1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
earing upon the Gospel church, to be followed by a period oftrouble (judgments --seven last plagues, etc., called "fire,") uponthe nations of the world as a punishment for wickedness, and asa preparation for the reign of righteousness; of which moreagain.R273 : page 109THE PATH TO GLORY.K,L,M,N,P,R, each represent different planes. N is the plane ofperfect human nature (sinless, undefiled.) Adam was on thisplane before he sinned; from the moment of disobedience he fellto the depraved or sinful plane, R. The world has been on thatsame plane since--fallen far below perfection of manhood. Prepresents the plane of typical justification, reckoned as effectedby sacrifices of the "Law;" but it was not actual perfection, for"the Law made nothing perfect."N is not only the plane of human perfection, as represented bythe perfect man, Adam, but it is the plane occupied by alljustified persons. "Christ died for our sins according to theScripture," and in consequence every believer in Christ--all whoaccept of his perfect and finished work as their justifier, are,because of their faith, reckoned of God, justified or perfect men--as though they had never been sinners. In God's sight then, allbelievers in Christ's sacrifice are on the N plane, viz., humanperfection. This is the only standpoint from which man mayapproach God, or have any communion with him. All on thisplane (N) God calls sons (human sons--Adam before sin wasthus a son, Luke 3:38.)During this Gospel age God has made an offer to the justifiedhuman beings, telling them that on certain conditions they maycease to be earthly, human beings and become heavenly spiritualbeings--like unto the angels--like unto Christ's glorious body.Some believers--justified persons--are satisfied with what joyand peace they have, through believing in the forgiveness oftheir sins, and heed not the voice which calls them to come uphigher; others moved by the love of God, as shown in theirransom from sin, say, "Lord what wilt thou have me to do?" Tosuch the Lord answers through Paul:--"I beseech you brethren,by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a livingsacrifice; holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service."--Rom. 12:1. Paul, what do you mean by our giving ourselvesliving sacrifices? I mean that you shall consecrate and giveevery power,R273 : page 110which you possess, to God's service, that henceforth you shalllive not for self, nor for friends, nor family, nor for the world,nor for anything, but for and in the service of him, who boughtyou with his own precious blood.
But Paul, surely God would not accept of blemished orimperfect sacrifices, and since we all became sinners throughAdam, we cannot surely be sacrifices, can we? Yes, beloved, itis because you are holy that you are acceptable sacrifices, andyou are holy and free from sin, because God has justified youfrom all sin freely through Christ's death.As many as obey the call of Paul, rejoicing to be accountedworthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ--those wholook not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are notseen--at the "crown of life," at "the glory that shall be revealedin us," at "the prize of our high calling--in Christ Jesus"--theseconsecrate themselves wholly to God and are from that momentno longer reckoned men; but, as having been begotten of theHoly Ghost through the word of truth--no longer human, buthenceforth spiritual children; they are now one step nearer theprize than when they first believed. But their spiritual being isyet imperfect; they are begotten, but not yet born of the spirit.They are embryo spiritual children on plane M-- the plane ofspiritual begetting. Because begotten of the spirit, therefore theyare no longer reckoned human, but spiritual; for the humannature once theirs--once justified, they have now given up, orreckoned dead--a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable and acceptedof God. They are now new creatures in Christ Jesus, old things(human hopes, and will and all) are passed away and all thingsare become new, for "ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit, ifso be that the spirit of God dwell in you."-- Rom. 8:9. If youhave been begotten of it, "ye are dead and your life is hid withChrist in God."Plane L represents perfect spiritual being; but before plane L isreached, the conditions of your covenant must be carried out. Itis one thing to covenant with God that you will beR273 : page 111dead to all human things, and a further thing to perform thatcovenant throughout your earthly career,--keep your body under(dead); keep your own will out of sight, and perform only theLord's will. The entrance upon plane L is called birth, or a fullentrance into life as a spiritual being--like unto Christ's gloriousbody, and like unto the angels. We cannot enter on that planeuntil the entire church is gathered in from the world --when "thedead in Christ shall rise first," (this corruption must put onincorruption--immortality.) Then we, which are alive andremain, (not having entered the tomb) shall be changed in amoment--made perfect spiritual beings like unto Christ'sglorious body (for "this mortal must put on immortality.") Then,that which is perfect being come, that which is in part (thebegotten condition with the various hindrances of the flesh, towhich we are now subject) shall be done away.
- Page 311 and 312: Another is: "There is one God, and
- Page 313 and 314: accomplished.--Vs. 28 to 33. The pr
- Page 315 and 316: THEIR FORMER ESTATE,"--restitution.
- Page 317 and 318: ighteousness to such a degree that
- Page 319 and 320: for the same reasons. But when God'
- Page 321 and 322: now they die for their own willful
- Page 323 and 324: Millennial reign. The glory of the
- Page 325 and 326: illustrated by angels--spiritual bo
- Page 327 and 328: the disciples did not see Christ's
- Page 329 and 330: the glory that shall be revealed (1
- Page 331 and 332: PRESENCE OF CHRIST BEFORE THERAPTUR
- Page 333 and 334: The Greek word generally used in re
- Page 335 and 336: will, viz., in oppressing and oppos
- Page 337 and 338: Some other powers of angels can be
- Page 339 and 340: execute from God, (Job 1:12), is it
- Page 341 and 342: expressed his belief that many of t
- Page 343 and 344: God, that ye may be able to withsta
- Page 345 and 346: of the old nature and newness of li
- Page 347 and 348: period of the judges until Samuel,
- Page 349 and 350: When the new Prince takes control,
- Page 351 and 352: mountains, [place of power], and sh
- Page 353 and 354: 15:28), whose will then will be "in
- Page 355 and 356: illion four hundred million) could
- Page 357 and 358: poured on the head ran down over th
- Page 359 and 360: PART VI.----------THE PLAN OF THE A
- Page 361: The "HARVEST" at the end of the Jew
- Page 365 and 366: (f) represents the (fire) trial thr
- Page 367 and 368: But remember that while justificati
- Page 369 and 370: shrink from the death of the human
- Page 371 and 372: in his due time become his Bride an
- Page 373 and 374: chief nation of earth--at the head
- Page 375 and 376: (ruach--the same breath said to be
- Page 377 and 378: the dead to the perfect new nature,
- Page 379 and 380: R277 : page 130 ago, the body very
- Page 381 and 382: learn that the texts referred to (a
- Page 383 and 384: perfectly, and filled with life. He
- Page 385 and 386: (and thus), lay hold on eternal lif
- Page 387 and 388: Now let us notice the difference be
- Page 389 and 390: in fashion as a man, he humbled him
- Page 391 and 392: -the Lamb's wife--"To him that over
- Page 393 and 394: The words Incorruptible, Incorrupti
- Page 395 and 396: a mediator--a person who stands bet
- Page 397 and 398: God actually takes man's sins away
- Page 399 and 400: from among the people."--Acts 3:22.
- Page 401 and 402: learn that when in that parable he
- Page 403 and 404: off) for your sakes: but as touchin
- Page 405 and 406: quitting; are you willing if this g
- Page 407 and 408: now, inasmuch as you are an heir of
- Page 409 and 410: R286 : page 1VOL. III.PITTSBURGH, P
- Page 411 and 412: In harmony with this same thought w
But Paul, surely God would not accept of blemished orimperfect sacrifices, and since we all became sinners throughAdam, we cannot surely be sacrifices, can we? Yes, beloved, itis because you are holy that you are acceptable sacrifices, andyou are holy and free from sin, because God has justified youfrom all sin freely through Christ's death.As many as obey the call of Paul, rejoicing to be accountedworthy to suffer reproach for the name of Christ--those wholook not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are notseen--at the "crown of life," at "the glory that shall be revealedin us," at "the prize of our high calling--in Christ Jesus"--theseconsecrate themselves wholly to God and are from that momentno longer reckoned men; but, as having been begotten of theHoly Ghost through the word of truth--no longer human, buthenceforth spiritual children; they are now one step nearer theprize than when they first believed. But their spiritual being isyet imperfect; they are begotten, but not yet born of the spirit.They are embryo spiritual children on plane M-- the plane ofspiritual begetting. Because begotten of the spirit, therefore theyare no longer reckoned human, but spiritual; for the humannature once theirs--once justified, they have now given up, orreckoned dead--a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable and acceptedof God. They are now new creatures in Christ Jesus, old things(human hopes, and will and all) are passed away and all thingsare become new, for "ye are not in the flesh but in the spirit, ifso be that the spirit of God dwell in you."-- Rom. 8:9. If youhave been begotten of it, "ye are dead and your life is hid withChrist in God."Plane L represents perfect spiritual being; but before plane L isreached, the conditions of your covenant must be carried out. Itis one thing to covenant with God that you will beR273 : page 111dead to all human things, and a further thing to perform thatcovenant throughout your earthly career,--keep your body under(dead); keep your own will out of sight, and perform only theLord's will. The entrance upon plane L is called birth, or a fullentrance into life as a spiritual being--like unto Christ's gloriousbody, and like unto the angels. We cannot enter on that planeuntil the entire church is gathered in from the world --when "thedead in Christ shall rise first," (this corruption must put onincorruption--immortality.) Then we, which are alive andremain, (not having entered the tomb) shall be changed in amoment--made perfect spiritual beings like unto Christ'sglorious body (for "this mortal must put on immortality.") Then,that which is perfect being come, that which is in part (thebegotten condition with the various hindrances of the flesh, towhich we are now subject) shall be done away.
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