Publication date
9/1/12
Volume
33
Number
17
The WatchTower
The New Creature's Responsibility to Divine Law
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1912/17/1912-17-1.html
 
 
 
(266-271) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKI.YN, 
N. 
Y. 
surprise 
that 
the 
Great 
Teacher, 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
above 
Scripture, 
spoke 
always 
to 
the 
people 
in 
symbolic 
language, 
''<lark 
sayings," 
the 
meaning 
of 
which 
they 
rarely 
understood. 
Another 
Scripture 
informs 
us 
that 
the 
reason 
was 
that 
the 
true 
invitation 
was 
not 
intended 
for 
the 
ordinary 
multitudes, 
but 
merely 
for 
the 
consecrated. 
To 
those 
who 
acr'epted 
the 
Lord 
as 
the 
Savior, 
and 
who 
took 
upon 
themselves 
the 
required 
vow 
of 
faithfulness 
in 
walking 
in 
his 
footsteps 
unto 
death-these 
were 
granted 
special 
enlighten­ 
ment, 
as 
it 
is 
written, 
"To 
you 
it 
is 
given 
to 
know 
the 
mystery 
of 
the 
kingdom 
of 
heaven, 
hut 
to 
outsiders 
these 
things 
are 
spoken 
in 
parables, 
that 
they 
might 
not 
sec 
and 
understand." 
The 
simple 
explanation 
of 
the 
matter 
is 
that 
an 
understand­ 
ing 
of 
spiritual 
things 
woulrI 
rio 
harm 
rather 
than 
good 
to 
those 
not 
spiritually 
begottpn-to 
those 
not 
fully 
consecrated 
to 
the 
rlivine 
will. 
But 
with 
the 
views 
we 
onpe 
entertained, 
and 
which 
are 
voiced 
by 
all 
the 
ereerIs 
of 
the 
dark 
ages, 
none 
of 
the 
ex­ 
planationR 
would 
be 
ten 
a 
hie; 
because, 
according 
to 
those 
creeds, 
only 
the 
elect 
are 
to 
be 
saved. 
all 
the 
non-elect 
are 
to 
be 
lost, 
and 
the 
elect 
woulel 
be 
the 
only 
ones 
permitted 
to 
understand 
the 
things 
pertaining 
to 
the 
heavenly 
calling. 
Tbe 
entire 
mattpr 
iR 
clarifierI 
when 
we 
repognize 
the 
differ­ 
ence 
between 
the 
salvation 
of 
the 
world 
to 
the 
human 
nature, 
during 
Messiah's 
reign 
of 
a 
thousanel 
years, 
and 
the 
salvation 
provided 
for 
the 
elect. 
pallprl 
during 
this 
age, 
and 
specially 
in­ 
Rtructed 
and 
guided 
with 
the 
view 
of 
their 
making 
their 
calling 
and 
election 
sure. 
THE 
APOSTLES 
.JESUS' 
MOUTHPIECES 
It 
has 
been 
claimed 
that 
the 
doctrines 
of 
Christianity 
can 
be 
better 
glpaned 
from 
the 
writings 
of 
the 
apostles 
than 
from 
the 
Rayings 
of 
Jesus, 
as 
reported 
in 
the 
Gospels. 
There 
is 
consider­ 
able 
truth 
in 
this 
claim, 
and 
the 
reason 
is 
manifest; 
namely, 
.Tesus' 
words 
were 
addressed 
mainly 
to 
the 
multitudes, 
and 
when 
he 
addressed 
the 
disciples 
he 
could 
not 
discuss 
even 
with 
them 
deep, 
spiritual 
truths, 
because 
they 
had 
not 
been 
begotten 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit, 
and 
therefore 
could 
not 
understand 
spiritual 
things. 
Jesus 
himself 
declared, 
"1 
have 
many 
things 
to 
tell 
you, 
but 
ye 
cannot 
bear 
them 
now." 
On 
one 
occasion 
our 
Lord's 
words 
were 
so 
deep, 
so 
highly 
figurative, 
that 
many 
of 
his 
followers 
left 
him, 
saying, 
"This 
is 
a 
hard 
(difficult) 
saying, 
who 
can 
understand 
it?" 
(John 
6:60) 
The 
saying 
was. 
"Unless 
ye 
pat 
the 
flesh 
and 
drink 
the 
blood 
of 
the 
Son 
of 
Man, 
ye 
have 
no 
life 
in 
you." 
God's 
conse­ 
crated 
and 
spirit-enlightened 
people 
can 
understand 
that 
state­ 
ment, 
but 
none 
othE'rR 
can 
even 
yet 
understand 
it. 
St. 
Paul 
explains 
the 
reason 
why. 
Raying, 
"The 
natural 
man 
receiveth 
not 
the 
things 
of 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
. 
. 
. 
neither 
can 
he 
know 
them, 
for 
they 
are 
spiritually 
discerned."-1 
Cor. 
2: 
14. 
"AFTER 
YE 
WERE 
ILLUMINATED" 
St. 
Paul 
giveR 
the 
key 
to 
the 
situation 
in 
one 
of 
his 
Epistles, 
Raying. 
"After 
that 
ye 
were 
illuminated, 
ye 
endured 
a 
great 
fight 
of 
afflietions." 
(Heb. 
10: 
32) 
The 
illumination 
received 
waR 
the 
bpgptting 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
Similarly, 
the 
apostleR 
at 
Pentecost 
rpprived 
an 
illumination 
of 
the 
mind 
which 
enabled 
thrm 
to 
unrIerstand 
thE' 
things 
of 
God, 
yea, 
the 
deep 
things 
of 
God: 
for 
he 
hath 
given 
unto 
us 
his 
Spirit, 
"that 
we 
might 
know 
thE' 
things 
whiph 
are 
frE'rly 
given 
us 
of 
God."-l 
Cor. 
2: 
12. 
Jesus 
had 
this 
same 
thought 
in 
mind 
when 
he 
declared 
that 
thf'fe 
were 
crrtain 
thingR 
hiR 
disciples 
could 
not 
understand 
at 
that 
timr. 
but 
would 
know 
afterwards, 
berause 
he 
would 
send 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
whiph 
would 
bring 
all 
things 
to 
their 
remem­ 
branpe 
~vhatsoevpr 
he 
had 
spoken; 
and 
would 
show 
them 
things 
to 
come. 
(.Tohn 
14:26; 
16:13) 
ThiR 
was 
not 
only 
true 
with, 
the 
apostles, 
hut 
haR 
hepn 
tnlE' 
with 
respect 
to 
all 
the 
members 
of 
the 
hody 
of 
Christ 
throughout 
this 
age. 
Each 
one 
presenting 
his 
hody 
a 
living 
Racrifice 
has 
brE'n 
accepted 
by 
the 
great 
Advo­ 
rate, 
and 
pre 
Rented 
as 
a 
part 
of 
his 
own 
offering; 
and 
then 
the 
offerer 
has 
bE'en 
bpgotten 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
to 
be 
a 
new 
creature 
in 
Christ. 
It 
iR 
to 
these 
npw 
creature!! 
that 
the 
statement 
is 
made, 
"All 
things 
are 
yourR, 
for 
ye 
are 
Christ'R, 
and 
Christ 
is 
God's." 
It 
is 
to 
these 
the 
Bible 
has 
promised, 
"He 
will 
show 
you 
things 
to 
come." 
It 
is 
these 
that 
are 
to 
be 
guided 
into 
all 
truth 
as 
it 
shall 
become 
due. 
It 
is 
for 
thcse 
that 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
is 
a 
storehouse, 
from 
which 
"things 
both 
new 
and 
old" 
are 
to 
be 
produced 
under 
the 
Spirit's 
guidance, 
as 
they 
become 
"meat 
in 
due 
season" 
to 
the 
"household 
of 
faith." 
BABES 
IN 
CHRIST 
AND 
MEN 
Along 
the 
same 
line 
we 
note 
the 
fact 
that 
even 
the 
spirit­ 
begotten 
new 
creatures 
must 
make 
progress 
in 
their 
apprecia­ 
tion 
of 
spiritual 
things. 
The 
Apostle 
urges 
such 
that 
"As 
new 
born 
babes 
they 
should 
desire 
the 
sincere 
milk 
of 
the 
Word, 
that 
they 
might 
grow 
thereby." 
And 
the 
growth 
is 
necessary 
if 
they 
would 
attain 
joint-heirship 
in 
the 
kingdom; 
hence 
the 
Apostle 
again 
urges 
that 
each 
seek 
not 
to 
continue 
a 
babe, 
but 
to 
be­ 
come 
a 
man, 
and 
to 
use 
the 
"strong 
meat" 
of 
divine 
truth. 
By 
becoming 
a 
man, 
he 
is 
sanctified, 
developed 
as 
a 
new 
creature 
and 
filled 
with 
the 
Spirit, 
and 
"thoroughly 
furnished 
unto 
every 
good 
work," 
by 
knowledge 
of 
the 
~Tord 
of 
God. 
It 
must 
have 
been 
a 
difficult 
matter 
for 
our 
Lord, 
in 
teach­ 
ing, 
to 
follow 
the 
rule 
which 
he 
gave 
to 
his 
disciples, 
namely, 
to 
"be 
wise 
as 
a 
serpent 
and 
harmless 
as 
a 
dove." 
Appreciat­ 
ing 
the 
divine 
plan 
fully, 
completely, 
he 
must 
frequently 
have 
had 
a 
yearning 
desire 
to 
tell 
his 
beloved 
followers 
more 
of 
the 
mysteries 
and 
deep 
things 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
than 
they 
were 
able 
to 
appreciate. 
"SPIRIT 
AND 
LIFE" 
WORDS 
Now 
our 
text: 
"The 
words 
that 
1 
speak 
unto 
you, 
they 
are 
spirit 
and 
they 
are 
life." 
Here 
was 
another 
endeavor 
to 
im­ 
press 
his 
dear 
disciples 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
they 
should 
not 
take 
his 
words 
too 
literally, 
but 
should 
look 
for 
the 
depper 
meaning. 
Furthermore, 
they 
were 
to 
remember 
that 
they 
could 
not 
expect 
to 
get 
that 
deep 
meaning 
until 
after 
the 
Master's 
ascension; 
as 
he 
said, 
"It 
is 
expedient 
for 
you 
that 
1 
go 
away: 
for 
if 
1 
go 
not 
away 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
will 
not 
come 
unto 
you; 
but 
if 
I 
go 
away 
I 
will 
send 
him 
unto 
you"; 
"for 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
was 
not 
yet 
given, 
because 
Jesus 
was 
not 
yet 
glorified."-John 
16:7; 
7:39. 
Jesus 
was 
not 
glorified 
because 
his 
glorification 
would 
not 
take 
place 
until 
his 
resurrection, 
and 
in 
a 
fuller 
sense 
until 
his 
ascension 
to 
the 
Most 
Holy 
on 
High, 
there 
to 
appear 
in 
the 
pres­ 
ence 
of 
God 
on 
our 
behalf-to 
make 
application 
of 
the 
merit 
of 
his 
sacrifice 
for 
those 
who 
have 
consecraterl 
to 
walk 
in 
his 
steps. 
It 
was, 
therefore, 
after 
they 
had 
been 
illuminated 
that 
the 
apostles 
and 
others 
of 
the 
church 
understood 
the 
meaning 
of 
this 
text, 
that 
the 
words 
of 
Jesus 
were 
spiritual 
and 
couM 
bp 
understood 
only 
by 
those 
possessing 
the 
spiritual 
key, 
the 
illu­ 
mination 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
The 
Master's 
words 
were 
"wordR 
of 
life" 
in 
the 
sense 
that 
they 
conveyed 
the 
great 
message 
of 
the 
terms 
upon 
which 
we 
may 
have 
everlasting 
life 
and 
become 
llis 
joint-heirs. 
Although 
the 
apostles 
explain 
the 
philosophy 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
in 
great 
detail, 
and 
mention 
more 
than 
did 
Jesus, 
yet 
in 
his 
sayings 
we 
find 
the 
very 
essence 
or 
kernel 
of 
the 
Gospe1. 
Nowhere 
are 
the 
terms 
of 
discipleship 
more 
carefully 
laid 
down 
than 
in 
,Jesus' 
words, 
because 
the 
disciples 
could 
understand 
what 
would 
be 
the 
meaning 
of 
the 
figures 
of 
self-rlenial, 
crosR-bearing, 
and 
walking 
in 
his 
steps, 
even 
if 
they 
could 
not 
understand 
the 
phil­ 
osophy 
of 
justification, 
sanctification, 
election 
and 
divine 
fore­ 
knowledge. 
From 
Jesus' 
words 
more 
clearly 
than 
from 
any 
other 
words 
we 
get 
the 
thought 
of 
the 
"water 
of 
life," 
and 
how 
it 
is 
now 
in 
his 
followers 
a 
"spring" 
of 
truth, 
grape 
and 
everlasting 
life. 
Nowhere 
else 
do 
we 
more 
clearly 
get 
the 
general 
statement 
that 
the 
Father 
hath 
life 
in 
himRelf. 
and 
hath 
granted 
unto 
the 
Son 
life 
in 
himself, 
and 
that 
he 
might 
share 
this 
life 
with 
his 
dis­ 
ciples-with 
whomsoever 
he 
would. 
Thus, 
as 
St. 
Paul 
says, 
the 
words 
of 
this 
salvation 
in 
which 
we 
rejoice 
began 
to 
be 
spoken 
by 
our 
Lord. 
It 
is 
he 
also 
that 
declared 
that 
he 
brought 
life 
and 
immortality 
to 
light, 
thus 
distinguiRhing 
between 
the 
gen­ 
eral 
reward 
of 
everlasting 
life 
to 
be 
given 
to 
the 
world, 
and 
the 
special 
reward 
to 
be 
granted 
to 
the 
church. 
VOL. 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
SEPTEMBER 
1, 
1912 
No. 
17 
THE 
NEW 
CREATURE'S 
RESPONSIBILITY 
TO 
DIVINE 
LAW 
PART 
1. 
Thp 
Law 
Covenant 
waR 
a 
povenant 
that 
God 
made 
with 
Covenant, 
then-under 
the 
Law 
Covenant. 
the 
covenant 
of 
Lirapl, 
baRNI 
upon 
thp 
J<ppping' 
of 
the 
law, 
which 
was 
briefly 
the 
flesh-up 
to 
the 
time 
when 
he 
was 
thirty 
years 
of 
age. 
('xprr~~pd 
in 
thp 
Ten 
Comm.1nrlments. 
The 
Apostle 
Paul 
says 
\Ye 
have 
no 
record 
whatever 
respecting 
our 
Lord'·s 
that 
Ollr 
Lord 
was 
born 
under 
the 
law 
(Gal. 
4:4); 
not 
under 
obedipnre 
to 
the 
law 
before 
he 
became 
of 
age, 
although 
wp 
the 
Tpn 
Commandments 
merely. 
but 
undrr 
thr 
Law 
Covenant. 
havE' 
rvery 
reason 
to 
believe 
that 
he 
kept 
the 
Law 
Covenant. 
This 
Law 
Covenant, 
the 
Apo~tle 
elsewherr 
shows. 
was 
that 
But 
the 
time 
of 
his 
special 
trial 
began 
at 
his 
baptism. 
The 
arldition 
to 
the 
Abrahamic 
Covenant 
which 
wns 
typified 
by 
fnrt 
that 
God 
was 
willing 
to 
enter 
into 
a 
covenant 
of 
sacrifice 
Hagar 
and 
not 
by 
Sarah, 
Our 
Lord 
waR 
under 
this 
Hagar 
with 
our 
Lord 
shows 
that 
he 
was 
perfect 
at 
that 
time. 
Our 
[5088] 
(266-271) surprise that the Great Teacher, in harmony with the above Scripture, spoke always to the people in symbolic language, “dark sayings,” the meaning of which they rarely understood. Another Scripture informs us that the reason was that the true invitation was not intended for the ordinary multitudes, but merely for the consecrated. To those who accepted the Lord as the Savior, and who took upon themselves the required vow of faithfulness in walking in his footsteps unto death—these were granted special enlightenment, as it is written, “To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, but to outsiders these things are spoken in parables, that they might not see and understand.” The simple explanation of the matter is that an understanding of spiritual things would do harm rather than good to those not spiritually begotten—to those not fully consecrated to the divine will. But with the views we once entertained, and which are voiced by all the creeds of the dark ages, none of the explanations would be tenable; because, according to those creeds, only the elect are to be saved, all the non-elect are to be lost, and the elect would be the only ones permitted to understand the things pertaining to the heavenly calling. The entire matter is clarified when we recognize the difference between the salvation of the world to the human nature, during Messiah’s reign of a thousand years, and the salvation provided for the elect, called during this age, and specially instructed and guided with the view of their making their calling and election sure. THE APOSTLES JESUS’ MOUTHPIECES It has been claimed that the doctrines of Christianity can be better gleaned from the writings of the apostles than from the sayings of Jesus, as reported in the Gospels. There is considerable truth in this claim, and the reason is manifest; namely, Jesus’ words were addressed mainly to the multitudes, and when he addressed the disciples he could not discuss even with them deep, spiritual truths, because they had not been begotten of the holy Spirit, and therefore could not understand spiritual things. Jesus himself declared, “I have many things to tell you, but ye cannot bear them now.” On one oceasion our Lord’s words were so deep, so highly figurative, that many of his followers left him, saying, “This is a hard (difficult) saying, who can understand it? (John 6:60) The saying was, “Unless ye eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, ye have no life in you.” God’s conseerated and spirit-enlightened people can understand that statement, but none others can even yet understand it. St. Paul explains the reason why. saying, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.”—1 Cor. 2:14, ‘AFTER YE WERE ILLUMINATED’’ St. Paul gives the key to the situation in one of his Epistles, saying, “After that ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions.” (Heb. 10:32) The illumination received was the begetting of the holy Spirit. Similarly, the apostles at Pentecost received an illumination of the mind which enabled them to understand the things of God, yea, the deep things of God; for he hath given unto us his Spirit, “that we might know the things which are freely given us of God.”—1 Cor. 2:12. Jesus had this same thought in mind when he declared that there were certain things his disciples could not understand at that time. but would know afterwards, hecause he would send the holy Spirit, which would bring all things to their remembrance whatsoever he had spoken; and would show them things to come. (John 14:26; 16:13) This was not only true with the apostles, but has heen true with respect to all the members of the body of Christ throughout this age. Each one presenting his body a living sacrifice has been accepted by the great Advocate, and presented as a part of his own offering; and then the offerer has been begotten of the holy Spirit to be a new creature in Christ. It is to these new creatures that the statement is made, “All things are yours, for ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.” It THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. is to these the Bible has promised, “He will show you things to come.” It is these that are to be guided into all truth as it shall become due. It is for these that the Word of God is a storehouse, from which “things both new and old” are to be produced under the Spirit’s guidance, as they become “meat in due season” to the “household of faith.” BABES IN CHRIST AND MEN Along the same line we note the fact that even the spiritbegotten new creatures must make progress in their appreciation of spiritual things. The Apostle urges such that “As new born babes they should desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they might grow thereby.” And the growth is necessary if they would attain joint-heirship in the kingdom; hence the Apostle again urges that each seek not to continue a babe, but to become a man, and to use the “strong meat” of divine truth. By becoming a man, he is sanctified, developed as a new creature and filled with the Spirit, and “thoroughly furnished unto every good work,” by knowledge of the Word of God. It must have been a difficult matter for our Lord, in teaching, to follow the rule which he gave to his disciples, namely, to “be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.” Appreciating the divine plan fully, completely, he must frequently have had a yearning desire to tell his beloved followers more of the mysteries and deep things of the divine plan than they were able to appreciate. ‘“‘SPIRIT AND LIFE’’ WORDS Now our text: “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” Here was another endeavor to impress his dear disciples with the thought that they should not take his words too literally, but should look for the deeper meaning. Furthermore, they were to remember that they could not expect to get that deep meaning until after the Master’s ascension; as he said, “It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away the holy Spirit will not come unto you; but if I go away I will send him unto you”; “for the holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”—John 16:7; 7:39. Jesus was not glorified because his glorification would not take place until his resurrection, and in a fuller sense until his ascension to the Most Holy on High, there to appear in the presence of God on our behalf—to make application of the merit of his sacrifice for those who have consecrated to walk in his steps. It was, therefore, after they had been illuminated that the apostles and others of the church understood the meaning of this text, that the words of Jesus were spiritual and could be understood only by those possessing the spiritual key, the illumination of the holy Spirit. The Master’s words were “words of life” in the sense that they conveyed the great message of the terms upon which we may have everlasting life and become his joint-heirs. Although the apostles explain the philosophy of the divine plan in great detail, and mention more than did Jesus, yet in his sayings we find the very essence or kernel of the Gospel. Nowhere are the terms of discipleship more carefully laid down than in Jesus’ words, because the disciples could understand what would be the meaning of the figures of self-denial, cross-bearing, and walking in his steps, even if they could not understand the philosophy of justification, sanctification, election and divine foreknowledge, From Jesus’ words more clearly than from any other words we get the thought of the “water of life,” and how it is now in his followers a “spring” of truth, grace and everlasting life. Nowhere else do we more clearly get the general statement that the Father hath life in himself, and hath granted unto the Son life in himself, and that he might share this life with his disciples—with whomsoever he would. Thus, as St. Paul says, the words of this salvation in which we rejoice began to be spoken by our Lord. It is he also that declared that he brought life and immortality to light, thus distinguishing between the general reward of everlasting life to be given to the world, and the special reward to be granted to the church. Vou. XXXII BROOKLYN, N. Y., SEPTEMBER 1, 1912 No. 17 THE NEW CREATURE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO DIVINE LAW PART 1. The Law Covenant was a covenant that God made with Israel, based upon the keeping of the law, which was briefly expressed in the Ten Commandments, The Apostle Paul says that our Lord was born under the law (Gal. 4:4); not under the Ten Commandments merely, but under the liaaw Covenant. This Law Covenant, the Apostle elsewhere shows. was that addition to the Abrahamic Covenant which was typified by Hagar and not by Sarah, Our Lord was under this Hagar Covenant, then—under the Law Covenant, the covenant of the flesh—up to the time when he was thirty years of age. We have no record whatever respecting our Lord’s obedience to the law before he became of age, although we have every reason to believe that he kept the Law Covenant. But the time of his special trial began at his baptism. The fact that God was willing to enter into a covenant of sacrifice with our Lord shows that he was perfect at that time. Our [5088]

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