The leader has passed on...
The leader of the Church of bible understanding Stewart Traill has passed on around 10/9/2018.
I'm writing this on the day of his funeral which is today Saturday 10/20/2018. He passed on in his sleep after he had a meeting with the members still left there via Skype, as he was living in Coral Springs Florida and most of the members are in NYC and Scranton Pa. I don't know if that had become the usual way to do meetings, I know he would only come up occasionally and meet with the brothers and sisters in person. The group announced that it will be a private funeral and anyone going had to get approval from the group. I know of someone who used to be there who was asked if he would come and I know of others who are not welcome under any circumstances. The only reason I did consider going was in support of his son Donald Traill, who I had a decent relationship with during my time there. Also I would have hoped to be able to talk to some, but I think that was more wishful thinking on my part...
While I prayed and hope that God has granted him repentance; I don't know and I suspect that wasn't the case because his method of operation right before his death appeared to be the same as usual. But it is now as always in God's hand;
for it is appointed to all men and women to die once and after that is judgement Hebrews 9:27
Our prayers are and ought to be for those who remain there as they are going through a very difficult time. They lost the person who controlled mostly everything that they did for the past 40+ years. It will be a difficult transition for all of them to get out of under his influence and come under the influence of the Holy Spirit to a salvation based on God's Grace through faith and not their works basis. God is in control and he has a definite plan and design on everything.
Death stops everyone in this world "dead" in their tracks. You know what God said to the rich fool who was storing up treasures on earth? But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’ Luke 12:20
We are all going to die, it is unavoidable, it is everyone's fate in this life. Ever since Adam....
Just as stewart traill has now died, soon I will also die. Therefore what is most important as we consider death? It is most important to KNOW&BELIEVE that my sins are forgiven!
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” Romans 4:7&8
We must live by the facts;
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned Romans 5:12
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1&1
That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Romans 4:22-25
The greatest thing in this life is to know that your sins are forgiven you, that you are made righteous before God and that you can call him heavenly Father and he will say that he is your God.
Then this promise will apply to you;
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:24-29