Love Provides
GOD has been grossly misrepresented by the clergy. If this statement is true, then that alone is proof conclusive that the clergy do not in fact represent God and Christ but do represent God's enemy, the Devil. Let it be conceded that the clergy have been conscientious in the positions taken by them and in the doctrines they have taught. Yet that in no wise proves them to be right. The conscience is not a safe guide unless that conscience has been educated and operates in harmony with the Word of God. If the Bible plainly proves that the doctrines the clergy teach are wrong and their course of action is wrong, then the most that can be said in extenuation of their wrongful teachings and their wrongful course of action is that they have been misled by the evil and seductive influence of Satan, the enemy of God. If the doctrines taught and the course taken by the clergy differ from that which is declared in the Word of God, then the clergy are in no wise safe guides for the people and should no longer be followed by the people.
There are divers and numerous systems of religion which are called Christian. The course of action taken by their leaders, the clergy, is that same course taken by the world. These men attempt to regulate the af-
fairs of the governments, dabble in polities, and aid in the oppression of the people. The doctrines taught by these various religious leaders differ materially. They are inconsistent with each other and with themselves, and all are in contravention of the Word of God. Because of the inconsistency of their teachings their doctrines cause great confusion in the minds of the people. That is further evidence that such doctrines do not represent the truth. "God is not the author of confusion." His Word is truth. (1 Cor. 14: 33; John 17:17) Satan, the enemy of God and of the truth, is the author of confusion. But Satan is subtle, deceptive and the father of lies. (John 8:44) Those who teach his doctrines willingly are his children. His purpose is to confuse the people, to blind their minds, and to keep them away from an accurate knowledge of the truth.
Reconciliation of mankind to God means the salvation of those who are reconciled. There could be only one way for the reconciliation of man to God. That way must be God's way and therefore the true way. (Isa. 55: 8) Because of the divers and numerous and conflicting doctrines taught by the clergy concerning the reconciliation and salvation of man, and because of the inconsistency of those doctrines and the inconsistency of the course of action taken by their teachers, millions of honest men have been turned away from God and from the Bible. That result is exactly what Satan has desired to accomplish. He has fairly well succeeded.
One part of the organization called Christianity through its clergy teaches that God condemned Adam to hell, and that hell means the place of torment,
eternal in duration, and therefore Adam is without hope of escaping therefrom; that God foreordained that the major portion of mankind must spend eternity in such hell while the minor portion shall be taken to heaven, and that whether either of these desire one or the other. Their doctrine is that the earth is a breeding-place for humankind and that the eternal destiny of each one is foreordained and predestinated at or before birth and that the eternal state of such is entered upon at death. Such doctrine is unreasonable because according thereto man is given no opportunity to choose one or the other place of existence. Worst of all, and as another evidence of its falsity, the doctrine stamps Jehovah God as a wicked fiend who would take delight in the endless torture of the creature. Satan the Devil is the one who desires to fix that conclusion in the mind of man.
Another part of the organization called Christian through its clergy teaches that all men were sentenced to eternal torment but that free grace is offered to all and that if man will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God he may be saved because Jesus has Intervened in behalf of those who do believe and pleads with Jehovah for their forgiveness. That doctrine makes Jehovah appear as a monstrous fiend who would torment unfortunate creatures for ever but who would yield to the pleadings of Jesus and grant man relief upon certain conditions. It makes Jesus appear to be the only friend of man and dishonors God. It misleads man to believe that by merely acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God and then uniting himself with some church system he may be saved, which is wholly untrue.
Another part of the organization called Christian through its teachers, the clergy, tells the people that all men were condemned to eternal torment by the decree of God against Adam; that Jesus came to earth and by his course of action in life set a righteous example before man, which example, if followed by man, will bring salvation and enable man to lift himself out of degradation. Such doctrine is inconsistent and wrong because it nullifies the righteous judgment of God, ignores the only basis for reconciliation and leads man to believe that it is possible by his own efforts to bring about his reconciliation with God.
Another portion of the organization called Christendom or Christian through its clergy teaches that man never fell at all and never was condemned by Jehovah; that there never was any need for the sacrifice of Jesus; that the death of Jesus is of no avail to mankind; and that all men can be saved by their own efforts. Such doctrine is untrue because it repudiates the Word of God, denies Jesus Christ, denies the value of his sacrifice, and denies the divine way for the reconciliation of man to God.
All these various divisions or portions of so-called organized Christianity unite in the claim that each and every one of them represents God and Christ on earth and speaks with authority concerning the salvation of the human race. They all misrepresent God and his Word and bring the people into confusion and doubt. The result is that for some time, in the language of the Scripture, 'there is a famine in the land for the hearing of the Word of God.' — Amos 8:11.
This does not mean that true Christianity is in any manner wrong or confusing. On the contrary true
Christianity means the plain and true teachings of God's Word concerning his Christ. By and through Jesus God planted Christianity as a pure and noble vine. Christ is represented as being the true vine, and his faithful followers the true branches. (John 15: 1-8) The apostles and early followers of Christ Jesus continued in purity in the teachings of the truth. After the apostles had passed away from the stage of earthly activity ambitious men yielded to the seductive influence of Satan, and ere long Christianity so-called became a strange and degenerate vine. It mixed the errors of paganism and of the politics of the Devil's organization with the church and has so continued since. At the present time the organized system called Christendom or Christianity is merely a political and social organization that has entirely turned away from God and the truth. This very condition God foretold through his prophet. "Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" — Jer. 2: 21.
What the people with honest minds must now do is to diligently seek the truth as it is set forth in the Word of God. Thus doing they will understand and appreciate the goodness of God and his gracious provision for the reconciliation of man to himself.
Let the student bear in mind that the Divine Record truthfully states that "God is love". (1 John 4:8) That does not mean merely that God is kind, compassionate and merciful to the erring one. It means much more than that. Love is synonymous with complete unselfishness. Perfect love is the perfect expression of unselfishness. That means that everything
God has done or does is entirely free from selfishness. He does nothing for man with the expectation of receiving something in return to his benefit. It is impossible for man to bring any benefit to Jehovah. He possesses everything that is good. What he does for his creatures is for the good of those creatures. Therefore everything God does for man is done unselfishly and he is moved so to do by love.
God is just. (Ps. 89:14) His law is perfect and right. (Ps. 19:7, 8) He is the very habitation of justice. (Jer. 50:7) He is the true, just and righteous God. (Isa. 45: 21) Whatever he does is exactly right. He told Adam in advance what would be the penalty for a violation of his law. (Gen. 3:17) The wilful violation of that law justly required punishment to be inflicted as God had announced it. Any other course would have proven Jehovah unreliable and was therefore impossible. The penalty for the violation of God's law required the death of the perfect man. Justice would make it impossible for God to reverse that judgment. It must stand. Between the time that the judgment of death was entered and the time it was fully enforced against Adam all of Adam's children were born, and born without the right to life because born in sin and shapen in iniquity. (Ps. 51: 5) All of his children being born sinners, justice would require that in due time all such should die. — Rom. 5:12.
But would it be just that Adam and his children or any of them should exist for ever in a state of conscious torment? Such punishment would be neither legal nor just. The law of God states that death is the penalty. Death means the absence of life. If the punishment to be inflicted was then made torment in a
conscious state, and that eternally, such punishment would be contrary to the law of God and would prove him to be unjust. Justice means that which is right. Could it be right to torment any creature for ever? Could any good result from it? Would it be any indication of love on the part of the one who inflicted the torment? Certainly these questions must be answered in the negative. Torture is repulsive even to imperfect men. Only a selfish, hard, cruel and wicked one could inflict conscious eternal torment upon another. In order that the creature might be consciously tormented for ever, such creature of necessity must exist for ever.
Satan the Devil told the first lie, when he said to Eve: "Ye shall not surely die." The theory of eternal torment in hell is the outgrowth of that Satanic lie; and the doctrine of inherent immortality and the doctrine of eternal torment are grossly false, cruel and unjust. These doctrines originated with the Devil. They have long been taught by his representatives. (John 8:44) They have brought reproach upon the good name of Jehovah God. Satan the Devil is responsible therefor. The clergy have been his instruments freely used to instill these false doctrines into the minds of men. Whether the clergy have willingly done so or not does not alter the fact. If they have now learned that they arc wrong they should be eager to get that false thought out of the minds of the people. They do not take such course.
Because of this wicked reproach upon the name of Jehovah God many men and women have refused to hear anything about the Word of God. The basic doctrines of inherent immortality and eternal torment, as
taught by the clergy, being wrong, all their theories of reconciliation are also wrong. The great mass of the people have lost confidence in the clergy and at the same time have turned away from the Lord. When these people know the truth they will have less confidence in the clergy and will turn to the Lord God.
If man is to be reconciled to God the initiative must be taken by the Lord God himself. The theory taught by some of the clergy that Jesus, the Son of God, has been appealing to the Father for mercy and forbearance toward sinners, is entirely wrong. If God should yield to the appeals of Jesus in behalf of sinners, and for that reason forgive sinners, such would be a violation of justice. It would be a denial of his own judgment and would show his change without any reason, and such is impossible. (Mal. 3: 6) God does exercise compassion and mercy toward the sinner, but this he does consistent with justice; and he does so only after the requirements of justice are fully met.
Had God's actions toward men ceased upon the satisfaction of justice, then in time all mankind must for ever perish. To save men from perishing God exercised himself in behalf of man and in strict harmony with justice. In doing so he gave the greatest exhibition of unselfishness that ever was given or ever can be given. God took the initiative looking to man's reconciliation, and he did so because he is love. Love made the provision and this is proven by the divine record which reads: "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through him might be saved." — John 3:16, 17.
This scripture proves that the human race was headed not for eternal torment, as the clergy have told the people, but that they were on the way to everlasting destruction. To perish means to go out of existence completely. God in the exercise of his loving-kindness, and exercising it in strict accord with justice, prevented the eternal destruction of mankind and has made it possible for all men to have an opportunity for life. Therefore it is written: "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17: 3) It is the purpose of God to give man a knowledge of what he has done. To this end it is written: "This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." — 1 Tim. 2:3-6.
These scriptures prove that Jehovah God is the Savior of men; that it is his plan of salvation and reconciliation that is being worked out for man's benefit; that love makes this provision for man; that his beloved Son Jesus is the great instrument God is using to accomplish his purpose; that man must be brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth in order to benefit by these gracious provisions; and that in God's due time the testimony of the truth must be given to all men. Be it known that now is the time when God is beginning to open the gates of truth for the benefit of man. These lines are here written not
in an attempt to express man's wisdom but solely to bear witness to the love of God and to aid the people to acquire some knowledge of his gracious provisions for the reconciliation of man to himself. It follows then that man must exercise his God-given faculties in acquiring such knowledge. He must apply his mind to an understanding of the truth.
If God could not reverse his own judgment against Adam and forgive the sinner, then how is it possible to exercise love in harmony with justice and provide a way for man to live? Briefly the answer is that God has made provision for the willing substitution of another in death in the place and stead of Adam, to the end that Adam and all of his offspring might have an opportunity to live. To understand and appreciate the way that leads to reconciliation and life it is necessary to consider step by step God's gracious provision therefor. At every step the student will mark the manifestation of divine love.
Basis for Reconciliation
The basis for sin atonement and the bringing of man back into harmony with God is a sacrifice which provides a covering for sin and the opening of the way for man's reconciliation to God. From first to last this is made emphatic in the Scriptures. It began to be foreshadowed at Eden. When Adam and his wife had committed the great sin they realized their nakedness of being and therefore their unworthiness to appear before their great Creator, They attempted to hide their nakedness and to hide themselves. In answer to a question Adam said: "I was afraid, be-
cause I was naked; and I hid myself." The decree or judgment of Jehovah was pronounced against Adam and Eve. Approximately at that time, but evidently after out of Eden, God provided coverings for them, as it is written: "Unto Adam also, and to his wife, did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." — Gen. 3:21.
It was necessary for some life to be sacrificed in order to provide the covering for Adam and his wife. God had a purpose in so doing beyond merely their covering at that time. In the light that God has caused to shine upon his Word in these latter days it is seen that God at the beginning indicated the method he would employ by which he would bring back man into harmony with himself. The sin of man would be covered, but at the cost of life. The sin of man and the covering provided were associated together from the beginning. Thus it was foreshadowed that in due time God would provide a covering for man's sin that would purge away his guilt. (Heb. 9:14) Adam and Eve did not understand the significance of it. But God here began to manifest his loving-kindness toward the children of men.
From Eden to the flood only a very few sought after God. But those who did seemed to recognize the necessity of a sacrifice in order to have God's approval. It seems quite clear that none of these understood the full significance of the sacrifice but that such animals sacrificed pointed to the fact that God in his own good way would provide for man's reconciliation. Such sacrifice was no part of a purpose of appeasing God's wrath, as many have seemed to think, but to signify man's unworthiness to approach God and to
foreshadow God's appointed way to cover man's sins and God's appointed way for reconciling man to himself. God there began to lead and continued to tenderly lead and teach those who desired to be led to a knowledge of his plan of salvation. Abraham is counted a friend of God because of his great faith in God. To Abraham God gave the most pointed picture of sacrifice ever given aside from the true sacrifice, which Abraham's son Isaac foreshadowed. — Gen. 22:1-18.
Then God chose the Israelites as a people for himself, and with that people he made many pictures teaching the basis for the reconciliation of man to himself. In Egypt a lamb without spot or blemish was slain and its blood sprinkled over the door of every family of Israel, and it served as a shield and protection of the Israelites from death. Thus was foreshadowed the greater sacrifice that would provide for mankind a shield from the destructive influence of sin. In the wilderness God caused the tabernacle to be constructed and once each year certain animals to be sacrificed in connection therewith, and the blood of such animals to be sprinkled upon the mercy seat in the most holy of the tabernacle. This was for the cleansing of the nation of Israel from sin, and foreshadowed that there would be a living sacrifice to make atonement for the sin of man. These yearly sacrifices were made according to the provision of the law covenant, and it is expressly written that the law covenant served as a teacher to lead the people to the One whose shed blood would open the way for reconciliation.
Were these animals sacrificed for the pleasure and gratification of Jehovah God and to appease his wrath, as some of the clergy have claimed? The Lord through his Word says, No. "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required." (Ps. 40: 6) "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." — Heb. 10: 6.
Why then were these animals sacrificed? It was an expression of God's loving-kindness for man, teaching man how God would in due time open the way for man's complete reconciliation and that the basis for such reconciliation would be the sacrifice of life. God has proceeded to gradually and gently teach and lead men, knowing that when men come to know him and his good purposes toward them they will love and obey him. Satan, being aware of this fact, has ever sought to keep men in the dark concerning God's loving-kindness toward man. (2 Cor. 4:4) In due time the entire drama will work out to the complete destruction of the wicked one and to the eternal glory of God. God's pleasure was not in the sacrifice of these animals, but it was his pleasure to enable man to appreciate why a sacrifice was necessary to open the way for reconciliation.
The time came when God through his prophet made a definite promise that he would redeem man from death and ransom him from the power of the grave. He therefore caused his prophet to write: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 grave, I will be thy destruction." (Hos. 13:14) The word here rendered "ransom" means to release
or deliver from. The grave or condition of death held man in its clutches, but the promise of God as here recorded is that at some time and in his own good way he would release man from death and the power of the grave. The making of the promise is a complete guarantee that in God's due time it must be fulfilled and redemption and release accomplished. — Isa. 55:11.
But how would this promise be fulfilled? What would be required to ransom man from the power of the grave and redeem him from death? How could this be accomplished consistently with justice? There could be no deviation from God's law without the violation of justice. A perfect human life the law required as a penalty for sin. This was emphasized in God's statement of the law requiring a life for a life. (Deut. 19:21) The life of dumb animals could not be substituted for human life, and therefore there could be no redemptive value in the sacrifice of dumb animals. It is manifest that the sacrifice of such animals merely foreshadowed the sacrifice of a life but did not foreshadow the nature of the one who must be the real sacrifice. The clear inference must be drawn from the language used by God's prophet that the redemptive price required must be that of a perfect human life. This inference is supported by the word of the Lord which reads: "A brother can none of them redeem, he can not give unto God a ransom for himself, so costly is the redemption of their soul, that it faileth unto times age-abiding." — Ps. 49: 7, 8. Rotherham.
All men being the offspring of Adam, and being therefore imperfect, no one man could provide a covering for his own sins nor could he give the price of
the covering for the sins of his brother. This is conclusive proof that man could not take the initiative toward reconciliation. Jehovah God alone must make the necessary provision, and unless God in the exercise of his loving-kindness toward men did make the necessary provision all men in time must perish. Therefore it is written that God so loved mankind, that is to say, he was so unselfishly disposed toward men, that he sent his beloved Son Jesus into the world that the peoples of the world might not perish but that they might be saved from everlasting destruction. — John 3:16,17.
When Jesus came to earth he said that he came to give his life a ransom for man that man might have life. (Matt. 20: 28; John 10:10) After Jesus the Son of God died upon the cross and God had raised him up out of death, Paul by the authority of God wrote concerning Jesus Christ: "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." — Eph. 1: 7.
The man who reasons logically proceeds in this manner: Seeing that the law of God required the life of a perfect man, the penalty for sin, and that Adam as a perfect man died because thereof; and seeing further that the redemptive or ransom price for man must be that of a perfect human life substituted in death for Adam, therefore the question, How could Jesus give his life as a ransom for mankind unless Jesus was only a perfect man when on the earth? Furthermore, since the Scriptures show that God had no pleasure in the sacrifice of dumb animals, because the life thereof was less than that of a perfect man and could not provide the ransom price, would it riot
be equally true that if the life of Jesus was greater than that of a perfect man his life sacrificed would not meet the requirements of the law? How then could God have pleasure in his sacrifice, and how could his sacrifice be accepted as a basis for reconciliation if Jesus was greater than the perfect man Adam?
The Trinity
Early in the Christian era the Devil got in his work for the purpose of confusing men concerning these very questions. The clergy have at all times posed as the representatives of God on earth. Satan overreached the minds of these clergymen and injected into their minds doctrines, which doctrines the clergy have taught the people concerning Jesus and his sacrifice. These doctrines have brought great confusion. The apostles taught the truth, but it was not long after their death until the Devil found some clergyman wise in his own conceit who thought he could teach more than the inspired apostles.
The doctrine of the trinity was first introduced into the Christian church by a clergyman of Antioch named Theophilus. The doctrine so taught by that clergyman, and which since has been followed by others, is, in brief, That there are three gods in one; to wit, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, all three equal in power, substance and eternity. The creed of the Church of England puts it in these words: "There is but one living and true God, . . . and in unity of this God-Head there be three persons of one substance, power and eternity; the Father, The Word, and the Holy Ghost."
A council of the clergy was held at Nice, in 325 A. D., which council confirmed the doctrine of the trinity; and later a similar council at Constantinople, by confirming the divinity of the Holy Ghost and the unity of God, declared the doctrine of the trinity in unity to be the doctrine of the church. The clergy have ever held to this senseless, God-dishonoring doctrine. To aid his agents to keep this doctrine before their mind the Devil must have some visible object symbolizing it. The mystic triangle was adopted as a symbol, which may be found in the tombs of those who were buried contemporaneously therewith. Also there was an attempt to prove it by three heads or faces on one neck, the eyes becoming a part of each individual face. Also a combination of the triangle and circle and sometimes the trefoil was used for the same purpose. If you ask a clergyman what is meant by the trinity he says: "That is a mystery." He does not know, and no one else knows, because it is false.
Never was there a more deceptive doctrine advanced than that of the trinity. It could have originated only in one mind, and that the mind of Satan the Devil. The purpose was and is to produce confusion in the mind of man and to destroy the true philosophy of the great ransom sacrifice. If Jesus when on earth was God he was more than a perfect man and therefore could not become an exact corresponding price for the redemption of men. Therefore it logically follows that the shed blood of Jesus would form no basis for the reconciliation of man to God. If Jesus was one part of the trinity, then it would be impossible for the trinity or any part of it to have furnished the
redemptive price for a perfect man, because there could be no exact correspondency.
Who would be interested in causing such confusion? Satan the Devil. To bring about this confusion he used selfish and ambitious men. He induced them to make two others equal with God and to worship the creature more than the Creator. Paul puts it in these words: "When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, . . . changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever." — Rom. 1: 21, 22, 25.
It is a noticeable fact that in the church systems the name of Jesus has been made more prominent than that of Jehovah God. The clergy have induced the people to pray to Mary the mother of Jesus and to worship her, thus giving a woman honor equal with God. The names of Mary and Jesus are more often mentioned in the ecclesiastical systems than that of Jehovah God. The worship of idols and objects visible has also been induced by the clergy. The whole scheme and purpose of the master mind behind it has been to minimize the name of Jehovah and bring him into reproach and ridicule and disrepute,
It is impossible to have a correct understanding of the divine plan of reconciliation of man to God until the proper relationship of Jesus and God is understood. It is therefore essential that the false doctrine called the trinity be exposed and removed from the minds of the people that the light of truth may shine into their minds.
There is but one God, the Creator of heaven and earth, and the Giver of breath to all creation.
Jesus is the Son of God, the beginning of God's creation and the great executive officer of Jehovah God in carrying his plan into operation.
The holy spirit is the invisible power of God which he gives to, and which is used by, those who are in full harmony with him and who are assigned to perform service in his name.
Let the proof be made from God's Word and then let the people abide by that. As the apostle puts it: "Let God prove to be true albeit every man be false." — Rom. 3: 4, Rotherham.
Jehovah is God
There is but one First Cause: He who is from everlasting to everlasting and "whose name alone is Jehovah". (Pss. 90:2; 83:18) He only originally possessed immortality, "whom no man hath seen nor can see" because he is divine. (1 Tim. 6:16) In his Word he states: "I am the Lord, and there is none else. There is no God beside me." (Isa. 45: 5) "1, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour." (Isa. 43:11) "I am the Lord; that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another." — Isa. 42: 8.
He reveals himself to his creatures by different names and each one of his names is deeply significant. The name God appears in the Bible in connection with the beginning of creation. (Gen. 1:1) That name especially refers to him as the Creator of heaven and earth and the Giver of breath to all creation. " Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and
stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein." (Isa. 42:5) This name represents him as the Supreme One and relates to his responsibility in connection with all creation.
He then revealed himself under the name Almighty God. (Gen. 17:1) This name first appears when God spoke to Abraham in connection with his covenant with Abraham. At that time God in substance said to Abraham: 'I have made and do now make a covenant with you that you shall be the father of many nations and this shall be signified to you by your name, which shall now be changed. I am the Almighty God.' The name Almighty God was a complete guarantee to Abraham of the great Eternal One's unlimited ability to carry into operation his announced purpose. Abraham was then an aged man. His wife was past the years of bearing children. God had told him that he should have a son by his aged wife and he in substance said to Abraham: 'My name Almighty God is a guarantee that this shall come to pass.' It indicated the unlimited power of Jehovah. The name Almighty God signifies, to all who believe, that his power is unlimited and for him to will a thing means that it shall be done.
Then God revealed himself by the name Jehovah. The translators have rendered the name Jehovah merely as Self-existing One. It means much more than that. It signifies God's purpose toward his people. God chose Israel as his peculiar people, and Jehovah was the national name by which that people knew him. He directed Moses to go unto the Israelites and
tell them that Jehovah had sent him, and then his words to Moses revealed the meaning of Jehovah by stating his purposes. He said: "Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am Jehovah, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am Jehovah." (Exod. 6:6-8, R. V.) The name Jehovah therefore signifies to God's chosen people his purposes concerning them, and specifically his purposes concerning Christ Jesus and his church.
Then the great God revealed himself by the title Most High. This name or title signifies his relationship to all creation. It refers to him as the Supreme Ruler over all powers and principalities. Anything and everything that is held in possession by any creature is from, and subject to the will of, the Most High. He is above all. There is none like unto him and no power can prevent him from carrying out his will. The name bespeaks supremacy, the One to whom all governments, powers and creatures must in due time be in subjection. He is the Author, the Maker, the Executor, and the Finisher of his plan. He works through his chosen instruments to accomplish his will and purposes. "The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands."
It is a dishonor to his name and a reproach to his name to teach the people that there are three gods in one or one in three. The great Jehovah God is completely separate and distinct from all. He is the Creator. All others are creatures.
The Son
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The name by which he is first known in the Scriptures is The Word, or Logos, which means the one who is the mouthpiece, or word, or speaker, as Jehovah God's instrument. He was the beginning of God's creation and from and after that time was the active agent by whom Jehovah God created all things that were created. — John 1:1-3.
The Hebrew word elohim is translated god. The great Jehovah is The God. The Son, the Logos, is A God. The name god is applied to mighty ones, even to angels and to magistrates. The name god is therefore properly applied to the Son because he is a mighty one. The name god is appropriate to him because he is the agent used by the great Creator in the creation of all things. The names Jehovah, Almighty God, and Most High are never in the Scriptures applied to Jesus, the Son of God.
Jesus himself testifies that he was the beginning of God's creation, "the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God." (Rev. 3:14) Furthermore he said: "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was
brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth." — Prov. 8:22-27.
When the time came for the creation of man, manifestly Jehovah God addressed his Son the Logos in these words: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Gen. 1:26) Later, when man had sinned and was to be expelled from Eden, manifestly Jehovah addressed his Son when he said: "Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil." — Gen. 3:22.
Man stretches forth his arm to accomplish some purpose he has in mind. The arm is a symbol of power used. It is also a symbol of power used by one through another. The Logos, the Son of God, is frequently spoken of in the Scriptures as the Arm of Jehovah. The following scriptures support this conclusion; "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him." (Isa. 40:10) "The Lord hath made bare his holy arm." (Isa. 52:10) "To whom is the arm of Jehovah revealed?" (Isa. 53:1) "I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power, and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me." — Jer. 27:5.
These scriptures show that Jehovah God, the great Creator, used another as his mighty instrument by
which he has carried forward his purposes. That great One whom he has used as his instrument is his Son the Logos, Jesus, the Christ. Paul with authority from God wrote concerning Jesus as follows: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. " — Col. 1:15-17.
The foregoing scriptures clearly show the distinction between God, the great First Cause, and the Logos, the beginning of the creation of the great Creator. Adam, the perfect man, alienated himself from God by sin, and death resulted. God's plan for the reconciliation of man was foreshadowed by the sacrifice of animals. These sacrifices foretold that there must be a sacrifice of a perfect human life. There was none in earth. God therefore transferred the life of his beloved Son from heaven to earth that he might be the One who should take away sin and furnish the basis for man's reconciliation.
Made Man
In plain phrase the Sacred Record says; "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) That a babe was born of a virgin, Mary, at Bethlehem, grew to manhood's estate and died upon the cross at Jerusalem, both sacred and profane history abundant-
ly testify. Who was that man? The so-called orthodox clergy, in order to support their false dogma of the trinity, have been forced to accept from Satan and teach another lie, to wit, that the child born of the virgin Mary, which child grew to manhood and was crucified, was God himself; that while on earth he was a spirit and that the body of flesh that he used was merely an incarnation of the spirit creature; that is to say, that God took upon himself the form of man and went about in this body of flesh for thirty-three and one-half years, and that during that time he was known as the man Jesus Christ. Their contention is that by being born as a man child the second person of the trinity assumed a human body and that during all the time he was on earth Jesus was both God and man. Frequently, however, some of them say, 'Jesus was very God and very man; he was God incarnate.'
It seems strange that sensible men could ever be deceived by such an unreasonable dogma. Note the absurdities to which such doctrine leads. The doctrine is: God is one, made up of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. The logical conclusion then is that when God left heaven and took upon himself the form of man, which form he assumed for thirty-three and one-half years, during that time heaven was without God; therefore heaven must have operated itself. At the end of that period of time Jesus died an ignominious death upon the cross, at which time he cried: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" He did thus cry either sincerely or for a fraudulent purpose.
The Scriptures show that God is immortal and can not die; therefore the trinity incarnation dogma leads
to the unavoidable conclusion that the so-called dying upon the cross was merely a sham and that Jesus did not die at all; and furthermore, that the words of agony uttered by Jesus were merely a subterfuge to deceive the people. If the one dying upon the cross was really God, how would it be possible for him to cry unto himself: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" If Jesus was God himself and the Holy Ghost, to whom was he crying when upon the cross? When these questions are propounded to the clergy they look wise and say: "It is a mystery." The fact is, it not only is a mystery but is a delusion and a snare and a greatly magnified untruth.
Furthermore, if Jesus at the time he was on earth and at the time he died was God, then he was more than a man and he could not be a corresponding price to the man Adam. His death could not furnish the ransom price as the basis for man's reconciliation to God. Again the "cloven hoof" of Satan the Devil is made apparent. By Satan's making it appear that Jesus was God, then, the reasonable mind must conclude that Jesus' cries upon the cross were a subterfuge, that there was no real purchasing value in his death, and that therefore the whole scheme is unworthy of the consideration of an honest man. The result of that conclusion would be to completely destroy faith in God and faith in the great ransom sacrifice and to blind man to God's purpose and plan for the redemption and reconciliation of man. In view of the plain statement that Satan, the god of this world, blinds the minds of men lest God's glorious plan should shine into their minds (2 Cor. 4: 3, 4), it
seems strange that men will continue to be deceived by such unreasonable doctrines as that of the trinity.
In truth, when Jesus was on earth he was a perfect man, nothing more and nothing less. Of all the names known to history, Jesus of Nazareth is the outstanding one. In the brief period of thirty-three and one-half years of his earthly pilgrimage he affected the course of the people more than any other man. The more intelligent people of the nations of the earth count their years according to the birth of Jesus, The record of this truly great man is found in the Bible. God through his prophets foretold the birth of this mighty One. (Gen. 49:10; Deut. 18:15, 18; Isa. 9:6, 7} In due time God sent his angel Gabriel to Mary, then a resident of Nazareth, who told Mary that she, although a virgin, was the one of Israel chosen to be honored of God to be the mother of the mighty One who God through his prophets had promised should come. (Luke 1: 28-32) In due time the babe was born in Bethlehem, the city of David, even as the prophet of the Lord had foretold. (Mic. 5:2) On the night of the birth of Jesus, God's holy angels bore witness thereto by bringing his message to the humble shepherds in the fields of the holy land. That the birth of this babe would have to do with the reconciliation of man to God, is testified to by the host of heaven which then and there sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2:14) God's angel at that time bore witness to the fact that in due time the birth of Jesus would be good news to all the peoples of the earth.
The child was subject to his mother and Joseph his foster-father. There is no reason to conclude that the
home in which Jesus lived was anything more than the ordinary home of the little town of Nazareth. Joseph his foster-parent was a carpenter, and what evidence there is seems to indicate that Jesus worked with him and was known as a carpenter. (Matt. 13: 55) At the age of twelve the child came into some prominence for a moment. (Luke 2:47-52) Otherwise little is said of him during the days of his youth. He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man".
At the age of thirty years, having reached his legal majority, Jesus presented himself at the Jordan in consecration to his Father and to symbolize that consecration by baptism in the waters of the river. He was there a perfect man, holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners. (Heb. 7:26) That was true for at least two separate reasons:
(1) He was not begotten by a human father but begotten in the womb of Mary his mother by the holy spirit of God. The Scriptures do not give the details of how, but the fact is stated that he was begotten by the power of the holy spirit, which is God's invisible power, and that is the end of all controversy. — Matt. 1:18.
(2) As a youth and as a man he had maintained his purity and had not sinned in thought, word or deed. Such was possible with him because of his perfection. It is evident that the care of God was about the child and the boy, and when his mind began to operate and reason Jesus kept himself free from the contaminations which were in the world about him. Those were thirty years of preparation for the work which God had for him to do. His existence on the
spirit plane had been transferred by his Father to that of the human plane. He was born a man child and he grew to manhood's estate clothed with the glory and honor of a perfect man.
When Jesus offered himself in consecration to do his Father's will he was then and there fulfilling what the prophet of God had before written of and concerning him, to wit: "Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, 0 my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." (Ps. 40:7, 8) Then and there at the Jordan God gave proof of his acceptance of the consecration of Jesus. Witnesses standing by heard a voice from heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." At that time God anointed Jesus with his holy spirit and outward evidence was given thereof to witnesses. — Matt. 3:16, 17.
Jesus, now the perfect man, stood before God his Father fully equipped, ready and willing to carry out his Father's will. If the clergy are right in their dogmas of incarnation and trinity, why would Jehovah on this occasion say of and concerning this particular man who stood upon the banks of the Jordan: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"? If the clergy are right, then God was there again practising a fraud upon those who stood by. The clergy would have the people believe that there stood he who was God the Son. The clergy are clearly wrong. Jesus was not God the Son, but he was and is the Son of God whom Jehovah God had sent to the earth to perform a great work. Jehovah the Father loved his Son and the Son loved his Father, and the Father was well pleased with the hearty obedience of
the Son. Here the Son had pledged himself to do his Father's will, whatsoever that might be; and the Father had received him and accepted his agreement to do his will and manifested that acceptance by giving him the holy spirit, and so testified to witnesses.
Holy Spirit
The clergy teach that the "holy ghost" is the third person of the "triune god". The generally accepted thought is that a ghost is a spirit being. The word ghost in the Scriptures is mistranslated from the original. It is from the same root word that is properly translated, wind, breath or breeze. The English word spirit is properly translated from the same root. Its true meaning is invisible power. The spirit of the Lord God is invisible to man and is powerful. It is properly called the holy spirit because all power of God is holy. The holy spirit (mistranslated holy ghost) is not a person or being and no scripture authorizes such a conclusion. When God puts his spirit upon a creature that creature is clothed with power and authority to act as the representative or agent of Jehovah God. God put his spirit upon David, as his witness, and David said: "The spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." (2 Sam. 23: 2) Likewise the Lord God put his spirit of wisdom upon men who were directed to build certain things in connection with the tabernacle. (Ex. 35:31-35) These men were clothed with authority and power to represent the Lord God.
The prophet, speaking for Christ, wrote: "The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord
hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." (Isa. 61:1,2) Jesus quoted this prophecy and applied it to himself. (Luke 4:18-21) This scripture shows that the holy spirit is the authority and power God conferred upon his beloved Son. God had commissioned Jesus to represent him and to speak with authority in his name. Again, says the prophet speaking for Jehovah: "I have put my spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." (Isa. 42:1) This was represented in the anointing oil that was poured upon the head of the priest whereby he was clothed with authority. Now Jehovah had placed his spirit upon his beloved Son, thereby anointing him to represent Jehovah God.
Concerning the anointing of Jesus with the holy spirit it is written: "Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." (Heb. 1:9; Ps. 45:7) It is written: "Even Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the holy spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil, for God was with him." — Acts 10: 38, R. V.
These scriptures conclusively prove that the holy spirit is not a person and is therefore not one of the gods of the trinity. It is proof that the holy spirit, (mistranslated holy ghost) is the holy power of Jehovah God conferred upon his beloved Son and upon others
whom he authorized to represent him. These and other scriptures expose the falsity of Satan's doctrines of incarnation and the trinity and disclose that the clergy have misrepresented the Lord God and do misrepresent him.
The Perfect Man
Jesus was a perfect man and the only perfect man that ever lived upon earth, aside from Adam when he was in Eden. Upon the banks of the turbulent Jordan stood the perfect man Jesus declaring his devotion to his Father. There God put his holy spirit upon him and clothed Jesus with full power and authority to speak in his name. There he was beginning his mighty work. He was perfect, holy, harmless and separate from sinners. Of and concerning him God's prophet wrote: " Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever." (Ps. 45: 2) He was the very embodiment of truth, meekness and righteousness. With frankness and boldness he spoke the truth. "Never man spake like this man." (John 7:46) The reason was that he was a perfect man entirely devoted to the doing of Jehovah's will and he came to speak the message which his Father had given him to speak. " For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." (John 12: 49, 50) God sent him into the world to speak the truth, and he did speak the truth.
He said: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." (John 18: 37) It follows then that those who contradict or deny the words of Jesus do not speak the truth.
Hear then the words of Jesus and note that he brands the teachers of the dogma of the trinity and incarnation doctrines as the sons and agents of Satan, the greatest liar that ever existed. To the clergy of his day, who then refused to hear and abide by his words, Jesus in plain phrase said: "If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:42-44) The clergy, who have taught and yet teach the trinity and incarnation dogmas, refuse to hear and obey the truth, and thereby put themselves in the same class to which the Pharisees were assigned by Jesus.
The trinitarians say: 'God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one, equal in power, in person, and eternity, and are three in one.' Jesus said: "My Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) The clergy say: 'Jesus was his own father.' They do not tell the truth. The true relationship between God and Jesus is that of Father and Son, and this relationship Jesus always acknowledged. He said: "For the Father loveth
the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth." — John 5:20.
The Scriptures testify that God only hath immortality. (1 Tim. 6:16) That means that when Jesus stood upon the banks of the Jordan he was not immortal, and therefore not equal to God. Jesus' own words are given as further proof that he was not his own Father, and was not equal in power and eternity with God. "For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man." (John 5: 26, 27) Let the people determine whether or not Jesus here told the truth; and if so, then they must conclude that the clergy who teach the trinitarian doctrine are false witnesses.
To the multitude Jesus said: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27) Again, he said to the Jews: "I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father." — John 8: 26, 27.
Jesus repeatedly spoke of himself as the Son of God, which proves he was not his own father. (John 9: 35) Because he said he was the Son of God the Jews charged him with blasphemy. The clergy of that time, as the clergy of now, would not receive the truth.
Lazarus the friend of Jesus became sick, and news of that fact was brought to the attention of Jesus and he said: "This sickness is not unto death, but for the
glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11:4) When he had talked with the sisters of the dead man and told them of the resurrection hope, then and there in the presence of witnesses he prayed unto his Father and said: "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." If the clergy are right in their dogmatic teachings, then Jesus was here practising a subterfuge. His words show he was not practising a subterfuge, but he was praying to God his Father and he was there teaching truths concerning the resurrection which God had put in his power.
When instructing the disciples concerning their privilege of prayer he did not say they should pray to him as his Father's equal, but he did say: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." (Matt. 6:9) "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." — John 14:13.
Jehovah God is the great Life-giver to all that have breath. He gave life to Jesus, his beloved Son. He sent his Son to the earth to lay the basis for the reconciliation of man to himself and through the Son to give life to man. Man partakes of material food for the sustenance of his body. Jesus likens himself unto bread, in this, that faith in him and his shed blood, and faith in the work that the Father sent him to do, provides sustaining food to man; therefore concerning the giving of life he said: "As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth
me, even he shall live by me." (John 6: 57) This is further proof that Jesus is not his own father.
Jesus was with his disciples, teaching them concerning the way that leads to life. In order for any one to have life he must be reconciled unto God the Father. He said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6) Thus he proved that the Father's way of reconciliation is through his beloved Son Christ Jesus.
He taught his disciples that he must go away and that he would come again and receive unto himself those who continue faithful and that he would set up his kingdom. His disciples inquired when that would be and how they might know. Jesus answered: "Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24:36) If when Jesus spoke those words he was, as the clergy claim, equal in power and eternity with God he would not have said that only his Father knew. His plain statement was that his Father knew something that he, Jesus, did not then know.
When Jesus neared the time of the end of his earthly ministry he said to his disciples: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:15-17) In these words he clearly set forth the distinction between himself, his Father, and the holy spirit. He plainly said that he would pray to his Fa-
ther that his Father would send the comforter and that the comforter is the holy spirit, and that the holy spirit would dwell in his disciples because they were his and because God had chosen them to be his. He then pointed out to them that there were things yet that they could not fully understand but that they were yet to be baptized with the holy spirit and that then they would understand. He said: "When the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth." (John 16:13) The holy spirit was given to the disciples at Pentecost, as the Scriptures plainly set forth, and then the disciples spoke as the holy spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4) That is the time that the disciples received the anointing of the Lord God through the Head, Christ Jesus, and were clothed with power and authority to speak, and thereafter they spoke the truth with boldness and without fear. — Acts 4:13.
The time came for Jesus to finish his work, which the Father had put into his hands. Jesus knew that he was shortly to be crucified. He knew that he should stand before men as the enemy of his Father; that is to say, that men would regard him as a sinner and that he would die as a sinner. This was a great trial of suffering to him. He prayed unto God his Father in heaven: "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." He had manifested his Father's name unto men. He was not seeking exaltation, but his great desire was to be restored to the sweet fellowship and communion he had had with his Father. Therefore he prayed: "And now, 0 Father,
glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." — John 17:1, 4, 5.
If Jesus was then God, as the clergy insist, why should he be praying to himself such a prayer? Either he did pray to himself or else he was practising a fraud. Whichever horn of the dilemma the preachers take they find themselves without support In the Word of God. Had Jesus been equal to his Father in power and in eternity there would have been no occasion for him to pray on this or any other occasion.
Prior to that time Jesus had said to his disciples: "I and my Father are one. . . . Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake." (John 10:30; 14:10, 11) These texts have been seized upon by the trinity teachers to prove that God and Jesus are one. Jesus himself makes clear what is meant by the oneness of himself and the Father. In his prayer uttered on the last night he was on earth, amongst other things he said to his Father: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one," (John 17:20-22) Here Jesus was praying for those who would believe on him and who should be anointed as
members of his body, which is the church. God gave him to be the head over the church, that he and the church might be one. This was what he taught the disciples, and this is what afterward the disciples taught.
Paul wrote: "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," (1 Cor. 12:12) Paul gave an illustration of this, using the husband and the wife for that purpose. "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Cor. 11:3) "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body." (Eph. 5: 23) With this illumination of the matter by the apostle we can see clearly what Jesus meant. As the man is the head of his wife, even so Christ is the head of the church. As the man and wife are regarded as one, even so Christ and his church are regarded as one. As Christ is over the church, even so God is over Christ; therefore they are all one in organization. The wife recognizes her husband as head, the church recognizes Jesus as the head, and Jesus recognizes God as the head. This is the thought the apostle further expresses when he says: "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1: 21-23) Thus is proven the complete uniting of God, Christ, and the church. By
one invisible power are they united and therefore are said to be one in spirit. There is complete harmony between God the Father and Christ Jesus the Son of God and the church, the members of his body. This is another absolute contradiction of the trinity and incarnation dogmas.
When Jesus was in Gethsemane, and knowing that he was facing an ignominious death, he offered prayers and supplications unto God his Father. He was not praying to himself at that time. If the trinitarians are correct he was praying to himself and committing a fraud. If they are wrong and the Scripture is right, he was praying to God in sincerity and in truth. It is much better to trust the Lord God than to trust men. God tells the truth and his Word is true. (Ps. 118: 8, 9) Paul testifies that he prayed to his Father and that he was heard. "Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears, unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." — Heb. 5:7, 8.
When the mob came to arrest Jesus one of his disciples, in attempting the defense of his Master, smote off the ear of the high priest's servant. "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword, shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:52, 53)
If Jesus was then God himself incarnate, as the clergy have told the people, and if he was equal with
God in power and eternity, why should he give utterance to these words? Why would he say that he could pray to his Father for help? Why not exercise that power himself? Jesus always told the truth, and if he had been God he would not have there stated that he could pray to his Father and get immediate aid.
Why have the clergy ignored all these statements of Jesus and the apostles? Why have they seized upon a dogma or doctrine which they themselves can not explain and which no one can understand, and why do they insist on teaching a doctrine that dishonors God and destroys the value of the great ransom sacrifice? There is but one answer: They are willingly or unwillingly the instruments in the hands of the god of this world, Satan the Devil, who has used them to blind the minds of the people, to prevent the people from understanding God's great plan of salvation and reconciliation. — 2 Cor. 4:4.
The great array of Scriptural testimony proves beyond a doubt that the Logos was the beginning of God's creation; that it was the will of God that man should be ransomed from death and the grave; that God's love prompted him to make this provision for man's reconciliation; that there could be no reconciliation except this be done in perfect accord with justice; that justice could be met only by the sacrifice of a perfect human life; that if Adam and his race were to be released another perfect man must take Adam's place as a substitute in death; that in the earth there was no perfect man; that God transferred the life of the Logos from the spirit to the human plane and made him a man and nothing more than a man; that Jesus was born of a woman but not begotten of a
man, but was begotten by the power of God, the holy spirit; that he was therefore perfect, holy, harmless and separate from sinners, and that God made him thus in order that he might become the Ransomer and Redeemer of mankind, to the end that the people might have life. — Matt. 20:28; John 10; 10.
The Man
One of the titles of the Lord Jesus is "the Son of Man". The correct translation of this text should be in the emphatic form, to wit, "The Son of the man." This title is another evidence of Jesus' relationship to God and to the plan of redemption. Adam was a perfect man, created by the great God, and placed on earth. As a perfect man he was given dominion over all things of the earth. All these things Adam lost by reason of his disobedience. Jesus, being a perfect man, made so for the purpose of redeeming mankind, must be exactly equal to the perfect man in Eden and therefore become the rightful owner of all things that belonged to the perfect man Adam. God therefore gave his beloved Son the title "The Son of the man", which title signifies that he is entitled to everything to which the perfect man could hold title. This is another proof that when on earth he was a perfect man, nothing more and nothing less, and therefore possessed all the qualifications to become the ransomer of Adam and his offspring.
From and after the time he was anointed at the Jordan he bore the title Christ. Christ means Anointed One of God. At the time he was anointed, Jesus was
given the promise of immortality and the divine nature. His faithfulness in the performance of the work which his Father had given him to do would guarantee Jesus that great reward. The perfect man Jesus died, and that perfect life laid down in death corresponded exactly to the perfect human life of Adam which he possessed before he sinned. The man Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, therefore became the substitute in death for Adam the sinner. Jesus was not a sinner, yet he was required to take the sinner's place and die as though he were a sinner that he might meet all the requirements of the law.
Jesus was dead and in hell for three days. Prior to that time the prophet of God had written of and concerning him: "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Ps. 16:10, 11; Acts 2: 30-33) Three days after his death his Father, God, raised him up out of death. Had Jesus been God he would have raised himself. If Jesus was God, then for three days the universe was without a God. It therefore follows that the trinitarians do not tell the truth; otherwise for three days there was no God in existence. The trinitarians are wrong. The divine record concerning the raising up of Jesus is: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the holy spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised
up the third day, and shewed him openly." — Acts 10:38-40.
Call to mind that Jesus stated that his Father had given him the promise of immortality or life within himself. (John 5:26) The man Jesus must remain dead for ever if he is to be a substitute for Adam. By that is meant that he could not be raised up out of death as a man and still provide the redemptive price for fallen man. In harmony with his promise, God raised up Jesus Christ out of death to life immortal, a divine being. Note the apostle's argument in this connection. Before he became a man he was a spirit being in the form of God. Unlike Lucifer he did not seek to grasp that which justly belonged to God but divested himself of the spirit nature and became a man; and being a man, he humbled himself willingly unto death and then God raised him up to immortality. "Who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." — Phil. 2:6-11, R. V.
He was put to death as a man but made alive as a spirit being and exalted to the position of glory and immortality with his Father. (Rev. 3: 21; 1 Pet. 3:18)
After his resurrection Jesus declared: "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of hell and of death. (Rev. 1:18) God therefore gave unto his beloved Son immortality even as he had promised.
After God had raised up Jesus out of death and before his ascension into heaven, he said to Mary: "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." — John 20:17.
When the clergymen attempt to say that Jesus was God incarnate, very man and very God, they forget that at the time Jesus gave utterance to the words above quoted he had been raised from the dead a spirit being. He was not then a man. Was he God himself? The clergy say, Yes. But Jesus said, 'No, Jehovah God is my Father. I have not yet ascended to him but I will ascend to him.' Jesus told the truth. The trinitarians and their father do not tell the truth. Jesus declared Satan, the Devil, to be the father of lies; and he furthermore said that they who follow his course are his children. Let the people take heed to the words of truth as uttered by Jesus, his apostles, and by the prophets, and reject the words of the clergy.
Sin-Offering
Keep in mind that it was because of sin that Adam was sentenced to death. Sin is the transgression of God's law. Justice required the entering of the judgment of death against Adam, and the execution there-
of. That judgment was entered by Jehovah in heaven itself. The giving up of the life of the perfect man Jesus corresponded exactly with the perfect life of Adam which had been forfeited by reason of the judgment. But the death of the perfect man Jesus could in itself work no good to Adam and his race unless the value of that perfect human life of Jesus be presented before divine justice as an offering for sin and as a substitute for the life of Adam and his race.
God could have appointed some one else to present the value of that perfect life as a sin-offering. The man Jesus could not do it. The life was laid down on earth. The value of it must be presented in heaven. It must there be presented by some one who had access to heaven. It pleased God to give to his Son the honor of thus presenting the value of that perfect human life as a sin-offering. Carrying out his purpose, God raised up Jesus out of death to the divine nature, and the divine Jesus now has access to the courts of heaven. When Jesus ascended into heaven he appeared in the presence of Jehovah God and presented the value of his human life as a sin-offering. It was received in behalf of man as a substitute for the life of Adam, but applied at that time only for those who should be brought to God by faith during the time of sacrifice, and later to be applied for the benefit of all mankind.
The sin-offering had been foreshadowed by the ceremonies which God caused the Jews to annually perform in connection with their atonement day as required by the law. The animals were slain in the court of the tabernacle and the blood thereof was taken by the high priest into the Most Holy and sprinkled upon
the mercy seat. The court of the tabernacle pictured the earth where the sacrifice of Jesus was made. The Most Holy pictured heaven itself, where the value of that perfect human life was presented as a sin-offering. Concerning this matter it is written: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." — Heb. 9: 22-26.
Application of the value of the merit of that sacrifice, the value of the perfect life, was made at that time for the benefit of those who become Christ Jesus' footstep followers. That merit will be made available at the inauguration of the new covenant for the reconciliation of all men unto God.
God had foretold by his prophet what should be done concerning the sacrifice of his beloved Son. The prophet wrote: "Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, ... he shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: . . . for he shall bear their iniquities. . . . because he hath
poured out his soul unto death: . . . and he bare the sin of many." — Isa. 53:10-12.
Jesus died for man's sins as God had foretold and was raised out of death for the justification of man. — 1 Cor. 15:21: Rom. 4:25.
Redemption Necessary
Satan has used the clergy to confuse the people concerning the value of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. One company of them say 'all that is necessary is for man to express himself as out of harmony with sin and ask forgiveness, become a member of some church system, and claim to be Christian and continue as such'. Another company of them say 'the value of Jesus' blood is as nothing. Jesus was a good man and it is well to keep his example before us as a good pattern to follow. Man, however, must continue to develop character until he gradually grows into perfection'. It is better to take the inspired record as it is written by God's witnesses. Therein it is written: "Without shedding of blood there is no remission." (Heb. 9:22) The shedding of the blood of a perfect human being was the only possible way whereby God could be just and the justifier of man.
The life is in the blood. (Lev. 17:11,14) The judgment of God required the life-blood of Adam because of sin. As a substitute for the forfeited life of Adam justice accepts the life-blood of the perfect man Jesus to the end that in due time the value of that sacrifice may be made available for the benefit of all men. All mankind, including Adam, shall be redeemed or pur-
chased from death and the grave, even as God promised. (1 Cor. 15: 22) During the age of sacrifice, that is to say, during the period of time when God is selecting the members of the body of Christ, the value of that perfect life poured out is applied as a purchase price for the benefit of those who fully consecrate themselves to do God's will. Later, at the inauguration of the new covenant, the value of that perfect human life shall be made available and applicable as a purchase price for the benefit of all mankind. As a proof that the blood of Jesus is a price of great value paid that man might live, the testimony is written: "Ye are bought with a price." (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23) What is that price? The answer is: "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." — 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.
To be brought into harmony with God man must know something of God's provision. He must repent of his wrongful course. He must believe that the blood of Jesus was shed as a purchase price for sin, and then God's mercy must be extended to him. The basis of reconciliation is the life-blood of the perfect man Jesus Christ. In due time all men must be brought to a knowledge of this truth and have an opportunity to be reconciled to God.
Again the enemy has misrepresented Jehovah by claiming that God is so cruel that he must have the blood of some one and that his wrath is appeased by the blood of Jesus; and therefore God, being thus appeased, is willing to forgive the sinner. That is en-
tirely untrue. God is just, and the execution of his law in harmony with justice can not be ignored. The love of God provided a way for the requirements of justice to be completely met and this was done by the willing obedience of Jesus unto death. The pouring out of his life-blood as a substitute for Adam forms the basis of reconciliation of man to God, and then because of man's repentance, because of his faith in God and faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus and his obedience unto God he is justified. God is therefore just and the justifier of them that believe. — Rom. 3:26.
Reconciliation the Purpose
God has a well-defined purpose in everything he does. What then was the purpose of Jesus' being made a man, and of his dying as a man, and being raised from death as a divine creature, and ascending into heaven with the value of his perfect human life and presenting it as a sin-offering? The purpose was that the way might be made and opened for man to be reconciled unto God. By his arrangement or plan God included or embraced all mankind in the sin of Adam, in order that when the basis for reconciliation was made by the blood of Jesus all who would believe and be obedient might have the benefit thereof. (Gal. 3:22) Jehovah did not become a man and die, as the clergy would have you understand, but his Son became a man and died and was raised out of death that Adam and his offspring might be reconciled unto God. Adam and his children were and are flesh and blood. They have partaken of the human nature.
Jesus must do the same thing in order to redeem mankind. Concerning this it is written: "As the children [of men] are partakers of flesh and blood, he [Jesus] also himself likewise took part of the same; ... in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God [his Father], to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." — Heb. 2:14, 17.
All children of men have been sinners and were born such and therefore enemies of God, and the shed blood of Jesus opens the way for all men to be reconciled and made the friends of God. When fully reconciled by God, then the children of men shall live. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." — Rom. 5:10.
Beginning at Pentecost God through Christ opened the way for the exercise of faith in the shed blood of Jesus, and those who have since made a full consecration to do God's will, based upon the faith in Jesus' blood, God has reconciled to himself. Paul and others of his time, and men of like faith since, have availed themselves of the blessed privilege. Therefore Paul wrote: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. . . . For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Cor. 5:18-21) The gracious provision that God
has thus made has not been for a selfish purpose. He made this provision unselfishly for the benefit of man.
Jehovah Savior
Satan has used some of his agents, the clergy, to exalt the name of Jesus above that of Jehovah. He has used others of the same agents to make Jesus and Jehovah equal, and still others to deny the blood of Jesus altogether. His policy is and has been anything to turn the minds and hearts of men away from God, to becloud the truth, and to bring reproach upon Jehovah's name. It is not a new trick of his. The Devil pursued the same tactics before the coming of Jesus to earth. He has been teaching the doctrine of a trinity for a long while. In the minds of men he exalted the wicked Nimrod and the wicked woman Semiramis his mother and placed them on an equality with God, thereby introducing a trinity. Then when Christianity began to grow and men were turning to Christ, Satan by his wily methods introduced a trinity into the ranks of the Christians and fastened that ungodly doctrine upon the church by the council of Nicaea. To do so it was necessary to deny and set aside the plain statements of the Scriptures, to wit: "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him." (1 Cor. 8: 5, 6) In the face of this plain statement of the Lord's Word, and many other scriptures corrobo-
rating the same, the clergy have gone on and still go on teaching the people the Satanic doctrines of the trinity and the incarnation.
Jehovah God is the Savior of man because he is the Author of his plan of salvation and all things are from him. Jesus Christ is the Savior of man because he is the active agent of God used by the Father to save men and all things are done by him in the Father's name and by the Father's authority. Jesus and God are not one and the same in personality, but Jehovah is the Father and Christ Jesus is the Son. All things are from the Father; all things are by the Son. — Eph. 4: 6, 7; 2 Cor. 1:3; Col. 1: 3.
It is written: "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people." (Ps. 3:8) The Scriptures frequently speak of Jesus Christ as the Savior because he is the arm or instrument used to bring salvation to the people. (Isa. 12:2; 59:16; 63:5) The Apostle Paul makes plain and clear the relationship of God the Father with Jesus Christ his Son, and proves that salvation is from God and that reconciliation of man to God is by and through the blood of his Son. To this end he wrote: "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins; who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers: all things were created by him, and for him. And he 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 preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled." — Col. 1:12-21.
Love Divine
A gift is a benefit bestowed by the giver upon another who is the receiver, bestowed without expectation of return or compensation. Jehovah God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." — Jas. 1:17.
It is the poor that need gifts. It is the poor in spirit and meek in heart and lowly of mind that gladly receive and appreciate gifts. The greater the poverty, the greater the need. Because of sin the human race was plunged into the greatest depths of poverty with no right or hope of ever enjoying the riches of life. The destruction of the poor is their poverty. (Prov, 10:15) The poverty of the human race leads to certain destruction. Divine love made provision to prevent such destruction.
Jesus the beloved Son of God enjoyed all the riches of life in glory with his Father in heaven. He looked down upon the poverty of humankind, well knowing that the wicked rebellion of Lucifer had brought such poverty on man. He knew of God's loving heart and of his purpose to reconcile man to himself. Jesus was willing to become poor that mankind might be made rich in life and happiness and brought into full reconciliation with God. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." — 2 Cor. 8:9.
Adam had been made a little lower than the angels of heaven. His sin had reduced him and all his offspring to abject poverty. Jesus left his heavenly glory and was made a man that he according to the will of his Father might become the Redeemer of poverty-stricken and sinful men. He was made perfect as a man and clothed with all honor and glory of a perfect man. The earth and all its dominion might have been enjoyed by him. He willingly gave up everything for the benefit of man. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." — Heb. 2:9.
The death of Jesus upon the cross was for the benefit of all men; and God in his due time will bring all men to an accurate knowledge of the truth, that they may have the opportunity to benefit by his death. It was the will of God that his beloved Son should become a man that he might become the Redeemer of mankind. Jesus was willing to take this step. His
Father did not compel him or even require him thus to do. And now the apostle sets forth in clearness of phrase the distinction between God the Father and Jesus the Son and what the relationship to each other is in providing the ransom sacrifice. He says: "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." — 1 Tim. 2:3-6.
The love of God for his beloved Son Jesus could not be excelled. Jesus testifies to the sweet relationship between himself and his Father. When Jesus came to earth and presented himself at the Jordan, Jehovah announced that others might know: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The Father and the Son loved each other. (John 3:35; 5: 20) The Son was the dearest treasure of his Father's heart. But without the exercise of love for mankind man could never be reconciled to God and live. The great God of the universe, the Creator of heaven and earth, freely gave his beloved Son that man might live. The apostle, after having tasted of that love divine and the heavenly gift, with no way of compensating therefor and with no way of adequately expressing appreciation thereof, exclaimed: " Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (2 Cor. 9:15) Thus the apostle shows that there are no words adequate to express the greatness of God's gift in behalf of man.
Then again Paul wrote that as it was by the offense of Adam all men were born in sin and therefore brought unto condemnation, even so by the righteous-
ness of Christ Jesus the free gift comes unto all men, giving all an opportunity for justification unto life. (Rom. 5:18) This great gift proceeds from God the Father, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. "The gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:23) Love made this provision. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) That is a complete expression of unselfishness. It is love divine. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10) Such is the divine provision for the remission of sin and for the reconciliation of man to God. "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." — 1 John 4:16.
