Monthly letter archive

Christian Biblical Church of God

Post Office Box 1442

Hollister, California 95024-1442

(831)-637-1875

Fred R. Coulter, Minister

April 19, 2004

Dear Brethren,

How quickly time flies. We had a tremendous Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. We kept the Passover in Hollister, the Night to be Much Remembered and the first holy day in Fairfield, California. Then on April 9 and 10, I was in Seattle, Washington where we had 55 brethren in attendance for a Friday night service and double services on the Sabbath with a meal. Right after the afternoon services, I had to catch a plane to Spokane, Washington where we had morning and afternoon services on Sunday with a meal in between. We had 38 brethren who attended. Because Monday was the seventh day of the Feast, and a holy day, I again had to leave right after afternoon services in Spokane and fly to Phoenix, Arizona. For the last day of the feast, eighty-two brethren attended.

Although it was a very tight schedule, we had very inspiring services. It was a pleasure to see all the brethren and to visit with them—although the time was all too short. Everyone was happy to have received the New Testament and brought them to services. That was helpful because I used the New Testament Scriptures during my sermons. Also, I was able to autograph it for many.

It appears that The New Testament in its Original Order—A Faithful Version with Commentary is going to have an tremendous impact, not only with the brethren and the various churches of God, but without a doubt in time in the world as well. We have already received many letters, thank you cards, e-mails and phone calls, from those who have received their copies.

Letters About the New Testament

"Good morning Fred,

Just wanted to say WOW! on the great job with the NT I have been going through it slowly and it is really fantastic what you guys have done with it. I am still working on the chapter that talks about the dates for when the NT was written. It has so much information and quite educational, as you planned it to be. I just wanted to say thanks to you and the crew that worked on this project. I like what you have planned for the next project concerning the 'Passion' and my prayers are with you and the others who will be working on this also." W. J. Nevada.

"Hello Fred,

This afternoon I received the New Testament. It is magnificent! I could hardly put it down tonight. That has taken a lot of hard and tedious work. It is beautifully laid out and very readable. The commentaries also are well researched and the bibliography is awe-inspiring. Thank you so much for your dedication and hard work. Warm regards," J. B., Canada

"Dear Fred,

I have found some time to write you and thank you for the Harmony, Passover book and the New Testament. I also have the General Epistles. Every thing is so well arranged and organized and places, so there is no avoiding or misinterpreting the truth. If I were totally blind I could see the truth with these books. Please keep up the great work you are doing. May God's love and protection be with you and your family." C. F.

"Dear Fred,

I just wanted to write and tell you how much I appreciate the book on the New Testament. It is a most beautiful book and so full of information. I am pleased to have this book in my home. Thank you so much. Also, I want to thank you for sending the tapes and other books" S. M., Illinois

"Dear Fred and Brethren,

I want to express my grateful thanks to you and your helpers for the New Testament. My sister and I cried with joy when we opened the box and saw such a beautifully put together Word of God. I love the way you go into such detail explaining what happened from the beginning and how God gave His word to mankind." E. S. Nevada

From a former Baptist

"Dear Mr. Coulter,

I want to thank you for the gift of the New Testament a Faithful Translation. I've been reading it and have already learned some things. Also, I'm doing a comparative study with other Bibles, religious web site and the like. Along with all of that I've downloaded your audio archives from your web site and have been listening constantly.

I thought I was a Christian, but I've also been a habitual sinner in many things. After years of prayers God has led me to you through my mother and to what I think is the real biblical truth of God. For years I have been confused by the things church-going 'Christians' would say to me, like the Holy Spirit being a separate being called 'He.' When I couldn't get my mind around that, they said 'Well then, you are going to hell' Now I found out a that it was a translation error, and was supposed to say 'it.' That detail alone makes your translation priceless to me. Another huge question the translation answered for me was this: There is not an ever burning hell fire to torture us forever in such a horrible way. Now I understand that the lake of fire is for Satan and the demons. Again thanks for the book. I am looking forward to being baptized." R. P. Florida

While in Seattle, I met a woman who was attending Sabbath services for the first time. She has been studying with other brethren who live in the same apartment building as she does. She had been a Baptist most her life. She is thrilled to finally begin to understand the truth. After reading the parts of New Testament, she was so happy to understand that God is not a Trinity. She also told me that during all her 30 years as a Protestant she did not believe the Holy Spirit was a person. It makes you wonder how many more people are like her. They attend a church, but they do not believe what they are taught.

Other Comments About the NT: In various conversations with brethren, they have told me how much they appreciate it. Here is a sampling of those comments:

"The commentaries are great. They explain about the New Testament in ways that I have never before heard."

"The Scriptures are easy to read. During the Passover night when we were reading the passages, it flowed with meaning and depth."

"I was overwhelmed when I saw it. It is great. We have need something like this for a long time."

"I couldn't believe that it is so well done. Really a deluxe edition. I love the purple and gold cover. The type is very easy to read."

"Wow! I have years of study ahead of me. Its great. Every thing in one book."

While in Phoenix, I stayed over until the next day. Then, Tuesday morning Leon Ritchie and I went to The Bible Museum in Goodyear, AZ, which was not too far from the airport. They specialize in ancient Bibles, scrolls, and commentaries. I left autographed copies of the New Testament for Jonathan Byrd, the owner; Dr. Graig Lampe, the director and Don Galligar the office manager. Only Don was there and was very impressed with it. While there, Leon and I were looking at their latest project—a huge 1611 King James Bible. It is a mammoth book over two feet high, over one foot wide and ten inches thick. Each one is a custom production. These Bibles are so highly prized that they are having a hard time keeping up with the demand. They are selling each one for $2,000.00. As we were looking at it, Don aked if they could carry the NT and sell it at their exhibits. We argeed. So, we will be sending them six boxes of the NT this coming week in exchange for an authentic copy of the huge original 1611 KJV Bible. We will be getting Bible number 482.

In 2002, it was at The Bible Museum that I found in Eramus' 1535 Greek Latin New Testament the key which unlocked the final piece of the puzzle in order to understand the source of the "born again" doctrine. As I was reading the Greek and Latin from Erasmus' original NT I could hardly believe my eyes. The answer was right there in Erasmus' NT. You can read of this commentary in the New Testament "What is the Meaning of Born Again?"

Brethren Feel Rescued From a Spiritual Concentration Camp:

Here is a very heartfelt and encouraging letter from long time brethren who felt trapped in their past church situation. It is a typical experience many brethren are having to endure: "Dear Fred,

After attending services with Anse Cates,Dale Dakin and the loving brethren, my wife and I felt that a burden had been lifted off our shoulders after listening to the sermon and enjoying the fellowship. In two other churches of God that we attended, we have been starving for the real meat of God's truth and I get choked up as I write you. For years I have been frustrated beyond words as a result of simply being malnourished. I feel as if I am a survivor of a spiritual concentration camp. My wife and I simply did not know where to go. It was as if I had a case of temporary spiritual insanity. I felt as if I was driven out into the desert by the ministry and dropped off. Then, after being thrown on to the sand, I was told to get my own ride back. Well, God provided the spiritual compass to find my way and it has led us to the Christian Biblical Church of God.

I appreciated your sermons on the holy days and feel as though I have finally gone beyond Jr. High level of learning which was preached over and over again. I was so bored with both organizations that services were a good time to catch up on my sleep because I hadn't been mentally challenged for so long. Now I feel like I am taking a college course in spiritual instruction.

However, God stepped in at just the right time to rescue us and give us a place of refuge. Rumors are terrible and they infect a person's mind when making a decision and there have been rumors about you that are outright lies and falsehoods. I am sure you have heard them all. I also appreciate the tape you sent on your resignation. There have been so many rumors we have heard about your motives back in 1979 and we were glad to hear what really happened from your own mouth.

Finally, I want to thank you for what you are doing. After 37 years in God's Church, I feel that I have returned to the first love of God's truth" R. & L. Ohio

Remember to keep praying for all the brethren regardless of where they may be attending. We truly desire to help as many as we can who find themselves in such circumstances as related in this letter. Many of you have been reaching out to many of the brethren that you have known in the past and have helped them a great deal. Please continue to do so.

The Death of Truth: In this mailing, we are sending the sermons The Death of Truth #2 and # 3. In the book, The Death of Truth, one of the contributing writers made a profound statement that we all need to remember and never forget: "When truth dies, power fills the vacuum." This a fundamental and all-encompassing statement. As you listen to tape # 2, you will learn how this statement can be applied to so many things. To make it even more meaningful, we can modify that statement a little: "When love and truth die, power and authority fill the vacuum." This is exactly how Satan the devil works. This is how he subverts the truth of God and how he subverted the WCG. Also, this is how he has formed his religions and governments—power authority and control!

Satan used this approach when he tempted Jesus Christ for forty days in the wilderness. He challenged Jesus and offered Him power and authority over the world. However, Jesus knew that Satan wanted power over Him. Notice this encounter as recorded by Luke: "Then the devil led Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'I will give You all this authority, and the glory of them all; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I desire. Therefore, if You will worship me in my presence, all things shall be Yours.' But Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan; for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve' " (Luke 4:5-8).

Satan did the same thing to Adam and Eve by promising them power as gods. As a result, Adam and Eve came under the power of Satan, when they took the prerogative of God to decide for themselves right from wrong, good from evil and truth from error. However, instead of becoming gods as Satan said, they came under the power of Satan and were cut off from God.

When truth dies, not only does power till the vacuum, but corruption, misery and sin also fill the vacuum. As Isaiah wrote: "For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying [absence of truth] against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment" (Isa. 59:12-15, KJV).

God will judge this nation and the world for all their lies that have ushered in another age of "the death of truth." Jeremiah witnessed the same things in the final days of Judah before the Babylonian Captivity: Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" (Jer. 9:1-9, KJV).

Living in the world and witnessing death of truth, we need to stand for the truth of God and live by it as never before. That is the whole lesson of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. In spite of the world, we are to grow in true Christian character as Paul wrote: "... Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man, which according to God is created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, let each one put away lies and speak the truth with his neighbor because we are members of one another" (Eph. 4:22-25).

Brethren, once again, thank you for all your love, prayers and support in serving the brethren and making the New Testament possible. May God continue to bless you with His love, grace and blessings in everything.

With love in Christ Jesus

Fred R. Coulter

FRC


Order Form for: The Day Jesus the Christ Died!

The New Book: Day Jesus the Christ Died! is 98% finished. Order yours today!

Number of Copies_________

Name____________________________________

Address __________________________________

City_____________________________________ State____

 

Books