Christmas 2018

Grace Bible Church
Pastor Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Tree of Life
Weekly Review
122318
Christmas 2018

We have heard it hundreds of times about the greatest gift that our GOD so graciously gave to us over 2,000 years ago. We do not know the exact date and I believe that there are some very good reasons for that.

One of the main reasons why I believe that GOD the Father did not choose to reveal a date is because it would have been just be another petty event used by the ignorant unlearned ones.

I’m sure that if someone came along with a dogmatic statement, that said we got the exact date of our LORD’s birthday, there would be thousands of suckers focused on the wrong thing.

Can you imagine all of the lies and the nonsense that would be around today and the dog and pony shows found in these “Mega Churches.” Thank GOD we don’t have to put up with all that nonsense that doesn’t do anything for the cause of Christ!

Thank GOD that the Holy Spirit and our LORD and Savior was the one who now takes over and therefore we have some great passages concerning what the Holy Spirit has protected and guarded right before our eyes.

For example, in JOH 3:15, that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life.

Why?

Why is because of what our LORD said in JOH 3:16-18, “For GOD so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For GOD did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD.”

This same type of Gospel truth is still around today.

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

Not only was it a gift that all members of the human race were offered but as the Apostle Paul wrote,  it was also a gift known to be called “His indescribable gift.”

For in 2CO 9:15, we read “Thanks be to GOD for His indescribable gift!”

It is said to be His indescribable gift, which means words cannot even express or describe the tremendous glory that the blessings of our LORD brings upon those who desire to follow Him, no matter what the cost may be.

And the main question is “Will you follow Him?” And, as the song says I will follow Him wherever He may go. Why do you even want to follow Him? As one of the songs from the 50’s or the 60’s says “There isn’t an ocean too deep --- or a mountain so high that it - can keep you away from following Him.”

This is a very unusual request but it is a request for GOD’s people to have victory over defeat. Here are some of the principles that need to be mentioned.

For example:

To have prosperity over adversity; success over failure; encouragement over discouragement; love over hate; Joy over sorrow.

This is why we must make a distinction between victory over  defeat. This is also one of the reasons that our LORD wants us to enjoy the time that we have together.

For our LORD said it is a time that all of us should receive the highest and best that the LORD has for all of us. Therefore, as we continue to go forward in the plan of GOD for our life, think with me for a moment and realize that some of the greatest times in our life are times when our LORD desired to bless us, not because of us but because of Him.

As I have told you once before and I will tell you once again that the celebration of Christmas is a celebration of contentment and the inner happiness that our LORD wants us to teach, to preach, or to enjoy.

And, by the way, you may think that you are going to have a fantastic time as a ruler of one of Satan’s deceitful soldiers who is basically being promoted by the Cosmic System.

However, let me warn you; “Do not let the things of the world or the carnal cosmic system get control of you or your life.”

Like all of us, there are certain times that we need to focus in on what is really going on behind the scenes where Satan, as the GOD of this world, is doing what he normally does - which is to try and deceive us into fallen away from the plan of GOD.

And there are many forms of deception that comes from the fact that the devil is always roaming around as a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Some of you need to see yourselves as GOD sees you as a “selected one.” Think about it, you are a member of the human race and then even more than that you are also a member of the royal Family of GOD. And because we need to note more about our LORD and our Savior because you cannot afford to walk around anywhere you want and to do anything that you desire.

For example look at Job 33:4 and notice what our LORD says; “And the breath from GOD has created me [a human being], and the breath [soul life] of the Almighty gives me [human] life.”

The “breath of GOD” is life, the source of life. The Hebrew is phrase is “ruach El” - The Hebrew word ruach is equivalent to the Greek word pneuma. It also means breath, spirit, life, and lifestyle. And please note that this statement by Job is after the fall of man in the Garden and states the principle of the origin of human life, which is from GOD. Job does not say that the copulation of a male and female gave him life. He wants us that we are right behind Him.

GOD has the power to create human life. ISA 44:2, “Thus says the LORD who created you, who formed you outside [separated from] the womb.”

The Hebrew prepositional phrase is “mi beten” and should be translated “out from the womb.” GOD formed you or gave you life “out from the womb” “separated from the womb”, “outside the womb”, “away from the womb.”

ECC 12:7, “Then the dust [biological life] will return to the earth as it was, and the breath [ruach, soul life] will return to GOD who gave it.”

Because of the character and nature of GOD and the imputation of sin at birth, GOD must provide salvation for everyone to whom He gives soul life at birth. Therefore, He provides redemption for all.

This is why in ISA 44:24 it says, “Thus says the LORD [Jehovah], your redeemer, the One who formed you outside the womb, `I, the LORD, am the maker of all things,

He is the redeemer and the maker of all things. Under selection, He provides salvation for the entire human race.

1TIi 2:3-6, This is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one GOD, and one mediator also between GOD and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time.

OR 1TI 4:10, “For this reason, we [pastors] work hard to the point of exhaustion, and we hang in there tough [keep on contending], because we have confidence in the living GOD, who is the savior of all men, especially of believers.”

Only GOD has the power to create human life, a power He has not delegated. Man’s ability is limited to the formation or creation of biological life in the womb. However, human life does not exist until GOD creates soul life and imputes it to biological life after the fetus has left the womb.

PSA 100:3, Know that the LORD [Jesus Christ] Himself is GOD; it is He who has made us [the real you is your soul and that’s what He made], and not we ourselves;

“He made us” is a reference to the entire human race after Adam and the woman. It refers to the origin of human life, the creation of human life by GOD.