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!

...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