MARCH 15, I914 the blessing you have received from these Bible Helps, and arrange to sell or loan him one of them. If the brother has some ability, he might do good by holding little question meetings while eating lunch. The answers should always be brief and to the point. To be helpful, such questions should be on the more simple features of the plan; deep questions would choke those who are spiritual babes. For instance, the conversation might be turncd to the subject of hel. The brother could insist that there is not a single passage in the Bible where the w ord means a place of endless misery, and the only places seemingly teaching so are very highly figurative passages. Then say, ‘‘I have a little book in which every passage in the Bible where the word hell oeeurs is explained. I will bring it here tomorrow and read you a couple of wonderful paragraphs in it.’’ This will probably bring them together the next day; and by promising to consider further questions the third day, one might have a regular little lunch-time class. Of course, the majority will tire of it, but a few may stick. In the larger towns and cities the truth-hungry might be advertised for. Some city-dailies will allow it among the miscellaneous religious advertisements; but in each case, judgment will have to be exercised as to where it should be placed, and how frequently inserted. The following is suggested as an advertisement: “‘Those who want to believe the Bible but have never yet found in it anything as satisfying and reasonable as they would expect God to give, are invited to send their names and ad VOL. AXXV THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 1, Apis No. 7 (95-99) dresses to P. O. Box This is no scheme, but simply an effort to bring real religious satisfaction to those who feel their faith is shaking.’’ Let some able, consecrated brother call upon those who respond, and either sell or loan them ‘‘The Divine Plan of the Ages.’’ He might first tell them of the blessing he is getting from the Word of God now, in contrast to the former conditions. He might call again, from time to time, to see what progress they are making, if the interest warrants. Sisters should call on the ladies who reply. I find that the brethren are not sufficiently alert to the opportunities among the foreigners in their town. If there be Greek confectioners in your town, send for a half dozen Greck tracts to give them. The same might apply to Chinese in the laundries, Italians at fruit-stands and in street gangs, ete. ‘«The Bible Students’ Monthly,’’ on ‘‘ What is Baptism?’’ is specially good where Brother Russell has been misrepresented very much, because of the article by Prof. Ellis and letter by Rev. T. S. Thompson, endorsing him and his work. The Brethren somctimes forget that they are able to do more than merely circulate yearly Volunteer literature. Often a special traet will fit in very well with local conditions, if cireulated at the psychological time. Every day makes me more desirous for the time when our service will not be limited by the weak, imperfect body in which we now dwell. I am glad that day is so near. I remain, with Christian love, on Jordan’s Banks, B. H. Barton. "JEHOVAH'S CHARACTER. MANIFESTED IN HIS ‘GREAT. PLAN OF THE AGES Why was Jesus Christ called upon to suffer and die? Could not the great God have accomplished the salvation of humanity in some other way, without the agony and death of his Son? These are questions which often present themselves to the thoughtful student of God’s Word, and which can be answered very satisfactorily. God could have arranged the matter very differently; He is not an unresourceful God. He is an all-wise God, an all-powerful God. We can see, for instance, that God could have decreed that Adam should be exeluded from the iarden of Eden for a time, and that after he had suffered somewhat for his disobedience, and had thereby learned a lesson, he should then be restored to favor. By that experience Adam would, no doubt, have been taught a very good lesson. So all of Adam’s children might have undergone some penalty, some purging experiences, whereby they might have profited, and then have come back again into harmony with God. But the wisdom of God is a mighty deep, and he has a great and wise plan! He had purposed that all of his intelligent creatures—angels, cherubim, seraphim, and humans—who would gain eternal life, must be absolutely loyal to him, and hence that they should all be tested in respect to their loyalty. They must all be tried and tested characters. It was his purpose, therefore, that all his intelligent creatures in heaven and on earth should be brought to perceive his goodness and worthiness of all praise, that they might be able to exclaim from the heart: ‘‘Blessing and honor and might be unto him that sitteth upon the throne ... forever!’’ Those who prove their loyalty to the Creator shall live everlastingly. Those who will not prove their loyalty shall die— go into absolute extinction. Up to the time man was created, God had not made known this feature of his plan. He then declared that death should be the penalty for sin, in order that all might know the law of his government—that only the righteous shall live, and that all sinners shall eventually be destroyed. Hence God arranged beforehand that man’s sin, which he foreknew, should bring upon Adam and his posterity the extreme penalty of his law. Many would not have chosen sin if they had known its sure results, and had been born with perfect ability to choose the right. But God purposed that Adam’s posterity should come into the world under fallen conditions, as the result of his disobedience. He purposed to make manifest here on the planet Earth what is the natural tendency and certain outeome of sin. Sin’s tendency is always downward; and not only so, but it aggregates itsclf, and leads to ruin and death. God designed that this great lesson of the evil results of sin should be witnessed by the angels also, who before the creation and fall of man were surrounded by such conditions as presented no special temptation to sin. TEMPTATION COMES TO THE ANGELS God desires the worship of only such as worship him in spirit and in truth. Any who will not worship from this motive shall eventually be destroyed. We sce that God allowed sin not only to enter the world through the machinations of Satan, but to be a source of temptation to the angels. We see how all the angels became exposed to a peculiar temptation in connection with fallen mankind. (Genesis 6:1-5; Jude 6) We helieve that Satan instigated this temptation, as he did the temptation of Mother Eve. He himself was the first transgressor. Some of the angelic host succumbed to this temptation, and some remained loyal to God. So we know that all the angels of heaven were subjected to a great test as to their obedience to their Creator. Al! those angels who are in harmony with God, according to the Bible, have stood their test. These, we understand the Scriptures to teach, have been granted the reward of everlasting life, because they proved faithful and obedient and demonstrated their loyalty. Those who fell were hound in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day—now present, we believe. GOD'S ECONOMICAL PLAN Man has for six thousand years horue the penalty, ‘‘ Dying, thou shalt die’’—the penalty which the Bible dcelares to he the wages of sin—death and all the weaknesses and depravities of mind and of body which are its accompaniments. But God purposes that all shall have a full opportunity of recovery from this condition of sin and death; and the provision for man’s recovery has been made in Christ. This provision is the most economical one that could have been arranged. If a thousand perfect men had sinned, it would have required a thousand perfeet men to redeem them—one redeemer for cach sinner. ‘‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,’’ a man’s life for a man’s life, is the requirement of God’s law.—Exodus 21:23-25; Deut. 19:21, Before the creation of our first parents God had arranged that only one man should have the opportunity to fall and to be sentenced to death, that thus only one man would be required as a Redeemer. This divine arrangement was most economical because it will bring all the masses of humanity hack to life at the cost of but one human life as the redemption-price. No fallen man could be a ransom, a corresponding price, for the perfect man Adam. Therefore God purposed from the very beginning that his only begotten Son, the firstborn of all creation, should become man’s Redeemer and that in order to hecome the Redeemer he should become a man. The death of an angel could not have redeemed man. Divine justice required that a perfect human life must be given for a perfect human life. And God, knowing all this, sent his Son to [5429]
Folosim fișiere de tip cookie pentru a vă oferi o experienţă mai bună online și pentru a îmbunătăți acest site. Continuând să utilizați acest site, vă dați consimțământul asupra utilizării cookie-urilor. Dacă doriți mai multe informații sau nu acceptați folosirea acestor fișiere când utilizați site-ul nostru, vă rugăm să accesați paginile Politica de ConfidențialitateCondiții de utilizare.
