July, 2004

Fred R. Coulter, Minister

July 20, 2004

Dear Brethren,

By now most of you, at least in the United States, should have received your copy or copies of the new book The Day Jesus the Christ Died—the Biblical Truth About His Passion, Crucifixion and Resurrection. We have received so many orders for this book that we had to increase the number printed from 6,000 to 9,000. From the volume of orders that we continue to receive, we will probably exhaust the first printing by at least November—perhaps sooner. Currently, we have it advertised on our website, www.cbcg.org and on Alan Ruth's website, www.biblestudy.org.  We have received over 1,600 orders from these website ads, and we have mailed out 3,900 to the brethren. As with other previous books, these books were printed by Thomson-Shore in Dexter Michigan. Unit Packaging in Ann Arbor, Michigan did the initial mailing for us, which they finished on July 14.

Ron Cary has been working diligently to put all the material for our new website, www.biblicaltruthministries.org, online. I talked with him on Sunday, July 18, and he told me that he had just got it online. We will also be advertising the new book on this new site.

Although Mel Gibson's movie had many errors in it, among the general public it did raise the level of awareness and interest about Jesus Christ's passion. Now with this new book, the truth is available for anyone who wants to know it. To test the effect of our website ads, Carl Franklin ran a search on Google and found that of all the books about the Christ's passion, ours was in the top 5. Also, when he ran Mel Gibson/Fred R. Coulter, it came up number one. This puts us in a prominent position to get people's attention and to make the book available to them.

Furthermore, for the first time, we have made arrangements through our York Publishing Company name to sell the book on Amazon.com. The process should be completed this coming week. By making it available through Amazon.com, we will be able to reach additional new people who want to know the truth but might not be connected to any church.

The cover of the book is beautiful and eye-catching. The first sample of the cover art that we obtained was in black and white. However, upon purchasing the full digital picture, we found that it was actually in four colors, which gave it more depth. We selected this because it seemed to uniquely portray the power of God as well as the darkness that covered the land the last three hours that Jesus hung on the cross: "Now from the sixth hour [noon] until the ninth hour [3 PM], darkness was over all the land" Matt. 27:45).

Not only does this book have a very eye-catching cover, but also the layout of the pages is simple and straightforward, and the type is easy to read. As you will see, it takes the reader step-by-step through Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. The book was written not only for brethren, but for new people— people who have never heard the truth before. It preaches the basics of the Gospel, the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice on the Passover day and His resurrection. It preaches repentance, water baptism and keeping the commandments of God, the purpose of life and much, much more. This is a book that you can freely give to anyone who is interested, so you might want to keep a few on hand—-just order them from the office.

The advertisement on the back cover of the book challenges the reader to read the biblical truth about Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection instead of just believing the erroneous traditions of men as taught by the Christian-professing religions of this world. We hope and pray that this book will be effective in opening the eyes of the reader and in kindling a desire to know more about the true God and the true Jesus Christ.

When I got my first copy from the printer, as I began reading, I was reminded of what the apostle Paul wrote. He did not preach Christ using the wisdom, philosophies and traditions of men, but he preached "Christ and Him crucified," as did all the apostles: "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made void.For to those who are perishing, the preaching of the cross is foolishness; but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will nullify the understanding of those who understand.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Did not God make foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its own wisdom did not know God, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching....And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, in proclaiming the testimony of God to you. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. And I was in weakness and in fear and in much trembling when I was with you; and my message and my preaching was not in persuasive words of human wisdom; rather, it was in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; so that your faith might not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (I Cor. 1:17-21 and 2:1-5).

When reaching out to new people, Paul did not dilute the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the philosophies and traditions of men. He followed the instructions that Jesus Christ had given to the original apostles: "And said to them, 'According as it is written, it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And in His name, repentance and remission of sins should be preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47).

Likewise, if we preach the truth, God will draw the people. Preaching the basic Gospel to new people does not mean that we are to water down the truth. In our past church experience, we saw what happened when the Gospel of Jesus Christ was watered down. In its place a false gospel of "give" and "get," costing $24 million dollars a year, was preached. In order not to offend the government leaders of the world, the all-powerful visible return of Jesus Christ was changed to "the unseen hand" that was coming to save the world. This watered down gospel left out the cross of Jesus Christ and repentance. Remember, when the words are changed, the meaning is changed. What was the result? There were few if any conversions or baptisms because they did not hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ—especially overseas among the so-called "world leaders."

When Elijah thought that he was the only faithful one left, God told him that He had reserved 7,000 who had not bowed their knees to Baal. Using that example, Paul makes the point that God the Father and Jesus Christ always have a remnant that They are dealing with: "Don't you know what the scripture says in the account of Elijah? How he was pleading with God against Israel, saying, 'Lord, they have killed your prophets, and they have torn down your altars; and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.' But what did the answer from God say to him? 'I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed a knee to Baal.' Now then, in the same way, at the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace" (Rom. 11:2-5).

God works the same way today. As we reach out and preach the Gospel, He calls individuals. This is the method that God used to call each one of us. He put a desire into our hearts to seek the truth. There people in the world who are searching for the truth as this letter shows: "I wanted to tell you that I have enjoyed your Harmony of the Gospels book. So I thought that I would take the time to thank you. But also to tell you that I'm hungry for the things of God. I want to know the TRUTH. I am so tired of traditions being preached in the Church and not the truth. I want the truth!! I really want it!! I am so unsatisfied with these churches that I say they are Bible-believing churches, when all I see is traditions of men being preached. I thought I found the truth in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but I just don't know anymore. Do you have any study guides so I can understand the Bible better? I would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely," Man from Pennsylvania (ANew Testament is on its way!)

Thanks for Books and Tapes:

"Dear Fred,

Thank you for the anointed cloth you sent for my husband. He had strokes on both sides of his head, which the doctors say is very rare. He is doing good, and he is not paralyzed any. Thank you for the messages for Day 49 and for Pentecost. They were real good. We are pleased with all the great messages you send us.

Thank you for the Passover book, the Harmony and the New Testament. We are so pleased that God would choose us to be a part of the Christian Biblical Church of God.  We kept Sabbath and Pentecost at home alone.  We thank God that He has showed us that we can worship Him at home alone when we are not able to meet with others." Couple from North Carolina

"Dear Fred,

Thanks a million for the tapes and literature you are sending—especially the New Testament. They are truly inspiring. I am amazed that no matter how much I listen and study, I always glean a little more understanding. How great God is! His Bible is never boring. It is like working an old gold mine. Once you have discovered a rich vein of gold and work it a few times, you think you have it worked out.  But when you go back into it again, you discover it was richer than before. I always wonder, how did I miss that? " A brother from Louisiana

Comments and Thanks—the New Testament:

"Dear Fred,

Thank you for sending 'A Harmony of the Gospels in Modern English,' as I had requested. Immediately the cover reflects the awesomeness of our GREAT GOD and of our Saviour, Jesus Christ I have been carefully studying the material in this beautiful volume, as well as the wealth of material in 'The New Testament in its Original Order.'

"Your heartfelt labor to preserve the Truth of GOD in the face of all the factions today to dismantle and discard it are immediately evident and greatly appreciated. It is truly a blessing to read the uncompromised Truth of the ETERNAL GOD. Thank you." Woman from Pennsylvania

"Dear Mr. Coulter,

"Thank you for the New Testament in its Original Order from the Stephens text of 1550. I'm sure that this will be an inspiration and valuable resource which I shall cherish.

"We must continue to work together to keep the acknowledgment of God as the basis of our law and government.    With the help of God, we will see a restoration of the morality upon which we were based as a Nation. God's Word is the true source of our freedom which we cannot deny.

"Your consideration is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Roy S. Moore

Former Chief Justice Alabama Supreme Court"

"Dear Fred,

"I know that you are a busy man, but I needed to write you again. When I read in the New Testament commentary the part about William Tyndale, it gives me a burning desire to read and study more of God's Word. You convey with an attitude of love to teach the truth that to me is overwhelming. I have believed that it should be foremost for a true brother or sister in Christ to reveal and help others along the way in their walk with Christ. Now, I believe it more than ever before.

"If anyone is offended by you looking into the Protestants practices, I feel pity for that person. You are not embracing any of the falsehoods that they teach, but you are exposing them. Yet, you are saying to look at what their writings say. From what I get from W.T., he was apparently coming to know more and more of the truth. Thank you for exposing this. But more than this, I thank My Lord and Savior for people like you. I know God has given you this love of His Word. I am not praising you, but I am praising God for people like you.

Sincerely D."

"Dear Fred,

"Truly, our cup runneth over. This inspired masterpiece of TRUTH and information is really a pinnacle of revealed knowledge. Thank you so very much—we needed this N. T. translation to motivate us to diligently surge forward in faith.   We are overwhelmed with gratitude and deeply motivated to press on, giving ourselves as a living sacrifice, so that our loving Father can qualify us for His Kingdom.   Of ourselves we can do nothing, so we are truly in the hands of God.

"May our heavenly Father continue to inspire and bless you with His Holy Spirit so you can continue to feed His flock that you have been entrusted with. We love you deeply and give God all the glory." Couple from South Africa

"Dear Fred & Group,

Thank you again for the ministry and the refreshing words. You have stepped out in faith to preach the truth and it is more valuable then gold. The New Testament book presents such great insights, well reasoned and piercing that they cut through so much of the fluff-fluff and lip service that we have become inured to in the churches. But, Christ is truly rebuilding His Temple 'brick and mortar' 'love and truth.' Keep up the good work—it is a life raft now for many floundering Christians—soon to be a battleship.

J. and family"

"Dear Fred,

Thank you very much for my copy of the New Testament. Thank you for your time and effort you have put into translating and printing it. It is much appreciated. I find the commentaries very useful. Your other books and especially the Christian Passover helped me a lot in my studies. Thanks once again. Kind regards.

M.P." South Africa

We are very happy to receive such encouraging letters and comments. Almost everyone I have talked to is very thankful for the commentaries and the material in the Appendices and finds them extremely helpful. We are all thankful for the profound, technical and historical information concerning the preservation of the New Testament Greek texts. Our heartfelt thanks go to Gary Staszak for his diligent, mind-numbing research and for writing Chapters Nine through Fifteen. All the information contained in the New Testament is designed to be a bulwark against the enemies of God who seek to destroy the knowledge that God the Father and Jesus Christ have watched over and preserved in the true copies of the New Testament Greek texts that were originally written by the apostles.

Today, as never before, we are in the midst of a great and fierce spiritual battle for the Word of God. Satan and his legions are working overtime in high gear to destroy the Word of God through blasphemous translations. In the thick of the battle, we have to stand for the Word of God, preserve the Word of God, preach the truth and fight for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. As the apostle Jude, the brother of Jesus, wrote: "Beloved, when personally exerting all my diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was compelled to write to you, exhorting you to fervently fight for the faith, which once for all time has been delivered to the saints. For certain men have stealthily crept in, those who long ago have been written about, condemning them to this judgment. They are ungodly men, who are perverting the grace of our God, turning it into licentiousness, and are personally denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3-4).

It is absolutely unbelievable that ungodly men—even atheists—are supposedly translating and printing Bibles and New Testaments that in reality deny Jesus Christ and God the Father. Yet, there are millions of people in the world who eagerly accept them, not knowing that they are literally embracing Satan's perversion of the Word of God. There is no doubt about it: Satan is waging war against the Word of God. The apostle Peter prophesied that this would happen: "But there were also false prophets among the people, as indeed there will be false teachers among you, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, personally denying the Lord who bought them, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. And many people will follow as authoritative their destructive ways; and because of them, the way of the truth will be blasphemed ... The Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unrighteous to the day of judgment to be punished; but particularly those who walk after the flesh in corrupting lust, and hold in utter contempt the lordship of God. They are audacious and self-willed. They are not afraid to blaspheme the divine powers. Whereas angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not bring a railing condemnation against them before the Lord. But these—as irrational brute beasts, born to be caught and destroyed—blaspheme those things of which they are ignorant, and shall be utterly destroyed in their own corruption" (II Pet. 2:1-2, 9-12).

Brethren, we are praying that God will continue to open the doors to reach new people. We realize that there are many churches of God, and we also pray that God the Father and Jesus Christ will open doors for them to reach out to new people as well. We are trusting in God as Jesus promised: "Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it shall be opened" (Matt. 6:7-8).

Once again, thank you for all your love and prayers and for reaching out to brethren and new people as well. Thank you for your continued support. We are making every dollar go as far as possible in order to do the most that we can. May God continue to bless you with His love and grace in everything.

With love in Christ Jesus,

Fred R. Coulter

FRC