The Watchtower, January 15, 1943
Download: PDF — The Watchtower, January 15, 1943
“JEPHTHAH’S DAUGHTER” TESTIMONY PERIOD
The month of February has been thus designated. By reading the Bible account at Judges 11, persons of good-will toward God’s kingdom who present themselves to his victorious King, the Greater Jephthah, for him to dispose of them in Jehovah's service will recognize themselves as part of the “Jephthah’s daughter” class. All such are invited to join the anointed remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses in this month-long testimony period. This period begins a three-month campaign for subscriptions for The Watchtower. The regular year's subscription rate of $1.00 will be asked, but, according to the Lord’s generosity and to make the offer especially attractive, the book The New World and the booklet Peace—Can It Last I will be added as a premium with each year’s subscription. The goal for the three months is 100,000 subscriptions, at least, in the United States and territories. So get your instructions and your equipment and complete your arrangements now. Avoid getting off to a slow start, but make the midwinter month of February a period that will count toward reaching your personal quota and helping in making the nation-wide quota, yea, exceeding it.
“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES
Week of February 21: “More than Conquerors," 1-22 inclusive, The Watchtower January 15, 1943. Week of February 28: “More than Conquerors,”
23-43 inclusive, The Watchtower January 15, 1943.
1943 YEARBOOK OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
The year 1942 has been a most eventful and thrilling year in the experiences and activities of Jehovah’s witnesses You may now get a world view of such exploits and their lasting benefit to men of good-will by reading the annual report as prepared by the president of the Watchtower Society. This is published in the 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses, now off the press. Also contained therein are the yeartext for 1943 and explanatory comment thereon, together with a stirring text and comment for each day of the year As to the courage, strength, joy and vision to be derived therefrom, and also as to the need and usefulness of such throughout the year by Christians, there is hardly any need of comment. Due to the limited edition a contribution of 50c is asked per copy of the 1943 Yearbook of Jehovah’s witnesses. Companies should combine individual orders and forward same to us with remittance, to expedite the handling thereof and to make for postage savings.
CALENDAR, 1943
The yeartext for 1943 is “More than conquerors through him that loved ns". (Romans 8:37) All Christians bent on keeping integrity toward God will be strengthened by having that text daily before them during 1943. The Watchtower calendar, now released, will enable you to do that. The theme picture in artistic color-
(Continued on page 31)
Vol. LXIV
January 15, 1943
No. 2
“MORE THAN CONQUERORS”
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." — Rom. 8:37.
JEHOVAH looks forward to the battle of Armageddon with perfect confidence, knowing He shall J there be Conqueror. (Isa. 42:13; Ps. 98:1) He knows He can trust and rely with certainty upon his Chief Field Marshal in that universal war, namely, his pre-eminent and first-begotten Son. That Son, as a man on earth for thirty-three and a half years, proved faithful and true to his heavenly Father under conditions of trial and test which ended in the slaughter of him as “the Lamb of God”. Jehovah raised him from the dead on the third day and exalted him to heavenly life and service at God’s own right hand. Jehovah assigned his beloved Son to be the King of the New World, the world in which those shall live whose sins “the Lamb of God” takes away. Jehovah, however, bade his King wait till 1914 to be crowned as reigning King and to begin a successful campaign against the enemies of God's rule by him.
2 The vision of what took place in heaven from 1914 forward is unsealed to our vision by Jehovah’s martyred Son. “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.’’ (Rev. 6:1,2) The white horse which the crowned and reigning Christ Jesus rides symbolizes just and righteous warfare against the foes of Jehovah and of his anointed King, who leaves the throne to mount the battle horse! His bow pictures his power to shoot out destruction from afar against the enemies without requiring his bodily presence in the immediate neighborhood of the earth or other location of such enemies! To Jehovah's mighty King at the time when going into action Psalm 45 is addressed : “My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosper ously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.’' — Verses 1, 3-5.
1 As regards himself and also his Field Marshal, why does Jehovah look forward confidently to the battle of Armageddon?
2 In the vision at Revelation 6 what do the white horse and the bow of its rider symbolize? and with what words does Psalm 45 address the rider?
3 The King Christ Jesus is the “man child” brought forth from God's organization or "woman” called Zion. He is the one who must rule with an iron rod over the nations of the old world and must dash them to pieces like unsatisfactory vessels of pottery. “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.” (Rev. 12: 5) This enthronement of the Son of God as Acting King meant war against entrenched wickedness, and the heavens must be the first place where it must be uprooted and toppled from its place of power. In the office or capacity of “Michael” (meaning "Who is like God?”) the Son of God took the offensive at God's command, to show that Satan is a mimic in trying to be like God. Says the inspired Record of the unseen heavens in 1914-1918: “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”—Rev. 12:7-10.
4 This was the first victory of the Theocratic Government of the New World. The casting of Satan and his demon organization out of heaven was the first conquest of the King at war. It was and is not his last; for it is stated: “He went forth conquering, and to conquer.” At the battle of Armageddon Jehovah’s trusted King will complete his conquests for the vindication of his Father's name. He will then execute Jehovah’s judgment to the full against Satan’s entire organization, demon and human, invisible and visible. As Jehovah’s beloved and elect Servant he will “send forth judgment unto victory”. (Matt. 12:20) Hence the royal Rider of the white horse must continue to ride until he is Conqueror over all the foes of Jehovah’s new world Government, which Government will be the capital organization under Christ and over the cleansed universe.
3 In the vision at Revelation 12, who is the “man child’’, and what did its enthronement mean as to conditions in the heavens?
4 What was the first victory of the Government of the New World, and why must its King at war continue to to forth “to conquer"?
5 When he was here on earth as the “man Christ Jesus” he gained the victory over Satan’s organization, and that without any carnal weapons. The Devil's entire world, the invisible demons as well as the commercial, political and religious dupes thereof on earth, ranged up in antagonism against God’s Elect Servant, who was anointed to become Jehovah’s Executive Officer in the kingdom of heaven. Imperial Rome, in the role of “the king of the north”, was then the leading political power of the earth. Satan the Devil tried to bribe Jesus away from pursuing the visionary hope of a Righteous Government nineteen centuries future from his day. In the mount of temptation the wicked schemer offered to make Jesus “the king of the north” or the imperial ruler of that northerly political combine. (Matt. 4:8-11) The mere price would be for Jesus to worship the Devil. This proves which god "the king of the north”, whose role today is played by the Nazi-Fascist- Vatican totalitarian combine, worships. However, Jesus knew Daniel’s prophecy which foretold the “abomination of desolation” and also the destiny of “the king of the north”, namely: “Yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Dan. 11:31,40,45) Jesus knew that such prophecy said concerning “the king of the north": “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods.” (Dan. 11: 36) Therefore Jesus indignantly ordered the Devil to get hence, adding the reason: “For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”—Matt. 4: 10.
THE CONQUERING WITNESS
6 Thereafter, without any fear of “the king of the north”, imperial Rome, Christ Jesus continued to worship the Lord his God by serving as Jehovah’s witness and bearing testimony to the truth about his Father’s name and his kingdom, the throne of which his Father had anointed him to occupy. When finally brought before the political agent at Jerusalem of “the king of the north” Jesus declared that witnessing was the chief purpose for which his Father sent him and for which he came. He said to Pontius Pilate: “Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18: 37) Jesus’ refusal of Satan’s bribe in the mount of temptation showed he had no seditious designs against “the king of the north” and had no interest in worldly politics, and was not backing up even “the king of the north’s” continual opponent, “the king of the south.”
5 When on earth, how did Jesus without carnal weapons gain the victory over Satan's organization when the Devil offered to make Jesus “the king of the north"?
6 What did Christ Jesus continue to do without fear of “the king of the north"? and what shows be had no seditious designs against that “king"?
7 Jesus stood for a third thing, entirely separate from the world, and that was the Kingdom of God. hence “the kingdom of heaven”. Satan the Devil saw to it that for Jesus to proclaim that righteous Government and to identify himself as its chief representative on earth should be judged as lese majesty by “the king of the north”, and hence as seditious, dangerous to the Roman authoritarian state, and punishable as a capital crime. Nevertheless Christ Jesus kept up his worship of Jehovah his Father by obeying Him rather than “the king of the north” and by boldly “preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God”. He refused to join in the “Jews’ religion” practiced by the scribes, Pharisees and other Jewish clergy of the times. Hence, in order to stop Jesus in his worship of Jehovah God and in his testimony concerning Jehovah’s name and government of a righteous new world, the Devil brought upon Jesus all manner of persecution, misrepresentation, reproach, ridicule, opposition, and threats of violence by the religious leaders.
8 Jesus refused to violate his commission or anointing to preach the gospel. He would not break his covenant with God requiring faithfulness for the kingdom of heaven, nor let go his absolute blame- lessness or integrity under such stiff tests of obedience and devotion to Almighty God. The prophetic forevision of a disgraceful, lingering death in pain on the tree did not cause Jesus to turn back or swerve either to the right hand or to the left. He knew the divine prophecies foretold such a death as in store for him, and he resolved to march right into that death, faultless toward the One who had sent him to demonstrate before men and angels the perfect, unbreakable devotion to God although assaulted by Satan and all his world. (Matt. 1G: 20-23; Luke 9:51,62) As Jesus neared the climax of his own tribulation on earth he said to his faithful apostles on his last night together with them: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 32, 33) A few hours later, when he was hanging on the tree at Calvary, he uttered the words, “It is finished.” “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” He had finally proved himself ‘more than conqueror’, and he knew he could confidently commend to his Creator's hands the preservation of his right to everlasting life and his “spirit” or power of life.—John 19:30; Luke 23:46.
7. For what, then, did Jesus stand, and how therefore did Satan proceed to bring about his death and to stop his worship and testimony?
8. Under stiff tests and faced with death, how did Jesus prove himself ‘more than conqueror’, and what therefore could he confidently commend to his Father at his death?
9 Before his death he spoke of himself as the Rock foundation, and said to his disciples: “Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16: 18) Nor did “hell”, which is the state or condition of the dead, prevail against him who is the Head of his church. On the third day Jehovah God his Father fulfilled to him as his faithful Son the prophecy of Psalm 16:10: "Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Acts 2:24-32) By resurrecting his Son Jehovah God demonstrated the “exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”. (Eph. 1: 19-21) There it could be said: “O death, where is thy victory?”—1 Cor. 15:55, Am. Rev. Ver.
10 For Christ Jesus death itself held no terrors. He never held any morbid fear, but always exercised a godly fear, which kept him from ever doing anything that was not pleasing in his Father's sight. Not without strong crying and tears mingled with his prayers and supplication to God did Jesus hold true to the course which his Father marked out for him and which led to a reproachful death. Thereby he conquered the purpose and designs back of the opposition against him and overcame the world. ‘Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation.”—Heb. 5:7-9, Am. Rev. Ver.
11 Do you desire to obey him and to overcome as He did? Then mark that Jesus, while in the world as a man, resisted becoming a part of the world. He constantly resisted all compromise with religion, which would mean departing from God's law and commandments. He refused to give up the preaching of the coming Kingdom of God for the pursuit of commercial material things of this world or the headship and bossism of the worldly political machine. Such resistance even unto blood against the elements of the demon-controlled world resulted in Jesus' personal triumph over the world, by the grace and help of his heavenly Father. His resurrection from the dead was a triumph of the omnipotent power of Jehovah God over the power of death, death at the hands of “them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul”. (Matt. 10: 28) Both triumphs were to God’s vindication, the first triumph being to the vindication of his name and word, and the second to the vindication of his illimitable power.
9 Why did not the “gates of hell” prevail or gain the victory over Christ Jesus?
10 What fear did Jesus always exercise, and with the aid of what expressions to God did be conquer the designs back of the opposition of the world?
11 (a) To obey Jesus and overcome as be did. what must we mark concerning his position toward the world and its religion? (b) Because of his resistance even unto blood, in what two victories did Jesus share?
12 In both cases the Devil was defeated and was proved to be a liar, deceiver and blasphemer, and inferior to the Supreme and Almighty One, Jehovah God. His boast of being able to turn all men. and particularly the Son of God “made flesh", away from Jehovah God in disobedience and lack of integrity was proved to be egotistical, slanderous and false. Jesus' flawless obedience and unbroken integrity amid most extreme suffering knocked out completely the impudent and proud challenge of the Devil to God to put the issue to a test upon earth. Thenceforth the Devil and all his demons and dupes could none of them condemn the Son of God or lay anything to his charge. By Jesus' faithful demonstration to the exhaustion of all tests every wagging tongue in all creation is stopped, and he is proved worthy of the office of Vindicator of Jehovah's name in the coming display of divine power and supremacy over Satan at the battle of Armageddon.
ASSOCIATES OF THE CONQUEROR
13 Since the great adversary could no longer make unfounded accusations against Jehovah's Chief Executive Officer, Christ Jesus, then Satan would seize the occasion to accuse the brethren of the Son of God. Who are these brethren? These are they that are called to be associated with Christ Jesus in the kingdom of heaven, the Theocratic Government of the New World. These are the members of the “body of Christ”, of which body Jesus Christ is the Head. They have a common Father, Jehovah the Lifegiver, and a common mother, God's “woman”, namely, his organization Zion. Their Elder Brother, Christ Jesus, sanctifies them or sets them to doing the holy will of God after being purified with the washing from sins in the blood of Jesus. “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified, are all of one [Father, who is Jehovah]: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” (Heb. 2:11, 12) Such “brethren” constitute his “church”, which he builds upon himself as the Rock, so that, like as the gates of hell did not prevail to hold him in death, neither should they prevail against his church on the Rock.
12 overcoming the world how did Jesus prove the Devil a liar and meet bis challenge?
13 Thereafter whom would the Devil take occasion to accuse and what is their relationship to God and Christ Jesus?
14 Being by birth sinners because of being descendants of the sinner Adam, the members of his church needed justification first. This they gained by believing in Jehovah as God and in Christ Jesus as their ransom from death. In proof that their faith was not dead, they expressed it by devoting themselves in full consecration to God as his servants bought with the blood of Christ Jesus. Because of this faith and such act of faith God accepted them and justified them, counting them right and bestowing upon them the right to life. To this effect it is written concerning righteousness: “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”—Rom. 4:24,25; 5:1, 2, 9.
15 Justification by faith is not an end in itself. Why not! Because it is a justifying of believers as to the flesh or an assigning to them the right to life as human creatures on earth. God’s purpose concerning those thus justified was to make them joint-heirs and associates with his Son Christ Jesus in the Kingdom. That kingdom is of heaven, and Christ Jesus is also heavenly and therefore spirit. Hence, as the perfect man Jesus Christ laid down his human life in the great proof-case for the vindication of his Father’s name, so such believers must lay down their justified human lives in the same behalf. They must be “baptized into his death” and thereby share with him in the vindication of the heavenly Father. —Rom. 6: 3, 4.
16 Immediately after being justified to an acceptable condition with Jehovah God, they are considered as living sacrifices’, and God takes them into a “covenant with [him] by sacrifice”. (Rom. 12:1; Ps. 50:5) Their human life right, gained through justification, is now yielded over as a sacrifice, and they no longer have any hope of perfect human life on earth under the Kingdom. In God’s due time they must eventually finish their course by death of the present human body, after continually and faithfully doing God’s will as long as alive in the flesh on the earth. Hence, when God takes them into the covenant by sacrifice, he begets them by his spirit of power and through his word of truth, to be his spiritual children, with hope of life at last in heaven and with a conditional right to life there. That conditional right will be made permanent after they prove in their flesh their worthiness to life eternal in the heavens, and they prove this by faithfully following in the steps of Christ Jesus as he set the example. — Jas. 1:17; 1 Pet. 1:3,4; 2:21.
14 Being sinners by birth, what did those becoming members of the church require first, and how or on what basis did they gain it?
15 Respecting such ones, why is justification by faith not an end In itself? and into what must they be baptized?
16 Immediately after justification, into what covenant does God take them, and how does he then put them into the way of life in the spirit?
17 Such spiritual sons God calls to the kingdom of his royal Son. Therefore they are called unto his sufferings while on earth. (1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14) Those who manifest faithfulness under test Jehovah God anoints with his spirit to be members of the “body of Christ”. Such ones he selects out or elects to be members with Jesus in the heavenly kingdom. Thus these are God’s “called” ones and “elect” ones. (Col. 3:12; Titus 1:1; Matt. 24: 22) Now they must be “faithful unto death” in order to make their “calling and election sure” and so have ministered to them abundantly an entrance “into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. (Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 1:10,11) Concerning these as brethren of Christ Jesus it is written: “The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” — Rom. 8: 16, 17.
18 Jehovah God foreknew this company, not as to the individuals eventually making up this “body of Christ”, but as to the number thereof, namely, 144,000. He also foreknew their requirement to be like Christ Jesus in his course of action and sufferings. He also predestined or predetermined that his Theocratic Government under Christ Jesus should include such a faithful, Christlike company. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”—Rom. 8: 29, 30.
CONQUERORS OVER FALSE ACCUSATION
19 When Satan and his principalities and lesser demons were cast out of heaven, the holy angels who had fought under Christ Jesus and who remained triumphant in the heavens cried out joyfully, saying: “For the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Rev. 12:10) The name “devil” means slanderer or false accuser, and for that reason the apostle could warn the women not to be “she devils”, that is, female slanderers, and also that one of the perils of these “last days” would be human devils, that is, “false accusers.”—1 Tim. 3: 11; 2 Tim. 3:3.
17 How do these become God's "called" and "elect" ones, and thereafter what course is required of them to enter Into the inheritance?
18 In what respects did God foreknow and predestinate such company of Christ's brethren?
19 Who is the "accuser of our brethren" that was cast down, and therefore what name is appropriate to him in such capacity?
20 On what grounds or argument would the chief of devils, Satan, “the prince of the demons,” accuse brethren of Christ Jesus before Jehovah God day and night? On the same point of argument that he accused the faithful man Job before Jehovah God, and it was this: Jehovah cannot call men out of the world and into the service of the Kingdom of heaven and have them thereafter continue walking faithfully in the footsteps of Christ Jesus under reproach, persecution and opposition from the Devil and his organization visible and invisible. (Job 1:9-11; 2: 4. 5) Thus the Devil bid for a free hand to do all manner of evil against them to put fear of creatures into them and to turn them aside from Jehovah and his Theocratic Government, if possible. Hence the Devil must be permitted to make the test and be allowed to attack the integrity of Christ’s followers before God. Jehovah must accordingly apply to Christ’s followers on earth the rule: “If so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”—Rom. 8:17; Acts 14: 22.
21 To be “conformed to the image of his Son” such brethren of Christ Jesus, from the days of his apostles down till this day of the remnant of his brethren, must be subjected to like false accusations while active in God’s service on the earth in obedience to God's commandments and the example left by Jesus. It is enlightening to note the nature and the falsity of such accusations as are recorded in the Scriptures. One can then observe how they are being repeated against Jehovah’s witnesses by the leaders in “Christendom” at this very time. In the synagogue the religious Pharisees and clergymen tried to frame Jesus as a breaker of the laws governing the weekly day of rest. “And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.” In reply Jesus merely spoke a few words, and the man stretched forth his hand in response to the word and was healed for his act of faith. Forthwith the religious leaders conspired with the political Herodians to kill Jesus. — Matt. 12:10-14; also Mark 3:1-6.
20 (a) On what grounds would Satan accuse Christ's brethren before God?
(b) For what freedom was Satan thereby bidding, and in accordance with what rule toward Chnstians must God grant Satan permission to proceed?
21 (a) In what particular, therefore, must Christ's brethren be conformed to the “image of God's dear Son”, and bow may we determine whether they are being so conformed today? (b) How did the religionists seek to frame Jesus as a lawbreaker on the rest day and to procure his death?
22 Then, because he attacked religion as dishonoring to God and as contrary to His commandments and as keeping the people in ignorance and under great clergy oppressions, the religious promoters pelted Jesus with a barrage of questions to trip him into some statement by which they could condemn him to the political rulers. “And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.”—Luke 11: 53, 54.
23 At Passover time, A. D. 33, there would be hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered to Jerusalem for the feast and all could be aroused to a high pitch of religious fanaticism and a mob could be started to intimidate the political officers of the law and force them to fail of their sworn duty to uphold law and order. So the religious leaders seized Jesus by night while privately met with his faithful apostles. Then they brought him to the Roman governor Pilate, who was the local representative of “the king of the north”. They charged Jesus with subversive activities and sedition against the totalitarian “king of the north”. “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king.” (Luke 23: 1, 2) In doubt, Pilate sent Jesus to another representative of the Caesarean “king of the north”, Herod of Galilee; and the religious falsifiers went along to push their case. “And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.” (Vs. 10) Both Herod and Pilate found the religious accusations unfounded, and realized that the religionists merely had an ax to grind and a religious grudge to settle with Jesus. Pilate “said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people ; and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man, touching those things whereof ye accuse him: no, nor yet Herod.” —Vss. 14, 15.
24 “And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?” (Matt. 27:12,13; Mark 15.3) While treating the baseless accusations with silent contempt, Jesus did give Tearless testimony on the main issue, The Kingdom, whose King he acknowledged himself to be. (John 18:30.37) Jesus also warned the government officer of “the king of the north" of his heavy responsibility before God Almighty for yielding to religious pressure and insistence and for handing Jesus over to undeserved capital punishment. (John 19:10,11) Then the Jewish religionists, desperately seeking Jesus' death, put up the argument that to preach the heavenly Theocracy or Kingdom of God was against the political state and stirred up men to discontent and insurrection: "If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.” (Vs. 12) Despite Jesus’ bold, faithful and true testimony concerning The Theocratic Government, he was executed, this being permitted as a final test of his integrity toward God. Jesus' faithful followers are charged to give testimony like his in judicial courts: “I give thee charge in the sight of God. who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession.’—1 Tim. 6:13.
22 How did the religionists seek to bring Jesus into difficulty with the political powers by his utterances?
23 (a) Why did the religionists seize upon the Passover season as the best time to bring their conspiracy against Jesus to a climax? (b) How did those religious leaders prove they were instruments of the “accuser of our brethren” before Rome's political officials in Palestine?
24 (a) On what charges did Jesus ‘answer nothing', but concerning what did he give fearless testimony and warning? (b) Why was Jesus testimony permitted to fail of saving him from execution, ‘and how are his followers charged to be like him in judicial courts?
25 Jesus was accused by pious, sanctimoniously- dressed religious clergymen as being a malefactor. (John 18:29,30) With reason he warned his disciples that they must expect to be likewise accused if they followed his example and preached the kingdom of God by Christ Jesus. (Matt. 10: 25) For this they must expect to be hated of all nations, including the religious nation of the Jews, and to be persecuted. (John 15: 20; Matt. 24:9; 10: 22) Prominent among those who suffered the violent hatred and persecution at the hands of religionists was the apostle Paul. Note the similarity of the false charges against him to those laid against Jesus and to those laid against the faithful remnant of Christ's "body" on earth today. Note that the religionists framed the false charges and put them into the mouths of patriotic stooges, as quoted herewith:
26 “But the Jews [of Thessalonica] which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted [mobbed] the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.” (Acts 17: 5-7) From this we know that Paul and his companions faithfully preached the kingdom of God by Christ Jesus.
25 (a) In light of his own experiences, what did Jesus warn his followers they must expect from religionists for preaching God's kingdom as he did? (b) What apostle was especially prominent in undergoing such treatment, and at whose hands?
26 At Thessalonica, what false accusations were raised against Paul and his companions, and accompanied with what action, and why?
27 When Paul was brought before the Roman court at Caesarea, the Jewish high priest and elders put forth their orator or attorney, Tertullus. “And when he was called forth. Tertullus began to accuse him. saying, ... we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: who also hath gone about to profane the temple: . . . And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.” (Acts 24:1-9) Paul proved that these accusations were false, and that the real cause for his being haled before the court was not because those religionists were interested in the continuance of Caesar's government nor because he was a political disturber and danger. It was because he preached the resurrection of Christ Jesus and His exaltation to be the King of Jehovah's Theocratic Government. Said Paul to the court: “Touching the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question by you this day.” (Acts 24: 10-21; 25:18,19) Rather than submit to a retrial at Jerusalem under prejudiced circumstances like those surrounding Jesus when before Pontius Pilate, Paul asked for a change of venue and appealed to Caesar at Rome, not fearing to carry the case to the Supreme Court of the Roman Empire.—Acts 25: 9-12.
28 When in court, the apostle Paul did not yield to any rule to “keep religion or preaching out of your testimony”. He alertly saw to it that he included in his testimony a description of the work he was engaged in doing, what he was preaching, and his commission from the Lord which was his authority to do what he was doing at the time of his arrest, Thus he got in a powerful testimony for the Kingdom of God and exposed religion as anti-God. —Acts 26: 1-29.
CONQUERORS OVER SUFFERINGS
29 Today the common people in all lands invaded and overrun by the Nazi-Fascist-religious hordes are made to undergo all sorts of indignities. Privations and sufferings, such as hunger, nakedness, cold, homelessness, imprisonment, whippings, and other religious brutalities, are their lot. Are such grievous things being suffered for the sake of the Kingdom of God? Not at all; but because of nationalities and political differences of this world. On the other hand, why did the apostle Paul, and those who follow him as he followed Christ, suffer many things? Because they are not of this political, commercial, religious world, but stand solidly for the Kingdom of God and preach it for a witness to all nations, both publicly and by coming from house to house. (1 Cor. 11:1; Acts 20:20) It is because they are commissioned as ministers of God and of Christ, and they put this ministry first. They permit nothing to interfere with their carrying on as ministers to preach the good news of Jehovah's Righteous Government that brings lasting peace and relief to all believing, obedient men on earth. Mark the things which Paul relates as suffering while so engaged as a minister:
27 (a) In court at Caesarea, how was Paul falsely accused and what did he prove to be the real reason that he was dragged into court? (b) To whom did Paul then appeal, and why?
28 In behalf of the witness to the Kingdom, to what rule did Paul refuse to yield in court, and what, therefore, was he always alert to do?
29 Why do the common people of all nations suffer such grievous things due to Nazi-Fascist-religious Invaders, and why have Paul and those like him suffered many things to this day?
30 "Are they ministers of Christ ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent. in deaths [deadly dangers] oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck. a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen [Jews], in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren ; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: and through a window in a basket was I let down by the walk and escaped his hands.' (2 Cor. 11: 23-27, 32.33) Paul's experiences compare with hardships suffered by many pioneer publishers of the Kingdom at present. Further, Pau) said: "Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace, and labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”—1 Cor. 4: 11-13.
30 What are some of rhe things Paul relates as hating suffered for faithfulness in God's ministry? and with whose experiences at present do those of Paul compare?
31 What was the purpose of enduring all such trials and tribulations? To vindicate God's name and word. It was to prove that, regardless of what suffering the Devil and his principalities and demon powers thrust upon God's minister or put in his way to stop or turn him aside, the Devil is a liar. Why? Because Satan the Devil and his chief prince Gog and other fallen angels cannot by any means force the faithful Christian who loves God and Christ to deny God and the Kingdom and to break his solemn agreement to do God's work and to throw up his commission to preach the gospel and to quit the ministry, thereby bringing reproach upon God and his ministry. "Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: but in all things approving [or giving proof of] ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; ... by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and. behold. we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and vet possessing all things.”—2 Cor. 6:3-10.
32 Today, after nineteen hundred years, there is a remnant of such ones of whom the apostle Paul was an outstanding example. They can be recognized because of preaching in the same manner as Paul did, going from house to house with Bible literature, and encountering experiences and undergoing hardships like, if not equal to, his. They are the remnant of Christ’s brethren, being Jehovah’s witnesses as Jesus and Paul were. Since A.D. 1918 many persons of good-will toward God and his Kingdom have observed the proof of the authenticity of Jehovah’s witnesses by what they preach and suffer. These good-will persons have scorned the ridicule of the religionists and have associated themselves with the faithful remnant and become their companions in the witness work and in the accompanying reproaches and afflictions. Even the remnant are not a more faithful group than these devoted companions who have wholeheartedly consecrated themselves to God through faith in Christ Jesus.
31 (a) What was and is the purpose of enduring all such trials? (b) Why does the faithful Christian refuse to quit the ministry of God’s Word in spite of all the tribulations suffered?
32 (a) Who today may be recognized as of the same class of which Paul was an outstanding example, and bow? (b) Since 1918, who have associated themselves with these, and by what course of action?
33 Jehovah's witnesses and their companions are now obliged to endure tribulation in increasing measure because of their unshaken devotion to Jehovah God and his ministry of the gospel of the Kingdom. Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Fascists, Nazis, Communists, politicians, judges, police officers, and other organizations and authorities of this world are bent on cracking the integrity of Jehovah’s witnesses and companions. How? By opposing, persecuting, and wrongfully interfering with these preachers of God’s holy Word. In so doing they are serving the cause of the great accuser of Christ's brethren who has been bounced out of heaven like lightning and who now brings woe on the earth as he goes forth “to make war with the remnant of [Zion's] seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ’’. — Rev. 12: 17.
34 The tools of God’s chief enemy will have as much success in their purpose as that enemy had with the apostle Paul. They would save themselves much boomeranging trouble by examining the Scriptural Record for the answer to this question: Did persecution and even death cause Paul to breach his integrity and covenant toward God? They would learn that he counted not his life dear to him. Ever forward he pressed to new and untouched fields to give the Kingdom witness. He held on to the ministry by faithful activity till “the king of the north” was permitted to still his tongue in death. Paul thereby proved himself ‘more than conqueror’.
35 The tenacity with which the apostle persisted in the ministry of God’s Word, through all those years till death, and in spite of the severe buffetings by the demon powers of Satan and his earthly henchmen, shows that the ministry of preaching the Kingdom gospel is the greatest privilege of service on earth. It is the only work for which the true Christian lives on earth. It is the only life's occupation with which he should finish his earthly career and for which he should suffer and lay down his life in martyrdom. Not all can be apostles as was Paul, there being only “twelve apostles of the Lamb”; but all consecrated Christians can be ministers of the gospel like him when he tramped about proclaiming the glad tidings by word of mouth “from house to house”. (Acts 20: 20) In this Paul imitated Christ Jesus, and to his fellow Christians he said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) But how many professed Christians of today thus follow Paul? Amidst all “Christendom" only Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions are observed doing so; and for this they suffer the same things as did Paul, and all that at the hands of religionists who do not follow Paul.
33. (a) Why are Jehovah’s witnesses and companions now obliged to endure increasing tribulation? (b) What is the effort of the enemy toward them, and whose cause are the enemy serving in such effort?
34. How much success will the enemy have in their purpose, and how does Paul’s course furnish the answer?
35. (a) What do Paul’s tenacity and persistence toward the ministry of preaching show as to its place in the life of a Christian? (b) Since Paul was an apostle, how can others be followers of him as he was of Christ, and bow many professed Christians today are?
INSEPARABLE LOVE
36 The aim of the demons and their dupes is to cause the remnant and their companions to prove untrue to their covenant and so damage their integrity toward God. This would enable the religionists to lay basis for an accusation against them before God and to bring condemnation upon them from God and his Judge Christ Jesus. As it is, Jehovah’s witnesses and companions stand condemned in the eyes of all the religious world, like their Master Christ Jesus. The religionists love this world and its god, and in ways suggested by the demons they try to compel Jehovah's covenant people to cease from loving God and Christ. “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1 John 5:3) Jehovah's faithful servants refuse to break his commandment to be his witnesses or preachers of “this gospel of the kingdom”. (Isa. 43:10,12; Matt. 24:14) They ‘keep themselves in the love of God’, by an obedient, faithful course meriting his love.—Jude 21.
37 Jehovah’s faithful servants are determined to let nothing sever their love for Jehovah God and his King Christ Jesus. Unmoved by the false charges and condemnation of Satan, demon principalities and powers, and dupes of these, Jehovah’s witnesses say with the apostle Paul: “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea. rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ [(or, Diaglott reading:)separate us from that love of God, which is in the Anointed Jesus]? shall [1] tribulation, or [2] distress, or [3] persecution, or [4] famine, or [5] nakedness, or [6] peril, or [7] sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these [7] things we are mors THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US. For I am persuaded that neither [1] death, nor [2] life, nor [3] angels, nor [4] principalities, nor [5] powers, nor [6] things present, nor [7] things to come, nor [8] height, nor [9] depth, nor [10] any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Rom. 8:33-39.
38 In affirmation of their unbreakable resolve in this matter, Jehovah’s witnesses have expressed their confidence in Jehovah God and his King Christ Jesus by accepting the words above, “More than CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM THAT LOVED US” (Romans 8: 37), as their text for this momentous year, 1943. The text is displayed on their calendar of service for the year and is accompanied by the symbolic picture shown in the facsimile herewith (page 25).
36 Why do the demons and their dupes try to cause the remnant and companions to break their covenant and Integrity? and why and how do these refuse to do so?
37. In thia regard, what is the determination of Jehovah s faithful servants and what do they say with the apostle Paul as recorded at Romans 8.33-39 concerning tribulations and other influences that are brought to bear?
MANNER OF OVERCOMING
39 How, then, do Jehovah’s witnesses, under stress of all the afore-listed things, overcome the accusing Satan and his principalities, powers, fallen angels, and other creatures of his wicked world! God’s Word states the way: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12: 11) The expression "the blood of the Lamb” may mean more than merely faith in the blood of Jesus as the price of their redemption and the means of their daily forgiveness and cleansing from sin. It means also their participation in the death of Christ Jesus. As it is written: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ!” (1 Cor. 10: 16) “Know ye not. that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death!” (Rom. 6:3) “For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him.” (2 Tim. 2:11) While thus dying daily with Christ Jesus, they give forth “the word of their testimony”, which is “the testimony of Jesus Christ”. (Rev. 12:17) Christ Jesus, Jehovah's Chief Witness, shares with the remnant of his body on earth the delivering of this testimony concerning Jehovah’s name and kingdom. Hence they go from place to place and from house to house as He and his apostles did. They are wholly unselfish in this. Hence in pressing aggressively forward in such witness work in the face of demoniacal persecution and tribulation they “loved not their lives unto the death”.
40 The earthly companions of this remnant of Jehovah’s witnesses possess the same full measure of devotion to Jehovah and his King. In the warfare against demonism or religion they are willing to die with the remnant rather than compromise, retreat, quit witnessing and break their integrity and love toward God and Christ Jesus. With unwavering trust in God they both look forward into the immediate future and continue planning to press the aggressive warfare against the religion of the old world and for the righteous worship of the new world. While yet in the wicked old world they know that “this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”. (1 John 5: 4) Onward in faith they follow the Lamb of God whithersoever he leads them for the vindication of Jehovah’s name.
38 In affirmation of their resolve what particular text have Jehovah's witnesses accepted for 1943, and how do they keep it before their attention?
39 (a) How do they overcome the accusing forces by the “blood of the Lamb”, and how by the “word of their testimony"? (b) How have they shown that “they loved not their lives unto the death”?
40 (a) Who show a devotion to God like that of the remnant and how? (b) How do they manifest their trust in God respecting the future, and by the exerase of what will they overcome the world?
41 The total war for world domination rages furiously toward its decisive stages. Out of it shall come a world-government, a league or federation of nations, which means that this conflict will not be a triumph for Christianity nor turn the nations to Jehovah in acceptance of his Theocracy by Christ Jesus. That international confederacy supersedes the seven political world-powers from ancient times to modern. It was prophetically symbolized as a “scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns”. This composite “beast” or creature symbolizing a composite world government made its first appearance with the establishment of the League of Nations, in 1920. Now, due to this disruptive struggle for world domination, this “beast” of peace by a league has gone into the pit or the abyss of ineffectiveness and inaction, in 1939. Revelation, chapter 17, shows it will emerge therefrom in more powerful and totalitarian form during the peace following this total war. The religious clergy predict that the “beast” will be ridden and directed by the King Christ Jesus. But not so! A woman will ride it—fie! the harlot Babylon—symbolizing organized religion in unclean relationship with the political “new order”. Unlike a virgin espoused to Christ, “organized religion” will teach her monstrous beastly pet no love for Jehovah God nor for his Theocratic Government by Christ Jesus, nor for the ambassadors of that Theocracy, Jehovah’s witnesses and their companions.
42 What course, then, will the powers and kings or rulers making up that collective world-security beast take! Infallible prophecy gives answer and also foretells the sure outcome, saying: “These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen [elect] and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14, Am. Rev. Ver.) The “Lamb” is the same one as the crowned rider with bow seated on the white horse of righteous war and who went forth conquering and to conquer. (Rev. 6: 2) “Behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon called Faithful and True; and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. And he hath on his garment and on his thigh a name written. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” (Rev. 19:11,16, A.R.V.) This final conquest over the scarlet-colored “new order” beast and its female rider means the winning of the battle of Armageddon.
41 (a) According to Revelation chapter seventeen, what thing Is due to emerge from thia total war. and bow was it symbolized? (b) Whom does God’s Word foretell as the rider of this creature, and with what effect upon the creature?
42. What course does the prophecy show the ruling powers in that arrangement will then take? and to whom will the conquest finally go?
43 Who will then stand with the King of kings on the side of victory? They that “are with him, called and chosen and faithful". Besides this heavenly class will there be no others? Yes: the “great multitude” who take their stand for the Kingdom and hail Jehovah and his King with palm branches will likewise be standing, as "sheep” gathered to his right hand, on the side of the overcomers. This is a sure and strengthening promise from the Most High God. It guarantees that by continuing to preach and maintain their integrity through the “things present during this total war and, further, by lovingly keeping God’s commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ during the “things to come" after the scarletcolored, harlot-ridden “beast” comes out of the abyss, the remnant and their companions will be found more than conquerors through the thick of the Armageddon fight and when the last foe falls defeated in death. Their blessed conquest over demonism and persecution and over Satan’s “New World order” shall be by Jehovah’s love and grace through Christ Jesus, and in vindication of the name of the Most High God. The “more than conquerors" shall be crowned with life everlasting in Jehovah's new world of righteousness under Christ Jesus his King.
43 (a) According to God's Word, who will then stand with His King on the side of victor? (b) What then does this promise of God guarantee for the faithful remnant and companion? and by what divine provision will the conquest be made, and in what behalf?
WHAT IS IT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED?
WHEN America, victim of the sneak Pearl Harbor attack, voiced its objections to the Vatican’s opening up diplomatic relations with Japan in 1942, the pope suavely replied that he was exchanging diplomatic ministers with that nation of demon-worshipers for the spiritual benefits involved. Were the outraged feelings of America ignored because it was carnally minded and the pope was spiritually minded? Or was also the pope carnally minded? “For the wisdom of the flesh is death, but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6, Catholic Douay Version) "For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the spirit is life and peace.” (Rom. 8:6, American Revised Version) Have life and peace followed the pope's action? or has death?
What, then, does it mean to be spiritually minded? Jesus said concerning Jehovah God his Father - “God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4-24) To ha\e an understanding and appreciation of the expression “spiritually minded” the worshiper must have a knowledge of God Jehovah, that great Spirit, and what is his mind. Jehovah is supreme. His power is irresistible For him to think of a thing to be done, and to will that it be done, means that such thing shall be done He puts his spirit upon his obedient creatures That means that the power of Jehovah God moves such creatures in the way of righteousness. Such power or spirit is invisible to human eyes, yet the result of its operation is often visible to human eyes. The creature may be entirely without power to accomplish anything; but when Jehovah puts his spirit on that creature and wills that he should accomplish something, the creature can accomplish what God wills for him to accomplish Christ Jesus is the express image of the Father, Jehovah. At all times Christ Jesus has had his mind in harmony with Jehovah. All who are in Christ Jesus and who continue to please Jehovah must be in full aceord with the mind of Jehovah God. Hence “spiritually minded” means having the mind that is diligent in ascertaining God’s will and that is set upon doing and maintaining an unbending determination to do the will of the great Spirit, regardless of what any other creature might think or say. Action in doing God's will results
The mind of a creature is that faculty with which God has endowed it for searching out the truth and reaching a conclusion on it, which conclusion leads the creature to act The creature’s will is the fixed determination to act, which determination is reached by the exercise of his thoughts. Having his mind set on ascertaining God s will and having an unbending determination to do that will when ascertained, he never willingly deviates therefrom To those who have determined to do the will of God the great Spirit it is the reasonable thing to devote themselves wholly to Him, so the apostle Paul writes, and then he adds “And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1,2) This proves that a man cannot be conformed to this world of religion, politics and commerce if he would have the mind of Christ Jesus perfected in him He must get away from the world by the renewing of his mind, which renewing is accomplished by feeding the mind upon the Word of God as written in The Bible Thus he ascertains the will of the great Spirit, Jehovah God, and then he must do that will.
Many professing Christians, under religious advice, have concluded that they must pursue a course of action among their fellows that would bring the approval of their fellow creatures and thus cause themselves to be honored by men Having such a mind, they have sought the best positions in the congregation and have endeavored to exhibit their natural ability and their knowledge of the Scriptures, and this they have called “spirituality”. Many such got themselves elected to the so-called “office of elder” but failed to become elders in fact according to the Scriptures. Convincing themselves that they were better than their so-thought “weaker brethren", or ‘‘less spiritual” ones, they have declined to take part in what appeared to them to be the more ordinary service of a follower of Christ, namely, to go from house to house preaching the gospel by means of exhibiting that message in printed form at the doors of the people regardless of religious creed. It is manifest that such ‘‘Christians’’, so called, regardless of their position among men, have not had the mind of Christ, hence have not been spiritually minded. To be spiritually minded or have the mind of Christ is not to seek or receive honor from men. not to think of oneself more highly than one ought to think A follower of the Son of God must think sanely, and he can be sane only when he thinks in harmony with God's Word. — John 5:41; Rom. 12:3.
…