it.

The first time we meet Satan, Gen 3:1, he is described as being subtle and crafty; so all through the word of God every time the serpent or the devil is mentioned it points to his subtlety and craftiness.

It is quoted four times in the N. T. [New Testament] under a rebuttal concept, to settle a Jewish controversy regarding Christ as the Messiah to Israel and the dispute about the Hypostatic Union.

Mat 22:41-46 - when questioned by the Pharisees about the sonship of Jesus Christ, our Lord quotes this passage, saying how could David call his son “my Lord.”

Mark 12:35-37 is quoted by Jesus when He was in the temple answering a dispute with the scribes.

In Luk 20:41-44, Psa 110:1 is quoted by Jesus when He was questioned by the Sadducees, Luk 20:27.

Acts 2:24-36 - in Peter’s famous message on resurrection on the day of Pentecost he quoted Psa 110:1.

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies A footstool for Thy feet”?

Heb 10:12-13 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.

The occasion for this prophecy is the death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and session of the humanity of Christ in the Hypostatic Union.

Mat 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The humanity of Christ is limited to one spot.

The session of Christ was the occasion for receiving His third royal title based on the dispensation of the Hypostatic Union and the resultant strategic victory in the historical angelic conflict.

Operation footstool is the ultimate triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes back a second time and sets up His kingdom on earth.

A. At the Second Advent of Christ, following the Tribulation period, the time of great demon activity.

When our Lord returns at the Second Advent, He will throw all fallen angels off the earth and incarcerate them and Satan for 1000 years.

Zec 13:2 “And it will come about in that day,” declares the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered; and I will also remove the prophets and the unclean spirit from the land.”

Jer 10:11 “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under the heavens.”

The unbelievers who survived the Tribulation are collected into two groups for their judgment, called the baptism of fire, Mat 3:11-12.

Jewish unbelievers of the Tribulation are removed from the earth and cast into torments, the compartment of Hades for all unbelievers since the beginning of time.

Eze 20:33-38, Mal 4:1 -this phase of judgment is for the Jewish unbelievers of the Tribulational period.

Gentile unbelievers of the Tribulation are also removed from the earth and cast into the fire of torments, Mat 25:31-46.

The one that is left is the believer going into the Millennium which starts with believers only. The one taken is the Jewish unbeliever put into torments.

(1) The wheat and the tares, Mat 13:1-58. wheat = believers going into the Millennium. tares =Jewish and Gentile unbelievers who are gathered into bundles and put into the fire.

(2) The good and the bad fish, Mat 13:47-50. (3) The ten virgins, Mat 25:1-13.

At this time our Lord will rule from Jerusalem as His headquarters, Zec 14.

a. The judgment of prehistoric, rational, super-creatures - angels. Satan and fallen angels are judged, removed from the earth, and incarcerated for 1000 years, Rev 20:1-3.

b. The judgment of historical, rational creatures - unbelieving mankind. Those unbelievers who survived the Tribulation are collected into two groups for their judgment, the baptism of fire, Mat 3:11-12.

(1) He is waiting for His royal family to be formed.

(2) Then He owes Israel seven more years, the Tribulation period.

(3) Then He hits the earth with the Second Advent, where operation footstool begins.

Fallen angels are imprisoned in the abyss for 1000 years, and unbelievers of the Tribulation are imprisoned in torments for 1000 years.

Operation footstool has two phases, one at each end of the Millennium.

B. After the Gog revolution at the end of the Millennium, Satan’s last revolt at the end of human history.

Weekly Bible Study, January 22, 2024, The Doctrine of Eternal Security.

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.

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] your sins [known unconfessed 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. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? 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

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:

Weekly Bible Study, January 22, 2024, The Doctrine of Eternal Security.

The Doctrine of Eternal Security..

Jn 15:1, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

Here is Jn 15 beginning with the unity that exists between the LORD and the believer and the LORD and HIS logistical support for following HIM and HIS kingdom.

Jn 15:2, “Every branch [believer] in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every {branch} that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”

What does this mean as far as the free will is concerned? It means that every believer has the opportunity to glorify the LORD simply by keeping things simple.

Jn 15:3-4, “You are already clean because of the word which He said that He is the one who has spoken to the disciples. Abide in Me [that is to have some fresh abundant life which is made inside of us] and I in you. And I in you. As the branch or the believer cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so, neither {can} you, unless you abide in Me.

Fruit that is fresh is food that you desire as you live in Jn 10:10, when the life that we have is life abundant.

Jn 15:5-8, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and {so} prove to be My disciples.”

As you live or abide in HIM, your thoughts start to align with HIS thoughts. When that happens the things you desire are in HIS plan for you to have and so, you are able to ask what you will and receive it because it is in HIS will for you to have it.

Jn 15:9-12, “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and {that} your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

This is to love one another unconditionally, impersonally. Not because there is necessarily something you love in the other person but because you love Christ and that is HIS command. This agape love is different than a personal love phileo.

Jn 15:13-15, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends, if you do what I command you.

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Jn 15:16-18, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and {that} your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated} you.”

This is that agape, impersonal love. And again the principle of living in HIS plan for your life.

Jn 15:19-21, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.”

Now, I want to focus today on the fact that we should be alert because there are always individuals who distort passages like Jn 15:2. “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”

The verse is used to by ignorant believers to say that you can lose your salvation. But do you see the word salvation in this verse? What about those who say that verses 2 and 6 are teaching about who can lose their salvation? Jn 15:2, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit.”

Jn 15:6, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

You don’t see the word “lose” because our LORD is teaching HIS disciples the importance of the principle of abiding which refers to our fellowship with our LORD and not our salvation.

Do you see the word “sin” in these verses? So, when a believer does willfully sin, he does not lose his salvation, he loses the principle of abiding or fellowshipping with our LORD.

In Heb 10:23-26, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully [and we do] after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, Why does there no longer remain a sacrifice for sins?

Heb 10:27, (The High Priest, our LORD) does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Do you see the word salvation in Jn 15:2, No

.

So, there are those who distort passages like Jn 15:2, Every branch [believer] in Me that does not bear fruit, He [TLJC=The Lord Jesus Christ] takes the fruit away.

The question is what did our LORD mean when HE said that if we do not bear fruit that He will “take away” the branches or the believers.

Then in Jn 15:6, they also distort the verse when it says that “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Notice that our LORD said to those who do not abide in HIM are thrown away as a branch, and dries up; it does not say that they are found and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

I also need to be sure that all of you understand that you cannot lose your salvation and we will approach this subject very carefully by using the word “Approach.”

By approach I mean as you are living the spiritual life, you proceed to advance toward the goal that is set before us you as Php 3:14 says, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus.”

To do this you have to make sure that you do not fall away from the LORD but believe that you can live the spiritual life as you forget what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.

Our “first approach” concerning the Doctrine of Eternal Security which I call the Positional Approach: Rom 8:1; Eph 1:3-6; Jud 1.

The positional approach is that every believer is in union with Christ and is perfect in their position, but not in their condition. Rom 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Notice, if you are “in Christ,” then this verse says you will never be condemned or judged by GOD no matter what you think, say, or do or what others think, say, or do.

Why?

Because there is no condemnation or judgment for those who are en Christou Ieesou or in Christ Jesus.

Now, there is conviction by GOD the Holy Spirit, which is legitimate guilt, but there is a condemnation which is not one of them. Conviction comes from the ministry of GOD the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit conviction always gives us a way out in which the grace of GOD is magnified and reconciliation is the goal of GOD the Holy Spirit.

It is the Spirit verses Satan. Carnality verses charity. Conviction verses condemnation. It is life spiritually or death experientially.

Now, even though our lives will be judged according to the word of GOD; (Jn 12:47-48), it is an evaluation of our works not condemnation for our sins. Jn 12:46-48, “I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” Let me give you a few passages that make this clear.

First of all, we have our LORD’s word on the type of judgment we will face; Jn 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Notice that there is such a principle called a “righteous judgment.”

In Jn 3:17, the Lord Jesus Christ addresses the subject of judgment when we read: “For GOD did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.

Jn 5:22, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,”

Jn 12:47-48, “And if anyone hears My sayings, and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.”

Even when our LORD had to judge us which was really HIS way of evaluating the lifestyle that we live; HE did so with grace and honor motivated by agape love, which we saw earlier.

Look at Jn 8:15-16, “You people [in context the Pharisees] judge according to the flesh; I am not judging anyone. But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and He who sent Me.”

Of course, most of you have heard these passages throughout the Word of GOD and when we are told that we are “in Christ” that is our position and not our condition. Therefore, our position in Christ guarantees that there is no condemnation for any of us who have been saved.

Look how clear the apostle Paul gets right to the point; Rom 8:38-39, For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of GOD, which is in Christ Jesus our LORD.

I love how Jude deals with this subject in Jud 1:24-25, Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only GOD our Savior, through Jesus Christ our LORD, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Now, what we have noted so far really has to do with the fact that we share what Christ has and we share who Christ is.

1Jo 3:1-2, See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of GOD; and such we are. For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of GOD, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is.

Now, our LORD is seated at the right hand of the Father and we share everything that HE has and everything that HE is. Rom 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren;” Here are some examples of these blessings we have “in Christ.”

Christ is absolute Righteousness; 2Co 5:21.

Christ is elected, we share HIS Election, Eph 1:4.

Christ has a destiny; we share HIS Destiny, Eph 1:5.

Christ is the Son, we are in union with Christ, we share HIS sonship; 2Ti 2:1.

Christ is the heir; we share HIS heirship; Rom 8:16-17.

Christ is sanctified, we share HIS sanctification; 1Co 1:2.

Christ is a King; we share HIS Kingdom; 2Pe 1:11.

Christ is the High Priest; we share HIS Priesthood; Heb 10:10-14. Let me remind you that the Bible says that we will all have to face, not only deserved suffering but also underserved suffering as well; Php 1:29; 1Pe 3:12-18.

1Pe 3:12-18, For the eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil. And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but (instead) sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

For it is better, if GOD should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to GOD, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit

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.

January 21, 2024; The Angelic Conflict - Part 55 is in HD Audio ONLY; with hover pop-up scripture references in Notes.

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, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed 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. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? 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, The Christ alone for eternal life [salvation] and you will be saved [receive Eternal Life] the very micro 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 [Num 21:4-9], even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [the cross], 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

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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.

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The Angelic Conflict - Part 55

a. Why man?

b. Why sin?

c. Why chaos?

d. Why human suffering?

e. Why the uniqueness of the church?

a. The baptism of the Spirit results in the creation of a new creature or a new spiritual species and the Royal Family of God.

b. The protocol plan of God or the PPOG is unique for the Royal Family of God only.

c. The phenomenal portfolio of invisible assets belongs to each one of us as royal family of God.

d. Every believer, regardless of his background, attainments or lack of attainments, handicaps, success, or any other distinguishing human factor, has equality given by God Himself.

e. The unique royal commissions: royal priesthood and royal ambassadorship.

f. The unique mystery doctrines of the Church-age.

g. Every member of the Trinity indwells every believer.

h. We have the unique availability of divine power.

i. No prophecies to be fulfilled during the Church-age.

j. The dispensation of invisible heroes.

The church or the Royal Family of God came into existence as a result of our Lord’s strategic victory in the Hypostatic Union.

Our Lord’s third royal title, King of kings and Lord of lords, resulted from His strategic victory which was given to Him after His resurrection, ascension, and session.

a. His first title = “Son of God” and His royal family is God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

b. His second title = “Son of David” and His royal family is the Davidic dynasty or born-again Jews.

c. His third title = “King of kings and Lord of lords” and His royal family is the Church.

All the issues of the angelic conflict are resolved before the resurrection of the church.

Never before in human history and never after the rapture of the Church has so much divine power been available to each believer.

Never before or after the Church-age does everything depend on the individual believer.

Christ, while absent during the Church-age, is head or ruler over the church, Eph 1:22; Col 2:10.

When Satan makes splinters out of the church by denominationalism, the power is gone, replaced by human power and organization, which can never substitute for divine power and organization.

The same power that TLJC operated under during the Hypostatic Union overflows into the Church-age as the challenge to Satan.

Acts 1:8 “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves;

The strategic victory of our Lord in the angelic conflict terminated His residence on earth.

He left behind the church to challenge Satan, with the potential to attain experientially, the tactical victory of the angelic conflict.

(1) Angelic power - demon possession of unbelievers and demon influence of believers.

(2) Human power, organized for influence and control of the human race.

Jesus Christ is represented by the Royal Family of God on earth. We function as royal ambassadors under the PPOG.

Jesus Christ doesn’t come down to the earth today to bail us out as He did with believers in the past.

If God performs a miracle, it’s an insult, for it can never be compared to your fantastic and powerful invisible assets and problem-solving devices.

During the Old Testament, Jesus Christ was present many times on earth, including His incarnation which occurred in the dispensation of Israel.

In the Millennium He will be on the earth ruling for 1000 years.

The invisible impact of history resides in you, dependent upon your routine, your daily perception of doctrine.

As a winner, you demonstrate the validity of the sentence to fallen angels in eternity past.

Rev 2:26,28 “Furthermore, the winner, even he who keeps My assignments until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.” “Furthermore I will give to him the order of the Morning Star.”

Rev 3:4-5 “To the winner, he shall thus be clothed in white garments; and they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.”

Rev 3:5 “Thus the winner shall be clothed in white garments and I will never blot out his title out of the book of life. In fact I will acknowledge his title in the presence of My Father and before His angels.”

Rev 2:17 “To the winner, I will give him blessing from the hidden manna; also I will give him a white pebble, and on that white pebble has been inscribed a new title which no one knows.”

Rev 3:12 “The winner, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God. Furthermore, he will never again vanish from history.

Also I will emblazon on him the title of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which shall descend from heaven from My God; also My new title.”

Rev 2:7 “To the winner, I will give to him the privilege of eating from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.”

Rev 22:14 “Blessed are they who have washed their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.”

While Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, the church exists to challenge and to utilize divine power to defeat Satan’s purposes.

A. The strategic victory of our Lord on the cross

B. The tactical victory of those who advance to maturity.

Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

All Rights Reserved

Robert R. McLaughlin 2001

Hymn #3

Weekly Bible Study, January 15, 2024, Escrow blessings and the results of positive and negative decisions toward what the Lord provided.

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.

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] your sins [known unconfessed 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. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? 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

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:

Weekly Bible Study, January 15, 2024, Escrow blessings and the results of positive and negative decisions toward what the Lord provided.

Escrow blessings and the results of positive and negative decisions toward what the Lord provided.

When you see the word heart in the Bible, it usually means the right lobe of the soul, the place where we do our thinking. This is why the Bible tells us that GOD wants our heart, because it is the place where you think. This is how we live the spiritual life; by taking advantage of the escrow blessings that GOD provided in eternity past.

Pr 4:23, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it {flow} the springs of life.”

Today we have a small pivot because believers are not glorifying GOD is because of 2Ti 3:5, “Holding to a superficial form of the spiritual life, but they have denied its power; avoid such men as these.”

How is it possible for a believer to be constantly exposed to accurate teaching of the Bible and have no advance in their spiritual life? Well, here are some reasons:

Failure to metabolize doctrine.

Failure to make Bible doctrine number one priority in the life.

Failure to learn and apply the ten problem solving devices resulting in the prevention of outside pressures of adversity becoming the inside pressure of stress in the soul.

b>Stress in the soul or sin nature control of the soul is a major source of garbage in the soul.

Garbage in the subconscious developed before salvation or after salvation does not remain in the subconscious, but bleeds into the stream of consciousness when there is no spiritual strength from metabolized doctrine.

Garbage in the subconscious is described by psychologists under the term defense mechanisms. Defense mechanisms are designed to hide or to relieve the conflicts and stress that cause anxiety, hysteria, fear, worry, or other categories of the emotional complex of sins, the worst being guilt.

Look at So, we continue once again in 2Co 3:12-13 which says, Having therefore such a hope or confidence, we use great boldness in our speech, And not as Moses, who kept on putting a veil over his face to prevent the sons of Israel from looking intently at his face while the radiance was fading away,

Moses would hide his face behind a veil because the glory of GOD was too much to see. Moses had seen the transformation that was taking place in his life. The glorification of God comes by means of the Church (Eph 3:20-21) and occurs when the believer attains spiritual adulthood and moves to spiritual maturity.

Eph 3:20-21, Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

This is when the believer is said to be “filled with all the fullness of God,” The believer glorifies God when he parlays the life beyond gnosis (Eph 3:19) into the life beyond dreams (Eph 3:20).

The Pre-designed Plan of God (PPOG) is divided into two categories.

19 The life beyond gnosis, Eph 3:19. The life beyond dreams, Eph 3:20.

Spiritual growth is not measured in works; spiritual growth is measured in momentum. When there is momentum, there will be production. That is the production that will be gold, silver, and precious stones. That is what will be rewardable at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

The pattern of rehabilitation is the pattern of the three R's.

Reception of Bible doctrine is the #1 priority. Therefore, your #1 priority is the daily reception of the mystery doctrine of the Church-age.

Retention refers to the metabolization of Bible doctrine, so that epi-gnosis doctrine in the right lobe is the basis of momentum in the PPOG.

Recall is comparable to the concept of wisdom; it refers to the application of doctrine.

There are three categories of suffering for blessing because of the three R’s.

Providential preventative suffering.

Momentum testing.

Evidence testing.

Providence preventive suffering is a form of undeserved suffering which prevents the believer from becoming arrogant and self-righteous. In fact, Paul addressed this point which has to do with this subject in 2Co 12-7. There is a form of undeserved suffering which prevents the believer from becoming arrogant and self-righteous.

2Co 3:14, but their thinking was hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is only removed by Christ.

The veil speaks of the hardness of man’s heart. The left and right part of the soul are called:

2Co 3:15, But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil covers their heart;

The veil that covers the heart of the weak believer denies him of the strength that he needs to go through the situation that he needs to be strong in time of weakness.

2Co 3:16, but the veil is taken whenever it [it is the corrected translation which is a reference to the Jewish heart] a man or woman turns to the Lord, away.

Now, how does all this happen?

2Co 3:17, Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty or freedom [spiritual freedom].

This means that the power and the liberty that the Lord gives us up to is more than sufficient and is all of power that we need.

2Co 3:18, But we all, with an unveiled face looking into a mirror [which is to produce a reflection] - of the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory [the model spiritual life of our Lord] to the glory of the [Church-age believer], just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

This is the glory of GOD doing all the work to empower us to be able to change.

The Doctrine of the Glorification of God.

Point 1, How the Believer Glorifies God.

The glorification of GOD by means of the Church (Eph 3:21) occurs when the believer attains spiritual adulthood and moves to spiritual maturity.

GOD is to be glorified in the Church” just like HE was glorified by means of the LORD Jesus Christ. At that point the believer is said to be “filled with all the fullness of God,”

Eph 3:19, “and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

Under the three categories of spiritual adulthood there are different manifestations.

At spiritual self-esteem the believer has knowledge and self-confidence.

At spiritual autonomy the believer has the strong independence from depending on man. Instead depending upon GOD.

At spiritual maturity the believer has cognitive invincibility and can manufactured into an invisible hero.

This happens when the believer glorifies GOD as he parlays the life beyond gnosis Eph 3:19) into the life beyond dreams (Eph 3:20).

Eph 3:19, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge [gnosis], that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

Eph 3:20, Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think [the life beyond our fondest dreams], according to the power that works within us,

The glorification of God by means of the Church occurs when the believer attains spiritual adulthood and moves to spiritual maturity.

Eph 3:21, to Him [God the Father] be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

So, you must understand the mystery doctrine of the Church-age which is found in the New Testament epistles, for it contains all the mechanics for the plan of God in this dispensation.

The only Christian service and production that counts is the production that results from perception of that doctrine.

Therefore, Christian service and Christian works are not the means of attaining spiritual maturity or of glorifying God. Spiritual growth is not measured in works; spiritual growth is measured in momentum. And when there is momentum, there will be production. That production will be gold, silver, and precious stones and it will be rewardable at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

We get the principle of escrow in Eph 1:3-4 which says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

The Greek word for has blessed us which is the aorist active participle of eulogeo correctly translated “has blessed us” or “has graced us out” or “has provided for us.”

The aorist tense speaks of when God the Father blessed us with blessings back in eternity past. The active voice, the subject, God the Father, produces the action of the verb in eternity past. This is why God wants your heart because it is the beginning of giving you the opportunity to live the spiritual life. How? By taking advantage of the escrow blessings that He provided in eternity past. This all comes from doctrine in the heart.

Pr 2:10, For wisdom will enter your heart, And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;

Pr 3:1, My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;

Pr 23:26, Give me your heart, my son, And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Now, how is it possible for a believer to be constantly exposed to accurate teaching of Bible doctrine and experience no growth, no advance in his spiritual life? It is possible because they have rejected the word of God for years and it has finally caught up with them. And there are two areas that take place here that we all need to note.

The first one is stress in the soul or sin nature control of the soul which is a major source of garbage in the soul. Garbage in the soul or garbage in the subconscious develops before salvation or after salvation and does not remain in the subconscious but bleeds into the stream of consciousness when there is no spiritual strength from metabolized doctrine. Garbage in the subconscious is described by psychologists under the term “defense mechanisms.” Defense mechanisms are designed to hide or to relieve the conflicts and stresses in the soul that cause anxiety, hysteria, fear, worry, or other categories of the emotional complex of sins, the worst being guilt.

Defense mechanisms are designed to bury any reaction you might have, any lack of esteem, any explanation for impulsive behavior or failure on your part. And there are many defense mechanisms that people use. For example, consider the following:

1) Acting-out. Acting out is a defense mechanism in which a person acts without regard for negative consequences. They're going to do what they want and they don't care what the consequences are. They feel totally justified in doing what they're doing. And if they happen to hurt innocent people along the way...well, that's “too bad.”

Problem solving devices like Grace orientation #4, and Doctrinal orientation, #5 would handle this problem.

2) Autistic fantasy. Autistic fantasy is a defense mechanism in which a person substitutes excessive daydreaming for the pursuit of social relationships. In fact, soap operas really feed this need in people! Social interaction through day dreaming is much easier than direct and effective social intercourse and the use of the problem-solving devices.

Problem solving devices #6, A personal sense of destiny would handle this problem.

3) Denial is a defense mechanism in which a person fails to acknowledge some aspect of external reality that is obvious and apparent to others. Denial is a false perception of reality. This false perception of reality is necessary for some people because they must be good, they must be self-righteous, they can never be wrong, they must always be right.

Problem solving devices #1, the Rebound Technique would handle this along with PSD #4, Grace orientation.

4) Dissociation or withdrawal is a mechanism which is employed when a person doesn't want to deal with a situation so they run away and withdraw from those in the situation. This is strongly characterized in the last days as noted in 1Ti 4:1 where there is a dissociation from “The faith.”

1Ti 4:1, But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

Problem solving devices #1 The Rebound Technique, PSD #4, Grace orientation, PSD #5, Doctrinal orientation, PSD #8, Impersonal love for all mankind, would solve this problem. One of the many benefits of living the spiritual life that God has provided just for you is to rid your soul of the garbage it has stored up throughout the years. All of us have stored or accumulated garbage in our soul, especially in the subconscious. The subconscious is that part of our soul where we are not wholly or fully conscious of all the things that are there.

Defense mechanisms are designed to bury any reaction you might have, any lack of esteem, any explanation for impulsive behavior or failure on your part. Defense mechanisms can resist all attacks of human viewpoint, human ability, human power; but God has provided in grace divine equipment and weapons to demolish these defense mechanisms in the soul.

The greatest weapon we have in both spiritual warfare and life is what we think. No matter how you slice it, the factor that motivates, empowers and strengthens a believer is his thought pattern. If the believer is thinking human viewpoint, he is open to satanic infiltration. Furthermore, he is useless, miserable, and indistinguishable from the unbeliever. On the other hand, the believer with doctrine in the right lobe has divine viewpoint on the launching pad ready for application in order to assault any defense system in this intensified stage of the angelic conflict.

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.