Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:19 NIV
5 "'Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine, 6 but you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel." (Exodus 19:5-6 (Tanakh))
Israel were chosen to be a holy nation set aside to serve the Lord. They were appointed to be a Kingdom of Priests - later known as Priests in the Order of Zion (see Priesthood).
The Lord's intention was that the House of Israel should minister to the whole world, and to everyone in it.
It was the Lord's intention that the House of Israel be trained and become experts He could send out to the nations. They would need to be shepherded by professionals working under His guidance. Initially the Levitical Priesthood were appointed to shepherd Israel; but their sin and failure wer so great that it resulted in them being demoted to shamed Servitors, and replaced by the Priesthood in the Order of Melchizedek.
The Covenant and all its components are contracts. Because of that there is freedom of choice. Recall that coercion or duress renders a contract null and void.
The Lord knows the fate of those who choose unwisely:
For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! (Ezekiel 18:32 NIV)
The Lord cares deeply about those outside the Fold, and He wants to bring them back into the Fold.
From the Book of Job, it can be seen that outreach was not working well. The Post-Eden Covenant was based on the - elder led - 'universal priesthood of believers'. As time marched on, this was proving to be increasingly inadequate.
What the Lord required was a nation set aside to serve Him in the World. A nation trained, ready, and committed to going out into the world and bringing the lost sheep into the safety of the Fold.
It wasn't enough for people to find forgiveness for their wrongdoing and to dwell safely with the Lord. It was also necessary for them to take care of their neighbour (the second great commandment). And that commandment extended to those outside the Fold.
The Lord therefore chose to include an 'outreach contract' as part of the Rescue Contract. The Outreach Contract is not explicitly stated in the narrative; nevertheless it is implied.
A quick refresher!
In conjunction with the Prime Axioms, the Primary Contract explains how to dwell safely in the Lord's company.
Break the Primary Contract, and one's name is entered in the Books of Record together with all the details.
Recall that the First Abstract Rule requires complete obedience to the Lord God (see Two Abstract Rules).
For those who fall into sin and error, forgiveness may be found through the Rescue Contract.
The penalty for breaking the Prinary Contract is Death. However, for those who are forgiven, Jesus' sacrificial Death provides the redemption price.
When a person's name is entered into the Book of Life, the clock starts ticking!
Clearly, at this point in time, there may have been little or no opportunity to bear fruit.
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. [7] So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
[8] "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. [9] If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" (Luke 13:6-9 NIV84)
In the parable, the tree was planted. The owner recognised that the tree might require care and attention before yielding any fruit.
By the same token, the person newly accepted into the Fold would require education and support, for no one can give what they do not possess; and the Covenant is not an easy study. So, like the gardener in the parable, the Lord monitors the individual's development. Then, if there is no fruit - or sign of any fruit - then the Lord will remove that person's name from the Book of Life:
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 7:19 NIV)
With that, the person is removed from the Book of Life.
[Discuss: To what extent is the delay in making the jump from academic understanding to a personal meeting with the Lord, likely to affect fruit production and yield?]
The Rescue Contract is often misrepresented. Paul and the new-covenant-church claim that with faith, salvation is assured! Sadly, this fails to take into account the Outreach Contract and the requirement to bear fruit.
It is important, therefore, when making the offer of salvation, that the demands of the Outreach Contract are explained.
The terms stipulate that 'fruit' is a necessary requirement.
As for penalties, that may be summarised as 'Death'.
Taking:
to the World.
[† For example: In that day, there shall be several towns in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing loyalty to the LORD of Hosts; one shall be called Town of Heres. (Isaiah 19:18 (Tanakh))]
Version: 2025-04-15