App
July 17, 2018
Dear Brethren,
We are making excellent progress in our study series on the apostle Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians; to date, we are through chapter seven. It has been amazing to see the spiritual lessons we can learn from the sufferings and tribulations of Paul. The first lesson is that, regardless of the severity of our circumstances, we must always be looking to God for deliverance and comfort: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforts us in all our tribulation, in order that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trial, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
“For to the degree that the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. And if we are in distress, it is for your comfort and salvation, which is being worked out by your enduring the same sufferings that we also suffer; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort and salvation (and our hope is steadfast for you); knowing that as you are partners in the sufferings, you are also partners in the comfort.
“For we do not want you to be ignorant of our tribulations, brethren, even the trials that befell us in Asia; we were exceedingly burdened beyond our own strength, so much so that we even despaired of living. For we had the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God, Who raises the dead; Who delivered us from so great a death, and continues to deliver; in Whom we have hope that He will even yet deliver” (II Cor. 1:3-10).
The devastating trials Paul experienced can help us learn to handle the difficulties in our own lives. If we stay close to the Father and Christ through prayer and study, while living in God’s way, we will in time come to see that the “rocks of trouble” are actually “stepping stones of growth.” This is why Paul writes: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Regardless of the difficulties or trials we experience, we need to keep our hearts and minds fixed on the goal of eternal life and the Kingdom of God. We need to remember that God is working in us to perfect us spiritually so we can be His spirit sons and daughters in His kingdom for all eternity: “For this reason, we do not lose heart; but if our outward man is being brought to decay, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For the momentary lightness of our tribulation is working out for us an immeasurably greater and everlasting fullness of glory; while we consider not the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen. For the things that are seen are temporary; but the things that are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:16-18).
From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus taught that God requires a higher spiritual standard for New Covenant Christians than merely the letter of the Law. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught the true spiritual standards of life and commandment-keeping. He then summarized God’s goal of salvation unto eternal life in one short statement: “Therefore, you shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). This is the ultimate goal for all true Christians, but it involves a great spiritual work by God the Father and Christ—combined with our own spiritual work to develop godly character unto that perfection. How do we accomplish that?
The Process of Conversion: The spiritual process of conversion is the operation of God’s grace that begins when we answer God’s calling. God the Father draws us to Himself through Jesus (John 6:44-45; 14:6). IF we continue to respond by seeking God with all our hearts (Matt. 7:7-8), He leads us to repentance and baptism (Rom. 2:4; 6:1-8; II Cor. 7:9-10; Acts 2:38). Then the Father personally rescues us from Satan the devil, as we find in the epistle to the Colossians: “Giving thanks to the Father, Who has made us qualified for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the light; Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness and has transferred us unto the kingdom of the Son of His love; in Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins” (Col. 1:12-14).
All of this is the spiritual operation of the grace of God the Father and Jesus Christ, who are dealing with us through the power of the Holy Spirit. Beginning with the time when we were still living in sin as captives of Satan, Paul describes the process this way: “Now you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan the devil], the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience; among whom also we all once had our conduct in the lusts of our flesh, doing the things willed by the flesh and by the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as the rest of the world.
“But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ…. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God, not of works [our own carnal works], so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them” (Eph. 2:1-5, 8-10).
We have received the Spirit of God, conjoined with the spirit of our minds, whereby God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell in us by the power of the Holy Spirit: “IF you love me, keep the commandments—namely My Commandments…. The one who has My commandments and is keeping them, that is the one who loves Me; and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father and I will love him…. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him [that is, dwell in us]. The one who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word that you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s, Who sent Me” (John 14:15, 21, 23-24).
This means that each one of us who has the Holy Spirit is, in fact, a dwelling place for God the Father and Jesus Christ—or a temple of God! But we also have our spiritual work to do, as Paul writes: “For no one is able to lay any other foundation besides that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or stubble, the work of each one shall be manifested; for the day of trial will declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall prove what kind of work each one’s is. If the work that anyone has built endures, he shall receive a reward. If the work of anyone is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet as through fire. Don’t you understand that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God [by willfully sinning with no remorse or repentance], God shall destroy him because the TEMPLE OF GOD IS HOLY, which temple you are” (I Cor. 3:11-17). This is why God requires us to love and obey in “the newness of the spirit, and not the oldness of the letter” of the Law (Rom. 7:6). What does that mean? How is that possible?
What are the good works God has ordained? They are: Loving God with all our hearts, with all our minds, and with all our strength; loving our neighbor as our selves; loving the brethren as Christ has loved us, and keeping the commandments of God in their full spiritual intent. Such works can be accomplished only by the power of the Holy Spirit within us through the grace of God. We then become the spiritual “workmanship of God,” that is, He is creating in us His holy righteous character—the beginning of being perfected as God is perfect. This brings us into a personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. The apostle John called it “our fellowship”: “That which we have seen and have heard we are reporting to you in order that you also may have fellowship with us; for the fellowship—indeed, our fellowship—is with the Father and with His own Son, Jesus Christ” (I John 1:3).
The Work of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives: When we are “begotten again” (I Pet. 1:2-3) by the Father, the Spirit of God is conjoined with our human spirit. We receive the gift of sonship from God—we are then His begotten children (I John 3:1-3, 9): “[T]hat we might receive the gift of sonship from God. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, ‘Abba, Father’ ” (Gal. 4:5-6; also see Rom. 8:15-16).
With our active participation in our relationship with God—through prayer and study, keeping His laws and commandments by His Spirit—God is continuing to convert us, first, by writing His laws into our hearts and minds: “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after He had previously said, ‘This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will give My laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds; and their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again’ ” (Heb. 10:15-17).
Then, with God’s grace and love for us combined with our love for God, we develop the mind of Jesus Christ—the converted Spirit-led mind, as Paul writes: “Now then, if there be any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any deep inner affections and compassions, fulfill my joy, that you be of the same mind, having the same love, being joined together in soul, minding the one thing [the Kingdom of God]. Let nothing be done through contention or vainglory, but in humility, each esteeming the others above himself. Let each one look not only after his own things, but let each one also consider the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:1-5).
This is how Christ is formed in us (Gal. 4:19) through the Holy Spirit: “Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints; to whom God did will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:26-28). Remember, we are God the Father’s workmanship.
This, in turn, enables us to imitate God in our lives: “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor” (Eph. 5:1-2). Consequently, we develop the fruits of the Spirit—godly character: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).
John expressed it this way: “If anyone is keeping His Word, truly in this one the love of God is being perfected. By this means we know that we are in Him. Anyone who claims to dwell in Him is obligating himself also to walk even as He Himself walked…. By this standard we know that we love the children of God: when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God: that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 2:5-6; 5:2-3).
Yes, we will make mistakes, stumble and sin because of human weaknesses; but when we repent and cry out to God, He forgives us through the blood of Jesus. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And yet, if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ the Righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world…. If we confess our own sins, He is faithful and righteous, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us [through the washing of the water by the Word (Eph. 5:26)] from all unrighteousness” (I John 2:1-2; 1:9).
This is how we are the children of God, in a special sonship relationship with the Father. The Father also gives us the will and the desire to grow, change, and overcome: “For it is God Who works in you [because He is dwelling in us] both to will and to do according to His good pleasure…. So that you may be blameless and without offense, innocent children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:13, 15).
We are God’s workmanship, which He will complete unto perfection: “Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God on every remembrance of you, always making supplication with joy in my every prayer for you all, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:2-6).
Thus, at the resurrection we “shall be perfect as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Paul writes of the glorious resurrection to eternal life, which we will receive IF we hunger and thirst for it: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body; accordingly, it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living soul; the last Adam became an ever-living Spirit.’ However, the spiritual was not first, but the natural—then the spiritual.
“The first man is of the earth—made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the one made of dust, so also are all those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly one, so also are all those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the one made of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly one. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility, and this mortal must put on immortality. Now when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’ O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (I Cor. 15:42-55).
Thus, the workmanship of God will be completed and perfected at the first resurrection.
Brethren, thank you for your love and prayers. Thank you for your faith and devotion in serving God and helping the brethren and others. We pray for you every day—for your health and healing, and for the comfort of God in your trials. We pray for your understanding of the Word of God, so you can continue growing in grace and knowledge and attain eternal life. We thank you for your continued support through your regular tithes and offerings, which we put to work to preach the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and to serve the brethren.
With love in Christ Jesus,
Fred R. Coulter
FRC
Lake George, New York
Wingate by Wyndham
4054 State Route 9 • Lake George, NY 12845 • (518) 6684884
We are pleased to announce Lake George as a new CBCG Feast site for 2018. Located in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, Lake George has been called the “Queen of American Lakes.” The area is known for its beautiful mountains, lakes, and streams, scenic roadways, and vibrant fall foliage. The area features many family recreational facilities and dining venues.
We have reserved a block of rooms at the Wingate—where services will be held. When making reservations, tell them you are with the CBCG conference. The room rate is $99.99/day + tax for the full eight days; reservations must be made by August 20. There is also a selection of home rentals, cottages, motels, and campgrounds in the area. Visit www.tripadvisor.com, www.vrbo.com, or www.lakegeorgechamber.com/lodging/ to find additional housing.
Opening night services will be Sunday, September 23, at 7:30 PM. The holy day service for Monday will be at 10:30 AM, and 10 AM for the remainder of the Feast. We do plan to have several activities in which brethren can get to know each other. A festival calendar will be made available for your convenience. For assistance contact Roger Kendall at (802) 7340441 or .
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Invitation to CBCG’s Online Go-To-Meeting Fellowship
The CBCG recently embarked on a project to bring many of our scattered brethren together—online. We are achieving this via an Internet service called Go To Meeting. This conferencing service enables participants to “meet” and communicate in real time. We currently run these meetings each Friday evening, and brethren can participate from wherever they are—throughout the world. A simple click on a Web link will bring you into our meetings (or you can call in on a phone to join the meeting).
Meetings begin with a welcome message followed by about 30 minutes of fellowship time. Then comes a 50-60 minute Bible study, opened and closed with prayer. Finally, there is about an hour of online fellowship in the form of questions, answers, and comments on the study. This section is facilitated by a moderator—and kept on-topic.
Our goal is to utilize these meetings to help fulfill Christ’s instruction to “feed my sheep.” Since the program began with a few dedicated members, participation has already increased by some 600 percent!
For more information, please contact us at .
Please join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/851169805
You can also dial in using your phone. United States: +1 (646) 749-3112
Access Code: 851-169-805
Messages will begin at 8:30 PM each Friday evening. Please feel free to share comments or questions on the message. Steve Durham—
Recent Letters and E-mails from Brethren and Web Site Visitors
reading the February letter. It is encouraging to read of the excitement and appreciation of those whom this ministry is serving. I felt so uplifted as I read the letters from those God has called and chosen. With God, you and your supporters are doing a wonderful, impactful work. God is so amazing—so patient, generous, and merciful toward us all. Thank you Dad. Thank you Father. Thank You for this ministry. Where would we be without a ministry of this character? I just had to express this or I would explode!—J. M., British Columbia
Dear Fred: Thank you for all you do! It literally makes “all the difference” in the world! All the effort you put into presenting the truth is evident and greatly appreciated. Thank you for your love in God the Father and Jesus Christ, and your helpful insights into the world of truth that you share with the brethren. Thank you, Fred, for all you do! Respectfully.—R. R.
Hello Fred: The sermon series “God the Father Was Not the God of the Old Testament” was excellent, and the ones on 1st and 2nd Corinthians were excellent and encouraging too. The February letter with all the letters from brethren, new people, etc. was very inspiring! Seems a great many are going to our Web sites!
Thanks for the transcripts we have received. We had a few already and are so inspired to go through them. Also, the sermons from Roy Assanti and Norbert Bohnert are just great! Praying for Dolores, hope she’s a lot better! And hello to her! And thanks to Ken Redmon for all his work! Tell him hello!—G. P., Idaho
Dear CBCG: Every time I listen to Mr. Coulter giving one of his sermons, I understand the Bible just a little more. As with many, the fog has not lifted yet—but any day I expect it to. Mr. Coulter is a great teacher and makes it easy to follow his God-inspired explanations of the hard-to-understand biblical verses. I only wish I could hear the “side bar” discussions he has with his group during the sermons. Keep up this marvelous work of God and stay healthy, as we will be praying for your health and safety. My best to all of the workers out there and keep up your work too, as it takes all of you!—G. H., Kentucky
Dear Fred, Dolores & CBCG Office: I have really been enjoying your lessons on “God the Father Was Not the God of the Old Testament.” I remember being taught, as a Lutheran, that the God of the Old Testament was that “mean old God” and the God of the New Testament, Jesus, was the loving, merciful God. Such a misconception! I’m looking forward to your lessons on Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
I have been going to a nutritionist for my heart disease and my heart disease is reversing! I thank God for that! May you have a blessed Passover season! God bless, peace be with you, I always keep you in my prayers. Love.—L.
Hi Mr. Coulter: I have enclosed an offering, as I am very thankful for all you have on your Web sites. I was attending United; but, sad to say, their teachings are watered down, as are many of the churches of God. A few ministers online I found to be stronger. But none are near me, and it breaks my heart. I know I need fellowship and Passover will soon be here. So, if there are brethren nearby, I would love to know!
I would like to request an anointing cloth for several intertwined illnesses: fibromyalgia, CFS (Epstein-Barr virus) and lack of sleep. And living in a high stress, oppressive situation doesn’t help. But, Satan is busy everywhere.
I’m sorry I lost touch with you, but what you are doing on the Internet is amazing—and I thank you. May God bless. Thank you for staying strong.—D. W., Florida
Hi Fred: I have been reading a little on biblical Greek. It blows my mind to see the arguments people have for translations that do not fit the NT narrative. I have just now read about John 1:1, as an example. I think scholarship and scholarly thought seem to have the power to pull people into narrow views on scripture, perhaps causing them lose sight completely of the context. I am recognizing this from the little I have been exposed to.
There were a few other scriptural analyses that were offered; and with every single occurrence I read of, you had recognized and accurately translated it so in your NT. Simple, yet important things. I am so thankful to God that He provided us with a church-governed translation of His Scriptures. That is true “government of God” stuff.
It is important that we have accurate scriptures for the studies we do. As the years pass, scriptures that perhaps once meant little to our overall belief system take on great meaning. More and more, the little means a lot.
I am very thankful to God for bringing me into fellowship with the CBCG. And thank you for the uplifting and encouragement of the brethren that you and the ministry provide. Thank you Fred. Thank you elders. Thank you for letting go of yourselves and letting God perform His will within you for our benefit. Thank you for cooperating with and submitting yourselves to God for this work.
No need for false humility; you chose to respond to God and He has led each and every one of you—just as He leads each and every one of those who are His. There is nothing wrong with authentic recognition—only what we choose to do with it. You continue to do great work in His name. Much appreciated.—J. M., British Columbia
Dear Fred: Hope you had a wonderful Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. I am enjoying reading The Christian Passover and The Day Jesus the Christ Died. I cried my eyes out thinking about all He went through for us. Those two books should be required reading! With love.—L.
Greetings Fred: Thank you and your staff for all the great sermons we have had for many years. I’m now going through the Hebrews CDs and books and I am learning a lot. At my age I’m forgetting so much, so I am going through it twice (like I did for the Revelation and Daniel material). That way it sticks better. All of it is great! Thank you again. I’m praying for you and your wife. In Christian love.—R. M.
Greetings to you Fred and everyone in Hollister: I had a general question; it regards the first born. I am not too skilled in the Word of God, but working on it on my journey towards baptism. My wife and I are expecting! Hence the question about the first born. Is there a special tithe I can send to fulfill any obligations we might have pertaining to the first born? All first-born males are God’s. I feel a special tithe could be sent, but wanted to hear from you. Thank you!—J. & A.
Dear Fred: I sold my soul to the devil 15 years ago. He told me he would give me everything, and I dropped out of church and stopped praying and reading the bible. I saw Jesus that night, and He was begging me not to join him—but I didn’t listen. I struggle with all sorts of problems. I did get married and got two wonderful children from it; they are now 2 and 4 years old. I did get a job, so I thought I had it all figured out. But I was wrong; I joined the wrong side and God reminds me of that every day. I lost my wife, my kids, and my job.
I just started studying off your Web site six months ago. It is a daily struggle to serve God. The devil says to me every day that I am his, and he wants me to follow him every day. I don’t hear God’s voice anymore. I am not sure if what I have done is forgivable. The more I study the worse I get, and the sicker I feel.
I ask that you pray for me. I really need the help and support; I am falling apart. I know Jesus died for my sins, but I turned my back on Him, cursed him, and told Him to leave me alone. I pray every day that He can forgive me. I hope someday I can see my kids; they mean so much to me. I did at one point use drugs, which caused me to run from God. I just wanted to live my life without rules or concerns. I will not stop studying, as I know that is what God wants. I made a mess out of my life, and I pray I can be forgiven for the things I have done—and that God can tear up the contract I made with the devil.—S. R., Oregon
Fred: You are a good man, an effective teacher, and a skilled communicator. My experiences with CBCG groups have been joyful and refreshing—especially at Tabernacles. There is indeed love, and an appreciation for God and each other, to be found among the brethren. Recognizing where we abound and where we lack is equally important. Of course, there is plenty of room to grow—and always will be.
I anticipate the holy day seasons in a special way, because I know I am going to learn and grow in spiritual maturity. Never have I experienced the “Oh, no, not this again!” syndrome. Every day, every year, builds on the last. You always bring something new, some advancement in understanding in your teaching. Actually, you do that on a weekly basis. I am never bored. I look forward to hearing you talk about our shared calling.—J. M., British Columbia
Mr. Fred Coulter: Thank you very much for all you do for us. Your honesty and truth in the Scriptures is much appreciated. Growing up in New England, I was a Catholic who got married and moved to Florida. Several years later, with a failed marriage, I was broke, raising a 16-month-old son, and alone, afraid—and feeling I was a failure. Then I met my wife, fell in love and got married. With most of our dreams unfulfilled, we moved to Kentucky. We were searching for something I did not understand—an overpowering desire to love and serve our Lord. With a heavy heart, we went to several Catholic and Protestant churches, Sabbath-keeping groups, and other organizations. Totally lost and in despair, we were ready to give up on religious groups. But God has surely blessed us and shown us His love. Now, we look forward to our first Sabbath service with brethren and friends in Kentucky on May 5. We ask for your prayers, as we continue this journey with God leading us, and the brethren guiding us. Our only desire to love and serve the Lord. All our Love.—R. & L., Kentucky
Dear Fred: This has been a very difficult winter for me, personally, but the things you said were so encouraging. Just being with everyone [for the Conference Sabbath] was so wonderful. It was more like a big family coming together. Everyone from everywhere comes together and there is nothing but love. I just know God was smiling and was as happy as we were. I think about when the whole world will have fellowship like we had at Florence. I can’t imagine such a wonderful world, but I’m looking forward to it in a very big way.—B. D., Kentucky
Hello Fred: I really enjoyed the segment “How credible is the Bible? Part 6.” When I watched it this morning I was blown away. WOW!! The “wow” part was watching the animation of the return of Christ with the saints on horses. It was brilliant how that was portrayed.
For as long as I have been in the Church of God, I have wondered why the church could not (or would not) do a “movie” about the book of Revelation. I think the animation you guys are doing may make that possible. If a “movie” on Revelation was put out, I think it would really get people’s attention. I think it would be a great witness. People love movies, so I think it would be watched. People are fascinated with prophecy, the return of Christ, and biblical end times. I also think it would give people hope. In an era where there seems to be little hope or justice, who knows if people would repent because of such a movie.—W. J., Nevada
Dear Fred: I have been getting people in my area to order your book God’s Plan for Mankind. There are a few who really seem interested and love what you say. They say, “Hey, that’s what I’ve always said. I like him.” I am still studying and watch Church at Home, and have since 2009. You are truly God-sent. In Jesus we love you and the truth.—D. E., Pennsylvania
Dear Fred: I am so thankful to have found the CBCG Web site several years ago. It is a wonderful work that is being carried out. There is no doubt that our most gracious heavenly Father is truly guiding this work.
Approximately four years ago, David Lineberger introduced me to Marlin Fannin, and Marlin baptized me. A while back David introduced me to the Friday evening Internet meetings led by Steve Durham. These meetings are most welcomed and I look forward to them every week, especially since I am in a wheelchair.
Each week I look forward to the teachings of the wonderful presenters. Also, after the presentation there is much discussion among the brethren. During these presentations and discussions, there is a loving family feeling—and this is what God truly desires. The brethren are scattered all around the world, and we learn much from each other.
I am truly thankful that God led me to the CBCG and Fred Coulter and all that is offered. With much love and respect.—W. J., North Carolina
Dear Pastor Fred: I never knew the Sabbath could be so beautiful before I started listening to your videos. All of the preparations to get ready for it are so worth it. I have learned so much from listening to your sermons, and from cbcg.org by studying and worshiping on the Sabbath. And it is so restful and refreshing. I know others in my household agree.
I find myself wishing the Sabbath would never end; but then we wouldn’t get our work done, and the Bible does say “he who doesn’t work, doesn’t eat.” The only explanation I can think of for the beauty and peacefulness of the Sabbath is that the presence of the Lord has blessed and sanctified the Sabbath. The Lord has blessed us so much by practicing obedience to His commandments and keeping His Sabbaths. They really are a delight! Thank you so much for your faithfulness! May God bless and protect you. Sincerely.—E. R., California
Greetings Fred: Friday night I watched “The 1569 AD Inquisition and Be Diligent.” No wonder you were excited. So was I. It was a wonderful example of “not worrying about what to say.” Yes, I know the Waldensians memorized the Bible, but to have the right reply to the friar’s sarcastic words at just the right time—awesome. Especially as Jacob was on trial, and probably knew he would be burned at the stake. His replies were gentle in comparison to the accusations, and they made me think of Christ. He did not argue either; He just presented the truth. Thank you, and God bless you.—S. P., Western Australia
Dear Fred, Dolores, & CBCG office: I just wanted to let you know that by placing the first resurrection on Pentecost, the whole book of Revelation falls into place for me. That’s really a blessing. God bless and peace be with you; I always keep you in my prayers. I still have the lovely plant you sent for my mother’s funeral. Love.—L.
Fred: I have never been happier in all my life! It amazes me how you answer my questions, and yet you don’t even know what they are! Our God is truly great, longsuffering, and merciful. Thanks again and again and again! Please keep up the good work!—D. S.
Dear Mr. Coulter: Please accept this offering for your ministry. I recently found your Web site (truthofGod.org), and this past Sabbath watched your sermon “Difficult Scriptures—Passover and Unleavened Bread.”
I first kept Passover some 53 years ago in Joseph, Oregon (I kept it alone at that time). Years later I became aware of the problem of when that first Passover (in Egypt) was kept: twilight, dark, between the evenings, etc. But I found no problem with Jesus dying in the 9th hour of the Passover day or with observing Passover at the beginning of the day at the first watch and His introducing the symbols of the wine and bread for our forgiveness, His covering of our sin. And the ceremony of the foot washing. But it always seemed strange that in accepting that day, as God ordained to begin at sunset (Gen. 1), as the beginning of the day, yet in Exodus 12 the evening is at the end of the day. Your message addressed this; and, checking the scriptures again, I see that the events of Passover occurred on the 14th and the leaving of Egypt occurred on the 15th. I would appreciate seeing The Christian Passover. Thank you!—T. R., Oregon
Dear Fred: I’m so grateful for every book and CD you have sent me. I continually have one of your CDs playing in the car—if Jeff isn’t with me. Someday, I pray, he will listen too!
Please know that I am thinking of you and that I thank God for your ministry all the time. I heard from a member today. It had been over a year. It’s always great hearing from her. Thank you for putting us together. All the best.—L. J., Alabama
Mr. Coulter and staff: May God and Christ continue to bless you in forwarding the gospel of Christ. There are so many false ministers out there. I go to YouTube and you can see them all. They are saying the rapture will begin on June 21, the Summer Solstice. One woman was asking why it hadn’t already happened. So many foolish people. God bless you all.—(No name)
Dear Mr. Coulter: Just a short note to say thank you for the wonderful study book on Romans. Just finished the one on Hebrews. I can hardly put these books down. I have learned so much; guess you never get too old to learn. These books should be in the hands of every Christian. You make God seem so real in these books. Thank you so much! Your friend.—S.
Dear Fred: I want to say that your Web site and Vimeo are terrific. The site has so much teaching material that I may not have enough time to go through it all. God will have to help me get to the ones I need first, then review what I’ve learned. Your Web site is my lifeline on the Internet. The books and the Bible are my lifeline, on all the time, 24/7. Thanks! I pray for you and Dolores every night.—D. R., Texas
Dear Fred: I am searching for truth. I was a Catholic for 40 years, then a Seventh Day Adventist for eight years, and now I am in a Baptist box. I feel I’m still missing the truth.
I have been studying your teachings…. My children are saying, “There he goes again.” I am fighting not only my thoughts, but those of family and friends as well. Regardless, I am keeping the Sabbath and continuing to study your teachings. Please pray for me to understand, as I know we are still under God’s law, after salvation, for love and obedience.
My question is, Why did the Holy Spirit come down on Jesus at His baptism if he was already filled with the Holy Spirit? I believe your teaching on the Trinity, as I see nowhere in Scripture to pray to or treat the Holy Spirit as a third part of God. I see there is God the Father and the Spirit that was in Christ. Not sure if this thinking is correct. They had to wait for Christ to ascend before the Holy Spirit could come. This tells me that there was only one Spirit and that it was in the human Jesus and made Him God. I do not want to take the divinity from Christ, but I like to study outside of the denominational box. Are there any churches in the Greenville, South Carolina, area?—T. S., South Carolina
Dear Fred: Thank you for being a giving person. I don’t even know the correct words to use to let you know how very, very much I appreciate this Bible. Thank you. The history it contains is knowledge I’m learning. Thank you. This Bible will I cherish forever. Thank you. I’ve never seen one like it. Blessings to you and your family. Your sister in our Messiah.—S. C., Georgia
Mr. Coulter: Hello and good day to you, sir. I am a regular listener to your sermons and I have been with several churches of God in the past—UCG, LCG—and, as of February 2017, I stopped attending anywhere. I was baptized in 1996 in the gulf of Mexico by Mr. Ken Treybig (now with COGWA). I enjoy your sermons and the teaching tools provided on Church at Home and cbcg.org. I study the bible quite regularly; I like to read and study it every morning before I go to work, and on the Sabbath. I have been a member of churches of God for about 24 years or so. I enjoy watching Church at Home videos. I don’t attend with a local congregation, as there have been so many splits here in the local COG. I have chosen to not attend anywhere, just stay at home and worship God on the Sabbath. It is sad, but that is reality. Thank you for your learning tools and for making the Bible come to life—and for making it understandable so those who have been called can learn and apply its principles to their lives and grow spiritually. I send my tithes and offerings to Church at Home and cbcg.org, as well as to others who feed me. I am glad that there is someone out there who still preaches the truth.—R. S., Mississippi
Hi Fred: I was just reading the transcript to 2 Corinthians, part #3a. I wanted to tell you that it absolutely blows my mind sometimes how well you present an argument from the Scriptures. You utilize a tiny section of Romans 13; and the way you build a phrase and a question and then a phrase and an answer—just mind boggling. “They will argue this, but the next phrase has the answer.” Wow. I do not know what else to say. So much in so little. Amazing. I could break it down and analyze the structure even more for you, but you know what I mean. Paul was also brilliant in this form of presenting an issue in his writings—absolutely brilliant intellectual argumentation to challenge the high and mighty, not with lofty words, but reasoned argument, well able to present the hope within him.
I love carefully listening to you, studying how you teach, and learning, learning, learning. If I go a day or two or three without studying—ugh. I need, we all need, to feed regularly; otherwise we start getting weak and tired. It is that simple—weak and tired. But, do we all believe that when we are told it? Probably, maybe, sort of … not. It takes so long for God to get through to us about certain things, with each of our peculiarities and natures. What a journey we are on. It is so amazing. —J. M., Canada
Dear Mr. Coulter : Please add me to your mailing list for CDs, transcripts, and information. I was asked a long time ago by one of your secretaries, but I said no at that time. I said that I would just watch on the Internet, but now I feel it would be better for me to have the actual information on hand to study—and to show people. I have your translation of the New Testament and The Holy Bible In Its Original Order already. I have attended God’s church for many years and have been baptized for fourteen years.—H. D., Michigan
