1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

y God's grace that we are better than others; and it isnot for us to glory, but to give thanks. So we have sympathyfor murderers, thieves and vagabonds in general;and we believe the Lord has.This does not mean that we have the kind of sympathywhich would say, "Open wide the prison doors andlet every one out!" No, no! Some who have receivedthe Truth while in prison have asked us to intercede intheir behalf, that they might be released; and we haveanswered that we were not sure but that they were betterwhere they are; for in prison there is less temptationthan in the world. Liberty is a good thing; but itbrings a responsibility and additional trials as well.SIN AND DEATH ARE HEREDITARYAs we consider the weakness and sinfulness of humanity,the question naturally arises, "Why is this so?"The Scriptures, not the Evolution theory, give us a satisfactoryanswer to the question.When God placed our first parents in the Garden ofEden, He made this proposition to them: "If you doright, as I command, you may continue to live; but ifyou do wrong, contrary to My command, you shall die."Our first parents disregarded the Divine command andwere disobedient. God immediately sentenced them todeath. Death was the penalty of disobedience. In otherwords, God said, "If you are a sinner I will not permityou to live. Those to whom I wish to grant eternal lifeare those who will gladly obey My Law." For, as Jesussaid, true worshippers will "worship the Father in spiritand in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worshipHim."--John 4:23.But in addition to having the death sentence passedupon him--whether that death come sooner or later--Father Adam received other punishment, aside from thatpenalty. Ejected from the Garden of Eden, he wasbrought into contact with thorns and thistles; he laboredwith sweat of face; he had the sorrows and troubles thatcome with the decaying body. All these things were theresult of sin.But so far as God was concerned, the penaltyof sin was the death sentence merely. In effect Godhad said, "You are not fit to live; you are not fit foreverlasting life; you shall not have everlasting life."But through the sacrifice of His human nature, Jesus, bythe grace of God, has tasted death for the whole worldR4991 : page 95of mankind--Adam and all his children, all of whom willultimately be redeemed from God's sentence. They willbe redeemed from death in order that Jesus may, duringHis Messianic reign of one thousand years, lift them upout of sin and degradation.