Publication date
8/15/12
Volume
33
Number
16
The WatchTower
Mark of Crystallization of Character
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1912/16/1912-16-1.html
 
 
YOLo 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
AUGUST 
15, 
1912 
THE 
MARK 
OF 
CRYSTALLIZATION 
OF 
CHARACTER 
No. 
16 
"Brethren. 
I 
taunt 
not 
myself 
to 
have 
apprehended 
j 
but 
t7Ms 
one 
thing 
I 
do, 
forgetting 
those 
things 
that 
are 
behind, 
and 
reach­ 
ing 
forth 
unto 
those 
things 
whieh 
are 
before, 
I 
press 
toward 
the 
lcork 
for 
the 
prize 
of 
the 
high 
calling 
of 
God 
in 
Christ 
Jesus."-Phil. 
3: 
13, 
14. 
In 
the 
epistle 
to 
the 
Philippians, 
St. 
Paul 
expresses 
his 
full 
time 
of 
his 
consl'cration; 
and 
he 
maintainl'd 
himsrlf 
at 
the 
appreciation 
of 
his 
opportunity 
to 
gain 
a 
prize, 
something 
mark. 
As 
a 
sacrifice 
he 
would 
have 
heen 
acceptable 
at 
any 
worthy 
of 
laying 
hold 
upon, 
of 
grasping 
fully, 
of 
getting 
pos- 
time. 
It 
was 
his 
part 
to 
consecrate 
his 
life 
and 
not 
to 
hold 
session 
of. 
'Vhat 
was 
that 
for 
which 
the 
grl'at 
Apostle 
was 
it 
back. 
It 
was 
the 
Father's 
part 
so 
to 
arrange 
matters 
that 
striving 
and 
which 
he 
had 
not 
yet 
attained? 
He 
spoke 
of 
this 
the 
Jewfl 
might 
not 
take 
our 
Lord 
until 
the 
Father's 
hour 
for 
thing 
a" 
a 
prj,.:e, 
which 
he 
was 
pressing 
along 
to 
win. 
him 
had 
come. 
In 
everything 
that 
he 
did 
he 
suhmittrd 
him- 
'Ve 
may 
view 
"the 
mark 
for 
the 
prize 
of 
the 
high 
calling" 
self 
to 
the 
Father's 
will. 
Our 
Lortl 
spokr 
of 
his 
"cup" 
as 
the 
from 
two 
stanrlpoints, 
both 
of 
which 
are 
correct. 
From 
one 
one 
which 
the 
Father 
had 
preparcd 
for 
him.-.Tohn 
IS: 
11. 
standpoint, 
this 
mark 
is 
that 
of 
heart-likeness 
to 
God's 
dear 
If 
our 
Lord 
had 
dcterminl'rl 
for 
himself 
the 
timl' 
and 
the 
Son, 
of 
perfection 
of 
intention. 
of 
love 
for 
righteousness, 
for 
mannl'r 
of 
his 
dl'ath. 
then 
he 
wa,s 
pouring 
thp 
pup. 
If 
the 
Jews 
God, 
for 
tIl(' 
brethren 
of 
Christ. 
and 
for 
the 
world, 
even 
our 
had 
determined 
these 
points. 
then 
thry 
wert' 
pouring 
the 
cup. 
enemies. 
This 
degree 
of 
character-development 
should 
be 
at- 
But 
neither 
our 
Lord 
nor 
the 
,Jews 
did 
so. 
for 
hoth 
time 
and 
tained 
as 
early 
as 
possible 
in 
our 
Christian 
experience, 
and 
manner 
were 
foretold 
by 
the 
propheh. 
Onr 
Lord 
took 
the 
cup 
should 
be 
such 
that, 
were 
we 
to 
die 
at 
any 
time 
after 
its 
attain- 
and 
a('ceptf'd 
it 
as 
the 
Father's 
providence 
for 
him. 
If 
the 
ment, 
God 
would 
count 
us 
worthy 
of 
a 
share 
in 
the 
first 
resur- 
Father's 
providence 
had 
led 
to 
his 
death 
a 
year 
soonl'r 
or 
two 
rection. 
years 
soonl'r. 
if 
the 
Father's 
will 
had 
heen 
l'xpn'ssNI 
in 
onr 
From 
the 
other 
standpoint. 
this 
"mark 
for 
the 
prize 
of 
the 
Lord's 
crucifixion 
at 
an 
earlicr 
timl', 
evpn 
thl'n 
it 
would 
have 
high 
calling" 
is 
that 
of 
crystallization 
of 
character 
in 
the 
like- 
bl'en 
well 
with 
him. 
But 
he 
"learned 
obl'r!ience 
by 
the 
things 
ness 
of 
our 
Lord. 
After 
having 
attained 
a 
heart-likeness 
to 
which 
he 
sufTercd."-Heh. 
Ii: 
8: 
2: 
10. 
Christ, 
we 
must 
hold 
it 
fast, 
and 
see 
that 
in 
an 
the 
testings 
At 
Jordan 
our 
Lonl 
was 
shown 
to 
be 
perfcct 
and 
to 
have 
which 
the 
Lord 
permits 
to 
come 
upon 
us. 
we 
are 
counted 
by 
made 
a 
perfect 
('onsecration. 
both 
by 
the 
descl'nt 
of 
the 
holy 
him 
as 
overcomers, 
not 
in 
our 
own 
strength, 
but 
in 
that 
of 
our 
Spirit 
and 
by 
the 
voicf' 
of 
.Tehovah. 
(Matt. 
3: 
16. 
17) 
He 
had 
Redeemer. 
This 
mark 
of 
crystallized 
character 
is 
not 
attained 
also 
a 
perfect 
body-though 
it 
waR 
earthly-in 
whi('h 
the 
new 
so 
early 
in 
our 
Christian 
experience 
as 
is 
the 
mark 
of 
character- 
creature 
operated. 
But 
his 
ohedi('n('e 
must 
be 
teRted-his 
development. 
But 
by 
fighting 
the 
good 
fight 
until 
the 
end 
of 
loyalty 
even 
unto 
death. 
Whatever 
the 
degree 
of 
testing 
to 
our 
course, 
we 
crystallize 
our 
characters 
in 
love 
for 
the 
prin- 
which 
our 
Lord 
might 
have 
been 
suhjecterl. 
it 
waR 
just 
the 
cipleR 
of 
righteousness, 
for 
God, 
for 
the 
brethren 
and 
even 
for 
right 
amount. 
according 
to 
the 
Father's 
wisdom. 
Our 
Lord 
our 
enemiefl. 
If 
thus 
faithful, 
we 
shall 
win 
the 
prize 
of 
glory, 
would 
have 
been 
just 
aA 
mu('h 
an 
oveuom('r 
had 
he 
died 
at 
any 
honor 
and 
immortality. 
time 
after 
biA 
('onRe('ration. 
But 
if 
he 
had 
died 
flooner 
than 
PERFECTION, 
NOT 
CONSECRATION, 
THE 
MARK 
he 
did, 
it 
would 
merely 
have 
proved 
that 
the 
Father 
did 
not 
There 
is 
no 
reason 
to 
think 
that 
our 
conflecration 
is 
the 
require 
aA 
mu('h 
eviden('e 
of 
our 
Lord'A 
faithfulness 
and 
loyalty 
mark; 
for 
our 
testing. 
our 
proving 
comes 
after 
our 
eonseera- 
as 
he 
did 
require. 
tion, 
and 
not 
before 
it. 
No 
one 
would 
be 
at 
the 
mark 
merely 
OUR 
LORD 
AN 
OVERCOMER 
AT 
CONSECRATION 
because 
he 
iR 
conse('rated, 
but 
because 
he 
had 
endured 
the 
test- 
Here 
some 
one 
may 
aflk, 
"lfI 
it 
proper 
to 
say 
that 
our 
Lord 
ing, 
thus 
proving 
that 
hifl 
conse('ration 
was 
from 
the 
heart 
and 
was 
an 
overcomer 
as 
a 
new 
creature 
at 
the 
time 
when 
he 
made 
that 
he 
waA 
sincere 
in 
the 
devotion 
of 
his 
every 
power 
to 
the 
his 
consecration?" 
service 
of 
God. 
We 
cannot 
suppose 
that 
the 
mark 
is 
reached 
Our 
answer 
is, 
Yes. 
An 
overcomer 
is 
a 
vi('tor. 
The 
word 
the 
next 
moment 
after 
conflecration. 
Some 
degree 
of 
character- 
does 
not 
imply 
that 
a 
man 
haR 
('ompleted 
the 
victory. 
however; 
development 
must 
be 
pORsessed; 
there 
must 
be 
some 
mark 
of 
for 
we 
sometimes 
say. 
He 
will 
lead 
them 
from 
vi 
('tory 
to 
vic­ 
character. 
in 
order 
that 
God 
may 
count 
that 
person 
worthy 
of 
tory. 
So 
with 
our 
Lord. 
He 
continued 
faithful 
as 
an 
over­ 
everlasting 
life. 
comer 
down 
unto 
death; 
but 
he 
waA 
not 
counted 
aA 
an 
over- 
God's 
standard 
of 
character 
is 
perfection, 
which 
must 
be 
comer 
until 
death. 
Between 
the 
Father 
and 
our 
Lord 
as 
a 
maintained 
by 
loyalty 
and 
obedience 
under 
whatever 
tests 
he 
human 
being 
there 
was 
no 
Mediator, 
and 
as 
a 
new 
creature 
permits 
to 
come 
to 
individuals 
upon 
any 
plane 
of 
life. 
No 
one 
there 
was 
neither 
robe 
to 
cover 
nor 
advocate 
to 
r<>present 
in 
will 
get 
the 
prize 
of 
everlasting 
life 
unless 
he 
successfully 
case 
of 
any 
deviation 
from 
the 
will 
of 
God; 
and 
the 
slightest 
paRses 
those 
tests. 
'Ve 
realize 
that 
the 
church 
has 
been 
under 
deflection 
therefrom 
would 
have 
meant 
the 
second 
death. 
trial 
throughout 
the 
Gospel 
age, 
aA 
to 
her 
worthiness 
to 
obtain 
The 
Scriptures 
give 
us 
two 
picturefl 
of 
om 
Lord 
aA 
an 
over­ 
"glory, 
honor 
and 
immortality"-joint-heirship 
with 
her 
Lord. 
comer 
at 
his 
consecration, 
where 
he 
gained 
the 
first 
great 
vic- 
-R~~'-m8 
~~7e' 
ScriphIres 
we 
learn 
that 
throughout 
the 
Mes- 
tory 
over 
his 
flesh. 
The 
first 
of 
these 
pictures 
(Lev. 
16: 
11), 
the 
killing 
of 
the 
bullock 
on 
the 
Day 
of 
Atonement. 
represents 
sianic 
age 
the 
world 
will 
be 
tried 
by 
The 
Christ, 
and 
that 
even 
the 
death 
of 
our 
Lord's 
humanity 
at 
the 
moment 
when 
he 
('on­ 
after 
passing 
that 
test 
they 
will 
not 
receive 
the 
reward 
of 
ever- 
secrated 
himself 
at 
Jordan. 
There 
he 
gained 
a 
victory 
and 
laRting 
life 
until 
God 
Rhall 
have 
proved 
them 
at 
the 
end 
of 
continued 
victorious 
until 
the 
end 
of 
his 
('ourse. 
Christ's 
reign 
by 
loosing 
Satan 
for 
a 
"little 
season." 
(I 
Cor. 
d 
lli:24; 
Rev. 
20:7-10) 
The 
fact 
that 
the 
world 
ifl 
thus 
to 
be 
The 
second 
picture 
is 
found 
in 
Rev. 
1i:2-7. 
Here 
our 
Lor 
G 
is 
represented 
by 
a 
newly 
slain 
lamb. 
He 
was 
not 
this 
newly 
tried 
by 
both 
The 
Christ 
and 
od 
confirms 
the 
thought 
that 
slain 
lamb 
at 
his 
death 
when 
he 
had 
finished 
hiR 
course. 
but 
God 
has 
a 
standard. 
or 
mark. 
of 
character 
to 
be 
attained 
by 
at 
his 
conReeration. 
when 
he 
began 
his 
('ourse. 
The 
proc1ama­ 
all 
those 
who 
are 
loyal.and 
obedient 
to 
him-on 
any 
plane 
of 
tion 
whi('h 
the 
Revelator 
hl'ard 
was. 
"'Vho 
is 
worthv, 
to 
open 
the 
existen('e. 
book, 
and 
to 
loose 
the 
seals 
thereof?" 
'Ve 
read 
that 
John 
wept 
'Vhile 
this 
mark 
of 
character 
to 
be 
attained 
by 
the 
world 
much. 
"And 
one 
of 
the 
elders 
saith 
unto 
me, 
'Veep 
not: 
be- 
during 
Messiah's 
reign 
is 
not 
the 
one 
to 
which 
St. 
Paul 
refers 
hold 
the 
Lion 
of 
the 
tribe 
of 
Judah, 
the 
Root 
of 
David. 
hath 
in 
our 
text, 
neverthelesR 
there 
is 
such 
a 
character-mark 
to 
be 
f 
reached 
bv 
mankind. 
Those 
who 
then 
attain 
the 
mark 
will 
prevailed 
to 
open 
the 
book 
and 
to 
loose 
the 
seven 
seals 
thereo 
have 
ewriasting 
life 
on 
the 
human 
plane. 
But 
those 
who 
at- 
. 
. 
. 
. 
And 
he 
came 
and 
took 
the 
book 
out 
of 
the 
right 
hand 
tain 
thl' 
mark 
to 
whidl 
the 
Apostle 
refers 
will 
be 
given 
eternal 
of 
him 
that 
sat 
upon 
the 
throne." 
Our 
Lord 
alone 
was 
worthy 
of 
the 
honor 
of 
receiving 
the 
divine 
plan 
into 
his 
care. 
We 
also 
life 
on 
the 
divine 
plane. 
read 
that 
John 
looked 
and 
saw 
the 
newly 
slain 
Lamb 
open 
the 
THE 
MARK 
OF 
CHARACTER-CRYSTALLIZATION 
book.-Rev.6. 
The 
Apostle 
was 
a 
noble 
example 
of 
one 
who 
had 
reached 
After 
our 
Lord 
had 
entered 
upon 
his 
consecration 
he 
was 
the 
mark. 
So 
far 
as 
we 
know, 
he 
was 
ready 
to 
die 
at 
any 
the 
newly 
slain 
Lamb. 
Then 
the 
Father 
gave 
into 
his 
hand 
time; 
hen('e 
it 
was 
not 
this 
mark 
of 
character-development 
to 
the 
scron 
of 
the 
great 
divine 
plan 
of 
the 
ages-the 
scroll 
written 
whi('h 
he 
had 
not 
attained. 
He 
had 
not 
vet 
attained 
to 
the 
on 
both 
inside 
and 
outside. 
The 
outside 
he 
was 
already 
able 
prize 
itself. 
anrl 
could 
not 
do 
so 
until 
his 
change 
should 
come. 
to 
read. 
But 
the 
inside. 
which 
contained 
information 
on 
spir­ 
He 
waR 
constantly 
pressing 
along. 
trusting 
that 
God 
would 
itual 
things, 
remained 
sealed. 
give 
him 
all 
the 
things 
that 
are 
in 
reservation 
for 
"them 
that 
As 
soon 
as 
our'Lord 
came 
up 
out 
of 
the 
water 
after 
his 
love 
him." 
(I 
Cor. 
2: 
9) 
We 
could 
not 
think 
the 
Apostle 
to 
baptism, 
he 
was 
begotten 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
and 
began 
to 
under­ 
mean 
that 
he 
would 
reaeh 
this 
mark 
of 
character-development 
stand 
spiritual 
things. 
"The 
heavens 
[higher 
things] 
were 
opened 
just 
at 
the 
moment 
before 
death. 
This 
would 
be 
an 
absurdity 
unto 
him." 
The 
time 
when 
he 
began 
to 
be 
considered 
the 
slain 
of 
thought. 
Lamb, 
the 
time 
when 
the 
scroll 
was 
delivered 
to 
him, 
was 
the 
Our 
Lord 
Jesus 
was 
at 
the 
mark 
of 
perfect 
character 
at 
the 
time 
of 
his 
consecration. 
(255-256) 
[5080] 
Vou. XXXII BROOKLYN, N. Y., AUGUST 15, 1912 No. 16 THE MARK OF CRYSTALLIZATION OF CHARACTER “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the work for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’—Phil. 3:13, 14. In the epistle to the Philippians, St. Paul expresses his full appreciation of his opportunity to gain a prize, something worthy of laying hold upon, of grasping fully, of getting possession of. What was that for which the great Apostle was striving and which he had not yet attained? He spoke of this thing as a prize, which he was pressing along to win. We may view “the mark for the prize of the high calling” from two standpoints, both of which are correct. From one standpoint, this mark is that of heart-likeness to God’s dear Son, of perfection of intention, of love for righteousness, for God, for the brethren of Christ, and for the world, even our enemies. This degree of character-development should be attained as early as possible in our Christian experience, and should be such that, were we to die at any time after its attainment, God would count us worthy of a share in the first resurrection, From the other standpoint. this “mark for the prize of the high calling” is that of crystallization of character in the likeness of our Lord. After having attained a heart-likeness to Christ, we must hold it fast, and see that in all the testings which the Lord permits to come upon us, we are counted by him as overcomers, not in our own strength, but in that of our Redeemer. This mark of crystallized character is not attained so early in our Christian experience as is the mark of characterdevelopment. But by fighting the good fight until the end of our course, we crystallize our characters in love for the principles of righteousness, for God, for the brethren and even for our enemies. If thus faithful, we shall win the prize of glory, honor and immortality. PERFECTION, NOT CONSECRATION, THE MARK There is no reason to think that our consecration is the mark; for our testing, our proving comes after our consecration, and not before it. No one would be at the mark merely because he is consecrated, but because he had endured the testing, thus proving that his consecration was from the heart and that he was sincere in the devotion of his every power to the service of God. We cannot suppose that the mark is reached the next moment after consecration. Some degree of characterdevelopment must be possessed; there must be some mark of character, in order that God may count that person worthy of everlasting life. God’s standard of character is perfection, which must be maintained by loyalty and obedience under whatever tests he permits to come to individuals upon any plane of life. No one will get the prize of everlasting life unless he successfully passes those tests. We realize that the church has been under trial throughout the Gospel age, as to her worthiness to obtain “glory, honor and immortality’—joint-heirship with her Lord. —Rom. 8:17. From the Scriptures we learn that throughout the Messianic age the world will be tried by The Christ, and that even after passing that test they will not receive the reward of everlasting life until God shall have proved them at the end of Christ’s reign by loosing Satan for a “little season.” (1 Cor. 15:24; Rev. 20:7-10) The fact that the world is thus to be tried by both The Christ and God confirms the thought that God has a standard, or mark, of character to be attained by all those who are loyal and obedient to him—on any plane of existence. While this mark of character to be attained by the world during Messiah’s reign is not the one to which St. Paul refers in our text, nevertheless there is such a character-mark to be reached by mankind. Those who then attain the mark will have everlasting life on the human plane. But those who attain the mark to which the Apostle refers will be given eternal life on the divine plane. THE MARK OF CHARACTER-CRYSTALLIZATION The Apostle was a noble example of one who had reached the mark. So far as we know, he was ready to die at any time; hence it was not this mark of character-development to which he had not attained. He had not vet attained to the prize itself. and could not do so until his change should come. He was constantly pressing along, trusting that God would give him all the things that are in reservation for “them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) We could not think the Apostle to mean that he would reach this mark of character-development just at the moment before death. This would be an absurdity of thought. Our Lord Jesus was at the mark of perfect character at the (255-256) time of his consecration; and he maintained himself at the mark. As a sacrifice he would have been acceptable at any time. It was his part to consecrate his life and not to hold it back. It was the Father’s part so to arrange matters that the Jews might not take our Lord until the Father’s hour for him had come. In everything that he did he submitted himself to the Father’s will. Our Lord spoke of his “cup” as the one which the Father had prepared for him—John 18:11. If our Lord had determined for himself the time and the manner of his death, then he was pouring the cup. If the Jews had determined these points, then they were pouring the cup. But neither our Lord nor the Jews did so, for hoth time and manner were foretold by the prophets. Our Lord took the cup and accepted it as the Father's providence for him. If the Father’s providence had led to his death a year sooner or two years sooner, if the Father’s will had been expressed in our Lord’s crucifixion at an earlicr time, even then it would have been well with him. But he “learned obedience by the things which he suffered.”—Heb. 5:8; 2:10. At Jordan our Lord was shown to he perfect and to have made a perfect consecration. both by the descent of the holy Spirit and by the voice of Jehovah. (Matt. 3:16.17) He had also a perfect body—though it was earthly—in which the new creature operated. But his obedience must be tested—his loyalty even unto death. Whatever the degree of testing to which our Lord might have been subjected, it was just the right amount, according to the Father’s wisdom. Our Lord would have been just as much an overcomer had he died at any time after his consecration. But if he had died sooner than he did, it would merely have proved that the Father did not require as much evidence of our Lord’s faithfulness and loyalty as he did require. OUR LORD AN OVERCOMER AT CONSECRATION Here some one may ask, “Is it proper to say that our Lord wag an overcomer as a new creature at the time when he made his consecration?” Our answer is, Yes. An overcomer is a victor. The word does not imply that a man has completed the victory, however ; for we sometimes say, He will lead them from victory to vietory. So with our Lord. He continued faithful ag an overcomer down unto death; but he was not counted as an overcomer until death. Between the Father and our Lord as a human being there was no Mediator, and as a new creature there was neither robe to cover nor advocate to represent in case of any deviation from the will of God; and the slightest deflection therefrom would have meant the second death. The Scriptures give us two pictures of our Lord as an overcomer at his consecration, where he gained the first great victory over his flesh. The first of these pictures (Lev. 16:11), the killing of the bullock on the Day of Atonement, represents the death of our Lord’s humanity at the moment when he consecrated himself at Jordan. There he gained a victory and continued victorious until the end of his course. The second picture is found in Rev. 5:2-7. Here our Lord is represented by a newly slain lamb. He was not this newly slain lamb at his death when he had finished his course, but at his consecration, when he began his course. The proclamation which the Revelator heard was. “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” We read that John wept much, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof .... And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.” Our Lord alone was worthy of the honor of receiving the divine plan into his care. We also read that John looked and saw the newly slain Lamb open the book.—Rev. 6. After our Lord had entered upon his consecration he was the newly slain Lamb. Then the Father gave into his hand the scroll of the great divine plan of the ages—the scroll written on both inside and outside. The outside he was already able to read. But the inside, which contained information on spiritual things, remained sealed. As soon as our’Lord came up out of the water after his baptism, he was begotten of the holy Spirit and began to understand spiritual things, “The heavens [higher things] were opened unto him.” The time when he began to be considered the slain Lamb, the time when the scroll was delivered to him, wag the time of his consecration. [5080]

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