Why is there Diversity Amongst God’s People

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Short Summary
The study explores the diversity among God’s people, explaining that differences in talents and opportunities are part of God’s design and grace, not the result of inherent inequality or Satan’s direct influence. It emphasizes that while God places each member in the body of Christ according to His will, individuals have a responsibility to work out their salvation through zeal, faithfulness, and the use of their God-given talents. The discussion also addresses Christian liberty, encouraging openness to differing opinions within the faith community while maintaining unity on fundamental doctrines, highlighting the importance of love, humility, and patience as believers grow together toward spiritual maturity.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Study on Diversity Amongst God’s People and Related Questions

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### 1. Why There is Diversity Amongst God’s People

Scriptural Foundation:
The study opens citing 1 Corinthians 12:18: “But now God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” This introduces the concept that God intentionally places individuals differently in His spiritual body.

Human Diversity and Sin:
– All humans are born with unalienable rights but also with sin inherited from Adam (referred to as being “sold under sin” 6,000 years ago).
– No one is born free or equal in talents, abilities, or opportunities. Differences are not from God as imperfections but due to sin and the dying process initiated by Satan through Eve.
– Adam was created perfect; sin has caused deviation from God’s original image.

Diversity in the Church:
– Apostle Paul discusses a “new creation” in Christ, where members have varying talents and roles.
– God distributes spiritual gifts and positions in the body as He pleases.
– Growth in the Holy Spirit depends on individual zeal and willingness to do God’s will.
– All are granted some measure of the Spirit and blessings, but growth rates differ.

Role of God and Believers:
– Believers are “God’s workmanship” (Philippians 2:13), with God working in them “both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
– The spiritual growth and shaping of believers is likened to stones being cut and prepared by a Master Workman for a glorious temple, Christ’s body.
– Boasting is discouraged; humility is exhorted (1 Peter 5:6-11).
– Ultimately, no one has anything of themselves; salvation and growth are by God’s grace.

Call and Response:
– Scripture: John 6:44 – “No one can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
– Matthew 22:14 – “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
– God calls and places individuals; humans must respond by working out their salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13).

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### 2. Role of Believers in Determining Placement in the Body of Christ

God’s Sovereignty vs. Human Responsibility:
– God chooses and places members in the body as He desires (1 Corinthians 12:18).
– Believers are instructed to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
– The study participants discussed that while ultimate placement is God’s choice, believers’ faithfulness and zeal impact their development and fruitage in the body.
– The analogy of a job was used: one may be given a position, but without fulfilling the role responsibly, consequences follow.

Use of Talents and Gifts:
– Romans 12:6-8 emphasizes exercising spiritual gifts according to grace given—prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy.
– Believers determine how they use their talents for God’s service, though placement is determined by God.

Growth and Cooperation:
– The process is cooperative: God works in believers, but they must submit and actively cooperate.
– Faithfulness and development of Christ-like character are key to “keeping” placement in the body.

Comments on Christian Liberty and Unity:
– The importance of prayer, mutual support, and encouragement is stressed as part of exercising one’s role in the body.
– Believers are urged to be open-minded, patient, and loving towards differing opinions within the body.

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### 3. Christian Liberty and Yielding to Opinions of Others

Balancing Unity and Truth:
– Christian liberty allows for differing opinions especially in non-essential matters.
– The principle is to maintain peace and love while guarding fundamental doctrines like the efficacy of Christ’s blood and salvation.
– Brother Russell’s example: While liberal in some views, he drew the line on fundamental truths.

Distinguishing Opinions from Doctrines:
– It is important to distinguish between opinions or preferences and core doctrines.
– Romans 14 and 15 teach to accept differing convictions and avoid judgment over disputable matters.
– Love and patience are keys in handling differences.

Warnings:
– Beware of false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20).
– Maintain fellowship when possible, but stand firm on fundamentals.

Process for Truth:
– James 1:21-25 outlines a four-step process: receive the word with humility, prove it by doing, act on it, and continue steadfastly.
– This process supports growth and handling differing viewpoints with grace.

Examples and Experiences:
– Personal stories highlighted the value of prayer and mutual support.
– Differences in understanding prophecy and chronology are not grounds for breaking fellowship.

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### 4. Why Don’t All Believers Agree on Every Point if Holy Spirit Guides Us?

Spiritual Growth is a Process:
– Romans 12:2 (transformation), John 15:2 (purging), Matthew 25:15 (different talents), and 1 Corinthians 12:18 (different functions) explain diversity in understanding and roles.
– Ephesians 4:11-16 shows unity is a goal reached through growth and maturity, not instant agreement.

Human Limitations:
– Imperfect human understanding and biases cause differences.
– Holy Spirit guides “into all truth,” but learning is progressive and cooperative.

Unity in Diversity:
– Believers are encouraged to maintain love, patience, and humility.
– Fellowship is based on fundamentals; differences in secondary matters should not divide.

Warnings Against Division:
– Reprint 5348 warns against disputes over dates or non-fundamental issues breaking love.
– The focus should be on love, faithfulness, and the core gospel.

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### 5. Scriptural Authorization for Ranking Roles in the Body of Christ

No Scriptural Basis for Ranking:
– There is no scripture authorizing placing spiritual roles or brethren in rank order.
– 2 Timothy 3:16-17 stresses all scripture is profitable for doctrine and instruction but does not support rankings.

Diversity of Gifts and Roles:
– Ephesians 4:11-16 highlights varied gifts (apostles, prophets, teachers, etc.) all working towards unity, not hierarchy.

Emphasis on Unity and Love:
– 1 Peter 3:8 calls for unity of mind, compassion, love, humility, courtesy, and forgiveness.
– The study stresses that love and unity are above rank or position.

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### 6. Implications of 1 Peter 3:8—”Finally, be all of one mind…”

Practical Christian Conduct:
– Believers should be compassionate, loving, humble, courteous, and forgiving.
– These virtues help maintain unity despite differences.

Avoiding Division:
– The flesh and worldly influences can cause division; spiritual discipline is needed.
– Believers should base conclusions on Scripture, not just others’ opinions.

Love Over Disagreement:
– Love should bind the brethren more strongly than agreement on every point.
– Fellowship and encouragement are crucial, especially for new or struggling believers.

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### Key Bible Verses Referenced:

1 Corinthians 12:18: “But now God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
Philippians 2:12-13: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
1 Peter 5:6-11: Exhortation to humility under God’s mighty hand.
John 6:44: “No man can come to me, except the Father… draw him.”
Matthew 22:14: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
Romans 12:6-8: Exercise of different spiritual gifts according to grace.
Romans 14:5-12: Accepting differing convictions in non-essential matters.
James 1:21-25: Process of receiving and applying God’s word.
Ephesians 4:11-16: Variety of gifts working towards unity and maturity.
Matthew 7:15-20: Warning about false teachers judged by their fruits.
1 Peter 3:8: Call for unity, compassion, and love among brethren.
2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture profitable for doctrine and instruction.

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### Overall Themes:

God’s Sovereign Placement: God chooses and places members in His body according to His will.
Human Responsibility: Believers must actively work out their salvation, grow in the Spirit, and use their gifts faithfully.
Diversity as a Strength: Differences in talents, growth rates, and understanding are natural and part of God’s design.
Christian Liberty: Allows freedom in non-essential matters, requiring love, patience, and humility in dealing with different opinions.
Unity Without Uniformity: Perfect agreement is not expected; love and mutual respect are paramount.
Avoiding Division: Focus on fundamentals and avoid breaking fellowship over secondary issues.
Progressive Revelation and Growth: Understanding deepens over time; Holy Spirit guides believers gradually.
Love as the Binding Force: Christian love and unity should surpass all differences in opinion or doctrine.

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This study provides a comprehensive biblical understanding of why diversity exists among God’s people, how believers should relate to one another regarding their roles, talents, and differing opinions, and stresses the importance of love, humility, and unity in the body of Christ.

Transcript

So beginning right here, right in front, we’d like you to read the very, very first paragraph, which the title is why There is Diversity amongst God’s people. Who maketh thee to differ from another, and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? I would like you to read the first paragraph that says while this is true, and end where it says Mother Eve, and then Brother Stanley, you pick up the next paragraph.

Sister Kathy, next paragraph, Brother Jerry, and coming back, next row, coming right across. Then we begin to ask for your comments. So while it is true that all men are born with unannieable rights and privileges, yet no man is born without sin. The scriptures very properly declare that the race and Adam was sold under the sin 6,000 years ago.

In this sense, therefore, we were not born free, but slaves of sin. Neither are we born equal. No two persons are exactly alike in opportunity, talent and ability. We differ from one another. God did not create some better and some worse, some more richly endowed and some less richly endowed.

We are to take the Bible statement of the origin of the humanity and understand that God made Adam perfect. All the imperfections which encumber the human race are the result of the dying process. Sin has made us all different than from the original image and likeness of God.

Satan brought about the difference through the mother Eve. Thank you.

In our text, however, the apostle Paul has in mind a new creation in Jesus Christ, a new order amongst whose members there is a difference. Some in the church have many talents, others few talents. Some have special talents, others have ordinary talents. But Satan is not charged with having given the greater or lesser talents to these. The apostle said that it is God who has set the various members in the body as it has pleased him, and that both this setting appointing of the different members of the body and the bringing forth of the different degrees of fruitage manifestations of God’s grace in our hearts.

Thus we may to differ from each other. Thank you. Cause. Cause of diversity of attainments. The matter of growth in the Holy Spirit is one that is dependent in large measure upon each one’s zeal to know, to do the will of God.

We are put into the school of Christ to learn of Him. Some learn more rapidly, others less rapidly. In proportion as they learn, they have greater opportunities and blessings. All are granted a measure of the Holy Spirit. All granted some blessing.

Those who are anxious to know the will of the Lord, and to stand and to study it the more rapidly, and thus have more of the Holy Spirit. These are zealous to do the Lord’s will. Their progress is not attributable wholly by themselves, but especially to the favor of God.

The apostle does go on to say, ye are God’s workmanship. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. We could not do this work ourselves. The power that is working in us is of God. He is preparing a glorious temple he has provided.

Who shall be the chief cornerstone of this temple, and who shall be the members of the temple class. We could not choose the place for ourselves, but in God’s providence we each responded to the call to be a living stone. The stones were first cut out of the dark quarry, and now they are being shaped and prepared for places in the glorious building diversity of another kind. The great master workman is doing a work upon us. He is chiseling and fashioning us.

He is making us what we are. Consequently, there is to be no boasting. There is a certain amount of personality connected with each one. However, if there is too much cross grain in the stone, it will be abundant. As the apostle Peter exhorts, we are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time.

The apostle also remind us that we should look up to God and give him praise for all that we have and are. First Peter 5, 6, 4, 11. We are co laborers with God. We give God the praise that he has made us to differ from our former selves, that he is making us thus to differ more every day, and that he will continue the good work as the days go by and as we seek to do his will. What have we of ourselves?

Nothing. We were wholly dead through Father Adam’s disobedience. We were born in this condition, having no right to everlasting life. But God has a plan which is worldwide in its scheme of blessing. He has proffered the blessings of the highest feature of this plan to us and invited us to come to him in advance of the world.

And this we receive through his grace. Thank you. We’re going to have two more readings. We’re going to question number one, and question number one says, compare First Corinthians 2:18 with Philippians 2, verses 12 and 13.

And the question is, to what extent, if any, do we, as God’s children have a role in determining our ultimate placement within the body of Christ? So the first Scripture is going to be read 1st Corinthians 12:18. Please read that for us.

Oh, dear.

Is it on? Is it on? Okay. But now God has placed the members Each one of them in the body just as he desired. Thank you.

And the second Scripture, which is Philippians 2:12 and 13.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Thank you very much. So now we’re going to address the question, and perhaps you can see why I asked the question.

Because in one sense it says, God has placed you in as it pleases Him. But on the other hand, we’re told that, you know, you work out your own salvation. So which is it? Brother Jonathan, would you like to give us a few comments? To what extent is it up to us?

I think there’s no difference. I put. There’s none. He chose us, and we’re to do our part by studying His Word and meditating and hoping that His Spirit will guide and direct us in doing his will.

Okay, we’re going to move on again. The question is, to what extent, if any, do we have a role? Do we have a role or, you know, it’s done without us? Sister Jewel, what say you?

Well, I had looked this up earlier, and there was just. There was something from the expanded comments. If I could just read that. It says, in the body, all the parts are represented in any assemblage of the church. The hand and the foot, etc.

As well as various qualities which belong to the head, hearing, seeing and expression. Thus, the head of the church is present, present with the members of his body whenever, two or three or more to meet in his name, embody as complete and as effective for growth and grace. I don’t know if that really answered your question. Sorry. Thank you.

Let me digress for a second, and I spoke with Sister Jewell the very first time we had breakfast, briefly, and she told me something. She said, you know, Brother Homer, I think I read what you did. I did this as a study, I think, in Canada around 2018.

So maybe some other somehow or other it was reviewed what the study went. So I have to tell you a little funny story. You know, there was a brother that I know, a nameless brother. He’s related to somebody in here. So we’re all related.

And I went to a convention, and he spoke, okay, and he gave a discourse, and I saw him at another convention, and so I was asked to pray. So I said to him, oh, I’m so glad that I have the privilege of praying.

For you, and I’m glad because he apologized to me. He said, you know, I gave this discourse before. I said, yes. I said, but the last time you gave it, it was only a 45 minute discourse.

This time it’s an hour discourse. So I’m looking forward to what insights you have. He said, brother, same discourse. I’m just going to speak more slowly.

It is what it is. Brother Michael, it’s your turn.

When I think of the question, you know, our Heavenly Father said, jesus as the head of the church, and then he said, apostle Paul, you know, as apostle to the Gentiles. So he did all of the choosing and he to what extent do we have determining that placement? I don’t think we have any, you know, choice in that it’s his choice. But we do have a responsibility in working out our own salvations with fear and trembling, as we’re admonished in the Scriptures. So we can determine our placement in the sense of whether we thought we are included or not included.

Over. Thank you, Sister Renee.

I’m sorry. So I agree with brother Mike. First Corinthians, it appears that God determines your place in his body, but you and he work with you to help you live faithfully and do the work that you’re supposed to do. Over. Thank you.

Well, it’s an interesting question. I would slightly different.

To what extent, if any, do we have a role in determining our placement within the body of Christ? If you think of it like the difference between the two Scriptures, God sets the members of the body and we have to work out our own salvation. Here’s an example. You’re hired for a job. Let’s say you’re an accountant.

You’re given that opportunity, but you don’t fulfill the job. You could be fired. So from the standpoint of working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, that’s our responsibility to develop that character of Christ.

Just like in First Corinthians 12:21, it says, and I cannot say in the hand, I don’t need you. In other words, there’s different, you know, Brother Russell tells us that there’s different talents, and we have some have more, some have others, some have greater talents, some have lesser. But it’s in the faithfulness and the utilage of the talents that we have and the growth and development of the character of Christ. Just like brother Rick mentioned yesterday that second death is like a choice.

You know, you can refuse to do God’s will. You could do your own will and be like Lucifer and want to do your own will and deflect away and the consequence you’ll reap for yourself. So I think that’s the role, if you will, in determining whether. Not that we determine whether we’re faithful or not, but it’s us to work out the salvation. So I think that’s the important aspect.

We’re given the opportunity, but it’s not a sure thing, so to speak. It’s sure if we do, if we follow and don’t deflect. So that’s the responsibility that we have. Thank you. Appreciate that.

Sister Roberta, any thoughts? No. I would think that in Philippians, it tells us our responsibility and we need to work out our salvation and be faithful to our calling, and if we’re faithful, then God places us where he wants in the body. So that’s God’s part, not our part to choose, because we don’t.

We can’t do that. So to the two scriptures, one shows our responsibility and one shows what God does. If we’re faithful, he places us in the body. Thank you.

The question to what extent do we have a role in determining our placement within the body? I think I would look at that question and say, to what extent do we have a role in determining how we use our talents for the service of God in the body? And I think while we don’t determine where we’re placed, we do determine how we act and what we contribute, and I think that’s the important part of this. The fact that.

And Brother Mark had mentioned, you know, the, the talents and abilities certainly come into play. But I’m reminded of Romans 12, just verses 6 through 8, Romans 12, 6 through 8. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly. So what have I been given? That’s one of the questions we need to ask ourselves.

Is prophecy according to the proportion of his faith, his service in his serving, or he who teaches in teaching, or he who exhorts in exhortation, he who gives with liberality, who leads with diligence, he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. All of these are not leadership roles, but these are all contribution opportunities. So what we determine, I think, is how am I going to be a part of this? How am I going to be giving and be contributing? Because the body is something that is bigger than I am.

And I may be the, you know, the fingernail on the little pinky, you know, and doesn’t look like it does anything of any value whatsoever, and yet the Lord has placed me here, and just as A baseline. One place to begin is especially for those of us who may look at ourselves and say, well, I don’t have great talents. I am not a public speaker.

I don’t do well studying. I don’t, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t. Well, what you with it? Why are you here? Because you have been called to become part of something far bigger than you are.

So start with prayer and support. That’s, that’s a, that’s a commonality for each of us to start with is prayer, and I know this is long, but can I just take a. No, please take your time. I have no problem.

Okay. Okay. A quick moment just to give you an example, and many of you have heard this story before, but in the early days of Christian questions, we were on the radio and it was in New London, it was an hour drive from my house and we were on at six o’ clock in the morning on Sundays and I had to leave my house by about quarter after four Sunday mornings to get there on time, and it was a very quiet thing on Sunday morning.

I would get up and do all of my things and just drive to the meeting. My parents house is next door to ours and there was my grandmother, Sister Helen had an apartment on the back of my parents house and so I would always drive out of the driveway without the lights on just to make sure I didn’t disturb anybody. One Sunday morning I left 10 minutes late and went. We did the broadcast and came back to the Sunday meeting, and my grandmother, Sister Helen came up to me and said is everything okay?

I said, yeah, why? She said, well, you left late this morning, and I looked at her and I said, how do you know? She says, oh, I wake up every morning, every Sunday morning to watch you drive out so I can pray for you while you drive. I love it, I love it.

And it was just a matter of fact piece of support that until I left late, didn’t even know existed. But that’s part of what we can do to become part of this body of Christ here and now. Over. Thank you. I love that.

Oh yes. Are we going down the line? Okay. I didn’t know that this was okay. Came in late.

Okay, that’s what happens. So one comment is when James and John wanted to sit on the right and left of Jesus in the kingdom, he said, that’s not for me to give. He says, you will drink of the cup, but I cannot make that decision for you. My question is, are you talking about now or are you talking about Later. I’m talking about now.

What? Okay, now, because we don’t have any choice about later where we are placed in God’s world. But you’re talking about now.

I don’t know. I mean, I guess you just do what you can do and pray it works. I, I, I don’t know. You know, for me, I don’t, I don’t have any idea. I just pray that somehow there’s value and then I can serve the Lord in, in ways he can use me.

Thank you. Go to the back. Ro.

So you are allowed to pass if you don’t want. Oh, yeah. You can pass if you. Yeah.

I appreciate all the comments. I think most of the answers, I think cover the question. What I would add is there’s a scripture in John 6:44 that says where Jesus said, no one can come to me except the Father. Father calls them, and so we know we don’t have a choice in that.

Where we’re called, we’re called, and then there’s Matthew 22:14 that says many are called but few are chosen. So we have work to do to be part of that chosen, and so I think that’s where the dynamic is as to where we’re placed. I don’t think anybody has a choice in that.

But we have an obligation, I think it was mentioned to, to live up to the call with which we have been called. Thank you. Are you going there? Gross, and whoever wants to participate there or there.

Yeah, either way, you figure it out.

Well, I’ll, okay, I’ll talk. I agree with brother, Brother Rick’s comments that we all have the opportunity, we all have the space service of lifting one another up and praying for each other, and there’s a local body which each ecclesia is its own complete body, and then there’s the bigger body, and sometimes, and I’ll quote this because I know Brendan’s going to quote it, he said we work out our own salvation, but the very next scripture says it’s God that’s doing the work in you.

And sometimes we decide this is what we want to do and we ask God to bless it instead of waiting for God and asking God, what do you want me to do? And then for sure he’ll bless it if we do what he wants instead of what we want.

So as far as, I guess, in the perspective sense on the other side of the veil, obviously everybody’s already answered that we don’t really play a part in that. But I think perhaps maybe the role we might play is just in accord with your study, let’s say what line of diversity we might be along that the Lord sees a need in the body for a particular talent, particular whatever, and there’s an individual that can fill that well. So it’s. I think somebody brought up, and I forgot who it was brought up. The thought of a job.

When you apply for a job now you’ve got a. Was it Michael? Mark. Okay, Mark. Thanks, Mark.

It was a good thought that you can have this massive company and you can have 500 different types of jobs and positions, all of which are mutually exclusive, and when you go, you have a specific talent that fills a specific need for a specific position in that specific company. It’s probably, I would say maybe along those lines that there’s a need in the body. The Lord sees it, sees someone of faith and et cetera, and places it. But I think more importantly perhaps is the extent that we don’t get too fixated on the body because we tend to be very literal as human beings.

And the body, the body, body, everyone on this side of the veil is part of that body. Doesn’t matter whether you’re ultimately going to be little flock or great multitude. Every consecrated spirit begotten disciple of Christ is part of his body. He tells us that as you do it unto the least of one of these, you do it unto me. So we’re all part of the ecclesia, which is the church.

And sometimes we mentally single out church as being just 144,000. But the reality is church is any spirit begun believer is part of the church on this side of the veil. So that’s just, you know, scripturally, that’s just the way it is. So in those, you know, in that sense, I think determining our placement like was already said just I guess buttressing what was already talked about that we might think we know we want to do something for the brethren, but you know, we tend to want to do the things that we feel comfortable with, and I think the Lord puts us into things that we feel uncomfortable with to.

Because if you’re always in a comfort zone or a comfort level, growth is. Comes very hard. So over.

Yeah, I think I echo kind of what was shared.

Yeah, that’s a comment. No, I wanted to echo what Sister Karen had alluded to, that it ties in with verse 13 of Philippians 2:12, that we hyper focus on the work we have to do. But it kind of contradicts everything Paul was saying from Romans and then to Corinthians and then Galatians Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, all the way through about how much the effort is from the Lord. I mean, just a previous chapter in Philippians 1, the verse that we all know very well about, it’s that I’m confident I, as in Paul, that God, who began a good work in you, will finish, and so the big key word is just surrender.

It’s just submit, and I think the word work out kind of immediately, oh, work, all right, I can do that. But that’s kind of contradictory to everything Paul alluded to. It’s almost like activating what God’s given you. Submit to what’s already within you, the Spirit that’s kind of imbibed.

You know, John 15 about loving the Spirit, abide in you. That’s kind of the goal here. Not necessarily anything we do because obviously we know our, you know, Isaiah 64, four filthy, you know, rags are our works, but it’s let go and let God is kind of the illusion. But surrender and submit, I think is the working out. Because the following word, you know, Paul, gives you the clue that work portion is taken care of by the Heavenly Father.

Just let him do the work. Okay, we’re going to take a couple more this way and then we’re going to move on, and I’ll give I thought myself.

Yeah, I also echo everything that’s been said too, and also to read Philippians 2:13. For it is God who works in you to will and not act in order to fulfill his good purpose. So, yeah, I agree, and I kind of think God supplies the desires and our abilities and our talents.

So kind of everything kind of goes for God though, really. I mean, I really have.

I mean, nothing’s really because of me. It’s all because of God. Karen once sent me this song about this artist and then. Yeah, and I think one of the quotes in the song you said that he’s just the paintbrush, but God is the artist, and that’s kind of how I look at it too.

Anyway, that’s it over. Another short comment, if you have. I appreciate everyone’s comments. If I may, I’d like to read two reprints from the biblical comments about the question. Go right ahead.

Both the settling and appointing and the bringing forth of a different degrees of fruitage are manifestations of God’s grace in our hearts. That’s reprint 5284. Reprint 5284, and the second one is the Lord will come to make up his jewels. There will be a selling in the End of the age when the church is complete.

This began when the first resurrection began. Let’s reprint 4913. Reprint 4913. Thank you. I have to make another comment.

If there was somebody who doesn’t get a chance to comment on question one, you know, when I come to you again, if you want to say, well, rather than comment in question two, which is coming up very shortly, you can say, look, I didn’t get a chance, so I want. That’s fine, you can comment in question number one. But you’re all going to get an opportunity to speak, if you like. So let me just sort of suggest that, you know, we talk about the parable of the pounds, I guess, and the talents, and it’s quite interesting because some have different degrees of opportunity, skills, whatever you want.

And we talked about one who gained. They doubled when the master came to reckon them, and he said, oh, you’ve been faithful over much little. I’m going to make you ruler over 10 cities or whatever. But then there’s somebody who buried what he had.

He said, you wicked servant, you wicked. That’s strong language. In other words, he said, you should have at least given it to the money exchanges. So I would have gotten that much out of it. So from the one standpoint, I think that we.

Another comment. You know, sometimes we ask the question, I wonder why God called me, what’s in it, why did he pick me? Well, the question really is, do you really think that God does not give, during this gospel age, an open opportunity for anyone who has the hearing ear? In fact, that’s. Isn’t that one of the reasons why we are told to share the gospel as wide as we possibly can?

Isn’t that one of the reasons? Because you don’t know who’s going to fall, who’s going. Whether it’s going to fall on good soil or not. Our job is to do what we are commissioned to do. Yeah, God will take care of the rest.

But the ultimate placement, maybe I put it the wrong way, but I think the ultimate reward is based upon your zeal in doing what you had with what you have. Let me. Let me say, if I ever get there and I read about the scriptures, I kind of think that the apostle Paul is going to have a higher place than I am. That’s just how I think it is. Okay, so we’re going to move on to the next question.

And question number two. It says, to what extent does the exercise of Christian liberty permit yielding to the opinions of others with whom you do not Agree. That’s a very practical kind of thing. Do you yield or do you stand? No, no, Brother.

No, Sister. This is the way it is. Sister Kathy? Well, I think that part of our fallen nature is that we tend to believe that our thoughts on the Scriptures and the harvest truth is right. Because if indeed we didn’t think it was right, we would change our thoughts.

But I think also having the spirit of Christ is being open minded in terms of having someone express a thought which may be different from yours and to speak with them afterwards so that you can get a clearer understanding because perhaps their expression may change your mind. So I think it’s very important for us as new creatures to be open minded with when we hear a different thought from our own. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah. As far as that goes with the Christian liberty, you know, I think Brother Russell was very liberal with his thoughts in this area on several things, but he drew the line with the trampling on the blood of Christ. If you make no effect the blood of Christ, and you said you should have no fellowship. So, you know, we’re not, we’re not looking to have peace in our meetings.

And just for the sake of peace, we’ll just tolerate anything, and our goal is to look out, find error and dispel it. You know, but, you know, and amongst our brotherhood, we have those that believe that the thousand year reign has begun. Those that have not, those who believe we’re, we are part of the sin offering. Some don’t believe we’re part of the sin offering.

So, and there’s a lot of different things that we can discuss and there’s a lot of commonality. You know, there was a change made many years ago regarding justification and talking about the court and what that represents. But when you talk to your brethren about the holy and all the elements in there and the most Holy and the scapegoat, we’re all on a court, so there’s a lot of fellowship we can have, and if you don’t have the fellowship, I think the Lord’s looking for that love to be shown.

So I think to what extent can we have the Christian liberty? Brother Russell changed his view on are we being developed under the New Covenant or are we developed under the Abrahamic promise? And he changed to the Abrahamic promise, and there was a pilgrim brother said came to him and said, brother Russell, I have to resign my commission as a pilgrim member because I don’t agree with you, and Brother Russell said, well, if that’s the only thing we disagree on, I’m not going to accept.

So I think we should be careful about where we’re deciding. We’re not going to have fellowship with brethren, develop that spirit of love and search the scriptures and make sure that we understand that the ransom is the foundation of all our opportunities. Thank you. I have to interject because, you know, sometimes I say different things to different ones of you and I want you to get the benefit of my apostasy, all of you. So I made a comment to someone, maybe more than one person, and that the point that you made is very much to the what triggered it to me.

So I said, you know, this is. This is 2025, and we do a lot of talk about Brother Russell, what Brother Russell said or didn’t say, and I said, you know, and we talk about sometimes you’re invited to this convention or that convention, and I said, you know, if Brother Russell were here in 2025, there would probably be some conventions that they would not invite him to serve because he’s changed his view. So I want you to think about that.

Let that sink in. Sister Julianne, let’s go just to briefly come back to question one. I think what God wants from us is our sanctification. As we read in one test, Thessalonians four. Three, sanctification is really important because we decide to set ourselves apart so he can set us apart for his purpose and his service.

And then for the second, questions their liberties, you know, eating meat, not eating meat.

First Corinthians deals with all those early perplexities that the church had to come to a decision, you know, what is acceptable and what is not. But mostly, you know, we have those firm foundations that I think would require a separation if there was a disagreement, if we don’t agree that the ransom is paid, if we have issues with sin, offering justification, sanctification. There’s a lot of lessons that for me are very, very important, and we want to come to an understanding because if we don’t have this common ground, then we just are going into different directions and we can’t decide on what to study because we just don’t follow the same path. So I think it’s also a responsibility for the Christian to try to maintain peace, to make a difference between what is opinions and what are doctrines.

Thank you. Thank you.

I was going to agree with Sister Julianne on something with the first one. I believe the first thing of all is that we have to accept the call, and once we accept the call, then basically it’s onward Christian soldiers, and you do the work. You do the work that is pleasing to him, you find out what you’ve done wrong, you continue on and make changes, whatever. So that’s very simplified with that.

As far as the second question goes, I think opinion upon opinion may be okay if it’s just a simple fact. Like, I know sometimes you’re preparing for a convention and it’s like, do we have decaf coffee or do we have regular coffee? And there have been. I’ve been in situations like that. I mean, it’s like, okay, the opinion is one thing, but when it comes down to principles and those things in concern to the truth that we hold near and dear because they are doctrines that we should believe in, you have to hold firm to those things.

So opinions are one thing. On more simplified matters, principles of the truth or another. Thank you. So in other words, we need to look in the Scriptures to see whether or not it’s appropriate to have decaf or regular coffee. Okay.

Thank you. Sister Sonia. Yes, sir. So back to question one again. In First Corinthians, I believe that the Lord himself places in the body according to whatever he sees fit.

And I think in Philippians 2, the way I see that is you have to make yourself available. You’ve been called. You have to make yourself available so that you can do the work that he’s calling you to do in the body, and question two, to what extent? So Philippians three, I’m gonna look at verse 15 says, let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if anything, ye be otherwise minded.

God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have always already attained, let us walk by the same rule and mind the same thing. So as much liberty as you desire, permit that to your brethren as well.

There we go. I love the Christian liberty thing. It’s like a new thing for me, and so my thoughts. Everybody has different experiences, and they’re raised differently.

And we have different viewpoints, and to me, discussing different opinions as long. I think the key is the spirit of love. If we’re doing it in a way to learn and we have love for one another, it’s just growth. It’s just like everybody.

I can just see something different because of somebody else’s perspective, because we talked about it, and, like, as a former Jehovah’s Witness, like, that’s not there. You have growth, you study more. You study more and read the Bible and you grow in that way. But, like, you’re supposed to just believe what you’re told, and it’s totally different and like it’s just very freeing to be here and like so I hope everybody realizes what a blessing Christian liberty is.

I’m so excited to experience it. I appreciate your joy. Thank you so much.

In this Christian liberty there’s a great sense of constraint. We must be sure we look for and apply our freedom based on the original gospel, the good news for all people. But we need to strive for the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. How do we do that? James gives us a four step process.

James 1:21:25 Number one is receive. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility, receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 2. Prove but prove yourselves doers of the Word. Do what you say you believe, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Number three is act. For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks in his natural face in a mirror. For once he has looked at himself and gone away, he’s immediately forgotten what kind of person he was, and number four, remind but one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer. So remind ourselves that we have this freedom in Christ and this man will be blessed in what he does.

Thank you.

I don’t really have much of a comment. Just one thing I thought of listening to some of the comments is that we all have different talents and abilities that God gives us and we have to be careful not to compare what others are given to what we are capable of doing. Thank you. What the Lord?

One more before I make some few comments and then again you can always come back to this question if you prefer. Brother Michael, anything you want to add? Well, with regard to using our Christian liberty, With regard to using our Christian liberty, does it permit yielding? I’m sure it allows us to acknowledge other opinions. We don’t have to accept them or make them our own, or even argue about it.

And when I think about the scripture in First Peter, chapter 2, verse 15 says, for so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men as free and not using your liberty as a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Thank you. So let me interject and give a comment and I’m going to make a reference to the manatext for Romans 15:2. I’m not going to read it. I’m Sorry. The Manatext for April 24, and it comes from Romans 15:2, so you can check it out yourself.

It says, let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification. Look at the comments, and it talks about the ability to sacrifice, to renounce our own plans in the interest of peace. That’s the point, and I would submit that, you know, we talk about what’s a principle, what’s not a principle or a preference.

You know, sometimes I don’t know if you ever have business meetings, but if you do have business means, there’s a possibility that you might insist that this is the way it’s got to be, and we make our preferences, principles. So that’s just something to keep us focused upon. We’re going to go on to question number three, and question number three reminds us the following about John 16:13.

The Holy Spirit is going to guide us into all truth. So if the Holy Spirit really does that, how is it that we don’t all agree on the interpretation of every point of Scripture and doesn’t mean that? Well, it really doesn’t matter what you believe because as long as you have love, that’s what all accounts. Sister Renee, do you want to address that or anything you didn’t.

I don’t think I can address it right now. We have to come back. That’s right. But I was going to address question number two. So I was going to address question number two.

So we’re giving guidance in the preference, as you say, the essential and non essentials, and I was going to reference Romans 14 and 15.

So you can yield to others in love when disagreements are over non essential matters, but never yielding when it’s demanding. Denying God’s truth over.

I have a scripture in Matthew 7:20, it says, Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. But before that it says in verse 15, beware of false prophets, which come unto you in wolves and sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. So there can be liberty in allowing different viewpoints.

Thank you.

There should be liberty allowing other viewpoints, but we have to make judgment whether they’re valid or not, and then Brother Russell brings out in an article, you know, doctrines more or less important, you know, on the foundation doctrines, we shouldn’t allow much latitude, much latitude if they’re incorrect. But there’s a lot of things like you say, you know, like one’s opinion becomes a principle, but so there’s a matter of judgment in that. So that’s why the Holy Spirit should guide us into all truth, and as Brother Jerry mentioned, you know, Brother Russell was more liberal than those of us down the stream of time.

Look back and don’t appreciate because I’ve fellowshiped with brother and that worked with Brother Russell, and so we, you know, in the, in the 70s, 60s and 70s, there were cliches that would draw a line in the sand. If you don’t agree with me on this point, you know, I’m not going to have fellowship with you, you know, so that’s a dangerous area, and it’s getting more so in society. The lack of appreciation, of dialogue, you know, if you don’t agree with me, you are my enemy.

So in other words, it’s like it’s divided. You have to be in this camp or that camp. Are you in my camp or are you against me? As opposed to Christian liberty which allows liberty of thought and tolerance on a broad level, but on basic fundamentals we shouldn’t allow that liberty. Actually if someone’s an heir.

So that’s why I brought out that scripture by the fruits you’ll know them and to be careful that some have bring their own agenda.

And I had another experience with Brother Jerry was sharing that Brother Russell sent out pilgrim brethren with the blessing of the IBSA even though they didn’t agree with him on all points. But he encouraged them not to harp on the differences or make a hobby horse out of it.

Because I’ve been in situations and seen the attitude of brethren or verbalized their thinking that wouldn’t allow any liberty, and they say I’m standing for the truth and the truth is first pure then peaceable. So therefore they didn’t have to be meet with others. But that was, and they were thinking they’re holding to what Brother Russell taught.

But that’s not how Brother Russell lived, you know, his true life. Because I’ve fellowshipped often with brother that lived and worked with him. So there’s a difference, you know, with how strict we think we need to be, and reflecting back on how strict Brother Russell was, but in actuality he wasn’t as strict as the mental image is of some brethren. Thank you.

It’s interesting that Jesus himself used to eat with publicans and sinners. Brother Rick, I’d like to comment on both question three and two. First of all, question three will guide us into all truth. We call ourselves Bible students. We don’t call ourselves Bible scholars or Bible professors.

We call ourselves students of prophecy. Being a student by definition means that you’re in the learning phase. So guiding us, guiding the Body of Christ into all truth doesn’t mean that he’s guided me into understanding every single solitary aspect of truth. I think that’s an important distinction to make, that the Holy Spirit does give us the grand panorama, and we need one another to figure it out. It is not an individual walk.

Having said that, going back to question two about yielding to the opinions of others, I would suggest, and we’re going to take a look, quick look at Romans 14, using you’ve got the word yielding in the question. What I would suggest is we learn to acknowledge and appreciate the opinions of others. There’s a difference between those two things. When you acknowledge something, you recognize that it’s there. When you appreciate it, you pause and consider it and see a value in it.

And that’s, I think, what the apostle is teaching us. In Romans 14, if we look at verses 5 through 8, it says, Romans 14, 5, 8. One person regards one day above another, and other regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. So you got that clarity that he is a.

He’s saying to us, be fully convinced in your own mind. He who observes the day observes it for the Lord. He who eats does it for the Lord. For he gives thanks to God, and he who eats not for the Lord.

And he who does not eat gives thanks to God. For not one of us will live for himself, and not one dies for himself. For we live. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

So he’s saying, each be convinced in your own mind. But we need to be accepting of that conviction. If we go down to verses 10 and 11, he says, but you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give prosperity praise to God. So, and in verse 12, it just finishes up. So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God, and so the concept of putting these two questions together is acknowledging and appreciating where others stand when we have those differences and recognizing that we are all students in the process of learning as much truth as we in our imperfect human form are able to absorb at this point. Thank you.

Well, I would mirror what Rick just said.

Everybody’s at different stages of growth in the Lord, and I think to be patient with each other and if someone sees a doctrine that we consider major, instead of being afraid of it, which I think we are, we’re afraid of it. If somebody doesn’t see it the way we do, we don’t want to hear it because we want to be able to be contaminated.

If we’re body of Christ, we should be willing to listen and understand why someone thinks the way they do, and if they’re off track, you can guide them by God’s grace to a better place. But if you don’t listen, you’re not going to know why they think that. So I just think that we utter fear. We shut our brains down because we’ve already figured it out.

And if you haven’t figured it out by now, then you got to go over there because you scare me. So I think that’s one of the things that we are lacking in our own persons.

And I thank you. You know, I learned so much in terms of language as the brethren express themselves. I’m going to keep that in mind. Thank you, Sister Trisha. Yeah, I would agree with Brother Rick.

Going to question two first. I think the idea of yielding might be the.

And pardon me, it might be the stumbling block here in dealing with that question. Because thinking about yielding would suggest that you’re giving up your principles, and I think maybe Christian liberty doesn’t necessarily require you to yield, but to understand and listen. You don’t have to agree.

The idea of seek first to understand and then be understood comes to mind, and I look at it from the perspective of Philippians 2, 3 and 4, that talks about thinking of others as more important than us, and I appreciate that point. Because if every one of the brethren have been called by the Heavenly Father, who am I then to decide that somebody’s opinion is not good enough? Even if I disagree with them, I have to appreciate the fact that they also have an honesty of purpose to have come to those set of thoughts and so have a sense of trying to understand where they’re coming from.

How did they get to that point of view? Not necessarily at a place where I’m ready to accept it, because one must be convinced in his own heart, as Romans 14 said, and I think question three. I think this is part of the Holy Spirit guiding us in our ability to exercise our Christian liberty, to interact with brethren that might have a difference of opinion, and there should be nothing alarming about having different opinions among the brethren.

It shows that there is work being done with the brethren in trying to understand the truth. Thank you.

I’m surprised, Mark Again, apparently we think alike. But he mentioned it, but he wasn’t specific. I find it interesting that this is reprint 5284, and of course, you know what comes next. Oh, yes.

Oh, yes. Which if it wasn’t mentioned, I have no doubt you were about to bring it up next study.

But this is, I think, in my estimation, this is like a watershed reprint. This is something all the brethren should hammer into our own heads consistently, and always keep this in mind, because as human beings, every last human that’s ever lived, perhaps with the lone exception of Jesus, of course, suffers from biases, normalcy, bias, confirmation bias. This is why we group. This is why we’re Bible students.

This is why we come together in groups, whether it’s clubs, groups, sports, you know, all these different things. We flock, you know, birds of a feather flock together, and we are very. Both Rick and Trish brought it out, very attuned to differences. It’s kind of like sense of smell.

If you work in sewage, it doesn’t bother you, but if you don’t and you go buy a sewage treatment plant, it’s one of the most obnoxious odors that you can sort of think about that for a second. That’s how we do. This is how things work in our head. That if we smell something different that is unusual, we key in on that difference, and typically it’s going to be a repulsion, a rejection.

So reprint 5284, I’ll just read real quick, and this is so important because we have, I will say both Karen and I in the past have used what I will call trivial understandings relative to maybe it’s chronology or maybe it’s prophecy, which most brethren don’t hold as trivial, they hold as fundamental, and prophecy and chronology, I’ll just say this right now, are not doctrine. They are not doctrine. We’ve converted them into doctrine.

But scripturally speaking, they’re not doctrine. So what I will read is the pastor’s thoughts on this, and all of us should be, I think, in tune with this because he does a masterful job. Fundamental theory of atonement is as follows.

Let me see. I don’t want to read superfluous things here.

There are certain features of the doctrine of Christ which are fundamental and indispensable and without which none would be recognized of the Lord as one of his Father followers. There are other features that would seem to be useful, helpful, blessed, but not fundamental, not essential to membership in the body of Christ. Let me repeat that. Not essential to membership in the body of Christ. The fundamentals have been enjoyed by good saintly ones from the day of Pentecost until now.

And he goes in and basically lists it all, centers around all men. All of Adam’s children are sinners. None can be reconciled to God without a Redeemer. Jesus came into the world to be that sacrifice on the basis of faith in that Redeemer’s work, that a believer may consecrate, and in so doing, the believer may, up to the time of completion of the elect number, exercise full assurance of faith that his sacrifice will be accepted of the Father, such as meet these conditions.

And this is the important part, such as meet these conditions, and you’ll notice, not a prophetic, not a chronological, not a subjective doctrine in the lot. This is very, very simple. Such as meet these conditions are to be accepted as brethren in the highest sense of the term. This much would seem to have been always necessary.

And more than this, we believe is not necessary today. But if by reason, et cetera, et cetera. So the whole point being that we’re the problem. We are the problem and we’re in our club, and when we encounter something, as Sister Tricia mentioned, we encounter something that’s outside of our orbit, we immediately identify it as foe.

You know, this is something that we need to be wary of and we want to push it away, we want to dispel it, etc. Rather than recognize someone who. Their brethren in this room who don’t believe in the Presence. I mean, they believe in the Presence, but not in the traditional sense of the, you know, the Bible student understanding. They’re no less brethren than a brother or sister who believes in every single line item that Brother Larry brought out in his Discourse on the Second Presence.

So from God’s perspective, as long as we have these fundamentals, we have no liberty to think less or fellowship less or whatever of any brethren outside of that. Yes, there are exceptions, but I don’t think we’re talking about those now. Thank you. We are going to get through all five questions, brethren. So forgive me if I have to give a comment and I’ll just give a couple of comments because I asked the question.

He says, how do we account the fact that no two brethren agree in everything? I’ll give you some short answers. Number 1. Romans 12:2. Romans 12:2.

Transformation is a process.

John 15:2. John 15:2. Purging is necessary in order to bring forth more fruit.

Matthew 25:15, Matthew 25:15. There are differences in talents, and maybe I’ll just give one more. First Corinthians 12:18. First Corinthians 12:18. They are different functions of different parts of the body.

Let’s move on to the next question. For Paul treats unity of a spirit, spirit and unity of the faith, enumerating specific elements. They include in Ephesians 4:2 to 6 and 11 through 16. That’s scripture. So is there any scriptural authorization to place in rank order?

I’m smiling because Sister Karen gave me a sheet to fill out. I guess some others got about fill out in rank order, various things that you do. So that popped in my mind. So you could foresee where I was coming. Perhaps.

I don’t know. Anyway, let’s go to question number four. Yes or no and what to say. You okay, well, I’m still on. You can go wherever you want.

I’m still on Brendan and Brother Rick. Yes. Chronology and prophecy are not going to make our colonial election. Sure. It’s our character.

And we just have to allow people liberty. There’s a certain brother out there who has a different chronology, and there were words back when said against him, and when I met the man, he’s a lovely man. He shows the fruits.

So, yes, it doesn’t make sense to be dissing people, and I’ve been dissed because I have some different thoughts on prophecy, and so it’s freedom, the liberty, and so everybody spoke about it. We should have liberty.

Thank you.

All right, Just kind of general thoughts here in Eastern Europe under times of persecution, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the laymans, the Bible students all met together. They were all in the woods having their secret meetings to avoid persecution. So there’s some fundamental differences there, but they still got together in unity and love. The other thing, just a kind of a visual. I see the Holy Spirit as this fountain, and we’re all buckets or vessels.

And as we come, as we’re called, we’ve got different junk in our vessels that we can only accept so much of that Spirit because until we get rid of the junk, we can only receive so much of the Spirit. So that would account for some of the differences in why no two brethren can really agree on every single point of Scripture, even though we’re all called to that same fountain. So if we’re all called to that same fountain, we need to have patience with the others who may have more or less junk in their vessels. Over.

Yeah, I’ll just read something here.

Reprint 5348. The general facts are much more valuable and important than merely the day or the year respecting these facts, let brotherly love continue. Suffer not any dispute over a day or a year to break the most precious bond of love which binds us to the Lord and to all who are truly His. Be specially careful on this point when the subject of discussion is one respecting which we have no positive knowledge. The rupture of fellowship may sometimes be necessary when we contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints, faith in the divine plan, Redeemer and the efficacy of his death.

These matters are positively stated in the Bible, not left to deduction as in the case of chronology and all matters based upon chronology, and then this is from. I think Karen sent this out as like one of her gems and I liked it. I don’t know where this is from. It says, there is such a danger of our being so occupied with the things that are coming in respect to, you know, coming up, rising.

You can replace that word with whichever kind of hobby horse we have. So occupied with the things that are coming more than with him who is to come. There is such scope in the study of coming events for imagination and reason and human ingenuity that nothing but deeply humble waiting on God can save us from mistaking the interest and pleasure of intellectual study for the true love of Jesus and his appearing, and last point I had as the brethren are discussing, and this is not a thought of my own, it’s from a brother that gave a talk a few years back who alluded to this very thing about, you know, what’s kind of our treatment and when it comes to relative importance. He said there’s three possibilities.

A conversation can go with two individuals that disagree on a topic or come at it with two different perspectives. The first is not really a possibility. It’s, you know, the law of non contradiction. If A is true, A also cannot be false. So both brethren who disagree on something cannot both be right.

So let’s move that aside. The second one, which we all desire and want so badly, is I’m right, you’re wrong. But my theory, and I think that’s most prevalent, is that both brethren are, are wrong because especially when it comes to deep spiritual matters, I’d rather take the side of winning the brother over than me being right on a chronological or doctrinal viewpoint. Thank you.

Yeah, I just have one for number three. Yeah, I agree with everything that’s been said and yeah, just to go back to, but yeah, I think just the foundation doctrines are important, of course, but you know, I’m a forever student, so I’m always Learning, so I can always get my opinion changed. So, and you know, and I’m learning every day, and I also think just loving your brethren, too, is also really important.

So I got a couple Scriptures, Romans 12:10, Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves, and then I got Hebrews 10, 24, 25, and let us consider how we may spur another untoward love and good deeds, not giving up meetings together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching. That’s it.

Over.

On question two, I said yes because we live according to our faith and we are guided by the Holy Spirit.

I think you asked us to give comments on question four. If I’m incorrect, please correct me, and I heard several comments, I think, on question three, and I am going to address question three as well. I’m going to skip question four, and my thoughts would be, you know, there are no two people who think alike, and if you have two people who do think alike, it means that one of them is really not thinking.

The point that I’m trying to make is that it’s a nice feeling to agree with someone, especially if it’s a controversial topic. It’s really a nice feeling to agree with someone, but there are differences in our understandings of the harvest message and the present truth are going to exist. I mean, we have to accept that no two people are going to think the same way, and I do think it’s important that even if we don’t agree, we should demonstrate a feeling of love towards our brethren. Thank you.

Thank you. I’m going to make a comment and then we’re going to question number five. But as usual, you can go back to 1v1. So the question is, is there any scriptural authorization to place in rank order? The answer is no, as far as I’m concerned, no.

Period. That answers it, and perhaps I’ll give you just a scripture, second Timothy, chapter three, 16 and 17, and you know what that says, all scripture, etc, and then, and finally, I’m going to come to you, Brother Brendan, and I am going to reference the lower part of reprint 52, 48, which says doctrines more or less important.

If you read that, it’ll summarize what I would have said, but only better. Question number five, question is, what are some of the implications in first Peter 3, 8, which reads, finally, be all of one mind, etc. Sister Julian.

Oh, I’m sorry, Brother Jerry, I don’t want to skip you. Sorry, sorry.

Brother Homer, I’m glad that you gave us those other scriptures from question three and helping us to sort out about how do we all have different opinions if the Holy Spirit is guiding us? And I think you know that Ephesians 4, 13 reference here for question 4 tells us that till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness in Christ, and I think that shows. I think that’s where you were going. But we are all different developments and we have to grow. The church has to be completed.

The sacrificing has to be done at that altar for the whole Christ head and body, to be beyond into the most Holy, and to be ready for the spiritual birth. But, you know, there was a comment that came up too that this process, and I think Brother Brendan was talking about it, is that the Holy Spirit is going to help us to find the error and to leave where we were, if we were in the nominal churches or where we might be, and Brother Carl Hagenseck had sorted out and he said there’s five things that separate us that eventually bring us away. We have the two salvations. We have the nature of God.

He’s not a triune God, but one God, death. We believe that there’s no eternal burning fire and there’s no immortal sin soul, and that immortality will depend on the two salvations of those that will be in the spirit realm and those that will eventually come to gain eternal life in the kingdom in the future by provision of the ransom and the sin offering. So I think so there’s a lot of things that are going on here, but as the Scriptures here that you gave us in Ephesians 4 Talk about that. He gave some to be apostles, some to be teachers, and so forth. So it shows the importance of getting together and being together and to getting into the fullness of Christ.

And that it is a process. The Lord is patient and the Holy Spirit is a proof of sonship, and so that is a critical piece as well, and why we have to be careful too, in trying to make judgment on where someone is and not, and being very careful not to judge that because we don’t know the Lord.

For what we know is those have been professing, they’ve made an outward profession of their faith, they’re coming, they love the Lord and where they are. If they’re in our midst, then we should be in an encouraging state. But there will be things. I think Brother Streeter was Meeting with a brother and he couldn’t get it. The brother couldn’t get it.

And he said, I’m not going to argue with you. I don’t want to. The Lord has chosen not to give you the understanding, and so he says, so we’re not going to talk about it anymore, and this brother went away and it was about three or four weeks and he studied the matter and he came back to brother Streeter and he says, okay, I’ve studied it out and here’s what I understand now.

And he says, you got it, and that’s Brother Russell was telling that story about it and trying to how it worked. I mean, it worked with him that way. He didn’t have understanding. He prayed hard about it, studied it, and the Lord gave it to them.

You know, there might have been a nice humbling that he needed. When brother Streeter said, I’m not going to talk to you about it anymore, he wasn’t trying to. He didn’t tell the brother, you’re out of the truth or anything like that. But he said, for some reason you are not been given this to understand at this time. So I just wanted to put that out there.

I don’t have a really comment on number five, but a lot of these questions seem to be coming together. But again, I think that was, you know, Brother Truder didn’t tell him, you’re not in the truth. You need to go back to the nominal church. You know, he didn’t do any of that to him, and we should be, as Peter says here, we have to be pitiful and courteous one to another until the Lord sees fit.

But we should be looking for the opportunities as our Lord showed them to wash each other’s feet, and he showed them that there’s no sacrifice too little as washing their feet and none too great as he gave up his life for all of those over. Thank you, Sister Julian.

You know, Klaus, there’s ones at different levels. We have the babes, the newcomers, the one that we want to nurture and help along the way. I grew up with a lot of different environments. One that were very close to the volumes and another class who totally rejected the volumes, and it came a time where I had to make a decision and leave the class that rejected the volumes because there was attacks every Sunday and there was just no possibility to be in unity.

I was crying every Sunday because whatever comment I would bring would be mocked, would be rebuked because I was following a man, which I was not following a man because everything I studied I studied from the Scriptures and I proved everything for myself. So with love and compassion, with courtesy, I had to make the hard decision of leaving, and we sometimes have to, and I also remember one of brother Carl’s discourse, the challenge of the fourth generation.

And we know that I believe that the Lord is present. I believe that it has its implication that there is a sift in too, and as much as we love our dear brethren, sometimes those differences are such that we have to choose for our own benefit. Because we try to defend the truth. We try to defend what we understand.

But if we are constantly in a position and there is no peace, that’s not love, and so regarding to that discourse, for me, it really helped me to understand that as every generation passes, if we don’t go back to the original understanding, then we just start something new. It’s another path, and for me it’s just sad, but that’s the way it is, and sometimes we have to part ways.

And it’s rare by God’s grace. It’s very rare, and the prayer, my prayer is that the love continues, the unity continues. Try to maintain unity as much as it is possible, and you know, by God’s grace, you know, he overrules all things for our good, for edification.

Knowing that opposition also help us have more hunger for the truth. Like the bitter herbs during the Passover, help us have more a desire to eat of the bread and to partake of the lamb and to cherish what the Lord provided. This table of fat things. Thank you, Sister Sonia. Oh, we’re in five, but you have a comment?

No, no, I don’t have a. Coming on four. Okay, I was flashing a little bit here, just reading something. So some of the implications contained, some of the implications contained finally be all of one mind having compassion, one of another love as brethren, be pitiful and be courteous. I think if we actually are looking at the scripture and we are admonished by them, we will follow that rule.

And it, and a person that has been walking in his way for a long time, I would literally expect for them to do that. But sometimes what happens to us is the flesh is overpowers us because we have so many things outside of the scripture that sometimes we, we are looking into a lot of us reading books outside of, you know, outside of scripture. We, we subscribe to a lot of thoughts that other people have, and so sometimes we don’t.

We’re not even coming to our own conclusions. Our conclusions are based upon somebody else’s reality and not upon our own, but I do like what the Pastor said in that reprint 5284 Our advice to the Lord’s people everywhere is that they put no yoke upon each other beyond the fundamentals specified above, that otherwise they stand free and leave each other free and fellowship, and agree as much as they can with each other. So I will say, I love all the brethren.

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