LET GOD BE TRUE

CHAPTER XXIII

CONSECRATION — THE WAY
TO LIFE

HOW favored was the lot of the first man! He was perfect, enjoyed the right to life, and had communion with his Creator. Being endowed with a measure of wisdom, justice, love, and power, he was in the likeness of his Maker, and he was in God's image in that he had dominion over the lower animals. He was given a beautiful home, Paradise; a lovely helpmate, Eve; and a divine command or mandate to extend that garden to the ends of the earth and to fill it with righteous creatures, all to the glory of God. (Genesis 1:26-28) What blessings! What privileges! What a prospect!

² However, instead of appreciating all that God had given him, man chose to take a selfish course, and so, through disobedience, lost all. Sentenced and unrepentant, he was driven from Paradise into the cursed earth, there to eke out a miserable existence until he returned to the dust. (Genesis 3:17-19) That unhappy lot he passed on to his offspring, even as we read: "By one man sin entered into the world, and death

by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Roman 5:12) As a result, today the great majority of the human race not only are hastening down the broad road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13), but seem content to do so, getting ever farther away from the likeness of God and from the hope of life.

³ There are a few honest hearts, however, who are out of harmony with these evil conditions. Such sigh and cry because of the religious abominations they see committed in "Christendom", and are weary and heavy-laden by reason of their own weaknesses and shortcomings. Being honest, they hunger and thirst for righteousness; and desiring to come into harmony with their Maker, they "seek the Lord, if haply they might . . . find him".

COMING TO GOD

⁴ To find God one must first come to Jesus, for "no man cometh unto the Father, but by me [Jesus]". (John 14:6) But neither can 'any man come to Jesus except as drawn by the Father'. (John 6:44) How does God draw such honest-hearted ones to Jesus? By bringing them into contact with the truth as contained in His Word, the Bible. Being meek and teachable, such ones, upon hearing of the true God and His purposes, repent and have a change of mind as regards sin and this evil world.

⁵ "All men have not faith"; but as these honest hearts receive this knowledge they exercise faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) And what is faith? "Faith is a basis of things hoped for, a conviction of things unseen." (Hebrews 11:1, Diaglott) It means that by reason of Bible knowledge one has a firm assurance that God exists and that He will reward those who diligently seek him, and that the Bible is the truth and man's sure guide. (Hebrews 11:6; John 17:17; Psalm 119:105) It further means to accept Jesus not only as a Teacher and Example, but also as one's Savior and Redeemer. (Matthew 1:21; 20:28) Such faith causes one to change his course of action, to be turned or converted. — Acts 3:19; Matthew 13:15.

⁶ Making progress in knowledge and understanding, such a one then hears Jesus say: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his [stake; Greek: stauros], and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) That means to give up one's own will and to agree or make a consecration to do God's will even as Jesus did. Consecration means a setting of oneself apart, and to be acceptable to God it must be an unconditional surrender. One cannot say: "Lord, I will do thy will if — ." No, for that would be selfish and would indicate a lack of faith. One having faith appreciates that "it is not in man to direct his steps", and that God,

with his perfect wisdom, justice, love and power, knows best; and that therefore to serve Him is not only the only right thing but also the only wise thing to do. So he demonstrates his faith by simply agreeing to do God's will, being content with whatever place God may have for him.

BAPTISM

⁷ Jesus made a public confession of his consecration to do his Father's will, by being baptized in water (Psalm 40:8; Hebrews 10:7; Mark 1: 9-11); and he instructed his followers to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy [spirit]". (Matthew 28:19) Therefore each one who has agreed to do God's will should be baptized.

⁸ Perhaps someone will say: "I was baptized when a mere infant, by being sprinkled; isn't that enough?" No, it is not. Why? Well, the word translated baptize in our English Bibles is the Greek word baptizein, and literally means to dip under water, to immerse, to cover with water. For this reason the more exact of the modern translations, such as the Diaglott and Rotherham, use the words "dip", "dipper," "immerse," and "immerser", instead of "baptize" and "baptist". Further, when one consecrates to do God's will, he agrees to give up his own will, becoming, as it were, dead to it; and only immersion could be a proper symbol of

that. The being taken under the water pictures the death to one's own will, and being lifted out of it pictures being raised and made alive to the doing of God's will.

⁹ Besides, the candidates for baptism are to be 'baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy spirit', which means that they must recognize Jehovah not only as their Life-giver, but also as the Supreme One to whom they owe allegiance and service; they must recognize the part that the Son performs in Jehovah's purpose and what he has done for them; and they must also recognize the holy spirit as the active force of God which will help them to carry out their consecration and that they are at all times to act in harmony with it. Only one's immersion in recognition of these truths constitutes a proper symbol of consecration ; and only such is Scriptural water-baptism.

THE WAY TO HEAVENLY GLORY

¹⁰ All who by reason of faith in Jehovah God and in Christ Jesus consecrate themselves to do God's will, and then faithfully carry out their consecration, will be rewarded with everlasting life. (Romans 6: 23) However, that life will not be the same for all. The Bible clearly shows that some of these, 144,000, will share heavenly glory with Christ Jesus (Revelation 14:1,3), while others will enjoy the blessings of life right here on the earth. (Micah 4:1-5)

God bestows his gifts according to his purposes and as it pleases him to do so; and it is for his creatures to gratefully accept them, for all his gifts are unmerited favors. — 2 Corinthians 9:15.

¹¹ God having a fixed time for every purpose (Ecclesiastes 3:1), his time to give creatures on earth the opportunity to get in line for a heavenly reward has been from A.D. 29 until, chiefly, 1931, called the "day of salvation". (2 Corinthians 6:2) It began with Jesus at Jordan and is now rapidly passing away. During this time the heavenly hope was made known to all who consecrated themselves to God. But, since "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 15:50), such consecrated ones would have to be brought forth as God's spiritual sons, begotten of his spirit to a heavenly hope, before God could give them such a glorious reward.

¹² For such to enter on the heavenly way they must undergo the sacrifice of all human life-right and hopes, even as Jesus did. (Colossians 3:1-4) But Jesus, being perfect, had access to God and had the right to life as a human creature. However, His followers, being imperfect and sinful and therefore under condemnation, do not have access to God, and have neither the right to life nor a body acceptable to offer as a sacrifice. How, then, is it possible for such to be offered by Jehovah's High Priest Christ

Jesus? By being justified; by having righteousness imputed or reckoned to them. How is this accomplished?

¹³ First of all, the creature must exercise faith in God's provision, meaning faith in the shed blood of Christ, even as we read: "Being justified by faith." (Romans 5:1) Christ Jesus then acts as an advocate, covering the sins of such a one by the merit of His sacrifice, and therefore such are 'justified by the blood of Christ'. (Romans 5:9,19) God, taking note of the creature's faith and the merit of Christ's blood applied on his behalf, imputes righteousness to such a one, accounting him justified. "It is God that justifieth." — Romans 8:1-4,33.

¹⁴ Such are now in position to become "dead with him", that is, with Christ Jesus; they now having access to God through Christ Jesus, and having both an acceptable body and the right to life on earth to be presented for sacrifice. God now accepts the High Priest's sacrifice of them, acknowledges them as his sons and causes His active force or holy spirit to act upon them so as to bring them forth as spiritual sons with the hope of life in the heavens. God's holy spirit does not operate toward these apart from his Word of truth, and therefore such are spoken of as being "born of water [truth] and of the spirit" (John 3:5); and of them it is said: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth." (James 1:18) As Jordan marked the

beginning of Jesus as a spiritual son (Matthew 3:17), so Pentecost marked the beginning of spiritual sonship for his followers (Acts 2:3,4,17); they there being baptized by the holy spirit. — Acts 1:5.

¹⁵ This renovation by the holy spirit (Titus 3: 3-5) is a call, putting these in line for heavenly glory with Christ Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 2:13,14) Such now have new hopes, new aims, new relationships. "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) Christ Jesus being the Anointed One, such new creatures by becoming members of his body receive of His anointing. "You have an anointing from the Holy One; you all know it" (1 John 2: 20, 27, Diaglott); and this act is also referred to as a baptism into Christ's body. "For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body." (1 Corinthians 12:12,13) The holy spirit operating toward such ones is a down payment or pledge guaranteeing them their final reward. (Ephesians 1:13,14) "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." — 1 John 3: 2.

SANCTIFICATION

¹⁶ Before such members of the body of Christ can receive their heavenly reward, however,

they must be transformed away from this world and into the likeness of their Head, Christ Jesus, demonstrating their dependability by carrying out their consecration faithfully unto death. This transformation work the Scriptures refer to as "sanctification": "This is the will of God [concerning you], even your sanctification." (1 Thessalonians 4:3) How is this accomplished? Both the Creator and the creature have a part therein. "Sanctify yourselves . . . I am the LORD which sanctify you." (Leviticus 20:7,8) God furnishes the truth which sanctifies: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17); and his holy spirit or active force is also an aid to the creature. On the other hand, the creature must diligently study God's Word so as to renew his mind (Romans 12:2), must seek to apply the things that he learns (Matthew 7: 21), and dare not resist or grieve God's holy spirit, but must seek at all times to be led by it. — Romans 8:14; Ephesians 4:30.

¹⁷ Having been called to be "saints" or sanctified ones (Romans 1:7), they must be holy even as God is holy. "As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of [conduct]." (1 Peter 1:15) That means that they must be wholly devoted to God and righteousness. They must set their affections on things above, and put to death their fallen cravings. (Colossians 3:2,5) They must each 'keep the heart with all diligence; for out of it

are the issues of life'. (Proverbs 4: 23) Living up to their agreement is a serious matter, and therefore they are further admonished: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." — Philippians 2:12.

¹⁸ Being followers of Christ Jesus, they too must comfort all that mourn (Luke 4:17-21), preach the gospel of the Kingdom (Matthew 4:17), and honor Jehovah's name. (John 17: 4, 6; 1 Peter 2:9) So doing they will incur the hatred of Satan and his world even as Jesus did. (John 15:19; Revelation 12:17) In fact, "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) However, resisting Satan and his world and maintaining integrity even unto death, such are assured of the "crown of life", immortality, the divine nature. — Revelation 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:53,54; 2 Peter 1:4.

¹⁹ Wanting to do what is right, desiring life, loving Jehovah for what he is and for all he has done for them, longing to see him and their Head, Christ Jesus, and, above all, desiring to have a part in the vindication of Jehovah's name (Proverbs 27:11); such consecrated ones have no alternative, but must carry out their consecration agreement. To turn back would mark them as covenant-breakers, worthy of death, everlasting death. — Romans 1: 31, 32; Hebrews 10:38,39.

CONSECRATED "OTHER SHEEP"

²⁰ Today, consecrated Christians who have these heavenly hopes and who are faithful to their commission to preach the gospel are the ones Jehovah is using to direct his work in the earth of proclaiming his name and Kingdom. There is now only a remnant of such on earth, such being known as the "faithful and wise servant". (Matthew 24:45-47) As compared with the entire body of Christ such are only a remnant (Revelation 7: 4-8; 12:17), and their number is daily decreasing as one by one they finish their course in death. However, the preaching work is ever increasing, because an increasing number of righteously disposed persons, to whom earthly hopes are extended, are joining with the remnant, having an ever greater share in the work. Jesus speaks of these as his "other sheep", as distinguished from his sheep which have heavenly hopes and whom he calls a "little flock". (Luke 12:32) All these also he must bring in order that eventually there may be one flock and one Shepherd. — John 10:16, A.S.V.

²¹ For these "other sheep" to receive their reward of everlasting life on earth and the blessings of the Kingdom, they too must make a consecration to God through Christ. They too must carry out their consecration faithfully, conforming to God's standard of righteousness to the best of their ability. So doing, they have hope to "never see death" in the flesh.