9
1
9
download/literature/watchtower/1912-17.pdf
../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]
Pentru a vă îmbunătăți experiența pe site-ul nostru, folosim cookies și tehnologii similare. Unele cookies sunt esențiale pentru funcționalitatea de bază a site-ului nostru și nu pot fi refuzate. Puteți alege să acceptați sau să refuzați cookies suplimentare. Vrem să vă asigurăm că aceste date nu vor fi vândute sau utilizate în scopuri de marketing. Puteți ajusta preferințele dvs. în orice moment accesând Setările de Confidențialitate din subsolul paginii. Pentru mai multe informații, vă rugăm să consultați
Politica de Confidențialitate
Condiții de utilizare
.
