Fruit bearing is associated with election.

Christ is the true Vine. Each member of the Body of Christ is a branch. God desires that the fruit of godliness appear on the branch. The fruit of godliness indeed will appear on our branch if we abide in Christ through prayer, faith, patience, and obedience.

But if we do not bear the fruit of godliness the Father removes us from the Vine. We are useless as far as the purpose of God is concerned. God's purpose in calling us in Christ is that we may show His Person and will to the nations of the earth. If we, after having received Christ, continue to live according to the appetites of our body and soul, we will not bear the fruit of godliness in our personality. No substantial change will take place in us.

How many Christians of today have been taught we can receive Christ, live according to the flesh and soul, continue in ungodliness, and then be accepted by grace?

Of what use in the Kingdom of God is a member of the elect, of the royal priesthood, who is not becoming a new creation? He has received the grace of God in vain. He is a branch without fruit. He will be removed from Christ. He is of no use in the Kingdom of God. He is as tasteless salt.

By overemphasizing the doctrine of ascribed righteousness, today's Christian scholars are destroying the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. They are producing a generation of saints in name only who are fruitless and who, because of their disbelief in God and their readiness to live to themselves, are not entering the Amen that governs their creation as man. If they do not repent they will not partake of Christ. Such is the clear, consistent teaching of the Scriptures (Hebrews, Chapter Three).

Dominion. Man has been charged with enforcing the will of God, the rule of God, throughout the creation. Whatever kinds of beings there may be throughout the universe, man is the ruler of them all. Man is destined to govern all the works of God's hand.

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. (Hebrews 2:8)

Man, the only creature in God's image, has been given through Christ the authority to judge moral behavior. Man is destined to sit on the throne of glory with Christ.

Here is one of the principal issues of Laodicea. The spirit of Antichrist abounds in Laodicea. Antichrist desires that man be at the center of everything. God is viewed as man's means of putting himself at the head of the creation.

Laodicea is correct in seeking to make man the ruler of God's creation but incorrect in assigning the rulership to uncrucified man, to man who has not lost and then gained his life in Christ.

To be continued.