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1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

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am the light of the world; he that followeth Me shall notwalk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."--John 1:9; 8:12.This wisdom was first promulgated by our Lord. Sothe same wisdom which instructed His disciples guidesmen back to the Father, instructs them as to whatdiscipleship means, makes them wise in order that theymay take the steps by which that discipleship is to begained. Whoever will be His disciples must take up theircross and follow Him. No matter in what way one mayget the wisdom, it comes to him from our Lord JesusChrist; and without this wisdom we could not know howto come to God. No one can ever come to God withoutthis wisdom. And so His wisdom instructs what will bethe reward of discipleship.Our Lord appeared in the presence of God for us--onour behalf. Thus, according to the Father's plan and arrangement,He became the Justifier of those who cometo the Father by Him, and none can get the justificationexcept by a consecration of life. Then He becomes theirsanctification by assisting them in everything necessaryto their sanctification. They have the will to do, and asthey have this will, so now He works in them a sanctifiedcharacter in life.This course being followed, the one who has the wisdomof the narrow way first obtains justification throughour Lord's blood and then sanctification through followingin the Lord's footsteps. Finally comes the deliverance[redemption] by the First Resurrection. The Onewho led us all the way is the One who leads us still andwho will finally lead us into the New Jerusalem, theglorious condition beyond the veil.FORGIVENESS OF ALL SINQuestion.--"If we confess our sins, He is faithful andjust to f<strong>org</strong>ive us our sins and to cleanse us from allunrighteousness." (I John 1:9.) How comprehensive isthe word "all" here used?Answer.--Except sin against the Holy Spirit (Matt. 12:31,32),all manner of sin amongst the sons of menshall be f<strong>org</strong>iven, either in this Age or in the Age tocome. The Holy Spirit here denotes a light, an intelligence,respecting God's purpose. Whoever wilfully andR5106 : page 298intelligently would sin against Jesus, would be guilty ofblasphemy against the Holy Spirit. But if he blasphemethe name of Jesus, being deceived in some way, then thesin is not blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and may bef<strong>org</strong>iven. In the case of the Church, these f<strong>org</strong>ivablesins will be f<strong>org</strong>iven through the Advocate, who has appearedfor us in the Heavenly Court and can restore usto favor with the Father, unless we sin against full lightand knowledge. To do this would be to take ourselves

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