ON A RESCUE MISSION
1 Peter 1:9 – “Being about to bear away the end of your faith––a salvation of souls:” Rotherham
The “end” [purpose, aim, objective] of our Faith is the “salvation of souls” [our characters being prepared to be like Christ’s character so that we may assist in teaching, spiritually healing and blessing mankind on Paradise Earth.]
Obad 21 – “Then saviors shall come to Mount Zion” [Rev 14:1-5 On Mount Zion, the 144,000, the firstborn who follow the Lamb.]
1 Cor 15:29 – Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? NKJV
The purpose of being baptized into Christ (as his body members) is for the future rescuing of mankind who are now dead in Jehovah’s eyes. (As Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead.”)
BLESS ALL MANKIND
Acts 3:25 – ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ NKJV
Gal 3:29 – And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
As part of the seed of Abraham, being body members with Christ, we shall participate in blessing all the families of the earth on Paradise Earth as mankind is awakened from death. Romans 8:19 says, “For the eager expectation of the creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.” Verse 21 says, “that the creation itself also will be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God.” NWT
REIGNING AS KINGS & PRIESTS
2 Tim 2:12 – If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. NKJV
Rev 20:6 – first resurrection…they shall be priests of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Rev 1:6 – “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father” NKJV
JUDGES OF ISRAEL & THE WORLD
1 Cor 6:2 – “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?” NKJV
Matt 19:28 – “in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. NKJV
Dan 7:27 – “the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints” NIV
Old covenant, new covenant.
The JW’s in general believe that the only way to be an adopted son is to receive the spirit that allows them to cry out “Abba Father”.
(Romans 8:12-17) 12 So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live in accord with the flesh; 13 for if YOU live in accord with the flesh YOU are sure to die; but if YOU put the practices of the body to death by the spirit, YOU will live. 14 For all who are led by God’s spirit, these are God’s sons. 15 For YOU did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but YOU received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!” 16 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer together that we may also be glorified together.
But if you had read your “Insight on the Scriptures” you would have found this is not the present truth of the organization. On Page 999 under the heading “son(s) of God” it says,
*** it-2 p. 999 Son(s) of God ***
(Compare Col 1:23.) This must mean, then, that the revelation of the sons of God in glory opens the way for others of the human family to enter into a relationship of actual sonship with God and to enjoy the freedom that accompanies such relationship.
The fact has escaped notice, among the mistakes made, is that there is no allowance in the promises and covenants for man to go to heaven through resurrection. The out resurrection, which the JW’s have chosen to call the first resurrection in their misunderstanding of how and who become a son of God, is in their Interlinear of the Greek Scriptures as the “out” resurrection, not the “first” resurrection. Here they use “out resurrection” as a one-to-one word translation which is more appropriate, given a clearer understanding. Through the promises and covenants Abraham and his offspring were promised to inherit the earth. This meant that Abraham and his off spring would overcome death by an out resurrection or return to existence on earth. We can see this in that Jesus was first resurrected to earth under these provisions, and then ascended to heaven under a covenant made only with him by his Father. This covenant was to inherit the two-part inheritance promised to God’s first born son: a kingdom (range of influence over heaven and earth on Jehovah’s throne).
It helps to remember that God deals with “mankind” in an overall approach, before his dealings with individuals. Reconciliation is a good example of this with regards to mankind. We saw it first when all of mankind was subjected to slavery because of the actions of Adam and Eve.
The “ covenant” was then made with “mankind” who had been reconciled with God through the delivery of the ransom by Jesus,Jesus being mankind’s representative at that time. These would only have included the “Sons of Israel”, the “offspring of Abraham”. This connection was not determined by their connection with the nation of Israel, or their fleshly connection with Abraham. It had to be because of their connection with Abraham as circumcised of heart and ear in like manner to Abraham’s condition before physical circumcision. Yes, many of them were fleshly connected, but only by their circumcision of heart and ear were they true Jews, as Paul pointed out.
These true Jews left the nation of Israel with Jesus to be called “Christians” by an act of providence. The name Christian evidently did not come from God or the true Jews themselves. Probably by the world to promote the idea that the “nation of Israel” was still made up of Jews.
Back to the point, old covenant, “new covenant”. Talking to this remnant of true Jews, the “sons of Israel” that left with him, Jesus said:
(Luke 22:28-30) . . .However, YOU are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials; 29 and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
“I make a covenant with you as the father has made one with me”, “new covenant”.
This would mean that God’s words would be fulfilled that they (sons of Israel) would be a chosen race, a royal priesthood and a holy nation, a people for special possession. These real Jews, sons of Israel were promised that 144,000 of them would be allowed a one-part shared inheritance with Jesus, rule over the earth as kings and priests. This would be over the holy nation of the twelve tribes, to reside by “out resurrection” or walking alive into the new order under the “new administration” of earth.
(1 Peter 2:7-10) 7 It is to YOU, therefore, that he is precious, because YOU are believers; but to those not believing, “the identical stone that the builders rejected has become [the] head of [the] corner,” 8 and “a stone of stumbling and a rock-mass of offense.” These are stumbling because they are disobedient to the word. To this very end they were also appointed. 9 But YOU are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that YOU should declare abroad the excellencies” of the one that called YOU out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 For YOU were once not a people, but are now God’s people; YOU were those who had not been shown mercy, but are now those who have been shown mercy.
Those true Jews, along with those being grafted in to fill their number, did “declare abroad the excellencies”. That’s why you are here, possibly grafted in as one of them, also now a Jew.
The JW’s had the idea, just got carried away with the “spirit of adoption” in their attempt to gain personal power over the congregation of Jesus.
Once we cross over from death to life using the insight from the holy spirit, we are sealed and anointed by the knowledge we have. We become true Jews, “sons of Israel”, “offspring of Abraham”, receiving the token of the “spirit of adoption”, and the hope of the full adoption and it’s full complement of holy spirit. All of this is achieved because we are reconciled and given awareness through this process of making ourselves over.
A last thought, the 144,000 true Jews either resurrected or alive at Jesus’ return to rule (Jesus descends from heaven), hear the call from Jesus to rule over their brothers on earth, not the call to ascend to the Father since this was never promised to man. The upward call fulfills the promise of a “new administration”; the new Jerusalem arrives.
Clues for those whose minds might want to pursue further: Tent (mortal body), House (mansion).
I hope that answer is short enough;)
traveler – Again, you are ignoring the scriptures in the article and your comments are on a different topic.
I will respond to your comments on Luke 22:28-30.
Luke 22:20 (NKJV) “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.’’’
Luke 22:29 (KJV) “And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me…”
The word “appoint” is not accurate. It is the same word mistranslated “Testator” in Hebrews 9:16 (Strong’s 1303) and the real meaning of the word is “covenant sacrifice.” That’s what the New Creation is; covenant sacrificers with Christ, who ratify the New Covenant. [Ratifying a covenant is similiar to signing a contract.]
Rotherham translates closer to the real meaning:
Luke 22:29 (Rotherham) “And, I, covenant (Strong’s 1303) unto you—as my Father hath covenanted (Strong’s 1303) unto me—a kingdom…”
(Supported by Vine’s Expository Dictionary)
We conclude then that the Church’s role in relation to the new Covenant is the same as Christ’s role. Luke 22:29 says that Christ has covenanted unto us, just in the same way as the Father has covenanted unto Him. Christ’s relationship to the New Covenant is the same as our relationship to the New Covenant.
In other words as covenant sacrificers, ratifying the New Covenant, Christ and His body members make possible the Kingdom, through the New Covenant arrangement.
This is a complex topic and to better understand it and get a more complete scripture you can go to this link: https://www.friendsofjehovahswitnesses.com/2013/07/20/who-has-a-covenant-relationship-with-jehovah/
Appreciated illuminating 1Cor. 15:29,being baptized for the dead meaning the dead are to be aided because the 144000 are being baptized into the Christ and will be pivotal in their salvation.I never completely understood that till now. Thankyou!