Publication date
12/1/14
Volume
35
Number
23
The WatchTower
Spirit-Begotten Sons of God and Their Development
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1914/23/1914-23-1.html
 
 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y. 
grounds 
packed 
full 
every 
time 
(1,400 
visitors), 
so 
that 
more 
than 
12,000 
people 
saw 
and 
profited 
thereby. 
Tomorrow 
we 
start 
again 
in 
Zurich 
(largest 
city 
in 
Swit­ 
zerland). 
As 
we 
have 
no 
phonograph 
records 
I 
must 
read 
the 
lectures. 
In 
France 
we 
were 
not 
able 
to 
do 
anything. 
Many 
of 
the 
brethren 
are 
in 
military 
service, 
and 
I 
might 
be 
called 
in 
any 
day. 
The 
bank 
in 
Berne, 
where 
you 
sent 
the 
money, 
and 
which 
was, 
under 
normal 
conditions, 
a 
safe 
one, 
shut 
its 
doors, 
like 
all 
other 
banks, 
allowing 
only 
very 
small 
sums 
to 
go 
out. 
I 
succeeded, 
however, 
in 
getting 
more 
than 
half 
of 
the 
money 
by 
the 
following 
transaction: 
As 
the 
Government 
had 
put 
its 
hand 
over 
the 
banks, 
and 
as 
the 
brethren 
needed 
food, 
we 
put 
up 
a 
large 
stock 
of 
the 
most 
necessary 
articles, 
and 
the 
nll'rchants, 
presenting 
their 
bills 
for 
this 
eause 
to 
the 
bank, 
received 
payment, 
as 
this 
was 
in 
the 
intrrest 
of 
the 
Govern­ 
ment. 
As 
the 
social 
conditions 
will 
be 
still 
worse 
in 
winter 
we 
may 
be 
glad 
to 
have 
this 
lot 
of 
rice, 
dried 
bread, 
beans, 
condensed 
milk, 
rtc. 
I 
hope 
you 
approve 
this 
action, 
and 
would 
be 
glad 
if 
you 
eould 
advise 
us 
of 
other 
good 
means 
for 
ameliorating 
the 
great 
trilmlation 
which 
came 
so 
unexpectedly 
upon 
Europe. 
Many 
people 
have 
no 
work 
and 
many 
rJrethren 
in 
the 
truth 
have 
lost 
their 
positions. 
We 
tried 
to 
employ 
some 
as 
Colporteurs, 
but 
the 
people 
of 
the 
eities 
have 
little 
money 
and 
cannot 
buy 
books. 
In 
the 
country 
the 
people 
are 
in 
better 
circumstances 
and 
the 
colporteurs 
sell 
a 
few 
books 
every 
day. 
So 
we 
are 
trying 
to 
con­ 
tinue 
the 
harvest 
work 
until 
our 
Master 
calls 
us 
to 
the 
harvest 
beyond 
the 
veil. 
We 
may 
not 
be 
able 
to 
communicate 
with 
each 
other 
much 
longer, 
and 
I 
take 
this 
opportunity 
to 
say 
again 
how 
much 
I 
love 
you, 
including 
with 
mysdf 
my 
wife 
and 
many 
other 
dear 
friends, 
all 
of 
whom 
appreeiate 
the 
love 
and 
interest 
you 
have 
always 
manifeste(] 
toward 
us. 
Soon 
you 
will 
h('ar 
the 
bless('l] 
words, 
"Well 
done, 
good 
and 
faithful 
servant! 
Thou 
hast 
been 
faithful 
over 
a 
few 
things, 
I 
will 
now 
make 
thee 
ruler 
over 
many 
things, 
enter 
thou 
into 
the 
joys 
of 
thy 
Lord." 
With 
IJCarty 
greetings 
to 
you 
and 
the 
household 
of 
faith 
at 
Bethel, 
I 
remain, 
Your 
thankful 
hrother 
in 
the 
Lord. 
EMIL 
LANZ.-Switzerland. 
I. 
B. 
S. 
A. 
EUREKA 
DRAMA 
Dear 
Brethrrn 
:-Greetings 
in 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Lord! 
En­ 
closrd 
find 
report 
to 
date. 
The 
beginning 
of 
our 
Drama 
was 
on 
Thursday. 
We 
did 
not 
have 
time 
t.o 
advertise 
it, 
or 
we 
should 
have 
done 
so; 
hut 
the 
Lord 
permItted 
us 
to 
be 
greatly 
blessed 
in 
an 
ndvertising 
that 
we 
knew 
not 
of. 
A 
lady 
had 
advertised 
a 
Lodge 
meeting 
for 
the 
same 
night 
and 
at 
the 
same 
hall, 
not 
knowing 
we 
had 
rented 
the 
hall. 
She 
had 
secured 
a 
number 
of 
new 
members 
to 
be 
initiated. 
\\'hen 
she 
came 
she 
found 
the 
"picture-show" 
in 
progress, 
and 
began 
to 
devise 
means 
of 
getting 
the 
people 
out 
of 
our 
meeting. 
She 
sent 
the 
Town 
Marshall 
to 
notify 
them 
to 
come 
out. 
He 
saw 
the 
pictures 
and 
sat 
down 
and 
stayed 
until 
the 
close. 
.Finding 
the 
Town 
Marshall 
did 
not 
return, 
she 
asked 
our 
doorkeeper 
to 
help 
her. 
He 
replied 
that 
he 
could 
not 
see 
how 
he 
could 
get 
the 
people 
out; 
so 
she 
sent 
another 
man 
up. 
After 
looking 
oyer 
the 
shoulders 
of 
about 
thirty 
who 
were 
standing, 
he 
returned 
to 
the 
lady 
and 
said, 
"Lady, 
you 
had 
better 
go 
home; 
they 
have 
the 
finest 
pictures 
I 
ever 
saw, 
awl 
there 
is 
the 
'talkiest' 
man 
up 
there 
I 
ever 
h('aru! 
" 
She 
had 
six 
gallons 
of 
ice 
cream 
to 
treat 
her 
crowd, 
Lut 
she 
diun't 
get 
a 
chance 
to 
use 
it. 
"God 
moves 
in 
mysterious 
ways 
his 
wonders 
to 
perform." 
Our 
prayers 
go 
up 
daily 
for 
the 
Heads 
of 
the 
various 
departments 
of 
the 
Tabernacle 
Office, 
that 
they 
may 
haye 
more 
grace 
and 
wisdom 
in 
the 
work 
that 
remains 
to 
be 
accomplished. 
Love 
to 
all. 
Yours 
by 
His 
grace, 
B. 
A. 
GARR.-Ky. 
INTERESTING 
DRAMA 
EXPERIENCES 
Dear 
Brethren:- 
We 
are 
having 
some 
glorious 
encouragements 
in 
the 
work. 
There 
are 
wonderful 
crowds 
out 
here 
in 
Demorest. 
One 
man 
said, 
"It 
disgusts 
me 
to 
see 
how 
some 
of 
the 
very 
people 
who 
have 
misrepresented 
you 
folks 
are 
on 
hand 
early, 
and 
crowd 
forward 
to 
get 
the 
best 
seats." 
The 
Methodist 
minister 
was 
present 
on 
Sunday 
when 
part 
three 
was 
shown. 
During 
the 
crucifixion 
scene 
the 
power 
was 
temporarily 
shut 
off. 
While 
waiting 
for 
its 
return 
he 
got 
up 
and 
spoke 
of 
the 
wonderful 
impression 
made 
by 
the 
pictures, 
and 
told 
the 
people 
that 
they 
ought 
to 
have 
a 
deeper 
realiza­ 
tion 
of 
what 
the 
Savior 
had 
done 
for 
them 
as 
a 
result 
of 
the 
Photo-Drama 
of 
Creation. 
Truly 
our 
God 
is 
a 
wonder-working 
God. 
What 
faith 
these 
things 
should 
develop 
in 
us 
I 
A 
brother 
was 
telling 
at 
Convention 
about 
some 
ministers 
at 
a 
certain 
place 
where 
Drama 
was 
being 
shown, 
who 
were 
worrying 
for 
fear 
people 
would 
think 
they 
had 
something 
to 
do 
with 
it. 
A 
merchant 
present 
remarked, 
"There 
is 
no 
danger 
people 
will 
connect 
you 
with 
it, 
because 
it 
is 
conspicu­ 
ously 
announced 
there 
will 
be 
no 
collection." 
Y 
ours 
in 
Christian 
Love, 
B. 
H. 
BARTON. 
VOL. 
XXXV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
DECEMBER 
1, 
1914 
No. 
23 
SPIRIT-BEGOTTEN 
SONS 
OF 
GOD 
AND 
THEIR 
DEVELOPMENT 
"If 
ye 
through 
the 
Spirit 
do 
mortify 
the 
deeds 
of 
the 
flesh, 
ye 
shall 
live. 
For 
as 
many 
as 
are 
led 
by 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
they 
ar~ 
the 
sons 
of 
God."-Romans 
8:13, 
14. 
Only 
those 
who 
have 
the 
right 
spirit, 
disposition, 
will 
or 
they 
shall 
have 
been 
hrought 
back 
to 
the 
image 
of 
God 
in 
the 
intention, 
can 
keep 
the 
divine 
law, 
and 
only 
those 
who 
are 
in 
f1esh.-Genesis 
1 
:26. 
perfed 
harmony 
with 
God 
will 
he 
recognize 
as 
sons. 
The 
holy 
WHO 
ARE 
THE 
SONS 
OP 
GOD? 
angels 
are 
sons 
of 
God 
on 
the 
angelic 
plane; 
cherubim 
are 
sons 
Thus 
far 
there 
has 
been 
a 
very 
limited 
number 
of 
sons 
of 
God 
on 
their 
plane 
of 
heing; 
and 
Christ 
and 
the 
church 
in 
of 
God 
on 
earth, 
according 
to 
the 
Scriptures. 
Throughout 
the 
glory 
are 
sons 
of 
God 
on 
the 
divine 
plane. 
All 
these 
are 
sons 
.Jewish 
age 
God 
was 
the 
instructor 
and 
guide 
of 
his 
people 
of 
God, 
yet 
they 
exist 
on 
different 
planes. 
They 
are 
all 
gov- 
through 
Moses 
and 
the 
prophets; 
but 
the 
Israelites 
were 
not 
erned 
by 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God; 
and 
unless 
they 
had 
that 
Spirit, 
sons 
of 
God, 
and 
they 
did 
not 
have 
the 
Spirit's 
begetting 
to 
they 
could 
not 
he 
recognized 
;',s 
sons; 
for 
no 
one 
can 
keep 
the 
sonship. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
they 
were 
only 
a 
house 
of 
servants. 
divine 
law 
excc-pt 
those 
who 
have 
the 
divine 
disposition. 
(Hebrews 
3 
:5) 
The 
holy 
Spirit 
of 
God 
was 
not 
yet 
given 
to 
Before 
Adam 
fell 
he 
was 
a 
son 
of 
God. 
(Luke 
3: 
38) 
He 
any 
of 
the 
fallen 
race; 
for 
Jesus 
was 
not 
yet 
glorified.- 
had 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
in 
the 
sense 
of 
having 
the 
right 
spirit, 
John 
7 
:39. 
disposition, 
will, 
intention. 
But 
after 
he 
had 
become 
a 
trans- 
The 
Scriptures 
speak 
of 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God 
as 
a 
special 
gressor 
of 
the 
divine 
law, 
he 
was 
considered 
a 
sinner. 
All 
of 
influence 
coming 
from 
God 
upon 
a 
special 
class, 
in 
a 
special 
Adam's 
race 
are 
still 
sinners 
except 
those 
who 
have 
come 
into 
manner, 
since 
a 
particular 
event-and 
not 
before 
that 
event. 
Christ. 
In 
the 
Millennial 
age, 
however, 
Adam's 
race 
will 
have 
This 
coming 
of 
the 
Spirit 
was 
made 
manifest 
at 
Pentecost, 
tha 
privilege 
of 
coming 
into 
Christ. 
He 
will 
be 
The 
Everlast- 
so 
that 
it 
might 
stand 
out 
separate 
and 
distinct 
from 
anything 
ing 
Father, 
the 
Father 
who 
will 
give 
everlasting 
life 
to 
all 
that 
had 
ever 
before 
occurred. 
This 
power, 
or 
influence, 
is 
vari- 
those 
who 
will 
ohey 
the 
instructions 
given 
under 
the 
Messianic 
011s1y 
called 
the 
holy 
Spirit, 
the 
Spirit 
of 
God, 
the 
Spirit 
of 
kingdom. 
Christ, 
the 
Spirit 
of 
truth, 
the 
Spirit 
of 
a 
sound 
mind, 
the 
In 
order 
to 
reach 
that 
condition 
of 
divine 
approval, 
man- 
Spirit 
of 
sonship. 
The 
various 
qualities 
described 
by 
these 
kind 
must 
have 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
truth, 
and 
must 
be 
developed 
appellations 
are 
all 
applicahle 
to 
the 
same 
class; 
namely, 
those 
along 
that 
line. 
Before 
they 
will 
be 
counted, 
or 
recognized, 
who 
are 
begotten 
of 
the 
Spirit. 
as 
sons, 
th!'y 
mllst 
have 
the 
spirit, 
or 
disposition, 
of 
righteous- 
These 
spirit-begotten 
ones 
are 
a 
particular 
class 
who 
have 
ness. 
Until 
they 
attain 
that 
spirit, 
they 
will 
not 
be 
able 
to 
taken 
up 
their 
cross 
and 
become 
followers 
of 
Christ, 
and 
who 
render 
acceptable 
service; 
for 
the 
Lord 
seeketh 
such 
to 
worship 
are 
on 
this 
account 
recognized 
of 
the 
Father 
by 
the 
begetting 
him 
as 
worship 
him 
in 
spirit 
and 
in 
truth. 
In 
their 
fallen 
con- 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
This 
Spirit 
of 
truth 
so 
illuminates 
the 
dition 
mankind 
are 
not 
ahle 
to 
keep 
the 
divine 
law. 
Even 
dur- 
Bible 
that 
the 
Revelation 
of 
God 
may 
be 
better 
understood 
by 
ing 
the 
Millennial 
age 
they 
will 
keep 
it 
only 
in 
part, 
until 
those 
who 
have 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
They 
are 
able 
to 
comprehend 
[5582] 
(351-355) grounds packed full every time (1,400 visitors), so that more than 12,000 people saw and profited thereby. Tomorrow we start again in Zurich (largest city in Switzerland). As we have no phonograph records I must read the lectures. In France we were not able to do anything. Many of the brethren are in military service, and I might be called in any ay. The bank in Berne, where you sent the money, and which was, under normal conditions, a safe one, shut its doors, like all other banks, allowing only very small sums to go out. I succeeded, however, in getting more than half of the money by the following transaction: As the Government had put its hand over the banks, and as the brethren needed food, we put up a large stock of the most necessary articles, and the merchants, presenting their bills for this cause to the bank, received payment, as this was in the interest of the Government, As the social conditions will be still worse in winter we may be glad to have this lot of rice, dried bread, beans, condensed milk, ete. JI hope you approve this action, and would be glad if you could advise us of other good means for ameliorating the great tribulation which came so unexpectedly upon Europe. Many people have no work and many brethren in the truth have lost their positions. We tried to employ some as Colporteurs, but the people of the cities have little money and cannot buy books. In the country the people are in better circumstances and the colportcurs sell a few books every day. So we are trying to continue the harvest work until our Master calls us to the harvest beyond the veil. We may not be able to communicate with each other much longer, and I take this opportunity to say again how much I love you, including with myself my wife and many other dear friends, all of whom appreciate the love and interest you have always manifested toward us. Soon you will hear the blessed words, ‘‘Well done, good and faithful servant! Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will now make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord.’’ With hearty grectings to you and the household of faith at Bethel, I remain, Your thankful brother in the Lord. Emit LANZ.—Switzerland, I. B.S. A. EDREKA DRAMA Dear Brethren:—-Grectings in the name of the Lord! En closed find report to date. The beginning of our Drama was on Thursday. We did not have time to advertise it, or we should have done so; but the Lord permitted us to be greatly blessed in an advertising that we knew not of. THE WATCH TOWER Brooxtyn, N. Y. A lady had advertised a Lodge meeting for the same night and at the same hall, not knowing we had rented the hall. She had secured a number of new members to be initiated. When she came she found the ‘‘picture-show’’ in progress, and began to devise means of getting the people out of our meeting. She sent the Town Marshall to notify them to come out. He saw the pictures and sat down and stayed until the close. Finding the Town Marshall did not return, she asked our doorkeeper to help her. He replied that he could not see how he could get the people out; so she sent another man up. After looking over the shoulders of about thirty who were standing, he returned to the lady and said, ‘‘Lady, you had better go home; they have the finest pictures I ever saw, and there is the ‘talkiest’ man up there I ever heard!’’ She had six gallons of ice cream to treat her crowd, but she didn’t get a chance to use it, ‘‘God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.’’ Our prayers go up daily for the Heads of the various departments of the Tabernacle Office, that they may have more grace and wisdom in the work that remains to be accomplished. Love to all. Yours by His grace, B. A. Garr.—Ky. INTERESTING DRAMA EXPERIENCES Dear Brethren :— We are having some glorious encouragements in the work. There are wonderful crowds out here in Demorest. One man said, ‘‘It disgusts me to see how some of the very people who have misrepresented you folks are on hand early, and crowd forward to get the best seats.’’ The Methodist minister was present on Sunday when part three was shown. During the erucifixion scene the power was temporarily shut off. While waiting for its return he got up and spoke of the wonderful impression made by the pictures, and told the people that they ought to have a deeper realization of what the Savior had done for them as a result of the Photo-Drama of Creation. Truly our God is a wonder-working God. What faith these things should develop in us! A brother was telling at Convention about some ministers at a certain place where Drama was being shown, who were worrying for fear people would think they had something to do with it. A merchant present remarked, ‘‘There is no danger people will connect you with it, because it is conspicuously announced there will be no collection.’’ Yours in Christian Love, B. H. Barron. Vou. XXXV BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 1, 1914 No, 23 SPIRIT-BEGOTTEN SONS OF GOD AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT “‘Tf ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.’’—Romans 8:13, 14. Only those who have the right spirit, disposition, will or intention, can keep the divine law, and only those who are in perfect harmony with God will he recognize as sons. The holy angels are sons of God on the angelic plane; cherubim are sons of God on their plane of being; and Christ and the church in glory are sons of God on the divine plane. All these are sons of God, yet they exist on different planes. They are all governed by the Spirit of God; and unless they had that Spirit, they could not be recognized as sons; for no one can keep the divine law except those who have the divine disposition. Before Adam fell he was a son of God. (Luke 3:38) He had the Spirit of God, in the sense of having the right spirit, disposition, will, intention. But after he had become a transgressor of the divine law, he was considered a sinner. All of Adam’s race are still sinners except those who have come into Christ. In the Millennial age, however, Adam’s race will have the privilege of coming into Christ. He will be The Everlasting Father, the Father who will give everlasting life to all those who will obey the instructions given under the Messianic kingdom. In order to reach that condition of divine approval, mankind must have the spirit of the truth, and must be developed along that line. Before they will be counted, or recognized, as sons, they must have the spirit, or disposition, of rightcousness. Until they attain that spirit, they will not be able to render acceptable service; for the Lord seeketh such to worship him as worship him in spirit and in truth. In their fallen condition mankind are not able to keep the divine law. Even during the Millennial age they will keep it only in part, until they shall have been brought back to the image of God in the flesh—Genesis 1:26. WHO ARE THE SONS OF GOD? Thus far there has been a very limited number of sons of God on earth, according to the Scriptures. Throughout the Jewish age God was the instructor and guide of his people through Moses and the prophets; but the Israelites were not sons of God, and they did not have the Spirit’s begetting to sonship. On the contrary, they were only a house of servants. (Hebrews 3:5) The holy Spirit of God was not yet given to any of the fallen race; for Jesus was not yet glorified — John 7:39. The Scriptures speak of the Spirit of God as a special influence coming from God upon a special class, in a special manner, since a particular event-—-and not before that event. This coming of the Spirit was made manifest at Pentecost, so that it might stand out separate and distinct from anything that had ever before occurred. This power, or influence, is variously called the holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of a sound mind, the Spirit of sonship. The various qualities described by these appellations are all applicable to the same class; namely, those who are begotten of the Spirit. These spirit-begotten ones are a particular class who have taken up their cross and become followers of Christ, and who are on this account recognized of the Father by the begetting of the holy Spirit. This Spirit of truth so illuminates the Bible that the Revelation of God may be better understood by those who have the holy Spirit. They are able to comprehend [5582}

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