Post by ResLight on Feb 16, 2013 13:09:10 GMT -5
The question was asked:
While it would be difficult to speak of this or that group regarding what they believe concerning consecration, most seem to think that consecration means giving up all earthly rights. This is basically what Russell taught, except that just before his death, he began to speak of others as also consecrated, when he spoke of those consecrating between the ages. He considered the act of consecration and justification as totally separate, and that one could be justified while not consecrated. This conclusion also led him to think of those "consecrating between the ages" as being not spirit-begotten. Brother Russell believed that to be "spirit-begotten" means to be begotten to the "spirit nature" as opposed to "human nature".
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1915SEP.asp#Z269:13
One can find some among the Bible Students who do not believe that consecration necessarily means that one has already sacrificed the earthly for the heavenly.
The Laymen's Home Missionary Movement believes that all who are now consecrating are of the "Epiphany Campers", which they believe have not been spirit-begotten and who will live forever on the earth, not in heaven. After having been associated with that group, in time I came to realize that something was not right about such a viewpoint. This group teaches, however, that Paul S. L. Johnson, and/or those who have taken over the leadership of the their movement, is receiving some kind of special revealing concerning these matters, and, although they do not officially call their movement an "organization", they have in effect set up an organization similar to the JWs. They believe that there was no more consecrating to their vision of the "high call" after 1916. (In reality of the high calling is not the reward, but the high calling can lead to the reward of the prize of becoming a joint-heir with Christ, if one attains the mark or goal of that prize.) They often refer to the "Bible Students" not associated with their "movement" as "little Babylon".
The word "saint", in effect, means consecrated one, one dedicated, one who is set apart. Those who consecrate, even those consecrating between the ages, even if there are no more spaces open for joint-heirship, are still consecrating with that goal in view, for I do not know of any kind of "divine revelation" that will be given to let them know before Satan is abyssed that there are no more "crowns" available. All the scriptures, to me, indicate that God is not giving to his servants any authority to go around claiming this or that Christian is of this or that class. I believe all those who consecrate too late to obtain a crown, and who "come out" of the storm of the great tribulation, are represented in the great multitude ("great company" to many Bible Students).
Some of my related studies:
prophecy-rlbible.blogspot.com/p/t.html
However, it is true that if one who is consecrated, one who has become a new creation, does not eventually overcome, he will die the second death. While the present body of sin is being dissolved due to Adam's sin, the new creature is created sinless, as was Adam before Adam sinned, and if the new creature who has a full knowledge of the truth sins, it would be totally willful. The scripture says that for such there is no more sacrifice for sin. However, he will not go back to the former condemnation that is in the present flesh through Adam; he receives a new condemnation, the second death. However, there is nothing in the scriptures that limits that overcoming to this age (as some have supposed), and therefore I do not believe that overcoming has to be accomplished before one dies. Only those who willfully sin in this age are counted as being in the second death.
bible-hope.blogspot.com/p/gehenna.html
I believe that the whole creation now dying becomes the new creation of the age to come, and the same will be true of the new creation in that age; there has be an overcoming, but in that age of favor overcoming will be the norm, so that to fail to overcome would only be due to willful sin, which would result in the second condemnation, the second death.
Christian love,
Ronald
Do most 'Bible Students' believe that the meaning of consecration, means they give up their right to a future life here on earth?
While it would be difficult to speak of this or that group regarding what they believe concerning consecration, most seem to think that consecration means giving up all earthly rights. This is basically what Russell taught, except that just before his death, he began to speak of others as also consecrated, when he spoke of those consecrating between the ages. He considered the act of consecration and justification as totally separate, and that one could be justified while not consecrated. This conclusion also led him to think of those "consecrating between the ages" as being not spirit-begotten. Brother Russell believed that to be "spirit-begotten" means to be begotten to the "spirit nature" as opposed to "human nature".
www.mostholyfaith.com/bible/reprints/Z1915SEP.asp#Z269:13
One can find some among the Bible Students who do not believe that consecration necessarily means that one has already sacrificed the earthly for the heavenly.
The Laymen's Home Missionary Movement believes that all who are now consecrating are of the "Epiphany Campers", which they believe have not been spirit-begotten and who will live forever on the earth, not in heaven. After having been associated with that group, in time I came to realize that something was not right about such a viewpoint. This group teaches, however, that Paul S. L. Johnson, and/or those who have taken over the leadership of the their movement, is receiving some kind of special revealing concerning these matters, and, although they do not officially call their movement an "organization", they have in effect set up an organization similar to the JWs. They believe that there was no more consecrating to their vision of the "high call" after 1916. (In reality of the high calling is not the reward, but the high calling can lead to the reward of the prize of becoming a joint-heir with Christ, if one attains the mark or goal of that prize.) They often refer to the "Bible Students" not associated with their "movement" as "little Babylon".
The word "saint", in effect, means consecrated one, one dedicated, one who is set apart. Those who consecrate, even those consecrating between the ages, even if there are no more spaces open for joint-heirship, are still consecrating with that goal in view, for I do not know of any kind of "divine revelation" that will be given to let them know before Satan is abyssed that there are no more "crowns" available. All the scriptures, to me, indicate that God is not giving to his servants any authority to go around claiming this or that Christian is of this or that class. I believe all those who consecrate too late to obtain a crown, and who "come out" of the storm of the great tribulation, are represented in the great multitude ("great company" to many Bible Students).
Some of my related studies:
prophecy-rlbible.blogspot.com/p/t.html
However, it is true that if one who is consecrated, one who has become a new creation, does not eventually overcome, he will die the second death. While the present body of sin is being dissolved due to Adam's sin, the new creature is created sinless, as was Adam before Adam sinned, and if the new creature who has a full knowledge of the truth sins, it would be totally willful. The scripture says that for such there is no more sacrifice for sin. However, he will not go back to the former condemnation that is in the present flesh through Adam; he receives a new condemnation, the second death. However, there is nothing in the scriptures that limits that overcoming to this age (as some have supposed), and therefore I do not believe that overcoming has to be accomplished before one dies. Only those who willfully sin in this age are counted as being in the second death.
bible-hope.blogspot.com/p/gehenna.html
I believe that the whole creation now dying becomes the new creation of the age to come, and the same will be true of the new creation in that age; there has be an overcoming, but in that age of favor overcoming will be the norm, so that to fail to overcome would only be due to willful sin, which would result in the second condemnation, the second death.
Christian love,
Ronald
