The purpose of this blog is to draw us closer as Bible students and to encourage us to carefully examine what is said in word and print. Do the things we speak and write with regards to the truth harmonize with His Holy word?--"The Truth never fears cross examination."
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Monday, August 24, 2015
Back to the Basics - Pastor Russell Laid the Foundation
Tentative Justification Precedes Sanctification
We have observed that tentative justification is not merely a mental assent to the fact that Christ died as man's Redeemer and that certain blessings of reconciliation to God were thus secured for the race, but that, additionally, in order to become a justified believer a certain amount of consecration is implied. Such justification implies a recognition that sin is exceedingly sinful (Rom. 7: 13), and a desire to cease from it—to be free from its power as well as free from its penalties—a desire, therefore, to be righteous in harmony with the righteous Creator and in accord with all of the laws of righteousness. It implies, moreover, that the believer has set his mind, his will, to follow righteousness in all of life's affairs. Faith in Jesus, accompanied by such consecration, gives tentative justification, but does not imply sacrifice. God has a right to demand that all of his creatures shall approve righteousness and hate iniquity, or else consider themselves aliens from him—his enemies. But God does not demand that we shall sacrifice our lives in his service, nor for any other cause. Sacrifice, therefore, is set forth in the Scriptures as a voluntary act—not demanded by the law, even though it be, as the Apostle declares, a "reasonable service," and he urges us—"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service." Rom. 12: 1 With some, a consecration to sacrifice may follow very soon after faith in the Lord and the desire to walk in his ways of righteousness have been reached; but it must follow, it cannot precede, because, as we have already seen, we must be at least tentatively justified by faith before we could have any dealings with God whatever, or enjoy fellowship in any sense with him. With others, this justified condition is attained and followed some time before any thought of a complete consecration, or sacrifice of earthly interests to the Lord and to his cause is even contemplated. But, under present conditions, those who start to walk the path of justification, the path of righteousness, the path of harmony with God, will not go very far along this path before they encounter opposition, either from within or from the world or from the Adversary.
P6 Pages 151-152
The former representative from Germany, and the acting executive trustee of the LHMM might want study this matter, then offer an apology to the Brethren for teaching error. The same error Rutherford taught!
We have observed that tentative justification is not merely a mental assent to the fact that Christ died as man's Redeemer and that certain blessings of reconciliation to God were thus secured for the race, but that, additionally, in order to become a justified believer a certain amount of consecration is implied. Such justification implies a recognition that sin is exceedingly sinful (Rom. 7: 13), and a desire to cease from it—to be free from its power as well as free from its penalties—a desire, therefore, to be righteous in harmony with the righteous Creator and in accord with all of the laws of righteousness. It implies, moreover, that the believer has set his mind, his will, to follow righteousness in all of life's affairs. Faith in Jesus, accompanied by such consecration, gives tentative justification, but does not imply sacrifice. God has a right to demand that all of his creatures shall approve righteousness and hate iniquity, or else consider themselves aliens from him—his enemies. But God does not demand that we shall sacrifice our lives in his service, nor for any other cause. Sacrifice, therefore, is set forth in the Scriptures as a voluntary act—not demanded by the law, even though it be, as the Apostle declares, a "reasonable service," and he urges us—"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, your reasonable service." Rom. 12: 1 With some, a consecration to sacrifice may follow very soon after faith in the Lord and the desire to walk in his ways of righteousness have been reached; but it must follow, it cannot precede, because, as we have already seen, we must be at least tentatively justified by faith before we could have any dealings with God whatever, or enjoy fellowship in any sense with him. With others, this justified condition is attained and followed some time before any thought of a complete consecration, or sacrifice of earthly interests to the Lord and to his cause is even contemplated. But, under present conditions, those who start to walk the path of justification, the path of righteousness, the path of harmony with God, will not go very far along this path before they encounter opposition, either from within or from the world or from the Adversary.
P6 Pages 151-152
The former representative from Germany, and the acting executive trustee of the LHMM might want study this matter, then offer an apology to the Brethren for teaching error. The same error Rutherford taught!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
...and omit quoting from other places what gives another thought...
One of the objectionable things in the writings of J.F. Rutherford and F.H. McGee is that they quote from some places in Brother Russell's writings what they think favors their view, and omit quoting from other places what gives another thought, and thus fail to do justice to "that Servant." Our method in dealing with the various expressions of "that Servant" when they appear contradictory is to seek to harmonize them whenever possible, as we would apparent Scriptural contradictions; and whenever such a harmonization is impossible, we seek to follow that expression of his opinion that seems most reasonable and most in harmony with the fulfilled facts. Let us not forget that Brother Russell repeatedly corrected his own interpretations, when fulfilled events proved that he did not clearly understand and teach them before they were fulfilled…
E Vol 3. Pages 81-82
E Vol 3. Pages 81-82
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Permanent Marker Series: E10, Page 286
"Their humility, as well as Bro. Russell’s teachings (Mordecai charged her, v. 10), prevented their claiming for themselves Little Flockship (not shewed her people), nor even Spirit-begettal (kindred), for as yet neither of these things were certain, hence could be held only as a matter of faith, not of knowledge, since from 1881 1878 onward these things were not certain in individual cases, because all consecrators were not accepted into the high calling. "
If Youthful Worthies existed from 1878 to 1881, then this date of certainty needs to be 1878!
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Permanent Marker Series: E10, Page 284
"Bro. Russell nourished (brought up [literally, nourished], v.7) Youthful Worthies (Hadassah [myrtle], Neh. 8:15) who later became New Creatures (Esther [star]) after the new-creaturely nominal-church leaders (uncle's), who had brought them to consecration, as their symbolic father, were as antitypical Saul rejected and the nominal church, as their symbolic mother, as the Lord's mouthpiece was rejected (she had neither father nor mother). After leaving the nominal church as Youthful Worthies, from 1878 onward, and coming into the Truth, these were as a class taken by Bro. Russell as a symbolic daughter."
This reference was once used by the LHMM to show that Youthful Worthies existed in 1878. But, the only way for that to work is to remove the second dependent clause in the above sentence. Taking out "and coming into the Truth" eliminates the time needed for them to come into the Truth and full consecration. That date is 1881, shown only two pages later in the same volume. We covered this reference years ago. Please see:
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Non-Spirit-Begotten Apostles Partaking
NON-SPIRIT-BEGOTTEN APOSTLES PARTAKING
Another consideration helps us to see that the Spirit-enlightened, non-Spirit-begotten consecrated ones should partake of the Memorial—the fact that the Apostles partook of the first Lord's Supper with Jesus while consecrated but not yet Spirit-begotten (though they did have the holy Spirit in a lesser sense—John 20: 22). They could not be Spirit-begotten until the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Before Pentecost their condition was very much the same as that of "Those Consecrating Between the Ages'' today, though they had the prospect of Spirit-begettal at Pentecost and membership in Christ's Body, which no longer is available here after 1914, in the Time of Trouble (Rev. 7: 1-3; Isa. 66: 7; Amos 9: 13; see PT 515 …
P.T. 1984 Pg. 23
Another consideration helps us to see that the Spirit-enlightened, non-Spirit-begotten consecrated ones should partake of the Memorial—the fact that the Apostles partook of the first Lord's Supper with Jesus while consecrated but not yet Spirit-begotten (though they did have the holy Spirit in a lesser sense—John 20: 22). They could not be Spirit-begotten until the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Before Pentecost their condition was very much the same as that of "Those Consecrating Between the Ages'' today, though they had the prospect of Spirit-begettal at Pentecost and membership in Christ's Body, which no longer is available here after 1914, in the Time of Trouble (Rev. 7: 1-3; Isa. 66: 7; Amos 9: 13; see PT 515 …
P.T. 1984 Pg. 23
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction
Was Bro. Markiewicz in agreement with the two messengers, and leader of the Great Company before the former executive trustee changed the Quasi-Elect article in the Present Truth?
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Permanent Marker Series: E10, P. 250
"The fact of these three duties’ being partial charges of J. makes his duties tenfold, a proof that his pertinent ministry is toward those of natures lower than the Divine class. The Youthful Worthies are a part of the Court of the Epiphany temple even though they now exist as a class in the Parousia picture. As a rule they mingle among the Great Company groups as members of the same groups, e.g., Elisha types both classes in the Society group, and they as such are, both of them, parts of the Court of the Epiphany temple."
We needed to add more text to a paragraph in E10, page 250 so that the former Executive Trustee's view can be applied. We say former Executive Trustee because, apparently, there is a new one...even though he was never voted in for that position. Interesting.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Sunday, January 4, 2015
The executive trustee and supporters of the Bible Standard Ministries/LHMM take the same path as Rutherford
...[The Foreword of Vol. VI], he still taught that one is justified before his consecration, because numerous Scriptures teach it...
…the Society's president reiterates, for perhaps the hundredth time, a falsehood that he knows to be a falsehood, i.e., that our Pastor for years taught that a person could be justified before consecration and then later gave up this thought. We will prove in Volume VI such a statement of our Pastor's view to be an error, and as presented by the Society's president to be a falsehood; and now we charge the Society's president, who has repeatedly said that our Pastor gave up tentative justification before he died, with deliberately, and therefore wickedly, misrepresenting our Pastor's position on the subject, which he doubtless does the more easily to palm off a false doctrine. The item in the above mentioned paragraph is introduced to illustrate allegedly how the (supposed) advancing Truth clarifies previous obscurities. And what actually took place in our Pastor's experience as to his teaching on justification in its time relation to consecration was a case of an advancing truth clarifying obscurities; but note the fact that the truth of justification before consecration at no time was repudiated by our Pastor. We repeat it: Our Pastor never denied or repudiated his teaching that one was justified before his consecration; for up to within a few days before his death, in his last printed statement on the subject [The Foreword of Vol. VI], he still taught that one is justified before his consecration, because numerous Scriptures teach it, notably Rom. 3 and 4 and Gal. 2, and, as for years he had been doing, he called such justification up to the very end a tentative one. But in 1909 he began, by contrast, to call attention to a twofold distinction in justification, a thing that he did not with the distinctiveness of a striking contrast, with suitably differentiating terms, bring out before. He came to see distinctly that justification is exercised in two ways by God: (1) tentatively, which is its mode of operation before consecration, and (2) vitalizedly, which is its mode of operation after consecration. While he taught both of such justifications years before 1909, yet then for the first time he brought them out by differentiated terms in striking contrast with one another, and clearly showed when each of them operated. But the Society's president repudiates tentative justification, claiming that there is no justification at all operating before consecration, and belies our Pastor's view by claiming that he, like the Society's president, gave up tentative justification, i.e., the justification that operates before consecration. Our Pastor truly did advance with the advancing light on the subject, and therefore when the due time came he clarified the subject wherein it before had been obscure, by explaining and proving that tentative justification during the Gospel Age, and in keeping with its purposes, operates exclusively before consecration, and that after the priesthood's consecration vitalized justification operates exclusively. The error of the paragraph under review lies in the fact that it silently ignores the existence of tentative justification and denies the existence of justification in any sense for Gospel-Age purposes before consecration. The stubbornness, perversity and dishonesty of the Society's president on this subject is a strong proof that he either has not "developed character," or, after having done so, he corrupted it grossly. The latter we believe to be true of him.
E Vol. 5 pages, 33-35
Please Click Here for Audios in English and Transcripts in Polish
…the Society's president reiterates, for perhaps the hundredth time, a falsehood that he knows to be a falsehood, i.e., that our Pastor for years taught that a person could be justified before consecration and then later gave up this thought. We will prove in Volume VI such a statement of our Pastor's view to be an error, and as presented by the Society's president to be a falsehood; and now we charge the Society's president, who has repeatedly said that our Pastor gave up tentative justification before he died, with deliberately, and therefore wickedly, misrepresenting our Pastor's position on the subject, which he doubtless does the more easily to palm off a false doctrine. The item in the above mentioned paragraph is introduced to illustrate allegedly how the (supposed) advancing Truth clarifies previous obscurities. And what actually took place in our Pastor's experience as to his teaching on justification in its time relation to consecration was a case of an advancing truth clarifying obscurities; but note the fact that the truth of justification before consecration at no time was repudiated by our Pastor. We repeat it: Our Pastor never denied or repudiated his teaching that one was justified before his consecration; for up to within a few days before his death, in his last printed statement on the subject [The Foreword of Vol. VI], he still taught that one is justified before his consecration, because numerous Scriptures teach it, notably Rom. 3 and 4 and Gal. 2, and, as for years he had been doing, he called such justification up to the very end a tentative one. But in 1909 he began, by contrast, to call attention to a twofold distinction in justification, a thing that he did not with the distinctiveness of a striking contrast, with suitably differentiating terms, bring out before. He came to see distinctly that justification is exercised in two ways by God: (1) tentatively, which is its mode of operation before consecration, and (2) vitalizedly, which is its mode of operation after consecration. While he taught both of such justifications years before 1909, yet then for the first time he brought them out by differentiated terms in striking contrast with one another, and clearly showed when each of them operated. But the Society's president repudiates tentative justification, claiming that there is no justification at all operating before consecration, and belies our Pastor's view by claiming that he, like the Society's president, gave up tentative justification, i.e., the justification that operates before consecration. Our Pastor truly did advance with the advancing light on the subject, and therefore when the due time came he clarified the subject wherein it before had been obscure, by explaining and proving that tentative justification during the Gospel Age, and in keeping with its purposes, operates exclusively before consecration, and that after the priesthood's consecration vitalized justification operates exclusively. The error of the paragraph under review lies in the fact that it silently ignores the existence of tentative justification and denies the existence of justification in any sense for Gospel-Age purposes before consecration. The stubbornness, perversity and dishonesty of the Society's president on this subject is a strong proof that he either has not "developed character," or, after having done so, he corrupted it grossly. The latter we believe to be true of him.
E Vol. 5 pages, 33-35
Please Click Here for Audios in English and Transcripts in Polish
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