Riches (1936)
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RICHES
Information which will enable every person
to realize in fullness the greatest desire and fondest hopes of humankind.
By J. F. Rutherford
Author of
RECONCILIATION
GOVERNMENT
CREATION
LIGHT
DELIVERANCE
PROPHECY
and other books
First printing 1,000,000 copies
Publishers
WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY
International Bible Students Association Brooklyn, N, Y., U. S. A.
Also
London, Toronto, Strathfield, Capo Town,
Berne, Copenhagen, and in other countries.
Copyrighted 1936 by J. F. Rutherford
Made in the United States of America
RICHES
CHAPTER I
FALSE AND TRUE
DO YOU SINCERELY desire to be rich and very
happy? If so, a knowledge of how to gain riches and how to enjoy the same is of
the greatest importance to you. If you are kept in ignorance of the true way
and permit yourself to rely upon and be guided by the opinion of imperfect man,
you can never gain the riches that will bring you peace and lasting happiness.
Every person who will learn the right way, and who will then continue
diligently to follow that right way, is absolutely certain in time to possess
great riches and all attending blessings. The right way is not to be found in
human schemes. He who would be truly rich must earnestly seek to gain a
knowledge of Jehovah God and his
great treasure house.
Are you willing to devote the necessary
time and give sincere consideration to the study of what is written in this
book? If so, you will gain a knowledge that will bring to you real peace of
mind, because this book does not contain the opinion of a man, but sets forth
the truth taken from the Word of God. It will satisfy those who carefully
consider it. Millions of honest persons have been turned away from Jehovah God,
and from the Bible, because of the misrepresentation both of God and of the
Bible. Millions of others have been kept in ignorance of the Bible because
self-ish men have informed the people that they cannot understand the Bible.
The truth is that the ‘Scripture given by inspiration of God’ is for the very
purpose of instructing honest and fearless persons in the right way to go. (2
Timothy 3:16, 17) The inspired Scriptures make the clear distinction between
false and true riches and make plain the reason why happiness is gained and
fully enjoyed only by those who find true riches. Before you can intelligently
choose the false or the true way of becoming rich you must learn of both ways;
then, being free to choose, you will choose one or the other. If you rely upon
the opinion or word of any man, you are certain to go in the wrong way. “Put
not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.”
(Psalm 146:3) If you trust in and rely upon the Word of God, you are certain to
go in the right way. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct
thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5,6) The greatest crisis of all time is now upon the
human race, and every honest person will now have the opportunity to learn the
right way to go in order that each one may freely choose his own destiny. Your
opportunity is now at hand.
False riches, consisting of money, houses
and lands, acquired by selfish means at cost to others and thereafter used
selfishly, are almost always used for the oppression of other persons. In this
present time a few men own or possess almost all the money, houses and lands,
and the great mass of humankind suffer in need of the very necessities for
their daily living. Riches thus selfishly acquired and wrongfully used the
Scriptures describe as "filthy lucre”. Selfish men love the power that a
great amount of money gives them, and for that reason it is written in the
Scriptures that "the love of money is the root of all evil”. (1 Timothy
6:10) The evil is not in the money, but money results in evil because of the
love of gain and power that money brings to the one that possesses and
wrongfully uses it. If one honestly obtains money and properly uses it in a
righteous cause to the glory of God, that money does not result in evil, but in
good.
The few men who possess the wealth of the
material things of the earth at the present time are not truly happy. In almost
all cases such men are proud, haughty, severe, unkind and extremely selfish.
While possessing much more than they need, they arc always fearful of losing
what they possess. The money of the ultrarich is often used to oppress others,
and men who thus use it appear to be proud that they have such power.
Concerning them God says: "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a
chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness;
they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly
concerning oppression : they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the
heavens; and their tongue walketh through the earth. And they say, How doth God
know? and is there knowledge in the Most High ? Behold, these are the ungodly,
who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.”-Psalm 73:6-9,11,12.
Now perilous times have come, exactly as
God’s Word foretold they would come, and this is due to the fact that we are in
the "last days”, when men have become agreement-breakers and unfaithful
and seek to exalt themselves at the expense of both the rich and the poor. (2
Timothy 3:1-4) Selfish political rulers, desiring to keep themselves in power,
and overreached by other wrongful influence, proceed to “soak the rich” in
order to create more political jobs and thus increase their opportunities of
keeping themselves in office. Men who are thus endeavoring to wrongfully take
away from the earthly rich that which they possess are both unhappy and
extremely selfish. Those who possess much material riches now, and the others
who are trying to grab the same, are both moved by a selfish desire; and
pursuing that course, they are certain to be sorely disappointed within a very
short time. “Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery; if riches
increase, set not your heart upon them.” (Psalm 62:10) “He that trusteth in his
[material] riches shall fall.” (Proverbs 11:28) “As the partridge sitteth on
eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall
leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. ’ ’-Jeremiah
17:11.
Such a person becomes a fool for the reason
he makes selfish gain, otherwise called “money”, his god and relies on the
power and protection that his money might bring to him. He disregards God and
true wisdom and by his course of action proves that he is a fool; as the
Scriptures declare: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” (Psalm
14:1) By pursuing such a course of action he discloses his motive, which is
here represented by “his heart”, and in harmony with this he in effect says
that he is a fool. By disregarding God’s provision made for man, and by
pursuing a selfish course, man becomes entirely blind to his best interests.
The multitudes of people on earth have gone practically crazy by reason of
their insatiable desire to acquire material wealth. Such false riches endure
but a short time. Man dies, and that is the end of his riches which he has
acquired in the wrong way: “Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but
righteousness delivereth from death.” (Proverbs 11:4) “Wilt thou set thine eyes
upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly
away, as an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:5) These texts here quoted apply
to what is termed “false riches”.
“TRUE RICHES”
To understand the clear distinction between
false and true riches is essential to your life and happiness. Only in the
Bible is there to be found that clear distinction and contrast. Jehovah God is
truly rich far beyond the imagination of humankind. The word “world” means that
which is both in earth and in heaven, that is, both the things seen and the
things unseen by human eyes. All things belong to Jehovah God: “The earth is
the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
(Psalm 24:1) “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis
1:1) “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for thou
hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
(Revelation 4:11) To learn of the true riches we must go to the fountainhead of
such riches.
Christ Jesus is exceedingly rich. The name
originally given him, as set forth in the Scriptures, is The Word of God, that
is, the Logos, or One whom Jehovah God uses to announce and to put into
execution his commandments. The Word or Logos was the beginning of Jehovah’s
creation (Revelation 3:14), and thereafter Jehovah God employed the Logos (his
Word) as his active agent in the creation of all things. “In the beginning was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was [a] God.” (John 1:1) The
literal translation, by the Emphatic Diaglott (interlinear reading), is: “In
the beginning was the [Logos], and the [Logos] was with the God, and a god was
the [Logos].” That means that Jehovah God is the great First Cause, without
beginning and without end, and is therefore “the God”; and that the beginning
of his creation was the Logos or Word, who is “a god”, that is, a mighty one.
When Jehovah God sent his Beloved One, the Word, to earth, he was given the
name “Jesus”. Jesus said: “My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28) Jehovah
God is the Father; Christ Jesus, the Son. Jehovah “God [the Father] . . .
created all things by Jesus Christ”, his Son. (Ephesians 3:9) Concerning Christ
Jesus, the Word, it is written: “For by him were all things created, that are
in heaven, and that arc in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by
him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”-Colossians
1:16,17.
All things that are done by Jehovah God are
done in order and in full harmony with his universal organization. That
organization of Jehovah consists of the Logos, cherubim, seraphim, angels, and
others, and over all is the great Almighty God. One of the names given to God’s
organization is “Zion”, and that organization is symbolically represented or
pictured by a woman, which “woman” gives birth to children. (Isaiah 54:1-13)
Out of his universal organization Jehovah God takes certain ones that are in
harmony with him and builds them up into his capital organization, of which
capital organization Christ Jesus, the King of glory, is the Head. The capital
organization of Jehovah He specifically uses to carry out his purposes. That
organization is other- wise spoken of in the Scriptures as “the kingdom”.
God created the first man, whom he called
Adam. Then God created a woman, whom he named Eve; and this man and woman were
given the power from Jehovah God to reproduce their kind, that is to say, to
cause conception and birth of children. The first man and his wife were a part
of Jehovah’s universal organization; that is, they were in the earthly or
visible part thereof under the supervision of an invisible overlord. They were
in Eden, a place of perfection and beauty. To man God had announced his law,
and man was told that the penalty for the violation of God’s law is death. The
manner in which man violated God’s law would not be material. The crime
consists in the violation in any manner; and the penalty, death. God did not
require of man a great thing, but required of him the small thing of declining
to partake of certain fruit. The man willfully violated God’s law, and
therefore was justly sentenced to death and was expelled from God’s universal
organization.
After a long period of time, during which
time the organism of Adam was degenerating, the man died. At and from the time
of his creation man was rich until he became a sinner, and then he lost all
things. (Genesis 3:17-24) The wrongful act of Adam in breaking God’s law,
together with the wrongful acts of other creatures involved in that wicked
transaction, brought great reproach upon the holy name of Jehovah God. Would
Jehovah God take the necessary action to clear and vindicate his holy name
before all creatures of his universe? The answer to this question is found in
the Scriptures, and now of this you shall learn.
HIS PURPOSE
The name “Almighty God’’ specifically
applies to the Eternal One as the great First Cause, and the Creator of all
things created. His name “Jehovah” particularly means his purpose toward his
creatures. At the time of the disobedience and fall of Adam and his expulsion
from the universal organization of God the great Creator there in cryptic
language announced his purpose to bring into existence his capital
organization, or kingdom, which in due time shall destroy all lawless ones and
establish righteousness in the earth as in heaven, and that all this will be to
the vindication of Jehovah’s name. (Genesis 3: 15; 12:2,3; 22: 16-18) “God is
love” (1 John 4:16) ; which means that he is wholly unselfish and that all
things are done by him unselfishly. The vindication of his name in the mind of
creatures does not add anything to Jehovah, What creatures think of the
Almighty Creator is of no profit to the Creator. God has announced his purpose
to vindicate his name, and that vindication will afford his creatures full and
complete opportunity to gain great riches at the hands of the Creator. God is
not trying to save creatures, but he affords his creatures the opportunity to
avail themselves of the salvation which he has provided. He is the source and
fountain of all riches; and for man to have and to enjoy such riches man must
know God and know of his provision to gain the desired and true riches. Jehovah
makes it possible for all his intelligent creatures to receive riches at his
bountiful hand.
Man was created for the earth and in order
that he might have and enjoy the fullness of the riches of the earth. The
perfect man in Eden therefore was rich, and such riches he might have possessed
forever had he continued obedient to his Creator. By his disobedience of God’s
law, before man had exercised his power to bring children into the earth, not
only Adam lost everything for himself, but his children were born as sinners,
imperfect, and without the right to live. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered
into the World, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that
all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) It is written plainly in the Scriptures that
Jehovah God created man for the earth and the earth for man: “ I have made the
earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the
heavens, and all their host have I commanded. For thus saith the Lord that
created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath
established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am
the Lord, and there is none else.”-Isaiah 45:12,18.
Shall the disobedience of man and the loss
of the right to live, and the loss of the right to true riches, defeat the
purpose of Jehovah for which he created the earth? The purpose of Jehovah
cannot fail, but must be accomplished; and concerning this it is written: “I
have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also
do it.” (Isaiah 46:11) “My word . . . shall not return unto me void; but it
shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto
I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) Jehovah would not permit anything to prevent him from
carrying out his purpose. God docs not change, neither does his law change.
(Malachi 3:6) He does not reverse his own judgment or sentence or
determination. Seeing, then, that all men, by reason of Adam’s sin, were born
imperfect and without the right to live, how could it be possible for any man
ever to gain the true riches at the hand of Jehovah God and to for ever
thereafter enjoy the same?
REDEMPTION
By his own efforts man could never gain the
true and desired riches. It is written: “For ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that
ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8: 9) This scripture in a
few words states how it is possible for a man to obtain true riches, which is the
greatest desire of all sane creatures. Born in sin, and shapen in iniquity
(Psalm 51:5), alienated from God and under the power of sin and absolutely
certain of death, all human creatures come into the world in a state of abject
poverty. A small percent of the human race, at a loss to their fellow
creatures, become rich in the material things of the earth; but these entirely
miss the true riches, and their false riches thus obtained avail them nothing
in the end. “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the
multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother,
nor give to God a ransom for him: that he should still live for ever, and not
see corruption. For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish
person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that
their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all
generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless, man
being in honour abideth not; he is like the beasts that perish.” (Psalm 49: 6,
7, 9-12) Thus is stated the condition of the imperfect human race, entirely
helpless and with no ability to gain that which is so greatly desired.
Although God could not set aside his
judgment against man and the effect thereof upon the descendants of the first
man, yet he provided in his law that he could consistently accept a substitute
for the condemned race and thereby relieve man of the disability under which
all find themselves. The unselfish provision made by Jehovah for man,
therefore, was that a life might be given for a life, that is, a perfect
sinless life be given as a substitute for the one who was once sinless and who
became sinful and therefore subject to death. (Deuteronomy 19:21) The sinless life
that is accepted in the place of the man Adam, who committed sin, must be a
perfect human life. It could be nothing more, and certainly nothing less, in
order to meet the requirements of God’s law. All the human race being the
offspring of Adam the sinner, it is entirely impossible for any of Adam’s
offspring to become the ransomer or redeemer of his fellow mankind. “Ransom”
means an exact corresponding price, that is, the price of exactly the same
value as the law requires of the one who committed the sin.
It was the perfect man Adam that sinned,
and God’s law required the forfeit of Adam’s life in death; and the judgment of
God took away from Adam his right to live, and he died. Nothing could become a
ransom for Adam save a perfect human creature, possessing human life and the
right to that life. The one who becomes the redeemer or ransomer of Adam and
his offspring must stand exactly in the position occupied by Adam prior to
sinning and at the time he was perfect when in Eden, and before he had taken any
wrongful steps whatever in the commission of sin. The one who would take the
place of the sinful man and suffer death in order to provide redemption must be
a perfect human creature. If he was part spirit and part human that would not
be a price exactly corresponding to the perfect man Adam. In no creature was
there the power to make this provision for redemption. Only God could provide
such a ransomer or redeemer, and the Scriptures show that he has provided the
redemption for man. In doing this Jehovah was moved entirely by unselfishness.
The Logos, the spirit creature, the Word of
Jehovah God, was exceedingly rich, because he was next to Jehovah and the
active agent of Jehovah in the creation of all things and consequently enjoyed
the fullness of riches of all creation. In order for him to become the redeemer
of man he must become a man, and hence he must lay aside all of that riches and
glory which he possessed and enjoyed in heaven and become just a man. In
harmony with this it is expressly written that “Jesus ... was made a little
lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, . . . that he, by the grace
of God, should taste death for every man”. (Hebrews 2:9) This proves that Jesus
on the earth was not part spirit nor wholly spirit creature, like the angels,
but was made human and lower than the angels, and made thus in order that he
might become the redeemer or ransomer of mankind by taking the place of man as
a sinner and suffering death as a sinner. Laying aside his heavenly riches and
glory, therefore, he became poor.
How was the Logos, now called “Jesus”, made
a man? His father or life-giver was not a human creature, the descendant of
Adam. If the son of Adam, then he could not have been born a perfect man. The
Scriptures point out that Joseph and Mary were espoused and before their
marriage was consummated, that is, before there was intercourse by them, Mary
“was found [to be] with child of the holy spirit”. That means that the
invisible power of Jehovah God, his spirit, had caused Mary to conceive in her
womb a babe. Stated in other phrase, Jehovah God had exercised his power, and
in the womb of Mary was a child before she was married to Joseph. The angel of
God then transmitted to Joseph this message, to wit: “Joseph, thou son of David,
fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is
of the holy spirit. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name Jesus: for it is he that
shall save his people from their sins. Now all this is come to pass, that it
might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, Behold,
the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall
call his name Immanuel; which is, being interpreted, God with us.”-Matthew 1:
20-23, American Revised Version.
In due time Mary gave birth to the child
which she had conceived by reason of the miraculous power exercised by the
great Creator. When the child was born God begat him, which means that He
acknowledged the child as his Son and called his name Jesus, which means that
he was born to be the Savior of the world. At the moment of the birth of Jesus
a message of greatest importance to humankind was announced by God’s angels,
which were sent from heaven: “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings
of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in
the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. . . . Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” -Luke 2:9-14.
Thus into the world came the perfect child
named Jesus: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom;
and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40) Under God’s law a man was
required to be thirty years of age in order to serve as a servant or priest in
God’s organization. Jesus grew to manhood’s estate, and now he was ready and
qualified to carry out the purpose of his Father, Jehovah God. He met John at
the river Jordan, and there John, at the request of Jesus, baptized Jesus in
the river. This was done as an outward testimony that Jesus had agreed to do
his Father’s will, whatsoever that should be: "And Jesus, when he was
baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were
opened unto him, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove, and
lighting upon him: and, lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16,17) In this manner Jehovah
acknowledged or begat Jesus Christ as his Beloved One sent to earth to
accomplish his purpose. For three and one-half years thereafter the man Jesus
was put to the most severe test, and under such test at all times proved his
loyalty and faithfulness to God and maintained his integrity toward his Father.
Why was Jesus on earth? The primary reason,
as given by the Scriptures, is that he was on earth to vindicate the name of
Jehovah God; and the secondary reason was, to redeem the human race and thus
afford an opportunity for man to live. The secondary reason is here first
considered, and the primary reason is considered in a subsequent chapter
herein.
The redemption of man is so important, and
a clear understanding thereof so necessary, that in order to make the matter as
clear as possible some things heretofore stated are repeated. The imperfect man
Adam, under the sentence of death, could not transmit to his offspring the right
to live. Since all humankind are the offspring of Adam, all were brought into
the world without the right to live. In a few words it is stated in the
Scriptures, to wit: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,
and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”-Romans
5:12.
All human creatures are by inheritance
sinners, and for that reason are not directly responsible for their
imperfection. They are born in sin and in lawlessness because of conditions
over which the child has no control. “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in
sin did my mother conceive me. ’ ’ (Psalm 51:5) The removal of that disability
from the human race could be accomplished only by the perfect man Jesus’ dying
as a sinner and in the place and stead of the sinner and to thereby provide the
ransom or redemptive price for mankind. The man Jesus was a perfect man and in
every way exactly corresponded to the perfect man Adam before he sinned. Jesus
possessed life as a human creature, and also the right to life, because at all
times obedient ones in harmony with God have the right from God to live. The
perfect man Jesus possessed all the necessary qualifications to become the
redeemer of the human race. The redemptive price must be provided first, and
the vindication of Jehovah’s name must follow thereafter.
God could not consistently compel a perfect
man to die in the place of one who had sinned, but he could make it possible
for a perfect man to willingly die in harmony with his Father’s will. It was
the will of God that men should have an opportunity to live, and the Lord Jesus
was fully committed to do the will of God; hence he voluntarily submitted
himself to the will of God in order that he might become the Redeemer. God’s
provision or law was stated in this manner: “For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
That law of God means that he who willingly sins must die and that there is no
escape from death and no hope for subsequent life unless Jehovah makes it
possible for man to live. Life is the gift from God, and he has made provision
to give life to obedient men through Jesus Christ.
Life and the right to live only God can
give, and for this reason it is written that ‘life is the gift of God through
Jesus Christ’. Before this gift is even offered, however, the disability of the
one to whom the gift is made must be removed; and that disability could be
removed only by the life of the perfect man Jesus given in sacrifice and applied
as the ransom price for sinful man. For this reason Jesus said: “Even as the
Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his
life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) The coming of Jesus was not that he
might receive something for himself, but that he might minister unto others and
that he might give his life as a means of salvation for as many of mankind as
would comply with the requirements of God’s law after having received a
knowledge thereof.
POOR
The perfect man Jesus must die, not because
of wrongdoing on his part nor by compulsion, but he must die voluntarily in
obedience to the law of his Father. It was the delight of Jesus to do the will
of his Father, and he so expressed it. (Psalm 40:8) That Jesus was not compelled
to die, but did so willingly and in harmony with his Father’s will, note his
own words: ‘‘Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that
I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I
have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment
have I received of my Father.”-John 10:17,18.
These words of Jesus clearly prove that
Jesus was at unity or in full accord with his Father and whatsoever was the
will of his Father that Jesus delighted to do. In heaven Jesus was very rich.
Leaving the heavenly courts to become a human creature Jesus became poor, as
compared with what he had as a spirit. As a man on earth Jesus was rich. He was
the only man ever on earth, aside from Adam, who was perfect. One of the titles
by which he was known, and is since known, is “The Son of the man” (Greek MS),
meaning that because he was the only perfect man he became the rightful owner
and possessor of everything that Adam once had and lost. Adam had become a
pauper by reason of his sin, and now Jesus must become a pauper voluntarily in
order to assume the place of the sinner Adam. To become the redeemer of sinful
man Jesus necessarily must divest himself of every right and possession. In
support of this conclusion it is written: “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have
holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to
lay his head.” (Luke 9:58) This does not mean that Jesus could find no place to
rest his body, but does mean that, having come to take the place of sinful man,
he must lay aside claim to everything. Therefore he gives the comparison
between himself and the foxes and the birds. He must become entirely poor,
divested of all riches.
And why did Jesus become poor? So far as the
answer relates to man, he became poor, as stated by the Scriptures, “for your
[man’s] sakes . . . that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Otherwise stated, Jesus, by fully complying with the will of God, qualified to
become the Savior of humankind and God’s instrument by and through which life
can be given to the obedient ones of humankind. For this reason Jesus said: “I
am come that they might have life." - John 10:10.
Aside from the provision Jehovah made, and
the redemptive work performed by Christ Jesus, there is no possibility for any
human creature to ever have life: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for
there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved.” (Acts 4:12) Only those who have full faith and confidence in the shed
blood of Jesus as the redemptive price for man can obtain life everlasting. For
the obedient ones God has provided the means of granting life and forever
sustaining that life. This provision God had foreshadowed by his dealing with
the children of Israel through the hand of Moses. The Israelites in the desert
were in great need of food, and God sent them food at the hand of Moses, whom
he had appointed to lead them. Bearing upon this point of God’s provision for
man to live, the Jews said to Jesus: “Our fathers did eat manna in the desert;
as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto
them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from
heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of
God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then
said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto
them, I am the bread of life; he that eometh to me shall never hunger; and he
that believeth on me shall never thirst. For I came down from heaven, not to do
mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the will of him
that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may
have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” - John 6:
31-35, 38,40.
Bread is food used to sustain the human
organism, and here Jesus used bread as a symbol to picture himself whom God has
provided as the Giver and Sustainer of life. “Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your
fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which
cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof, and not die.” (John 6:47-50)
These words of Jesus were spoken with absolute authority from Jehovah God.
That the death of Jesus results
beneficially only to those who believe and obey the Lord is further supported
by the words of Jesus, spoken with authority from on high, to wit: “I am come a
light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in
darkness. He that rejeeteth me, and receiv- eth not my words, hath one that
judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last
day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me
a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his
commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the
Father said unto me, so I speak. ’ ’ (John 12:46, 48-50) God does not compel
anyone to avail himself of the benefit of the ransom sacrifice. Life is “the
gift of God”, and a gift is received only by the one who first learns about it
and then accepts it.
The death of the perfect man Jesus would,
in any manner inflicted, meet the requirements of the law, because death was
the penalty inflicted upon Adam. Why, then, was Jesus crucified? Jesus was
crucified, not on a cross of wood, such as is exhibited in many images and
pictures, and which images are made and exhibited by men; Jesus was crucified
by nailing his body to a tree. His being put to death in this manner
symbolically said: "This man is cursed of God.” Dying as a sinner was an
ignominious death, and being crucified upon a tree in effect said: “The one
here dying is put to death as a vile sinner.” Such was a provision that God had
made in his law. (Deuteronomy 21:22,23) The curse of God was upon Adam because
of Adam’s willful sin. To become the ransomer or redeemer Jesus must die as though
he were accursed of God, a vile sinner, yet without sin in fact; and for this
reason Jehovah suffered his Beloved Son to be put to death by nailing him to a
tree. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse
for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.”
(Galatians 3:13) “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and
hanged on a tree. ’ ’-Acts 5: 30.
The crucifixion of Jesus upon a tree is a
testimony to all creation that he willingly suffered the most ignominious death
in order that he might prove himself entirely obedient to the will of God under
the most adverse conditions and thereby meet all the requirements of God’s law
as pertains to a sinful man.
It was the man Jesus who became poor as a
man and died in ignominy. It was Christ Jesus whom Jehovah God raised out of
death, a creature divine, and who is “alive for evermore” and to whom Jehovah
has committed boundless riches. In support of this conclusion, note the divine
record: ‘‘Who, though being in God’s form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to
be like God, but divested himself, taking a bondman’s form, having been made in
the likeness of men; and being in condition as a man, he humbled himself,
becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. And therefore God
supremely exalted him, and freely granted to him that name which is above every
name; in order that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in
heaven, and of those on earth, and of those beneath; and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:
6-11, Diaglott.
Jehovah God has placed Christ Jesus in the
most exalted place in all of His universe, next to the Most High God. Christ
Jesus is given all the riches of the universe and made the chief officer of
Jehovah, the Vindicator of Jehovah’s name, and the One who speaks with absolute
authority. That Christ Jesus is the active agent of Jehovah in the creation of
all things, and that since his resurrection he is the heir of all things and
speaks with absolute authority, note the following: “God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath
in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of
all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his
glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high; being made so much better than the angels,
as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto
which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I
begotten thee ? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a
Son? And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith,
And let all the angels of God worship him.”-Hebrews 1:1-6.
Christ Jesus is made the King of the world,
therefore its rightful Ruler, and in his name alone the people who would
receive the blessings of Jehovah must trust, and they must completely rely upon
him. “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a
sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness,
and hated iniquity; therefore God,
even thy God, hath anointed thee
with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning
hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine
hands.” (Hebrews 1:8-10) Christ Jesus is made the Author of eternal salvation
to all who believe in the value of his shed blood, and who render themselves in
full obedience to him as God’s great administrator of blessings to the human
race: “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto
all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of
Melchisedec.” -Hebrews 5: 9,10.
The ransom sacrifice provided docs not mean
the salvation of every man that has ever lived on earth, but means an
opportunity for salvation and riches to be had and enjoyed by those who believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and who then render themselves in full obedience to
God’s law. The so-called, “doctrine of universal salvation” is entirely wrong
and completely out of harmony with the Word of God. It is equally erroneous to
say that God tries to save anyone. It is not only wrong but a blasphemous
doctrine to say that any man has power to “save souls”, such as is claimed by
men. Salvation proceeds from Jehovah God through Christ Jesus to those (and
those only) who comply with God’s provision for salvation.
KNOWLEDGE
One who has a clear perception of the truth
possesses knowledge. To “know” means to perceive, comprehend and clearly
understand what is truth. Without the truth no one can properly be informed. He
who speaks with complete authority says concerning Jehovah’s Word: “Thy word is
truth”; meaning that Jehovah’s purpose, as recorded in his book the Bible, is
the truth. (John 17:17) It is by receiving a knowledge of the truth and by full
obedience thereto that men may be qualified to be used in the service of the
Most High God and to receive at his hands the great riches that come from his
boundless treasure house.
Men have formed organizations and caused
such organizations to promulgate dogmatic statements, teachings or doctrines,
which are held up as a guide to the people, and by which millions of persons
have been deceived. The Roman Catholic Hierarchy is made up of a few men, who
assume authority to rule and govern, and that Hierarchy rules and controls
millions of persons who are submissive to the Hierarchy. Such persons are not
counted as members of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy or of “the church”, but are
designated by that organization as “the Catholic population”; meaning that they
are the ones who bear up, support and furnish the money for such organization.
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy has put before the people certain dogmatic
statements or doctrines and told the people that they must follow the same, and
millions of good persons have been induced to follow and obey the Hierarchy and
by these doctrines have been greatly deceived. They are deceived because such
dogmatic statements or doctrines put forth by the Hierarchy are not in harmony
with God’s truth.
The Roman Catholic Hierarchy has been
diligent to keep from the people the Bible in order that the people might be
kept in subjection to the Hierarchy; and, being in subjection to the Hierarchy,
those millions of honest persons are not free, but are in bondage to a man-made
organization. They can never be free until they break away and cease to follow
the doctrines of men, and receive and follow the truth as set forth in the Word
of God. To such persons in bondage and who are honest the words of Jesus apply,
to wit: “If ye continue in my word, ... ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free. ... If the Son [Christ Jesus] therefore shall make you
free, ye shall be free indeed.” .(John 8: 31-36) True knowledge, therefore,
means to know the truth as spoken by Jesus and as set forth in the Scriptures.
The value of the truth to man cannot be
overstated. The Scripture texts which follow should be carefully considered by
all who desire to share in the riches which God has provided for obedient man: “The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) “Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest
up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest
for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord,
and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the
righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of
judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand
righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom
entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion
shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the
way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things. ’ ’-Proverbs 2:
3-12,
“Receive my instruction, and not silver;
and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and
all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”-Proverbs
8:10,11.
‘The wise lay up knowledge.’ (Proverbs
10:14) It is only the wise that will ever receive and enjoy the true riches
which God has provided for obedient men. “And by knowledge shall the chambers
be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong; yea, a
man of knowledge increaseth strength.” -Proverbs 24:4, 5.
The “wise man”, within the meaning of the
Scriptures, is he who gains a knowledge of God’s truth and then diligently
follows and obeys the same. He is the man that gets wisdom: “Happy is the man
that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the
merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain
thereof than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies; and all the things
thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.’’ - Proverbs 3:13-15.
Material riches honestly obtained and
possessed and used in a proper way result in good, but such is not to be
compared with a knowledge of the truth: “How much better is it to get wisdom
than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” (Proverbs
16:16) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the
holy is understanding.’’ - Proverbs 9:10.
The fear of the Lord, as mentioned in the
Scriptures, does not mean a morbid dread, but means to fear to do that which is
contrary to the Word of God and to thereby displease Jehovah: “The fear of the
Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward
mouth, do I hate.”-Proverbs 8:13.
This text means to hate (and hence to
refrain from doing) anything that works injury to another; to avoid pride and
arrogancy, because such are displeasing to God; and to hate and hence to avoid
the way of any who substitute the theories of men for God’s Word of truth and
who thereby mislead others. It means to refrain from and to hate anything that
is fraudulent. The one who will please God must pursue the course as instructed
by the Lord, to wit: ‘Do good unto all men as you have opportunity,’ and let the
Lord do the judging. (Galatians 6:10; Romans 14: 4) As you gain a knowledge of
the truth be diligent to pursue the truth and to present the truth to others as
you have an opportunity and to thereby do good to them and show an appreciation
of God’s goodness toward you. A knowledge of God’s truth must be had before one
could possibly receive the riches of God’s gift. It therefore follows that any
man, men or organization that has kept you in ignorance of the Bible, and
induced you to refrain from reading books that explain the Bible, has been
instrumental in keeping you in ignorance of God’s means of bestowing his
blessings upon you. The Scriptures were written that man might have an
opportunity to know the truth, and no man or company of men has the right to
make merchandise of the people by assuming to teach them errors in the name of
the Lord.
HIS BLESSING
Because Jehovah God is love, and therefore
entirely unselfish, he has made provision for the salvation and blessing of
man: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John
3:16) Moved by unselfishness Jehovah God, at great cost to himself by the
giving of his Beloved Son, has opened the way for human creatures to live, to
become the recipients of the riches of his blessing, and to demonstrate their
integrity toward him. The material riches which men of the world gain are
always accompanied sooner or later with much sorrow. The blessings which
Jehovah God bestows bring exactly the opposite result: “The blessing of the
Lord, it maketh rich; and he addeth no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22)
Without exception, God’s blessing bestowed upon man is accompanied with peace
and joy.
For the assurance and benefit of those who
are diligently seeking knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, it is
written: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of
the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the
eyes: the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever; the judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold,
yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover,
by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping of them there is great reward.”-Psalm
19:7-11.
The man who follows the law of God will
never be brought into sorrow. It is only when he departs from the law of God
that sorrow comes upon him. Knowledge and understanding of God’s law, and
obedience thereto, are to be desired above everything else.
True riches proceed from Jehovah God and
are administered by Christ Jesus to the faithful obedient creature. To the man
who gains knowledge, and walks in the way of the Lord, these precious promises
are given: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful:
but his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day
and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:1-3) The apostle and faithful
servant of Jesus Christ, having shared in some of the riches of Jehovah’s great
treasure house, says to his fellow creatures who seek to walk in the right way:
“ [I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and
what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according
to the working of his mighty power.”-Ephesians 1:16-19.
HEAVENLY RICHES
The world is composed of heaven and earth.
“Heaven” has reference to the things not seen with the natural eye. “Earth”
means those things that can be seen by the eye of natural man. For many years
the peoples of this earth have been ruled by an unseen power which is very
wicked, and an organization of men on earth under the dominating control of
that great wicked one. God has declared his purpose to establish a righteous
world that shall govern the people in righteousness: “And in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
(Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 32:1) Jehovah God is certain to carry out his announced
purpose. Based upon God’s sure and unfailing promise, the faithful and inspired
apostle wrote: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens
and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13) It is
concerning this new heaven and new earth that you are now seeking information.
The new heaven and new earth constitute the world of righteousness. That new
heaven is God’s capital organization, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, and
which organization possesses riches beyond the description that could be given
in human words. Together with Christ Jesus, the Head, that organization is
composed of 144,000 associate members with Christ Jesus who share with him in
his riches and glory, and is supported and accompanied by a host of holy angels
attending upon the Lord Jesus.
The 144,000 associate members of that
capital organization are taken from amongst men. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1-4) These
men are first given a knowledge of the truth, separated from those of the
world, put through a test, tried, and approved by Jehovah God, and all this
work is done by Christ Jesus, the great High Priest of Jehovah. Christ Jesus
was himself first chosen, tried and fully proved, and, showing his faithfulness
in maintaining his integrity, he was then exalted to the highest position in
Jehovah’s universe. After his resurrection and ascension on high Christ Jesus
begins the selection of the associate members that shall be in his
organization, and this continues until it is accomplished at the end of the
world. That holy and royal organization of Jehovah will always be invisible to
human eyes, because Christ Jesus is spirit and the members of his royal house
are spirit creatures, and no human eye can see a spirit creature. This royal
house constitutes the new heavens, of which the apostle speaks.
Since the 144,000 associate members in the
royal house of Jehovah are selected from amongst men, how is it possible for
any man to become a spirit creature and thereafter be invisible to human eyes?
It is certain that no man could of himself attain to that exalted state, but it
is only by the grace and power of God that such can be accomplished. The way
was made open by the full obedience of Christ Jesus that God might take out
from the world and exalt men to be associates with Christ Jesus.
SIN-OFFERING
Because of sin, that is to say, the willful
breaking or transgression of God’s law, Adam was sentenced to death. Christ
Jesus, the Redeemer of man, died on the earth; but in order that the judicial
record of Jehovah against man, which record is kept in heaven, might be cleared,
it was necessary for the value of the human life of Jesus that was sacrificed
to be presented in heaven as an offering for the sin of main The perfect man
Jesus, being dead, could not present the value of his human life as a
sin-offering. The perfect life of the man Jesus was not forfeited as was Adam’s
life. Jesus died; but, he being holy, harmless, without sin, the right to his
human life still persists. (Hebrews 7:26) God raised up Jesus out of death, not
as a man, but as a spirit creature divine and immortal, never again subject to
death. (1 Peter 3:18, A.R.V.; Revelation 1:18) It is the divine Christ Jesus
who presented the value of his human sacrifice before the throne of judgment or
mercy seat in heaven as a sin-offering in behalf of sinful man, and to satisfy
the divine record against man. The ceremony of presenting that life of Christ
Jesus as an offering for sin was introduced in type at the tabernacle in the
wilderness, which God caused Moses to build, and that ceremony foreshadowed
Christ Jesus presenting in heaven the value of his perfect human life as an
offering for sin.
In the tabernacle ceremony the bullock was
slain in the court, which surrounded the tabernacle and which court pictured
the earth, where Jesus died. Then the blood of the slain bullock was carried by
the priest into the Most Holy in the tabernacle, and there sprinkled upon the
mercy seat, and this pictured Christ Jesus, the great High Priest, appearing in
heaven and presenting the value of his sacrifice there in behalf of man. (Leviticus
16:6,11-14) The tabernacle service here mentioned was performed once each year.
The slain bullock pictured the perfect man Jesus. The blood carried into the
Most Holy, and sprinkled upon the mercy seat, pictured the lifeblood or value
of the perfect human life of Jesus presented in heaven itself as an offering
for sin.
Concerning this matter it is written: “And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things
in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things
themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into
the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into
heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. Nor yet that he
should offer himself of ten, as the high priest entereth into the holy place
every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the
foundation of the world: but now once [and not daily, as when the Catholic
priest celebrates mass] in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away
sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:22-26) The shed blood of Christ
Jesus presented in heaven is the basis for justification of man and the
bringing back of men into harmony with God who believe and obey what is taught
in the Word of God.
It is true that Christ Jesus selected his
apostles before he was put to death and eleven of those apostles proved
faithful unto God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Their justification, however,
could not take place until the value of the sacrifice of Jesus had been
presented in heaven. Those faithful apostles, having been faithful to God and
Jesus, were justified at Pentecost, and that was evidenced by the pouring out
of the holy spirit upon them at that time. (Acts 2:1-16) From that time onward
others were privileged to be selected from amongst men and placed in the
heavenly organization of Jehovah under Christ Jesus as leader and head thereof.
Paul was selected by the Lord and
afterwards made an ambassador of Christ Jesus, and Paul was given the power of
inspiration from Jehovah to write authoritatively, and his inspired writings
are made a part of the Word of God. He received his instruction from the risen
Christ Jesus, and then he wrote these words, to wit: ‘‘For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third day according to the scriptures; . . . And last of all he was seen of me
also, as of one born out of due time.”-1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
Christ Jesus died as a sinner for the sin
of man, and God raised him out of death for the justification of those men who
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. “Justification” means to be made right with
God, that is to say, have a standing before Jehovah in righteousness resulting
to the justified one, and which entitles the one justified to the right of
life.-Romans 4:24, 25.
It is God who justifies or determines who
is right with him. Before the man can be justified he must comply with God’s
fixed rules, the first of which is to receive some knowledge of Christ Jesus,
and to believe upon him as the Savior of man. Says the Lord Jesus Christ: “I am
the way, and the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me.” (John 14:6) “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me
draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the
prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath
heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”-John 6:44,45.
Knowledge is therefore the first essential.
Such knowledge Jehovah God makes possible to be had by those who diligently
seek to know the right way. They learn that all men are born sinners and that
Christ Jesus is the Redeemer of man; and having faith in the shed blood of
Christ Jesus, they learn that he is the only way that leads to life. A man is
thus drawn to Christ Jesus by the knowledge which Jehovah has provided for him.
He sees that God is the Giver of life, and that Christ Jesus is the Redeemer of
man, and by and through Christ Jesus the gift of life is obtained.
FOR HIS NAME
The entire period of time from Pentecost
until the second coming of Christ and his kingdom is occupied in the selection
of those who will be associated with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. It is the
144,000 that are selected to be made members of the royal house. Are these
selected merely to get them into heaven? No; they are taken out from amongst
the peoples of the nations of earth to be witnesses among men to the name of
Jehovah and his kingdom. Concerning this it is written: “God at the first did
visit the [nations], to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:14;
A.R.V., margin) While on the earth these selected ones must show forth the
praises of Jehovah God and his King, and for that purpose they are called out
of darkness and given the light of God’s Word. (1 Peter 2:9) Many have been led
to believe that God has caused the gospel to be preached merely to save men
from eternal punishment and give them a home in heaven. That is not God’s
purpose, as his Word clearly shows. The company of persons so taken out from
amongst the nations are the elect company of God, all of whom must be put to a
certain test and must perform certain specific duties while on the earth; and
the manner of their being taken out or selection, according to the Scriptures,
is as follows:
When God draws one to Christ, as above
stated, then that person must show his faith in God and in Christ by making a
consecration to do the will of God, if he would be pleasing to Jehovah. This he
must do even as Christ Jesus covenanted to do the will of God. (See Psalm 40:
7, 8.) The disciples of Jesus had been drawn to him, and Jesus was giving them instruction,
which instruction likewise applies to all who are taken out of the world as a
people for the name of Jehovah. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his
life for my sake shall find it. For the Son of man shall come in the glory of
his Father, with his angels, and then he shall reward every man according to
his works.” -Matthew 16: 24, 25, 27.
These words of Jesus show that the man who
would become a true follower of Christ Jesus must deny himself, that is to say,
voluntarily agree to put aside his own selfish will and gladly do the will of
God. That is consecration. It was the will of God that Jesus should die a
sacrificial death, and it is the will of God that those who are to be
associated with Christ Jesus in his kingdom must die with Christ Jesus and be
raised out of death as spirit creatures. This means that the man who would live
with Christ Jesus must die as a man and from the time of his consecration until
death such person must by his works prove his faithfulness to God and Christ,
and those who do prove faithful Christ rewards at his second coming.
The person who exercises faith in God and
…