THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION

THIS journal is published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society for the purpose of aiding the people to understand the divine plan. It provides systematic Bible study in which ail its readers may regularly engage. It gives announcement of the visits made to Bible classes by traveling speakers, announces conventions, and gives the reports thereof. The International Sunday School lessons are treated in harmony with the Scriptures.

It adheres strictly to the Bible as God’s revealed Word of Truth. It stands firmly upon the great ransom sacrifice as the fundamental doctrine by which all doctrines are measured. It is free from parties, sects, and creeds of men. It does not assume a dogmatic attitude, but confidently invites a careful examination of its utterances in the light of the infallible Word of God. It does not indulge in controversies, and its columns are not open to personalities.

TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH

THAT JEHOVAH is the only true God, the Maker of heaven and earth, and is from everlasting to everlasting; that the Logos was the beginning of his creation; that the Logos became a man; that he is now the Lord Jesus Christ in glory, clothed with all power in heaven and earth.

THAT GOD created the earth for man, created perfect man for the earth and placed him upon it; that man wilfully disobeyed God’s law and was sentenced to death; that by reason of Adam’s wrongful act all men are born sinners and without the right to life.

THAT JESUS was made a human being in order that he might become the Redeemer of man; that he gave his life a sacrifice for man and thereby produced the ransom price; that Jesus the divine arose from the dead, ascendecb into heaven, and presented the value of his human sacrifice as the redemptive price for man.

THAT for many centuries God, through Christ, has been

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WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY

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OFFICERS

J. F. Rutherford                            President

W. E. Van Ambubgh                   Secy & Treat. selecting from amongst men the members of his chureu, which constitutes the body of Christ; that the mission of the church is to follow in the footsteps of her Lord Christ Jesus, grow in his likeness, give testimony to the name and plan of Jehovah God, and ultimately be glorified with Christ Jesus in his heavenly kingdom; that Christ, Head and body, constitutes the “seed of Abraham” through which all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

THAT THE WORLD HAS ENDED; that the Lord Jesus has returned and is now present; that Jehovah has placed Christ Jesus upon his throne and now commands all nations and peoples to hear and obey him.

THAT THE HOPE of the peoples of earth is restoration to human perfection during the reign of Christ; that the reign of Christ will afford opportunity to every man to have a fair trial for life and those who obey will live on earth for ever in a state of happiness.

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE                J. F. Rutherford

W. E. Van Ameubgh J. Hemeby IL H. Babbeb E. J. Coward

Foreign Offices ; British: 34 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London W. 2; Canadian: 38-40 Irwin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario; Australasian: 495 Collins St. Melbourne, Australia; South Africa: 6 Lelie St., Cape Town, South Africa. Please address the Society in every case.

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(Foreign translations of this journal appear in several languages.)

Terms to the Lord Poob : AH Bible Students who, by reason of old age or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May stating their case and requesting such provision. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean studies.

Notice to Subscribers: We do not, as a rule, send a card of acknowledgment for a renewal or for a new subscription. A renewal blank (carrying notice of expiration) will be sent with the journal one month before the subscription expires. Change of address; when requested, may be expected to appear on address label within one month.

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CONVENTION

Again the friends are reminded that the international convention of the consecrated will be held at Toronto, July 18th to 26th. This will be a wonderful opportunity for encouraging one another in the service, and it is hoped that as many as possible may attend. Arrangements are being perfected for special trains from all parts of the country. Within a short time these trains will be announced in The Watch Tower. Let ail the brethren get ready for this convention. All should go who can do so reasonably, and those who cannot do so should encourage others who are going; and let all take the matter constantly before the Lord in prayer, asking that this convention may be a great witness to his Name.

Rooming accommodations will be handled by the Society’s Toronto office. More detailed Information concerning this will be given later.

MEMORIAL REPORTS

Immediately following the celebration of the Memorial each class is requested to report the number partaking. The class secretary should give this attention, addressing the letter or card to Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 117 Adams St., Brooklyn, N. Y.

CANVASSING PARTIES

All canvassing parties and all individuals who canvass should mention the radio station in that vicinity that is broadcasting the truth. This often proves a means of opening the way to place the books into the hands of the people. Have in mind that the chief purpose of the radio is to call the people’s attention to the truth and then furnish the opportunity for them to get a wider understanding of the truth by reading what is being printed.

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETINGS

Instead of having a public meeting every week arrangements might be made at stated Intervals, after consulting the office, for publfc meetfngs well advertised. But these should be held less frequently; and when held a great effort should be put forth to get the people out. After a radio has served a community for some time, then arrangements might be made for a well-advertised meeting in a public hall, and the announcement made over the radio. This might lead then to the organization of a class for Bible study.

PILGRIM SERVICE

An effort will be made to have the regular pilgrim brethren serve the classes In districts that are not yet favored with the use of a radio. These pilgrim brethren will respectively be special service organizers for the district when serving it, and will put forth an effort to organize the service work in a more efficient manner and encourage the brethren to participate in It.

ftW/VCH TOWER

AND HERALD OF CHRISTS PRESENCE

Vol. XLVIII                                   Apbh 15, 1927                                          No. 8

THE NEW CREATION

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new."—2 Corinthians 5: IT.

WHEN God created man in his own image he then “rested” from all his work which he created and made. (Genesis 2:2) Of course, this must be understood to mean that he rested from all his work insofar as that work relates to things made and created which pertain to the earth. Man was the crowning result of God's earthly creation, and was perfect. ■—Deuteronomy 32: 4.

• ² It is not necessary to conclude that God foreknew and foreordained that man would sin. As the human mind reasons, had God foreordained and foreknown that man would sin, then man was not a free agent to take whatsoever course he might choose. God invites us through his Word to reason with him, and we understand that the reasoning employed must be such as man is capable of doing. Within the scope of human reasoning the following conclusion would seem to be right, to wit:

• ⁸ The Almighty God possessed the power to foreknow and to foreordain and predestinate everything pertaining to man. The fact that he could know what course man would take also leads to the conclusion that God possesses the power to withhold from himself knowledge of what man would do under certain conditions; and therefore that instead of foreordaining and foreknowing that man would take a certain course, God made his plan in the alternative so that he could meet either emergency. By this is meant that God said to man, in substance: ‘All these things you may have and do; certain other things you must not have and you must not do; if you take one course you shall be always in harmony with me and live; if you take the other course you shall die.’ Man was then free to take either course.

• ⁴ Of his own volition man chose the evil way. Consistently with his law God put him to death. Had man chosen the right course and done that which was pleasing to God, he would have filled the earth with a perfect race of happy people, all to the glory of God. In that event it would not have been necessary for the Lord to provide for redemption and to carry out the plan of redemption. Having chosen the evil course Adam and his offspring must perish unless God did something in man’s behalf. The plan ol God therefore must have been that in the event man took the evil course provision for his recovery would be put in operation.

• ⁵ Man took the evil course, and God’s provision for his recovery is through a new creation. This was implied in the promise God gave to Abraham: “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” “The seed” must be produced first, then the blessing. “The seed” is the new creation. That new creation for many long centuries remained a “hidden mystery”, until God’s due time to make it known to his saints. (Colossians 1: 26) Even today only those who have the spirit of the Lord can understand and appreciate that mystery of God.

THE BEGINNING

• ⁸ The Logos lived and had the right to life on the spirit plane. He was the beginning of God’s creation. Thereafter he was the active agent of Jehovah in the creation of all things. The Logos did not die. Life means existence and the right to exist in harmony with Jehovah’s will. The life and the right to life of the Logos were transferred from the spirit to the human plane. By the power of Jehovah he was begotten and brought forth a human child. (Matthew 1:18) One of the purposes of his being born and brought into the world was that he might bear witness to God’s truth. —John 18: 37.

^T That the Logos as an entity did not die during the transfer from spirit to human nature is proven by the testimony of Jesus himself: “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) These words imply a continuous existence. To die means to go out of existence, with the right to existence gone. Hence when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” he meant that from the time of the beginning of creation until that moment he had existed and had the right to exist.

’When Jesus was thirty years of age as a man, he came to John and was baptized. By this he signify that he had agreed to do his Father’s will, as it was previously written of him in the Book. (Psahn 40:8; Luke

3: 21-23) It was the will of God that the perfect man Jesus should be a sacrifice, that the redemptive price might be thereby provided for the recovery of Adam and his offspring. Jesus laid down his life as a man, and laid down the right to life as a man, but retained the power to take it up again and use it in harmony with the divine will. This is proven by his words: “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” —John 10: 18.

• ⁹ At the time of his consecration Jesus was begotten and anointed by the holy spirit of God as a creature on the divine plane. That was the beginning of God’s new creation. At that same time the foundation of the new world was laid. (Revelation 13:8) Before that time it was God’s purpose and plan that his new creation should be composed of many members, with Christ Jesus as the Head. This does not imply that he predestinated the individuals who make up the new creation, but that he did predestinate the class composed of the members thereof. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise and glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”—Ephesians 1:4-6.

A REALITY

• ¹⁰ The statement of the apostle is positive that “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature”. He did not say that he is a reckoned new creature, with an existence counted unto him, but in positive and plain terms he says that the new creature is a real thing. The scripture does not say that the new creature is merely a gestated thing that ultimately comes to the birth. It does not say that it is an embryo, which is quickened and developed and born in the form that a human creature is born. If a creature is being gestated, or in the process of gestation, then there could be no responsibility of that creature during that period.

• ¹¹ The so-called orthodox system of religion teaches that the new creature is given the seed of God or the seed of immortality, and that this seed is perambulating about in the human creature. If that doctrine were true, then it would be impossible for the new creature to ever die, because that which is immortal cannot die. If such an one thus begotten should become wicked the result would be endless wickedness, and from this thought grows the eternal torment theory.

• ¹² Others have taught that “the ‘inner man’ is the new creature, which is given a seed of incorruptibility within”. Such is practically the same as saying that man has a soul within him which is separate and distinct from himself. Both of these doctrines are wrong and unscrip-tural. The thought that the natural begetting, gestation, quickening and coming to the birth illustrate the development of the new creature is not at all in harmony with the Scriptural teachings concerning the new creation. The Scriptures show that from the time the new creature is begotten and anointed he is a new creature, and that his responsibility begins as such from that time.

NEW CREATION FORESHADOWED

• ¹³ Israel after the flesh was selected as the people of God. That people in truth and in fact foreshadowed the new creation, which is also the people of God selected and elected for a purpose. Israel after the flesh was a moving picture provided by Jehovah; and it foreshadowed the real thing, which is the true people of God, to wit, the new creation or spiritual Israel. Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, was the beginning of the Israelites after the flesh. Jacob’s seed was born to their favor under the terms of the Law Covenant. The new creation is spiritual Israel, begotten and brought forth under the terms of a covenant by sacrifice.

• ¹⁴ Moses was a mediator or a go-between for God and Israel. He was the spokesman of God to the Israelites. Through him God said to the people of Israel: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.”—Exodus 19: 5-8.

• ¹⁵ The Israelites agreed to do all the things spoken to them by the Lord through Moses. Thereby they bound themselves to the terms of that covenant, to be obedient to God. The Law Covenant served as a schoolmaster, to safeguard and lead the obedient of Israel after the flesh, until God’s due time to begin the new creation, with Christ Jesus as the Head. The nation as a whole failed in obedience, therefore failed to keep the terms of the covenant, and lost everything that the covenant provided.

• ¹⁸ A small remnant, however, continued in faith, and such of these as were living at the first advent accepted Christ Jesus and became a part of the new creation. (Romans 11:5) To such and to all others who have come into Christ, St. Peter says: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2: 9,10) Thus is shown that Israel after the flesh foreshadowed Israel after the spirit; that the latter were at one time not a people, but have now become the people of God for his purposes.

HOW FORMED

• ¹⁷ The new creation, mentioned as spiritual Israel, is begun and is completed by the terms of a covenant. Jesus, the Head thereof, made a covenant with Jehovah at the Jordan to do his Father’s will. That covenant entailed upon Jesus the sacrificing of himself as a man. All persons thereafter becoming a part of the new creation must do so by and through a covenant of sacrifice. (Psalm 50: 5) Before a Jew or any one else could be in line for membership in the new creation it was necessary for Jesus to die as a man and be resurrected as a divine being, and then to take up the value of that perfect human life laid down and present it to Jehovah as the redemptive price for mankind.

• ¹⁸ The beginning of the selection of the members of the new creation through Christ therefore dates from Pentecost, when the disciples were begotten of the holy spirit. Their part of the covenant of sacrifice, however, had been made prior to that time; to wit, when they accepted Jesus as the Messiah and became his followers. God’s part of the covenant with them was made at the time they were justified, begotten and anointed of the holy spirit, which was at Pentecost. Then and there they became new creatures or members of the new creation.

• ¹⁹ The new creation is a select or elect company taken out from amongst men, who are then adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. The new creation complete is The Christ complete. Christ means anointed of God. It is God’s Christ or God’s anointed. Christ is the active agency of Jehovah God, used and to be used for ever for his own good purposes. God’s manner of selecting and forming the new creation is important. His Word tells in what manner he selects and develops the members thereof.

• ²⁰ Seeing that all the human race is born in sin, and that no one can approach God who is a sinner, what can a sinner do to come into harmony with God? The first thing essential is for that man to realize that he is a sinner, needs help, and that he is unable to help himself. He must have a desire in his mind for righteousness. He learns .that he was born a sinner and was so born because of the sin of the parent of the human race, Adam. He learns that Jehovah is God and that Jesus is God’s beloved Son. He wants to learn more about Jesus and come into harmony with him, because he knows that the beloved Son is in harmony with his Father.

• ²¹ To such Jesus says: “No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44) How does God draw the sinner to Jesus? By the knowledge which the sinner is enabled to obtain concerning Jesus and his relationship to Jehovah. Many a Christian can recount experiences in his life, before becoming a Christian, wherein it seems that the Lord’s hand must have been supervising his affairs in some particular way. It is not unreasonable that God, seeing a man who possesses an honest desire for righteousness, would cause such circumstances to arise in his affairs as would attract him to the Lord Jesus; and thus he would be drawn to Jesus.

• ²² Proof of this is found in the experiences of Cornelius. He knew nothing of the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ, but he had faith in and reverence for Jehovah. He had an honest and righteous desire to be in ■ harmony with God. In due time God sent Peter to tell him concerning God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:1-48) It was the faith of Cornelius and his desire for righteousness that God rewarded. It was because of this righteous desire in his heart that God provided the circumstances for him to get the truth. What is true of Cornelius must in some measure be true of all who have come to the Lord.

• ²³ In coming to the Lord an honest heart and faith in God are first essentials. (Hebrews 11: 6) A man who believes that God exists, that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him, is favored by that knowledge and by the circumstances that are thrown around him which draw him to Jesus. When he learns that Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection, provided the great redemptive price for man, he learns that the only way back to God and to life is through Christ Jesus. (John 14: 6) Jesus says to such an one, in substance: 'If you desire to come to God and to follow in the way that I go you must deny yourself, then take up your cross and follow.’ (Matthew 16: 24) Self-denial, within the meaning of this scripture, is consecration. That means an agreement unconditionally to do the will of Jehovah God.

FAITH

• ²⁴ Faith means to have knowledge concerning God and his plan and his promises, and then to confidently rely thereupon. Progressing to this point in knowledge and belief that Jesus is the Redeemer of man, and confidently relying thereupon, such an one who thus does has faith. He exercises that faith by making a consecration by which he agrees to do the will of God. That is man’s part of the covenant. He puts himself wholly into the hands of the Lord. The blood of Jesus shed for man, and faith of the man in the value of that sacrifice, is the basis whereupon God takes action with the man.

• ²⁵ God then justifies the man thus consecrating. Justification means to be made right with God. It is the judicial act of Jehovah whereby he determines that the man who has exercised faith in the ransom sacrifice by making a consecration is just, or right, and at peace with God. The three things operating in justification are these, to wit: First, by faith are ye justified (Romans 5:1); second, by the Hood of Jesus are ye justified (Romans 5:9); third, “it is God that justifies.” —Romans 8: 33.

'²⁶ The man making the consecration has agreed to do God’s will. It is the will of God that he be brought into the divine family as a member of God’s new creation. For this purpose God justifies him in order that the man might be an acceptable sacrifice as a member of his beloved One. What does man sacrifice? His right to live as a human being. Since he was born a sinner, where did he get that right to live as a human being? When God justifies man, that entitles him to live as a human being; because all who are right with God have the right to life. The justification of man constitutes the call or invitation to the high calling, otherwise designated the heavenly calling. Recognition of the fact that God would justify one, of itself constitutes God’s call. (Romans 8: 30) The members of the new creation are called to one hope, and that is a hope of life in heaven.—Ephesians 4: 4; 1 Peter 1:4.

• ²⁷ Begetting of the new creature is the next step. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) God., in the exercise of his will by his Word of Truth, gives to the called one his exceeding great and precious promises whereby the Lord agrees that if the one called is faithful to his part of the covenant he shall ultimately be a partaker of the divine nature. (2 Peter 1: 4-11) The called one is therefore begotten to a hope of life on the divine plane, reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God. (1 Peter 1:1-4) Thereby the called one is inducted into Christ by the spirit of Jehovah. Having now been adopted into the family of God, the called one can address Jehovah as Father, because God has begotten him as a new creature. <—Romans 8:15.

ANOINTING

• ²⁸ Anointing means to designate one to a place of authority to do and to act for and in behalf of and under the direction of the one conferring the authority. Christ Jesus was anointed by the holy spirit of Jehovah to be Head of the new creation. (Colossians 1:18, 19; John 1:32) All who are adopted into Christ receive the anointing of the holy spirit of God through the Head, Christ Jesus. This was pictured in the manner of anointing the typical high priest. (Psalm 133:1-3) It is God who does the anointing; and he anoints the called one through the Head, Christ Jesus. (1 John 2:20) Thus begotten and anointed of God the creature is now new. He is now in Christ Jesus and is, for that reason, a part of the new creation.

" Of what does the new creation consist ? A creature is possessed of a mind, will, heart, and organism. The new creature consists of these, all of which are devoted to the Lord. When he was of the Adamic creation, the holy spirit of God did not work in his mind. But as a new creature the invisible power of God, which is his holy spirit, is now working in the mind and transforming the same in harmony with the will of God.

• ⁸⁰ Adam was made of the elements of the earth without the exercise of his will power. The new creature is made of willing earthly material in the hands of God, and by the exercise of the creature’s will power he is led to a full and complete surrender of self and agrees to do God’s will. In the creation of Adam the body was first formed from the elements of the earth, and then God breathed into his nostrils "the breath of lives” and a living, moving, sentient being resulted. In the new creation the order is reversed. The mind is transformed as the spirit of God operates thereupon.

• ³¹ But while this transformation process is going on the mind must have a body in which to function. God and all his spirit creation necessarily have bodies. No creature can exist without an organism. The body of sinful man is dominated by the will of the flesh. The new creature, now begotten, must have a body or organism suited to its environment. God therefore counts the body of flesh of the consecrated person as the body of the new creature, and counts it righteous. "But if the spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his spirit that dwelleth in you.” —Romans 8:11.

• ³² This text last quoted does not say and does not mean that the new creature is begotten or conceived like an animal creature and then progresses until the foetus gives signs of life. It says and it means that he who is the new creature in Christ by reason of the indwelling of the holy spirit is stimulated to activity in the service of the Lord and to the Lord’s glory. This text is the only one in the Scriptures referring to the organism of the new creation as quickened, and it does not have the thought of the quickening like unto an animal creature in embryo. The new creature must be the servant of God, and the body of that creature must be used to the glory of God and will be so used in proportion to the spirit of the Lord possessed by him.

• ⁸³ He who is now of the new creation in Christ must give all diligence to the making of his calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10) He must give diligence in the performance of his part of the covenant. The body of flesh, being a part of the new creature, must serve God. To make his calling and election sure means that he must make it firm, stable and certain; and this is done by the joyful performance of the will of God in harmony with the terms of his covenant. Therefore serving the Lord with mind, will, heart and body is essential to the wellbeing of the new creature. In no other way can one grow into the likeness of the Head, Christ Jesus. It is the being of the consecrated one that is the new creature or new creation, and his body is a part thereof. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 6:15) For this reason the apostle forbids the consecrated person to marry an unconsecrated person. The relationship to be pleasing to God must be between those who are in Christ.

SACRIFICE AND CRUCIFIXION

•‘The justified human being becomes a part of the sacrifice of our Lord. Christ Jesus offers such as a part of his sacrifice. The human body or body of flesh is the organism of the new creature while in the flesh. The new creature must deport himself according to the will of the Lord; therefore the justified human body must be used as the Lord directs. The consecrated called one does not sacrifice himself. The priest does the sacrificing; but the new creature must keep the sacrifice willingly presented to the High Priest, Christ. His love for the Lord causes him to do so. “Bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.”—Psalm 118:27.

• ³⁵ In harmony with this the Apostle Paul says to the spirit-begotten and anointed ones, in substance: ‘Brethren, by the mercies of God, you have been given the greatest privilege that any creatures could have, and that is the privilege of being a part of the new creation of God. Your bodies are holy, because God counts them such; and they are acceptable unto the Lord God, because he has justified you. Your reasonable service is to see to it that your bodies are presented to the High Priest and used to the Lord’s glory.’ (Bomans 12:1) For the reason here stated every consecrated one is bound by his covenant to use the faculties which endow his organism, for the service of the Lord as opportunity affords. To be in opposition to the service of the Lord therefore means to be in opposition to the new creature’s own interests.

• ³⁶ The mind is that faculty of the creature which searches out the facts, weighs them, and reaches a conclusion upon such facts. The will is that faculty of the creature which, when knowing the facts, determines to do or not to do a certain thing. The heart is that faculty of the creature wherein is the seat of affection and from which emanates the motive in the performance of an act. The natural tendency of the flesh is evil. But the flesh, now counted right because of justification, and being the organism of the new creature, must now be brought into complete subjection to the will that is in harmony with God.

• ³⁷ The will of the new creature must always be in harmony with God, because the creature has agreed to do God’s will without reservation. The mind of the new creature searches the Word of God and thereby ascertains God’s will. The unregenerate creature uses his mind and will for the gratification of his flesh and selfish desires. That evil tendency and course of action is called the “old man”, because that was the tendency of Adam. The “new man” is the new creature in Christ, with the mind, will, heart and organism devoted to the Lord. As such he is growing forward and upward into a perfect stature of a man in Christ Jesus.—Ephesians 4: 13.

³⁸To accomplish that desired end the apostle said: “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; that ye put off, concerning the former conversation [behavior, course of action], the old man [depraved man], which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts: and be renewed [made over] in the spirit [invisible power] of your mind [intellect] ; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”— Ephesians 4:21-24.

• ³⁹ Members of the new creation are not “dual” creatures. The body of flesh, being the organism of the creature which is now new, leads to some confusion, however, if the words of the apostle are misunderstood. The apostle says: “But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) The “outward man” means that which is seen by all. The “inward man” means that which God looks upon; to wit, the mind, will and heart devoted to him, in harmony with the. terms of the covenant. Man looks upon and judges from the outward appearance. God sees the heart, mind and intent of man, and judges him accordingly. (Hebrews 4:12) AVl'.at the apostle means here is that the “outward man”, which other creatures on earth see, is perishing; but that if it is being used up in harmony with the terms of his covenant with God the “inward man”, namely, the mind, will and heart, is growing day by day more and more into the likeness of the Lord.

• ⁴⁰ In writing to the church at Colosse the Apostle Paul makes the clear distinction between the old man and the new. In this statement he says: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” (Colos-sians 3:5) The word “mortify” means to deaden or put to death. The apostle then says, in substance: Tf you .re a new creature in Christ, then seek the things which are above; set your affections on things above and not on things earthly. As a man you are dead, but as a new creature your life is hid with God in Christ.’

• ⁴¹ “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Here the apostle defines the “old man”, plainly stating that it is the one who takes the wrongful course of action as taken by Adam and those who follow in the same way.—Colossians 3: 3, 5-9.

• ⁴² Then the apostle shows the course of action of the “new man”, and says that the “new man” is renewed by knowledge of the Lord: “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. . . . Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”—Col. 3:10, 12-15.

TRANSFORMATION

*’ The new creature must make progress. The mind Is the battle-ground. It is the mind that is transformed. The new creature searches out the truth of God’s Word, sees the same and reaches a conclusion as to what is the will of God. For this reason it is necessary for the new creature to study the Word of God, not only occasionally but constantly. As his mind is renewed he has a clearer vision of what God’s will is concerning him, and then he exercises his own will in harmony with God’s will and to the pleasure of the Lord. This is the apostle’s argument in Romans 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

• ⁴⁴ When Moses was in the mountain he received into his face the reflected glory of God. Moses there represented Christ. The Israelites after the flesh could not look upon the face of Moses, because they did not have the spirit of the Lord that had been imparted to Moses. Therefore when Moses spoke to the Israelites officially, he put a veil over his face. When the Jews even now read the law, there is a veil or covering both over their eyes and over their heart; that is to say, they have no vision or understanding, because they have not the spirit of the Lord. Their hearts or faces are not set upon the Lord God but on self. But all who receive the spirit of the Lord as new creatures have the liberty to look with unveiled faces; that is, they have a vision of the things pertaining to the spirit of the Lord.

• ⁴⁵ In harmony with the foregoing statement the apostle says: “And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: but their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that spirit; and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all [the entire new creation], with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.”—2 Corinthians 3:13-18.

• ⁴⁶ As the Christian looks into the face of Christ, as shown in the Word of God, it is as though he were looking into a glass or mirror. There he sees not his own selfishness reflected but sees Christ reflected, because he has the spirit of Christ as a new creature and his heart is right. His affection being set upon the Lord, as he thus beholds Christ the transformation proceeds from one degree of the Lord’s likeness to an increased degree of that likeness. Otherwise stated, the new creature has a mental vision of Christ; and having the spirit of Christ, and his heart being set upon the Lord, he sees Christ reflected as though he were looking into a mirror ; and he is thereby changed into the likeness of the Lord gradually.

• ⁴⁷ This change consists of the new creature’s growing more into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ, to wit, becoming more unselfishly devoted to God and to the ministry which the Lord has committed unto the creature. He unselfishly gives attention to the interests of the kingdom committed to him. More clearly he sees that the Lord has given to him the holy spirit, that he might represent the Lord’s interests. This transformation continues as the new creature uses the faculties with which he is endowed to unselfishly serve the Lord’s cause. As he thus does the “outward man” continues to be consumed, and is consumed in due time; and while this is going on the “inner man” is growing more like the Lord, and in the resurrection the creature will be clothed upon with a new and glorious body suitable to his new environments in heaven. This is exactly in harmony with the apostle’s argument in 2 Cor. 5: 1-4.

• ⁴⁸ It is manifest from these scriptures that he who is in Christ is now a new creature, upon whom there rests great responsibility to perform the terms of the covenant which he agreed to at the time he was begotten. To each one thus begotten and anointed the Lord has committed the work of the ministry of reconciliation. In order to perform their obligations each and every one must participate in the service of the Lord insofar as opportunities are offered them. Not every one can do the same thing; but every one is expected to perform his “reasonable service”, in harmony with what the Scriptures designate as reasonable. It now seems clearly to be the will of the Lord God that all of the new creation on earth shall be his witnesses, declaring that he is God, and that they shall lift up his standard for the people and tell the people that Jehovah has placed his King upon his throne, that the kingdom of heaven is here, and that deliverance is at hand 1

QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY

How and from what did God rest, as mentioned in Genesis 2:2? Did God foreknow that man would sin? Had provision been made for man’s recovery in event he should sin, and if so what? U 1-5.

How do we know that Jesus had a prehuman existence? Was his existence interrupted when he was transferred to the human plane? Was It interrupted at the cross? When did the new creation begin? In what sense had God “chosen us in him before the foundation of the world”? U 6-9.

Is the Christian a “reckoned” new creature? Is he now a new creature in embryo ? Is it correct to say that the “inner man” is or possesses a seed of incorruptibility? If 10-12. How was the new creation foreshadowed? How was fleshly

Israel bound as God’s people? Were they obedient? How and to whom was the Law Covenant a schoolmaster? K 13-16.

Under what covenant is the new creation brought forth, and what are Its terms? Did the apostles enter Into such a covenant before Pentecost? By what other names is the new creation Scrlpturally known? V 17-19.

How can a sinner approach God, who does sot look upon sin? How did the Father draw us? Give a Biblical illustration of the point. What primary qualities must the drawn one possess? T 20-23.

What is faith and how is it exercised? What is justification and how Is it accomplished? What is its purpose? How and to what are we called? U 24-26.

Define the begetting and anointing of the new creature.

IT 27, 28.                                                                 _

Of what does the new creature consist? How does its beginning compare with the creation of Adam? What body does it now have? Explain the word “quicken” as used in Romans 8:11. How can the new creature make his calling and election sure? V 29-33.

Is our justified humanity a part of the sacrifice of Christ Jesus? Do we sacrifice ourselves? How do we “bind the

sacrifice to the horns of the altar"? jf 34, 85.

Define mind, will and heart. T 36, 37.

What Is the “old man" and the “new man" of Ephesians 4:21-24? What is the “outward man” and the “Inward man” of 2 Corinthians 4:16? Explain Colossians 3:5-15 in this connection. T 38-42.

How is the new creature “transformed”? Explain 2 Corinthians 3:13-18. Of what does the change from glory to glory consist? T 43-47.

Summarize the principal points in this study, and show what the Lord expects of each member of the new creation. K 48.

PETER PREACHING TO GENTILES

---June 5—Acts, Chapters 10,11---

“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him/¹—Bomans 10:12.

ALTHOUGH Jesus had told Peter that he should have the keys of the kingdom of heaven, Peter does not appear to have known how or when they were to be used. Probably after Pentecost he knew that his privilege of declaring that any of Israel who accepted Jesus would receive the holy spirit even as the apostles had done was the first use of the keys; but he does not appear to have then realized that he was to do a similar work which should be as the opening of a door by which the Gentiles also might enter the kingdom.

• ² It appears that Peter traveled round Judea and Samaria; and from time to time he would visit Galilee, his native parts where there were many disciples. One considerable journey of visiting service ended in Joppa on the coast; and there he stayed for a time, lodging in the house of a tanner named Simon. Whether this Simon was a brother in the faith is not stated, but it is probable that Peter would seek accommodation amongst the brethren wherever possible. It was during his short stay there that the time came for the long foreshadowed entrance of Gentiles into the favor of God, hitherto held so exclusively by Israel.

• ³ Long ago, in the earliest days of Israel’s history as a chosen people, Moses had indicated that the Gentiles should eventually come into favor with God’s people Israel; for when referring to the full blessings which were to come upon Israel he said, “Rejoice, 0 ye nations, with his people.” (Deuteronomy 32: 43) And Abraham, the father of the faithful, was chosen to be the blesser of the families of the earth, Gentiles as well as Jews; of the goyim as well as of the chosen.

• ⁴ No doubt the apostles, remembering the Lord’s words, often questioned among themselves what nation it would be which would be favored by God when Israel was cast off, and which would give to God the fruits of his husbandry. (Matthew 21:43) But it was not till many years had passed that Peter and the others of The Twelve understood. Then they learned that it was none of the nations of the earth, but a new people gathered out from all the nations, a holy nation, a people who were separated to God in the faith of Jesus Christ.

• ⁶ When Peter was in Joppa, about A. D. 36, helping the brethren and perhaps waiting for an indication of what he should do, Cornelius, a Roman soldier in Caesarea, had a vision. He was a good man who for a time had been praying, evidently for light to do the will of God and not merely as worship or for the care and protection of God. Some think he was the centurion mentioned in the Gospels whose sick servant Jesus healed. (Luke 7: 2-10) Whether this be so or not, it is evident that he was well disposed toward God’s people; he was no de-spiser of the Jews. He had taught his household to share his prayers.

* How long Cornelius had prayed is not told, but none of his prayers had been wasted. The angel who appeared to him in the vision told him that his prayers had come up for a memorial before God. (See Acts 10: 31.) That is, the time had now come when God would answer; they had been preserved till the due time came when God would have them before him for his notice. The simple fact is that the time had come when the truth must go to the Gentiles.

• ⁷ All God’s works are done in order. It was in “the fulness of time” when God sent his Son into the world (Galatians 4:4); it was exactly on time that Jesus died; likewise, the entrance of the nations into the favor of God was fixed according to God’s schedule. The chronology of the Bible shows that the promise to Abraham, that all the nations of the earth should be blessed in him, was made exactly at the half-way point between the fall of man and the time when God sent Peter to Cornelius to open the kingdom of heaven to the nations.

• ⁸ But the blessings of the kingdom were then only for those who sought, as Cornelius did; the real fulfilment of the promise comes with the return of Jesus when he brings the blessings of God to all mankind. During the first period (of 2081 years), from Adam’s fall to Abraham, the way to God was open to those who sought him, and was found by Abel and a few others; but during the second period (of 2081 years), from Abraham to Cornelius, God reserved his favor to the chosen family. Then again the way was open to those who would seek after God; but the way has been narrow, and few have found it. Now the time is upon the world when God will have all men know him, and the responsibility of their salvation will be upon themselves.—1 Timothy 2: 4.

• ⁹ About three o’clock one afternoon Cornelius had a vision. Probably he had made that hour, the Jews’ hour of prayer, his own hour. He was told to send men to Joppa for one Simon Peter, who lodged with Simon a tanner, whose house was at the seaside. As Cornelius was a man under authority, accustomed both to do things on time and to have them done in time and order, he lost no time in obeying the angel’s instruction. Calling two personal servants and a soldier who waited on him, he told them fully of the vision and at once sent them to Joppa.

• ¹⁰ On the morrow, as the servants of Cornelius approached Joppa, Peter went on the housetop to pray. Becoming hungry, he went to ask for food to be prepared; returning while they made ready, he fell into a trance. In a vision heaven was opened and food supplied him. He saw a great sheet let down from heaven, wherein were all kinds of living things. He heard a voice saying, “Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.” Peter’s orthodox regularity prevailed. He said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” The command came again with the added word, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 10:13-15) Peter still hesitated. For the third time the command came to him; and as he was still slow, he lost his chance; the sheet was lifted to heaven.

• ¹¹ Peter was perplexed. It was just then that the men whom Cornelius had sent the previous evening arrived at Simon’s door and asked for Peter. Still thinking upon the vision the spirit spoke to him to say that he was to go with the men, nothing doubting. He went down to them and inquired of them the cause of their call; and they related this to him. During the afternoon Peter arranged for two or three of the local brethren to accompany him. Next morning they started for Cassarea.

• ¹² Arriving at Ceesarea they found Cornelius and his kinsmen and some friends waiting for Peter; Cornelius had been active in his desire to help his friends as well as his household. Peter at once addressed them, stating first of all the difficulty he would have had as a Jew of entering into fellowship with Gentiles, but that God had taught him not to call anything unclean. After hearing how the angel had spoken to Cornelius, and that Cornelius had known nothing about Peter’s being in Joppa, or probably of Peter himself, the latter said that he perceived that God was no respecter of persons in regard to nationality.

• ¹³ Peter went on to address the little assembly. He was aware that they knew about Jesus of Nazareth, who had gone about ministering, healing the sick, and teaching the people. He told them that the apostles were witnesses of all that Jesus had done, and of what the Jews had done to him—how they had hanged him. He told how Jesus had been raised from the dead, and had shown himself to the apostles, his chosen witnesses, who did eat and drink with him after the resurrection. He said that Jesus had commanded them to speak to the people and to testify that it was he who was ordained of God to judge the quick and the dead. He further said that to Jesus all the prophets had given witness, that through this Man all who believed should receive forgiveness of sins.—Acts 10: 42,43.

• ¹⁴ As soon as Peter had gotten to this point his discourse was interrupted by the same demonstration of the holy spirit upon that little company as had been upon the apostles in the upper room at Pentecost. These Roman soldiers and others began to speak with tongues and to magnify God, to the great astonishment of all the Jews present; for such a manifestation upon the Gentiles was altogether unexpected. Then, realizing that baptism was the outward confession of belief, Peter said: “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the holy spirit as well as we ?” Those upon whom the holy spirit fell were then immersed in the name of the Lord.—Acts 10:45-48.

• ¹⁵ There are four main points of importance to here notice: (1) This coming of the holy spirit was not the result of Peter’s argument; (2) there was no waiting for a declaration that these men had given themselves to God; (3) they were baptized after they had received the holy spirit, making it clear that baptism is not “the door of the church”; (4) the fact of baptism, even though they now already had the spirit, signified that baptism was considered important to all the followers of Jesus Christ.

• ¹³ The noise of this event carried to Jerusalem, and they in Jerusalem “heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God”. (Acts 11:1) As soon as Peter got there on his return those disciples who held for circumcision contended with him, because he had eaten with uncircumcised Gentiles. To these contenders the fact that God had done something for the Gentiles was as nothing. Peter meekly rehearsed the matter to them, detailing everything; and then he asked them, intending his words as a rebuke: “What was I, that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11:17) This was indeed what they were doing. They then held their peace and glorified God. They acknowledged that God had granted repentance unto life unto the Gentiles also.

• ¹⁷ This happening opened the eyes of the Jerusalem brethren to the work of the Lord. They also heard that the brethren who had been scattered abroad by the persecution which arose with Stephen’s death were telling the truth about Jesus to listening ears, and that a number of brethren from amongst the Greeks were being gathered in Antioch. With a real pastoral care the apostles sent Barnabas, who was one of the early disciples, to Antioch. He was a good man and full of the holy spirit.

• ¹⁸ Many more believed, and Barnabas saw that there was need for help; and having befriended Paul in Jerusalem he went to Cilicia to seek him. Finding him they returned together, and in Antioch the first church including Gentiles was gathered. Those were great days for the church, days of gladness, days of unrest, too; for the urge of the growing church kept them all moving. The corn of wheat which fell into the ground when Jesus died was now beginning to bring forth fruit from amongst the nations.—John 12: 24.

QUESTIONS FOK BEREAN STUDY

Did Peter realize the significance of “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” committed to him? What were those keys? How was Peter’s time occupied following Jesus* ascension? UI, 2.

Did Jews expect that Gentiles would eventually come into divine favor? How did the disciples view this question? 1f 3, 4.

Who was Cornelius, and what vision did he have? Why did his prayers only now come up as a memorial before God? U 5-8.

What vision did Peter have at Joppa? Narrate what followed. How was Peter’s discourse at Caesarea interrupted, and what did he then say and do? U 9-14.

What four main points should be specially noted in this lesson? What effect did Cornelius’ conversion have upon the brethren at Jerusalem? U 15-18.

PETER DELIVERED FROM PRISON

----June 12—Acts 12:1-17---

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but Jehovah delivereth him out of them dll."—Psalm 81>: 19.

JUST when the church in Antioch was gaining some influence by reason of the increase in its numbers and the prominence of some of its members, and when the message of the gospel was spreading abroad as far as Cyprus and Cilicia in Asia, what appeared to be a calamity fell on the church in Jerusalem. Herod the king, grandson of Herod the Great, thought to do hurt to the church. He imprisoned some of the brethren; and James the brother of John he caused to be slain, probably by being beheaded. He saw that this pleased the Jews; and to get more favor for himself he had Peter arrested, intending to kill him also. But because Passover was immediately upon them he held Peter in prison till the season was over.

• ² As the Jews of Jesus* day did not want to have the Victim of their malice on the cross while they were professing holiness in eating the Passover supper and during the special sabbath, so no doubt Herod considered himself too religious to have a man murdered at Passover. It is possible that his desire to vex the church by this ruthless taking of the leaders was a policy of provocation; if this law-abiding community would make a commotion he would have an excuse for repressive measures.

• ⁸ In all probability the taking and slaying of James was done suddenly. Perhaps the church thought that the Lord would miraculously release James. When they found that he did not do so, and that Peter was taken, they were alarmed and stirred to action. They made no agitation in the city nor any appeal to the rulers, but began to pray. The Lord did not answer them at once, and they continued in prayer through the week.

• * In the night, when the last watch had been set before the day when Herod would have slain Peter, the angel of the Lord visited the prison. Peter was well guarded; he was bound with two chains, evidently a soldier on each side was bound to him, and guards were set at the prison doors. The rulers would recall that some years before the whole company of apostles were mysteriously taken out of the temple prison when locked up for the night.

• ⁶ The prison was lit by the angel’s presence. (See Matthew 28:3.) Smiting Peter on his side the angel gave him a helping hand, bidding him rise up quickly. As he rose his chains fell from his hands. He was told to gird himself, to bind on his sandals, cast his outer garment about him, and follow the angel. There was no undue haste; but time was not to be lost, for Peter must soon attend to himself. They went out, Peter as in a vision, not knowing that what was happening was real. Past two sets of guards they went; and as they approached the iron gate which led into the city the great gate opened of its own accord, as if another angel were gatekeeper for them.

• The angel took Peter the length of one street and, giving no instructions, immediately departed. The angel’s work was done. Peter was free; he must now look after himself. Left there Peter “came to himself”. Now fully awake and free he realized that it was no dream or vision he had. He stopped to consider what he should do, and decided to go to the house of John Mark, the young disciple who in later days was so closely associated with him as helper in the Lord’s work.

• ⁷ Knocking at the gate he was heard by a young girl who, because of this incident, has her name, Rhoda, enrolled in the Scriptures. Hearing Peter’s well-known voice as he called for entrance she, too excited to open the door, ran back to tell the company who were continuing in supplication through the night for Peter’s release, that Peter was at the door. They were as unbelieving as the apostles were when the women reported that Jesus was raised and had appeared to them. Perhaps they continued to pray; but Peter, whose energy was never in doubt, and who was not afraid to call attention to himself, made himself heard by loud knocking.

• ⁸ When they had received him and would have rejoiced with him, he, lifting up his hand, asked for quietness. He told them how he had been delivered and, instructing them to tell James the Lord’s “brother”, he left them to go into another place. And thus, so quietly, closes the account of Peter’s ministry. To what place he went we do not know; that he was always busy in the service of his beloved Master and of the God and Father of Jesus we are sure. He was in Jerusalem at the general conference (Acts 15:7), and in Antioch when Paul was there; for Paul records a disagreement which they had respecting Peter’s fear of eating with the Gentiles. The holy spirit was not used to record his further movements, for the reason that the time had come when the other and wider ministry of the gospel to the Gentiles, must be recorded.

• ⁸ There was a great stir in Herod’s court when it was discovered that the well-guarded prisoner was missing. None could account for him, and the only conclusion Herod and his officers could reach was that all the men on guard had been in collusion to give Peter his liberty. Herod ordered that all of them should be killed. There was no injustice done to these men by reason of the miracle wrought for Peter and the church. If we may judge of these men by all the other evidences of the record, the guards would have been very much pleased to have had the work of putting Peter to death.

• ¹⁰ God did not let Herod go unpunished. A short time afterward he went down to Caesarea, and to him there went a deputation from Tyre, for there had been fear of war, and peace was sought. Herod was unduly praised, and he allowed himself to be flattered as if he were more than a man. Acts 12: 23 says that the angel of the Lord smote him, and he died a terrible agonized death; he was eaten of worms. The angel also smote Peter on the side, but did not hurt him. His oppressor, however, was smitten and died. The touch was very different in the two instances.

• ¹¹ This lesson brings us to the second phase of the church’s earliest ministry. The Word had been proclaimed in Jerusalem; then it was proclaimed in Samaria and in the regions round about; also the Gentiles had been blessed with the holy spirit; thus the foundations of the church’s work were laid. The church in Jerusalem must now stand without the aid of James and Peter for a time. By these events the church would realize a change in the Lord’s administration of the church. (1 Corinthians 12: 5) Both Peter’s wonderful deliverance from the power of Herod and Herod’s miserable death would give them assurance that God was looking after their interests. Had not God made some move when Peter was taken the church might have been in doubt as to whether or not he was with them.

• ¹² But it should be remembered that the further the church got from its infant days the further they got from those manifestations which then gave outward proof that God was with them. The gifts of miracles were for the purpose of training the young life of the church. Miracles and supernatural gifts were never intended to continue; for with such manifestations the life of faith could never be pursued. These outward things were for its infancy; as it grew up it was to be dependent upon the inward things—faith, hope and love.—1 Corinthians 13:13.

• ¹³ In these providences there is a lesson for the Lord’s people. They show us that many of the trials of faith which come upon the disciple are intended to encourage faith in God rather than to teach a particular lesson. We may not conclude that James’ life might have been saved had the church been more alive to its privileges of prayer. Indeed, if all things connected with God’s plan were governable by prayer the church would really be the director of its providences and of its destiny. The church might then easily pray for things hurtful to its interests, and therefore out of harmony with the divine will; for it could not know of those wider interests known to God alone.

• ¹⁴ The different ways in which the Lord deals with his people are intended to show them their need to watch his providences. Christians are too apt to think that when things go well with any matter the Lord thereby gives a token that he is favoring their project. It ought to be understood that in themselves favorable circumstances do not mean the Lord’s favor, nor that difficulties indicate his disapproval.

• ¹⁵ The disciple’s life is one of faith, to be lived as in a stewardship. We may take it that Jesus did not pray his Father as to whether or not he should go here and there, and then wait for some manifestation; nor did the Apostle Paul do his work in this way. The Christian commits his way to the Lord, and most frequently he will find his satisfaction in the effect of his course upon his life.

• ¹⁶ In this matter the great enemy has often misled the Lord’s people. He has tempted them to think that God does not specially watch over his own, and sometimes he has caused great depression because some event in the life has not seemed to produce any special lesson. The Christian needs to be watchful, quick to understand; but he is not to ask his Father in heaven to explain all his providences, which seeking a direct lesson often means.

” The golden text says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but Jehovah delivereth him out of them all.” The Christian in difficulty usually wants to have this text applied in such a manner as to have the Lord take him clean out of his difficulties. If it should have such an application then it would appear that the pronrisehad failed in James’ case. How are we to understand such texts ? Quite evidently not as applying to outward circumstances; else why should Peter be saved and not James?

• ¹⁸ Other Scriptures show that the Lord’s people are sheep appointed for slaughter (Romans 8:36), and the Lord indicated to Peter himself that the end of his life Would be by violence. The fact is, these promises apply to the ideal man and are seen in “the servant” at the end of the age, the unified church in its last days on earth; but even so, in any case the promises apply to those evil things which from time to time Satan and his agents are allowed to bring upon the Lord’s people. It is out of these that the Lord deK,eⁱ’s his people. No evil befalls them.—Psalm 91:10.

QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY

What apparent calamity to the church In Jerusalem is recorded in today’s lesson? What provoked It? What did the disciples expect would follow? If 1-3.

What happened to Peter that night in the prison? Did the angel give him instructions after his release? What did Peter then do? What do we know of his ministry after this incident? If 4-8.

What occurred next morning? How did God punish Herod? If 9,10.

Why is it said that this lesson brings us to the second phase of the church’s ministry? What purpose was served by the gifts of the spirit, and why did they pass away? What lesson should we gain therefrom? IT 11-15.

How have Christians been misled with respect to their personal experiences? How is our golden text often misapplied? Explain its true meaning, f 16-18.

INTERESTING QUESTIONS

QUESTION: The Watch Tower of November 1, 1926, page 326, paragraph 23, says: “Joshua the high priest is a picture of the glorified Christ, the anointed King.” The question is: Is Joshua the high priest a picture of the Lord Jesus alone, or of the Lord Jesus and those of his body members now on the other side the vail, or of the entire Christ complete?

Answer: Joshua the high priest may be properly said to represent Christ Jesus and all the members of the body in glory. Since the glorification of all the members has not yet taken place, the thought expressed in The Watch Tower is that Joshua the high priest represents Christ Jesus in glory and him alone. Paul speaks of Jesus as the “high priest of our profession”. (Hebrews 3:1) He is the great High Priest or Servant, serving in the office as the executive officer of Jehovah. He is the Great Priest of the Melchisedec order, and “priest for ever”. He is the perfect pattern. He is set before the members of the body, particularly those approved when he comes to his temple.

Question: Does a Christian have perfect love, seeing that the Bible says: “Perfect love casteth out fear”? And how do we account for the fear of Jesus at the end of his ministry, as it is written: “He was heard in that he feared”?

Answer: The Apostle John (1 John 4:17,18), addressing the consecrated followers of Christ, says: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” It is manifest that the apostle here means that he who is perfect in love fears neither man nor devil. Eear is the result of selfishness. He who is absolutely devoted to the Lord would not fear anything that man or other enemies could do against him. “If God be for us, who can be against us?”—Romans 8:31.

There is a proper fear, however. The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalm 111: 10) Every creature should fear to incur the displeasure of the Creator. The Lord Jesus had undertaken to do the will of his Father in the performance of his covenant, which meant his death as a man. Had he incurred the displeasure of Jehovah in any way, had he failed to keep perfectly any part of his agreement, he would have gone into destruction. This is what he feared. He feared to displease his Father. But the Scriptures show that after he had prayed, Jehovah sent an angel to him and comforted him; and thereafter he went to the cross with no fear whatsoever.

The followers of Jesus are admonished to fear God. (1 Peter 2:17) Christians are likewise admonished to have a mind like the Lord Jesus, and then to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philip-pians 2: 5, 12) One really devoted to the Lord fears to displease Jehovah, and with extreme caution he goes about the performance of his covenant; but being devoted to the Lord, and knowing that he is on the Lord’s side, he has no cause to fear what man or any of the enemy’s organization can do unto him.

Question: In Revelation 12:11 it is written: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” What is meant by the statement : “They loved not their lives unto the death” ?

Answer: The words refer to those who are really devoted to the Lord. They are the same class described in Psalm 110: 3 as the willing ones. They delight to follow where the Lord leads. They count not their existence on earth dear unto them, but are anxious to please God and to fulfil the covenant of sacrifice made with him. They know that they must die; but so long as the Lord God is directing them, and they are following in the footsteps of the Master, they have no occasion to leave their own existence on the earth, but are anxious to spend and be spent in doing Jehovah’s will.

Question: Should a consecrated one belong to any of this world’s organizations and support its doings?

Answer: The question is rather ambiguous. If it is answered categorically it must be answered, No. The world’s organizations consist of organizations brought into being by the ruling factors which compose the world, to wit, the political, commercial and religious elements combined. A true Christian should be no part of such, nor support such. There are other organizations, however, that are sometimes termed worldly which really are not. For instance, there may be a mutual organization of men who agree to pay into a certain common tr. asury some dues or monthly payments, in order that in case of accident or death of a member those of their families dependent upon them may have some benefits therefrom. This is what is commonly called a mutual insurance company. It is not a “worldly” organization in an evil sense, but an organization for the aid and comfort of men.

A Christian might have a family dependent upon him, the members of which are not consecrated. His obligation is to protect them as best he can. It would not be out of order for him to be a member of a mutual insurance arrangement. Any like organization would come within the same rule. One might ask then: Would this mean that it would be proper for us to join the Y.M.C.A. or Y.W.C.A. in order that we might have some of the benefits therefrom ? The answer to that would be, No, for the reason that these organizations sail under a false name. They pretend to be Christian organizations, organized in the name of Christ, but are in truth and in fact organized for a selfish purpose and are misleading ; and no Christian should associate himself with an organization that on the face of it is a subterfuge.

Question: Is it proper for an ecclesia to elect an elder that cannot or will not give discourses on current Tower articles to the friends; and what should be done by an ecclesia where the majority of her elders do not try to teach the class present truth as it is now appearing in The Watch Tower?

Answer: This question can be answered by getting a proper view of why the Lord is permitting a work now to be done in his name. This is the time when the world has ended, evidenced by the World War, famine, pestilence, etc. Now is the time for the fulfilment of the Lord’s command to preach the gospel to the nations as a witness. (Matthew 24:14) Now is the peculiar time when the truly consecrated must be witnesses that Jehovah is God. (Isaiah 43:10,12) Now is the time in which Jehovah has put his Word into the mouths of his people and commands them to testify concerning the same. (Isaiah 51:16) Now is the time in which the church is specifically commanded to lift up God’s standard for the people and to point them in the way of the kingdom.

The truly consecrated believe that the Lord Jesus himself is present and directing this work, and that he is doing it through the Society; which meaift, through those who are truly consecrated and devoted to him and who are working harmoniously together. Such also believe that the Lord uses The Watch Tower as a means of communicating truths to his people. It logically follows, therefore, that each ecclesia that is in harmony with the Lord and his work, as set forth in the Scriptures, would want to study The Watch Tower.

If the servants of the church who have been elected elders fail or refuse to teach present truth as published in The Watch Tower and to aid the class in understanding the same, then the ecclesia should respectfully request that such resign as its elders. The ecclesia should then proceed to elect those who will work together in harmony with them. Anyone who takes himself too seriously, and who thinks that he is especially called to lead the ecclesia of his community, is hardly worthy to be an elder. An elder is a servant of the class or ecclesia, and should do whatsoever he can to aid and comfort them and to lead them in harmony with the work that the Lord is now doing.

Question: Should an ecclesia send out its elders to other ecclesias from week to week by regular appointment?

Answer: It does not seem to be the proper course for an ecclesia to send out elders from time to time to serve other ecclesias by appointment. Elders are elected to serve the ecclesia that elects them, and their authority extends to that ecclesia so far as the ecclesia itself is concerned; but no ecclesia has authority to send its elders to other ecclesias to serve them. If, however, an ecclesia invites a brother who is a member of another ecclesia to come and serve it, that consecrated brother, if he has no duties to perform with his home ecclesia that would conflict, may properly respond. But no ecclesia should be asked to receive the service of a brother because he is sent by some other ecclesia. It would be well to adhere to the apostle’s recommendation in 1 Thessalonians 4: 11. Each ecclesia is a governing power within itself, and its jurisdiction extends only to itself.

Question: In Matthew 21: 42 the statement is made: “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.” To which builders and to what building does this text refer?

Answer: The Lord himself quoted the above scripture from the 118th Psalm, verses 22 and 23. The Lord Jesus, as the anointed King of God, is The Stone. All those who have been begotten of the holy spirit and anointed are designated as living stones built up into that house. (1 Peter 2:5) These are also designated in the Scriptures as coworkers together with God. Therefore the builders are those who claim to be consecrated to the Lord and devoted to the doing of God’s holy will.

The time came for the laying of The Stone in Zion in completion when the Lord came to his temple. Some of these builders rejected him, and some were found faithful unto the Lord. An explanation of this subject appeared in The Watch Tower, October 15 and November 1, 1926.

EFFICIENT

EVERYONE really devoted to the Lord realizes that now is the time when the witness must be given to Jehovah’s Name and to his King and kingdom.

(Isaiah 43:10, 12; Matthew 24:14) This work is the Lord’s, and he will have it done. Blessed is he who has an opportunity to have a part therein. Of course all the consecrated want to do this work in the most efficient manner possible. For this reason the following suggestions are made:

For some time it has been the practice for elders of various classes to be sent out on Sundays as local pilgrims to serve other classes. The brother so sent often travels from six to ten hours, serves a class or the public one hour and then returns to his home. There is a considerable expense attached to the service as well as time occupied merely in traveling. It therefore seems that there is much loss of time, energy and money that might be used to a better advantage. The Lord’s work has advanced to that point where the witness must be given in as wide and effective manner as possible. It would therefore seem that it would be better if elders serve their home classes where they reside, and avoid the traveling of long distances for the purpose of serving some* other class or meeting just for a short period of one hour.

The Lord has brought into action the radio, evidently for'the purpose of giving a witness to the people. By this means many who are prisoners in the systems can be reached that could not be otherwise reached at all. It would seem that each class, instead of spending large sums of money for halls, newspaper advertisements, handbills, etc., could better serve by conserving their money and arranging to broadcast the message of truth over some radio station.

It is possible for almost every class, or at least every community, to arrange with some station to use from a half-hour to two hours a week at a reasonable rate for broadcasting the truth. This will reach far more people than locally advertised meetings will reach. It is therefore suggested that each class appoint a committee to ascertain what arrangements can be made for broadcasting in their respective communities. The office will be glad, to confer with the classes. Information being obtained should be sent into the office at once, that we may advise concerning arrangements for broadcasting.

We suggest that the elders of all classes who are competent to deliver public addresses devote some time

International Bible Students Association Gasses

lectures and Studies by Traveling Brethren

BROTHER T. E. BARKER

Grand Island, Neb.....May 18

Fremont, Neb................” 19, 20

Omaha, Neb............._....”

Cedar Rapids, la. ..........” 23, 24

Clinton, la. __________May 25, 26

Dubuque, la_____________”

Freeport, Ill..............”

Rockford, Ill. _________”

Conrath, Wis ___________.May

Junction City, Wis. .... ” 18,19

Wausau, Wis. ____________” 20,

Clintonville, Wis.____”23,24

Bonduel, Wis.______May 25, 29

Green Bay, Wis.___” ,

Marinette, Wis. __________” 29, 30

Vulcan, Mich.___May 31, June 1

BROTHER J. A. BOHNET

BROTHER W. M. HERSEE

Midland, Mich.........May 16,17 Elk Rapids, Mich.....May 23, 24

Cadillac, Mich.............” 18,19   Lake Ann, Mich. -------” 26,

Kingsley, Mich.............”     20   Empire, Mich...............” 27, 29

(Traverse City, Mich. .. ” 22, 25   Manistee, Mich. May 31, June 1

Calgary, Alta. _________May 15,16   Calmar, Alta. ------ May

Swalwell, Alta. __________”     17   Buford, Alta. -------------”

Camrose, Alta. ----------” 18,19   Lamont, Alta. ------------” 27,

Edmonton, Alta. _______” 20, 22   Saskatoon, Sask. --------” 29,

Leduc, Alta. ____________”     23   Humboldt, Sask.-------”

BROTHER C. W. CUTFORTH

BROTHER H. S. MURRAY

B.Margaretsville.N. S. May 12 Truro, N. S...............May 23, 24

Kentville, N. S.............” 13,15   Stellarton, N. S. ______” 25, 26

El Hall’s Harbor, N. S. ” 16,17   Long Hill, N. S.------”     27

South Rawdon, N. S. .... ”   19   Sydney, N. S...........” 29, 31

Halifax, N. S.................” 20, 22   Glace Bay, N. S.........” 29, 30

Biloxi, Miss. ________________May 16 Hattiesburg, Miss.......May 22

Lyman, Miss. ________________” 17   Collins, Miss. .............”23,24

Saucier, Miss. __________________” 18   Sumrail, Miss.-------"25,26

Lumberton, Miss. ___________” 19   Brookhaven, Miss. ____” 27, 29

Poplarville, Miss. _________” 20   Wanilla, Miss.-------” 30, 31

BROTHER H. H. DINGUS

BROTHER H. E. PINNOCK

Winona, Minn.___.May 19,20

Rochester, Minn.----”

Evan, Minn.”

St Paul, Minn.------”

Minneapolis, Minn. ..May 26, 29

Eureka Center, Minn. "

Cambridge, Minn. ____”

Princeton, Minn. ____’•

BROTHER G. H. DRAPER

BROTHER G. R. POLLOCK

Burlington, Wash. May 15 Mt. Vernon, Wash. ” 16,17 Sedro Woolley, Wash. _ ” 18,19 Friday Harbor, Wash. _ ” 20, 22 Oak Harbor, Wash, ---” 23, 24

Blaine, Wash. --------May 25, 26

Vancouver, B. C. _______”     29

Bellingham, Wash.....”    30

Everson, Wash. May 31, June 1

Lynden, Wash. ___________June 2, 3

BROTHER M. M. FRESCHEL

Denver, Colo. May 11,15,18,19 Sutton, Neb...............May 24, 25

Pueblo Colo........_...May 12,13 Grand Island, Neb. May26,27,29

Fort Collins, Colo. ......” 16,17 Norfolk, Neb.....May 31, June 2

Lincoln, Neb.......May 20, 22, 23 Winside, Neb.

Boonville, Ind. _______May 19, 20   Hopkinsville, Ky.----May 26, 27

Magnet, Ind.................”     22   Guthrie, Ky. ------------”

Cannelton, Ind. ---------” 23, 24   Palmyra, Tenn.-------”

Owensboro, Ky. -------”    25  Big Sandy, Tenn. -------”

BROTHER R. G. GREEN

Perry, Okla. ____________May 15 Ames, Okla. --------------May 23

Red Rock, Okla. ______ " 16,17   Ringwood, Okla. --------” 24,

Tonkawa, Okla.....-......” 18,19   El Reno, Okla. ----------” 27,

Enid, Okla. ________May 20, 22, 26  Minco, Okla. —........ ” 30,

Mahanoy City, Pa. ....May 18,19 Pottstown, Pa.------.May 26

Pottsville, Pa.-----”     22   Bpyertown, Pa.--”

Tremont, Pa.__________” 23,24   Reading, Pa. --------------”29,30

Linfield, Pa.______”     25   Lebanon, Pa. ------------”

BROTHER H. E. HAZLETT

Hanover, N. H._______May

St Johnsbury, Vt ”

Morrisville, Vt__”

Burlington, Vt................”

Rutland, Vt--”

Pawtucket, R. I.---May 15,16

E. Greenwich, R. L — ” 17,18

Providence, R. L---” 19, 20

Attleboro, Masa. -----”

Taunton, Mass. ____May 23, 24

New Bedford, Masa. __” 25, 26

Fall River, Mass. ____” 27, 29

Newport, R. L ■■■„......."