String 7: _Mystery Revealed_
A mystery is that which is kept a profound secret. It is something
unknown, except to certain ones, being kept carefully and continuously
concealed from all others. Jehovah being all powerful can hide or keep
secret from every creature, earthly or heavenly, any part or all of his
great plan and reveal or make it known at such time as might please him.
One feature of his great plan he did keep secret for ages and it is
still a secret to all except a few.
[299]When Jesus was on earth he taught the people in parables or dark
sayings. His disciples came to him and asked: "Why speakest thou unto
them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given
unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it
is not given." (Matthew 13:10,11) It will be observed that he did not
say, 'You now know the mysteries of God'; but that it was given them to
know those mysteries. Not even his disciples understood him in many
things when they were with him. On the last night before his crucifixion
he was instructing them in various things that would be helpful to them
in the days to come. On that occasion he said: "When he, the spirit of
truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak
of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he
will show you things to come." (John 16:13) The spirit of truth here
mentioned is the holy spirit, the spirit of God, the invisible power
operating upon the minds of those who are in covenant relationship with
God. Jesus here used the masculine pronoun in speaking of the holy
spirit.
[300]The holy spirit was given to the disciples at Pentecost, that is to
say, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. "And when the day of
Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind,
and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared
unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the holy spirit, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) The King
James Version of our Bibles, translates the word here holy "ghost", but
there is no warrant for such a translation. It comes from the word which
means spirit.
[301]It was at Pentecost that for the first time God's great mystery
began to be understood by the disciples. The mystery of God has been a
stumbling block to both Jews and Christians so-called; but in God's due
time he will make known to all the secret of his mystery and then all
rightly exercised by this will rejoice with exceeding joy.
[302]The mystery is _the Christ_, the great one through whom redemption,
deliverance and blessing will ultimately come to all mankind who receive
Christ and obey him. God foreshadowed his mystery for ages by the use of
various men. Yet all of that time he kept it secret.
[303]Death has been and is the great enemy of man. Death is the very
opposite of life. The greatest desire of man is and always has been to
have life everlasting in happiness. From the time of his expulsion from
Eden man has been looking for something upon which to fasten a hope for
life and happiness. Satan was the cause of death, and when God
pronounced the sentence in Eden he said that the seed of the woman
should bruise the serpent's head. This statement was in the nature of a
promise, but it could not then be understood. Since Pentecost some have
understood the meaning of these words to be an assurance that in God's
due time the seed of promise, the seed of the woman, will destroy Satan,
who has the power of death. Nearly two thousand years rolled by after
this statement before anything further was promised.
[304]Then unto Abraham Jehovah called and made him the promise: "In thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed". This was another
reference to the mystery; but that promise was not understood in its
proper light. Abraham believed God would bless the human race, but he
did not understand just the manner in which it would be done. At the
time of this promise Abraham had no children. Several years more passed
and then Isaac, Abraham's first legitimate son, was born. Abraham
believed that his natural seed, his son, would be the ruler through whom
the blessing would come to the people; but his son Isaac was merely a
type of the mystery, God using him to foreshadow the greater one. This
promise was renewed to Isaac and to Jacob, and at the death of Jacob his
descendants, who of course were descendants of Abraham, were organized
into twelve tribes, forming the nation of Israel, and were thereafter
recognized as God's chosen nation. (Genesis 49:28; Deuteronomy 26:5)
Then it was that the faithful believed that God's promised blessings
would come through this nation, his chosen people. But in time they
became slaves to the Egyptians and their hopes were almost blasted. They
were sorely oppressed in Egypt when God sent Moses to be their
deliverer and to lead the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.
Moses was also a type foreshadowing the great One. (Acts 3:22) Moses
died and the promised blessing had not yet come. The prophetic statement
made by Moses that God would raise up unto Israel one like unto himself
led the prophets to understand that there would be a great one raised up
from the nation of Israel who would be the deliverer and blesser of
mankind.
[305]Joshua followed next in line after Moses. His name signifies
savior or deliverer. But he also was only a type of the great Deliverer.
[306]Then David became the king of Israel. His name means beloved one.
The Jews had hoped that he would be the great deliverer, but in his old
age he abdicated the throne in favor of Solomon, and yet the blessing
did not come. Solomon became the most famous man in the world for riches
and wisdom, and the hopes of Israel were centered in him, only to be
disappointed. David and Solomon were also but mere types foreshadowing
the coming of the great Deliverer.
[307]The nation of Israel degenerated and under the reign of Zedekiah,
their last king, they fell into captivity to the Babylonians and they
continued subject to other nations until they were finally driven out of
Palestine.
[308]Moved by the holy spirit of God operating upon their minds, the
holy prophets testified of the coming of this great Deliverer, both of
his sufferings and of his glory that would follow; but they did not
understand. The matter was a mystery to them. (1 Peter 1:11) Even the
angels of heaven sought to look into it, but they were not permitted.
God's purpose was to keep the matter secret until his own due time to
reveal the great truth.
[309]Then came Jesus, whose coming was announced by John the Baptist;
and he was pointed out as the one who would take away the sin of the
world. He chose his disciples and they walked with him, and he taught
them for three and a half years; yet they did not understand the great
mystery. They expected Jesus to be made an earthly king and hoped that
they might be with him in the kingdom, probably in his cabinet, because
he was asked if one might sit on his left and the other on his right
hand in the kingdom. They expected him to make Israel a great nation and
believed that through that nation other nations would be blessed. When
he was put to death they were greatly disappointed, mystified, and in
great distress. (Luke 24:21) Even after his resurrection they did not
understand his mission, and this is shown by their words to him on the
day that he ascended into heaven. "When they were therefore come
together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time
restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not
for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in
his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is
come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and
in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;
and a cloud received him out of their sight."--Acts 1:6-9.
[310]In obedience to the command of Jesus, these faithful disciples went
to Jerusalem to the place known as the upper room, and there waited. Ten
days passed and then it was that the holy spirit, the invisible power of
God, was visited upon them; and true to his promise, the disciples began
to understand.
[311]Jesus had now ascended on high and presented the merit of his
sacrifice before Jehovah and the acceptance of this was manifested by
the giving of the holy spirit to his disciples who had been his
consecrated followers for three and a half years. Doubtless the angels
of heaven now began to know something about the great mystery. What joy
must have been in heaven when Jesus Christ appeared before the Father
and presented the merit of his sacrifice and was received by Jehovah!
Surely the heavenly host must have sung his praises. They had beheld him
triumphing over death and the grave and now exalted to a position in
heaven next to the Father. It must have been a great joy to the heavenly
host, even as contemplation of it was a great joy to Jesus himself. "For
the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews
12:2) What joy must have filled the hearts of his disciples when they
began to understand the mystery of God and to see how wonderfully he had
led them and their fathers before them, preparing them now for the
revelation of this great truth!
[312]In due time Saul of Tarsus, who afterward was named St. Paul, was
illuminated and understood. And then he wrote: "Who now rejoice in my
sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions
of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof
I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is
given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; even the mystery which
hath been hid for ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to
his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of this mystery among the gentiles; which [mystery] is Christ in you,
the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:24-27) The Apostle here emphasizes the
fact that this mystery of God is now made known only to the saints.
Saints means purified ones, which purification comes through receiving
the merit of Christ's sacrifice.
[313]The word Christ signifies anointed. Anointing means designation to
official position in God's arrangement. The Christ is the instrument or
channel for the blessing of mankind. The Christ is composed of Jesus,
the great and mighty head, and 144,000 members. (Revelation 7:4) Christ
Jesus is the head and the church his body. We ofttimes hear the
expression, a body of men with a general at their head. Of the Christ
the Apostle says: "And he [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and by
him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who
is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he
might have the preëminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should
all fullness dwell."--Colossians 1:17-19.
[314]The apostle Paul uses a human body to illustrate the Christ, the
great mystery class; the head representing Jesus, and the other members
of the body those who are of his church. "For as the body is one, and
hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are
one body: so also is Christ.... Now ye are the body of Christ, and
members in particular."--1 Corinthians 12:12,27.
[315]The Christ is also designated in the Scriptures as the seed of
Abraham according to the promise. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the
promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,
And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16) Addressing himself
to the church, the Christians, the followers of Jesus, the Apostle
further said: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ
Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on
Christ.... And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs
according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26,27,29) This is the seed,
then, through whom the blessings will come to all the families of the
earth. Church means a gathered out class; and so the gospel age, that is
to say, the period from Jesus' first coming until his second coming, is
employed by Jehovah for the selection of the church, the seed of
Abraham, through which blessings will come to all the remainder of
mankind in God's due time.
[316]This same class is called the elect of God, according to his
foreknowledge.--1 Peter 1:2.
[317]Again the Apostle likens the whole of the Christ to a living stone,
saying: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ.... Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious:
and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore
which believe he is precious." (1 Peter 2:5-7) In earthly buildings
there is no chief cornerstone; but in this building of God there is a
chief cornerstone which is Christ Jesus. The topstone or chief
cornerstone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid. The other members
of the body, then, must be built up into Christ to conform to that chief
cornerstone, which is illustrated by the Great Pyramid in Egypt.--See
Isaiah 19:19.
[318]Again this anointed class, Jesus the head and the church his body,
is spoken of as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.
This was foreshadowed by the nation of Israel, particularly by the
priesthood in connection with the house of Israel. The apostle Peter
speaking of this class says: "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.
[319]The members of the body of Christ, the church, are also designated
as his footstep followers; and as such they are called to suffer with
him that they might also reign with him. "For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye should follow his footsteps." (1 Peter 2:21) These are also
designated as Christians. It does not mean that because one is a member
of some earthly organization called a church he is a Christian or a
member of the true church. The true church is the body of Christ; and
any one to be of the true church must be a follower of Christ in the
truest sense of the word. To this class are given the exceeding great
and precious promises recorded in the Bible, the promises of being
associated with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. (2 Peter 1:4) Not to the
world, but to his followers Jesus said: "Be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life".--Revelation 2:10.
[320]No one has been able to understand these things and appreciate
them except those who have given their hearts to the Lord. The apostle
Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of
God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned". (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jehovah
has so arranged that only those who have their minds illuminated by the
holy spirit, which follows their consecration, justification, and
acceptance by the Lord, can understand and appreciate the mystery of
God. These are the ones designated by the prophet Joel as the servants
and handmaidens of God; and in the gospel age God pours out his spirit
upon them; which means to give them his spirit. But in God's due time he
will pour out his spirit upon all mankind, so that all can understand
his wonderful plan.--Joel 2:28,29.
[321]The hiding of this mystery was illustrated by Jehovah in the
construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness and its furnishings.
The inside walls of the tabernacle were covered with pure gold. Inside
the Holy were the golden candlestick, the table covered with gold for
the showbread, and the golden altar; and in the Most Holy, was the ark
of the covenant. The tabernacle inside, therefore, was beautiful, but it
was hidden from the people on the outside because it was covered with
three heavy layers of cloth and skins. The priest ministered inside the
tabernacle, and therefore was unseen by the people. As God thus hid
these things which were typical of greater things, so he has hidden the
glories and beauties of spiritual things, seen only by those who have
come into relationship with him through Christ.
[322]The gospel age is the antitypical day of atonement. With the Jews
there was one day each year called the day of atonement. In that day the
priest alone was in the Holy and the Most Holy; and even so on the
antitypical day of atonement no one is in the Holy condition except
those who are in relationship with Christ, the great high priest. The
Lord has been pleased to permit these during the gospel age to have some
understanding of his Word, therefore receiving the sweet and refreshing
music from his harp; and the light has grown in brilliancy and the music
in harmony as the understanding has increased. To the world in general,
Christians have been despised because not understood. The Lord of glory,
when on earth, was despised because he was misunderstood. And so his
true followers seem to be a mean and despised people. The poet has truly
said:
"Why do they, then, appear so mean?
And why so much despised?
Because, of their rich robes, unseen,
The world is not apprized."
[323]Satan has tried to counterfeit every part of Jehovah's plan; so he
organized a religious system in the earth which is iniquitous and is
known as "the mystery of iniquity". (2 Thessalonians 2:7; Revelation
17:5) This mystery of iniquity God will destroy in his great day of
vengeance which is now on, and then the mystery of God will be more
clearly revealed to mankind. It is revealed to individuals now as they
come into Christ. It is important, therefore, for us to know how one
becomes a member of the Christ, the great mystery of God.
BODY MEMBERS SELECTED
[324]The mystery of God involves an understanding and appreciation of
the fundamental truths of repentance, consecration, justification,
spirit-begetting, and sanctification. Let us now trace the steps of one
in the world as he comes to Jehovah that he might be a member of the
body of Christ.
[325]Because of the disobedience of father Adam, all of his children are
born imperfect, all sinners. "There is none righteous, no, not one."
(Romans 3:10; 5:12) All such are out of harmony with God. They have no
right to life. It has pleased Jehovah, then, during the gospel age to
draw to Jesus, the great Redeemer and Deliverer, those who have the
desire to come into harmony with him. The Prophet says: 'The reverence
of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'. (Psalm 111:10) The first thing
essential for one becoming a Christian is an honest desire to know the
Lord and to do his will. A man with this honest desire, then, realizes
that he is a sinner and born such; and he has an honest desire to come
to God. He learns that Jesus is his Redeemer and he wants to know more
about him and do his will. In his mind he does not approve the ways of
the world. He begins to think about the Lord and wants to know more
about him. He begins to turn his face in the right direction. When he
ceases to approve the course of the world, he is repentant to that
extent. Repentance means a change of mind respecting one's relationship
to evil.
[326]Jesus said: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath
sent me draw him". (John 6:44) The man now is drawn to Jesus by what he
learns of Jesus, what Jesus has done for him, and by his own desire to
follow a different course. When one ceases to approve the worldly course
and begins to seek after the Lord, he is in that condition mentioned by
the Apostle as seeking God, "if haply they might feel after him, and
find him". (Acts 17:27) When he is drawn to Jesus, seeking God, then he
is converted. He is now in the condition spoken of by the Apostle when
he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out". (Acts 3:19) Repentance means a change of mind respecting
one's relationship to evil; and conversion means a change of one's
course. But neither repentance nor conversion, nor both together, brings
the individual into relationship with God. Being drawn to Jesus, he must
exercise faith. Faith means _first_ to understand and believe that God
exists; that he is the great rewarder of them that diligently seek him;
that the Bible is his Word of truth; that Jesus is his beloved Son and
our Redeemer; and _then_ to rely confidently upon these things and prove
this reliance by his action.--Hebrews 11:1,6.
[327]He now needs information to increase his faith, and the Prophet
has written: "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the
simple". (Psalm 19:7) To such now, as are feeling after God, through
Christ Jesus this message comes: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28) Heavy laden
means to be weary of the sinful course of the world and to have a desire
to be relieved of this burden. Such a one says: 'I am tired of the
wrongful course. I want to follow the right course, to know God, and to
do his will.'
[328]Now being drawn to Jesus, he learns through the Word that he must
do something. To him Jesus says: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me'. (John 14:6) What can one who
is now repentant and changing his course, but still a sinner, do to come
into harmony with God? He is informed that it will cost him much. So
Jesus says to him: 'Sit down and count the cost'. (Luke 14:28) He learns
it will cost him all he has, namely, the surrender of himself to the
Lord. The next step for one, then, to become a Christian is to make a
consecration; that is to say, to commit himself to the Lord and his
arrangements. And this he may do by saying in substance: 'Blessed Lord,
I commit myself to thy arrangements; here I am. Do unto me according to
thy holy will. I desire to do thy will.'
[329]Neither the Lord Jesus nor the heavenly Father coerces any one,
but we must come to the Lord voluntarily, seeking his aid. This is
clearly indicated as necessary to become the follower of Jesus by the
words the Master used: 'If you will be my disciple, you must deny
yourself, then take up your cross, and follow me'. (Matthew 16:24)
Self-denial means an agreement to abandon one's selfish course and to
agree to do the will of the Lord. It means a full and complete surrender
of oneself unto the Lord. And this is consecration, the setting aside
of oneself to do the Lord's will.
[330]Those who are selected to be members of the body of Christ, which
selection is done during the gospel age, must be justified in order that
they might be accepted. They are justified only for the purpose of being
accepted as a part of the sacrifice of the Lord. On the typical day of
atonement when the high priest of Israel slew the animals, the Lord's
goat pictured this class who come to the Lord in consecration. That goat
must be perfect, without any blemish; thus foreshadowing how that all
who are presented unto the Lord to be accepted as a part of the
sacrifice of Jesus, and hence to become members of his body, must be
perfect; and since man is imperfect himself something must be done for
him in order to make him stand before the Lord Jehovah as perfect. He
must be justified. Justification means to be made right with God. This
must all be done in the acceptable time of the Lord. (Isaiah 49:8; 61:2)
Any one coming to the Lord Jesus with an honest desire to be presented
to the Father in the acceptable year or time may be assured that he
will not be cast out, because Jesus said: "Him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out". (John 6:37) He would not decline to present any
genuine consecration before the heavenly Father. Of course this
consecration must be made before the person can be presented.
[331]Jehovah God is the great wise judge of the universe; and he sits
to determine whether or not one thus presented is right or not. "It is
God that justifieth."--Romans 8:33.
[332]The steps essential now to justification, as shown by the
Scriptures, briefly stated, are these: (1) Faith in God and his
promises, which is exercised and proven by making a surrender of
ourselves to the Lord; (2) receiving the merit of Christ, and his
presentation to the Father; and (3) the determination by Jehovah God
that the one thus presented is right. The following Scriptures show
these points in the order named: By faith are we justified (Romans 5:1);
by the blood of Jesus are we justified (Romans 5:9); "It is God that
justifieth". (Romans 8:33) Christ Jesus is the great High Priest. When
we make a consecration of ourselves, then he presents us to the Father.
(John 6:37) But in order to make us acceptable or presentable to the
Father, the merit of Jesus' sacrifice must be imputed to us. When he
ascended on high, he deposited with Jehovah the ransom-price, the merit
of his sacrifice, as we have seen, pictured by the blood. The second
step, then, is taken when Jesus imputes to the one thus coming to the
Lord the merit of his sacrifice, which makes him presentable to the
Father, Jehovah; then Jehovah, upon the merit, determines, as the great
judge, that the one thus presented is right, is justified, and is
acceptable as a part of the sacrifice of his beloved Son. Thus Jehovah
has been receiving sacrifices throughout the gospel age; but that
acceptable year or time will soon pass, as indeed it is now passing.
--Hebrews 3:13.
SPIRIT-BEGETTING
[333]The one that is justified before Jehovah is then counted right or
justified that he might be a part of the great sacrifice of God's
beloved Son Jesus, to the end that he might be a part of the mystery
class and ultimately reign with Christ. The next thing indicated by the
Scriptures is the begetting of such a one as a new creature. Begetting
means the beginning. The begetting of the new creature, then, means the
beginning of a newness of life. When justified by Jehovah, there results
to him the right to live as a human being on earth, and this is what he
immediately sacrifices. At the same time Jehovah begets him to a hope of
life upon the high or heavenly plane, because he is called to a "high
calling", a "heavenly calling". (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 3:1) This
begetting is in the nature of a contract or an agreement. Covenant is
also a word used for contract. In order to make a contract there must be
two or more parties, and there must be a consideration passing from one
to the other. Where there are mutual promises, made on both sides, this
is sufficient consideration. We will name the one whom we have been
discussing as coming to justification Honest Heart.
[334]Honest Heart presents himself to the Lord Jesus the high priest,
fully surrendering himself and agreeing to do the will of God. There is
the promise on his part, then, and he is one party to the contract
through his advocate, the Lord Jesus. And when Christ Jesus the high
priest presents him to the Father, Jehovah, the Lord Jehovah in
substance says to Honest Heart: 'In consideration of the fact that you
have turned away from the wrongful course, and have come to Jesus, and
have made a full surrender of yourself in consecration, thereby
exercising faith in his blood shed for you and your faith in my plan;
and in consideration of the further fact that my beloved Son has imputed
to you his merit to make you acceptable before me, I accept you and
determine that you are right or justified, and accepting you as a part
of his sacrifice, I give to you my exceeding great and precious promises
that by these you might become partaker of the divine nature'.--2 Peter
1:4.
[335]This is in harmony with St. James' statement: "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) The Psalmist shows that this
begetting is in the nature of a contract when he says: "Gather my
saints together unto me; those who have made a covenant [contract] with
me by sacrifice". (Psalm 50:5) Honest Heart now being begotten has the
promise of life upon the highest plane, the divine nature. He is
begotten to a new hope of life. St. Peter thus writes: "Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a hope of life by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are
kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be
revealed in the last time". (1 Peter 1:3-5) The inheritance to which
Honest Heart is now begotten is an incorruptible inheritance, which is
the divine nature. This means that if he is faithful unto death,
faithful to his part of the contract, he is certain to be born upon the
divine plane, for the reason that Jehovah is always faithful to his part
of the contract; and so Jesus says: "Be thou faithful unto death and I
will give thee a crown of life".--Revelation 2:10.
[336]Any one thus presented by Jesus to the Father, Jehovah, justified,
accepted and begotten, is designated in the Scriptures as a new
creature. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
There is now a newness of life, which does not result from being
transferred to another climate, but from being given a new dominating
factor in our lives, namely, the will of God. Honest Heart, or whoever
takes this step, now has new hopes, new aims, new ambitions, new
aspirations, and new ideas. He is not looking for earthly honor and
glory; but he is looking forward to the time when he might be forever
with the Lord in his kingdom and be a part of the seed of Abraham
according to the promise, through which the blessings of mankind will
come.
[337]This one is now dead from the standpoint of a human being, as the
apostle Paul puts it: "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in
God". (Colossians 3:3) The new creature now must be renewed, refreshed
and invigorated and strengthened by knowledge, not by ordinary
knowledge; but by an acquaintance with God's will and a deep
appreciation of his plan. (Colossians 1:9) The world cannot know
anything about this; only those who are in the relationship with the
Lord. The whole world lies in the wicked one. (1 John 5:19) But now the
new creature in Christ is admonished to be not conformed to this world,
but to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, that he might prove
what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.--Romans 12:2.
[338]The one begotten is begotten by the spirit of God, the holy
spirit. He is also anointed. This anointing is received by reason of
coming into the body of Christ. He is baptized into Christ's death;
therefore baptized into Christ's body. To be baptized means to be
immersed. To be baptized into Christ's death means to be immersed into
the death of Christ. And so the Apostle puts it: "Know ye not, that so
many of us as are baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his
death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like
as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even
so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3,4) Baptism in
water is merely a symbol of the real baptism. It would do no one any
good to be baptized in water unless he had first undergone the real
baptism by being immersed into Christ.
[339]All of those who are thus inducted into the body of Christ receive
the anointing through the head of the Christ, Jesus the beloved One.
This is illustrated or pictured by God's dealings with Israel. In the
type Aaron the high priest was anointed. "He [Moses] poured of the
anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him."
(Leviticus 8:12) This anointing oil was poured upon Aaron's head and ran
down upon his garment. (Psalm 133:2) Aaron the high priest was a type of
the entire Christ, head and body. As the oil was poured upon his head
and ran down to the skirt of his garments, so in antitype, Jesus the
head, at the time of his baptism in the Jordan, received the anointing
of the holy spirit without measure (Matthew 3:16,17); and at Pentecost
his disciples received the anointing of the holy spirit. And thereafter
during the gospel age all who come into Christ receive this anointing
through Christ Jesus the head by virtue of being inducted into the body
of Christ.
[340]Those who are thus anointed have the spirit of the Lord and by
virtue of his spirit are able to understand the mystery of God and to
appreciate the fact that they have the promise of being joint-heirs with
Christ Jesus in his kingdom. To be anointed means to be assigned to a
place in the body of Christ. "The spirit itself beareth witness with our
spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs;
heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with
him, that we may be also glorified together."--Romans 8:16,17.
SANCTIFICATION
[341]These new creatures in Christ, otherwise called members of his
body, must now be transformed and made into the image and likeness of
their Head. (Romans 8:29) They must be sanctified. Sanctification means
to be set apart for the use of Jehovah. It means the process of making
us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.
(Colossians 1:12) It is the process of perfecting the saints. (Ephesians
4:12) This process begins when Jehovah accepts our consecration and
begets us; and must continue until birth upon the spirit plane.
[342]Sanctification, then, is to be made holy, in the likeness of our
Lord. Concerning such Jesus said: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy
word is truth". (John 17:17) The Christian now must feed upon or study
the Word of God, learn its principles, learn of Jehovah's character and
that of the Lord Jesus, and strive to conform his own life thereto. He
now has set before him the hope of being made like the Lord in glory;
and "every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he
is pure". (1 John 3:3) This process of sanctification is done by the
Lord through his Word. "Both he who sanctifies and those whom he is
sanctifying have all one Father, and for this reason he is not ashamed
to speak of them as brethren." (Hebrews 2:11, _Weymouth_) Here we see
the sanctifier is the Lord Jesus Christ, and those whom he is
sanctifying are the members of his body; and all of these have one
Father, Jehovah God; therefore all of the one body, constituting the
mystery of God.
[343]All this work of sanctification is done in what we designate the
school of Christ; and it is only those who are in this school by being
in Christ Jesus that can be sanctified and ultimately be a part of that
glorious mystical body, the heavenly kingdom class that will constitute
the great prophet, priest, and king.
[344]This mystery hid from ages and generations and made known only to
the saints is, says the apostle Paul, the Christ; and the Christ in you
is the hope of glory. Those who are in Christ and who have the spirit of
Christ in them have the glorious hope of being born on the divine plane
as members of the body of Christ. These are called to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to them are given all the
exceeding great and precious promises contained in the Word of God. The
Prophet speaking of them and to them said: "The nations shall see thy
righteousness, and all the kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by
a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a
crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand
of thy God." (Isaiah 62:2,3) These have the promise: "When Christ, who
is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory".
(Colossians 3:4) And "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in
the kingdom of their Father".--Matthew 13:43.
[345]The apostle Paul declares that he was made a minister, according to
the gift of God, that he should preach to the nations the unsearchable
riches of Christ, "and to make all see what is the fellowship of the
mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who
created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be [made] known by
the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord". (Ephesians 3:7-11) Thus we
see that this great mystery is the Christ, and that for six thousand
years Jehovah has been preparing for, developing and completing this
great mystery; and that when completed, he will use the Christ as his
prophet, priest, and king to minister unto the people, to rule over the
people, and to bless the people, according to his promise.
[346]The Apostle declares that the whole creation is groaning and
travailing in pain, waiting for the manifestation of this great
mystery. (Romans 8:19-22) The people do not know for what they are
waiting. But when the great mystery is complete and Messiah's kingdom
set up, then God will bring his long-promised blessings to mankind, and
ultimately his will shall be done upon earth as it is done in heaven.
What is a mystery? ¶ 298.
How could Jehovah hide or keep secret his plan from others? ¶ 298.
Has he kept his plan secret? ¶ 298.
When Jesus was on earth, why did he teach by parables? ¶ 299.
Did the disciples always understand his meaning? ¶ 299.
Did he instruct the disciples how they would be taught after his
departure? and if so, how? ¶ 299.
What is meant by the spirit of truth? ¶ 299.
When was the holy spirit given to the disciples? Give the Scriptural
proof. ¶ 300.
What is the meaning of the term "holy ghost"? ¶ 300.
When did God's mystery begin to be understood by the disciples? ¶ 301.
What effect has the mystery had on Jews and so-called Christians? ¶ 301.
Define the mystery of God. ¶ 302.
How did God foreshadow the mystery? ¶ 302.
What is man's great enemy? ¶ 302.
What is and always has been man's greatest desire? and how long has man
been seeking for this thing desired? ¶ 303.
Who was the cause of death? ¶ 303.
At the time when God pronounced the sentence in Eden, was the statement,
'The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head,' understood?
¶ 303.
When did it begin to be understood? ¶ 303.
What great promise was made nearly two thousand years after the
expulsion from Eden? Quote the promise. ¶ 304.
Did that promise have reference to the mystery of God? and was it
understood then? ¶ 304.
Did Abraham understand the promise? ¶ 304.
Did Abraham have any children at that time? ¶ 304.
Through whom did Abraham expect the blessing to come to the people?
¶ 304.
If the promise was renewed, to whom was it renewed? ¶ 304.
What was expected through the seed of Abraham? ¶ 304.
What effect did the Israelites' enslavement have upon their hopes? ¶ 304.
Whom did God send to deliver the Israelites from Egypt? and whom did he
typify? ¶ 304.
What effect did Moses' prophetic statement have upon the people with
reference to the One of whom he was a type? ¶ 304.
What is signified by the name Joshua? and of whom was Joshua a type? ¶ 305.
Who was the beloved king of Israel? and what did the Jews hope would
come through him? ¶ 306.
Who succeeded this king on the throne? ¶ 306.
For what was Solomon famous? ¶ 306.
What became the condition of Israel under the reign of Zedekiah? ¶ 307.
Did the prophets who testified of the coming of Messiah understand their
testimony? ¶ 308.
Were the angels of heaven permitted to understand? ¶ 308.
Why did God keep this mystery a secret? ¶ 308.
Who announced the coming of Jesus? and what was his particular message
or announcement? ¶ 309.
How many disciples did Jesus choose? ¶ 309.
How long did he teach them personally? ¶ 309.
What were the expectations of the disciples relative to Jesus? ¶ 309.
What effect did his death have upon them? ¶ 309.
What was their expectation after his resurrection, and why? ¶ 309.
What did Jesus say to them at the time of his ascension to heaven? ¶ 309.
Where did the disciples tarry after Jesus' ascension? and how long
before they received any manifestation from the Lord? ¶ 310.
How was God's power manifested toward them at Pentecost? ¶ 310.
How was the acceptance of the merit of Jesus as the sin-offering
manifested to men by Jehovah? ¶ 311.
May we believe that there was much joy in heaven when Jesus presented
the merit of his sacrifice? and if so, why? ¶ 311.
What effect did the understanding of the mystery have upon the
disciples? ¶ 311.
What did St. Paul say about the mystery of God? ¶ 312.
What is the meaning of the word "saints"? ¶ 312.
What does the word "Christ" signify? ¶ 313.
What is the meaning of "anointing"? ¶ 313.
Who compose the Christ? ¶ 313.
Who is the head? and who the body? ¶ 313.
Give Scriptural proof of who constitutes the Head and the body of
Christ. ¶ 313.
How does St. Paul use the human body to illustrate the body of Christ?
¶ 314.
What is meant by the seed of Abraham? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 315.
What is the meaning of the term "church"? ¶ 315.
Who is meant by the "elect of God"? ¶ 316.
Give Scriptural proof that the members of the Christ are called "living
stones". ¶ 317.
Who is the chief corner-stone in the building of God? ¶ 317.
What great building on earth pictures this building of God? ¶ 317.
Who constitute the royal priesthood? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 318.
Why are the members of the church called footstep followers of Jesus?
¶ 319.
What are these followers called upon to do? ¶ 319.
Define the term "Christian". ¶ 319.
Is every church member a Christian? and if not, why not? ¶ 319.
What promises are given to the Christian? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 319.
What particular reward is promised to the ones who are faithful unto
death? ¶ 319.
Can everybody understand these great truths? and if not, why not? ¶ 320.
What is essential in order to understand the mystery of God? ¶ 320.
What is meant by the prophet Joel's statement, 'the Servants and
handmaidens of God'? ¶ 320.
How was the mystery illustrated in the tabernacle furnishings? ¶ 321.
Could the priest be seen by the people while ministering in the
tabernacle? ¶ 321.
What did this concealing of the priest in the holy illustrate relative
to the mystery? ¶ 321.
What is the antitypical atonement day? ¶ 322.
How often did the atonement day occur with the Jews? ¶ 322.
On that day, who was in the holy and the most holy of the tabernacle?
¶ 322.
What does this picture in the antitype? ¶ 322.
Why have the followers of Jesus been despised by the world? ¶ 322.
What counterfeit of the mystery of God has Satan organized? Give
Scriptural proof. ¶ 323.
What will be the ultimate end of the mystery of iniquity? ¶ 323.
Is it important to know how one becomes a member of the mystery class?
¶ 323.
An understanding of the mystery involves what? ¶ 324.
In what condition have all the human race been born? ¶ 325.
Whom has Jehovah drawn to Jesus during the gospel age? ¶ 325.
What constitutes the beginning of wisdom? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 325.
What is the first essential to one's becoming a Christian? ¶ 325.
What constitutes repentance? ¶ 325.
How is one drawn to Jesus? ¶ 326.
When may it be said of one that he is converted? ¶ 326.
Define the difference between repentance and conversion. ¶ 326.
Do repentance and conversion bring one into relationship with God? and
if not, why not? ¶ 326.
Define faith. ¶ 326.
What is necessary to increase faith? ¶ 327.
What does Jesus say to those who are seeking after God and who are
weary? ¶ 327.
What is meant by being weary and heavy laden? ¶ 327.
How can one come to the Father? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 328.
What does Jesus say to the truth-seeker concerning the cost? ¶ 328.
What is the meaning of consecration? and how may one consecrate himself
to the Lord? ¶ 328.
Is it proper to compel consecration to the Lord? ¶ 329.
What does Jesus say in reference to becoming his follower? ¶ 329.
Define the meaning of self-denial. ¶ 329.
Why is any one justified during the gospel age? ¶ 330.
In connection with the tabernacle, when the high priest slew the Lord's
goat, what did that picture? ¶ 330.
The fact that the goat must be without blemish foreshadowed what? ¶ 330.
What is the meaning-of the term "justification"? ¶ 330.
When must justification for the purpose of sacrifice take place? Give
Scriptural proof. ¶ 330.
What assurance has one that his consecration will be accepted? ¶ 330.
Must the consecration be made before or after the consecrator is
presented to Jehovah? ¶ 330.
Who is the great Judge of the universe? and who justifies? Give
Scriptural proof. ¶ 331.
Give the steps essential to justification. ¶ 332.
Quote the Scriptures proving the steps leading to justification--the
first, second, and third steps, in the order named. ¶ 332.
For what purpose does God justify any one during the gospel age? ¶ 333.
What is meant by begetting one as a new creature? ¶ 333.
What results to the man who is justified by Jehovah? ¶ 333.
What does such a one sacrifice? ¶ 333.
To what does Jehovah beget this sacrificer? ¶ 333.
State the nature of this begetting. ¶ 333.
How many parties must there be to a contract? and what is the
consideration for begetting one as a new creature in Christ? ¶ 333.
State the terms of the arrangement between Honest Heart, the one who
presents himself to the Lord, and Jehovah, who justifies and begets him.
¶ 334.
In this arrangement, what office does the Lord Jesus perform? ¶ 334.
What is meant by the word "advocate"? ¶ 334.
Give Scriptural proof that the begetting is in the nature of a contract,
both from the Old and the New Testament. ¶ 335.
To what is Honest Heart, or any sacrificer like him, begotten? ¶ 335.
Quote the Scripture with reference to the nature to which he is
begotten. ¶ 335.
Should the one thus begotten continue faithful unto death, what is his
certain reward? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 335.
One thus begotten is how designated in the Scriptures? Give Scriptural
proof. ¶ 336.
What is the great hope now of the new creature in Christ? ¶ 336.
Why is it said that he is now dead as a human being? ¶ 337.
As a new creature, does he need renewing? and if so, how is this done?
¶ 337.
Why does not the world know about the development of the new creature?
¶ 337.
How is the new creature transformed? ¶ 337.
What does it mean to be baptized into Christ? Give Scriptural proof.
¶ 338.
What is the meaning of water baptism or immersion? ¶ 338.
Is there any virtue in water baptism? ¶ 338.
Who are the anointed ones in Christ? ¶ 339.
How did Aaron the high priest illustrate this? Give Scriptural proof.
¶ 339.
Whom did Aaron the high priest typify? ¶ 339.
What does anointing mean? ¶ 339.
Give Scriptural proof of how one may know he has been begotten and
anointed of the Lord. ¶ 340.
What is the meaning of the term "sanctification"? Give Scriptural proof.
¶ 341.
When does the process of sanctification begin? and how long must it
continue? ¶ 341.
How is one sanctified? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 342.
What influence has the hope of glory upon his sanctification? ¶ 342.
Why does Jesus call the members of his body brethren? ¶ 342.
Who is the Father of both the Head and the body of the Christ? ¶ 342.
In what school does this sanctification take place? ¶ 343.
Can any one outside of the school of Christ be sanctified? ¶ 343.
Those who are in Christ and have the spirit of Christ, what is the hope
set before them? ¶ 344.
What promises are given to them? ¶ 344.
Quote some of those precious promises as set forth in the Scriptures.
¶ 344.
Give one of the reasons why St. Paul was made a minister. Quote his
words. ¶ 345.
The mystery class is known by what other titles? and what will be the
office of the mystery class, the Christ, in the future? ¶ 345.
How will God use this mystery class for the benefit of the people in the
future? ¶ 346.
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