1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

his commandments are not grievous" [so that we rejoice to sacrificein doing his will]. 1 John 5:2,3. This is also manifest to those thatare without--"We are living epistles known and read of all men.""Ye shall know them by their fruits" whether THE FAITH of Christactuates them.A false presentation of God's character has been Satan's mostpowerful weapon of attack against the Christian faith. Those whohave taken the torment plan of making men repent and believe thegospel have foiled their own purpose. In this they have shown lesswisdom than men of the world in blackening God's character tocreate love, and despising the riches of his goodness andforbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness ofGod leadeth men to repentance. Rom. 2:4. This stigma on thecharacter of God they endeavor to excuse by saying, He must bejust. They fail to notice, however, that they make him lest just thanimperfect man, for in the administration of human justice torture isabhorrent.Thus by false theories, and neglect of THE faith laid down in theScripture, God's attributes are made at war with each other, andsuch cannot say with Paul, "I am not ashamed of the gladtidings...for the righteousness of God by faith is revealed therein inorder to faith. Rom. 1:6.--E.D. If God therefore declare throughPaul that his goodness leads men to repentance, and hisrighteousness is revealed for the express purpose of inducing mento have faith in him, how say some that the restraints of societywould be gone if the truth were presented. In this they err greatly;God being the judge of what is best.R760 : page 2====================S. O. BLUNDEN.QUESTION COLUMN.Ques.--Some are disposed still to question the necessity of theoutward symbol of Baptism. Can you tell us whether the apostleswere ever immersed?Ans.--A number of Jesus' disciples were previously the disciples of"John the Immerser" and it is scarcely within the limits of reason tosuppose that while with John and Jesus they would baptize othersand neglect it themselves. Paul was not a whit less than the chiefestof the apostles and he was baptized forthwith by the first of God'schildren he met. (Acts 9:18.) The Eunuch to whom Phillippreached but one sermon caught the force of baptism to such anextent that he embraced the first opportunity of sufficiency of waterto be planted in the likeness of Christ's death. (Acts 8:33-39.)When Cornelius and his house believed and after they had receivedthe Holy Spirit, Peter commanded the symbolic, water immersion.(Acts 10:48.) Is it probable that he commanded others to obey the