The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF -MADE DEVIL

 So, too, with the perfect spirit creature. The possibility was there of his using the human pair for his own purpose rather than carrying out what God wanted. As a free moral agent, he not only considered it but also failed to dismiss it from his mind, it led him to sin. Just as a formerly honest man can make himself a thief by stealing, so this spirit creature made himself Satan by acting as a resister of God; and he make himself the Devil becoming a slanderer of God, because that is what those names mean.

Of course, some might say, "Might it not have been simply a mistake that he made? Could he not have apologized and so ended the matter there?" In answer, we need to keep in mind that perfect individual is different from us. When he uses his free will, the choice that he makes is not due to weakness. They can admit their mistakes, apologize and change their course. But when a perfect creature chooses to do wrong, he does it deliberately and he does not later turn back to doing good. This was the case with the one whom made himself the Devil.

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - OTHER SPIRIT CREATURES MAKE THEMSELVES DEMONS

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF-MADE DEVIL

 But in what way did the Devil originate? obviously, the God 'whose work is perfect' would not create someone wicked. (Deuteronomy 32;4) He would create intelligent creatures with whom he could associate. Such would be contrary to reason and God's love. -PSALM 5:4-6 [5:5-7, DY]. 

So, the invisible spirit who later became the Devil must have at one time have been perfect, without defect as a creation of God, just like all the other millions of angelic "sons of God." (Job 38:7) How then, did he go bad? After the creation of the first man and woman, this particular spirit creature entered a course of rebellion against God. He developed a desire to be worshipped and so enticed Adam and Eve to rebel against God. How did he do this? The Bible shows that a serpent spoke to Eve, telling her a lie. As a result she disobeyed God. Then she caused her husband to join her in revolt against God, But who actually put the idea of rebellion into Eve's mind. Was it a mere snake with no speech organs? No, there was someone behind the serpent making it appear as if it were talking. We know that some skilled humans can speak words with their lips nearly shut, as if a nearby animal or a dummy is talking. How much easier for a superhuman invisible person to do this? God made Balaam's ass speak. (Numbers 22:28) In Eden, Satan used the serpent, and so the Bible identifies the Devil, or Satan, as the original serpent," hence the one who really introduced rebellion and wickedness into the universe. - REVELATION 12:9; 2 CORINTHIANS 11:3. 

But you may wonder, if this highly intelligent spirit really was perfect, how could he turn to wickedness when there no one to tempt him? The Bible answers that it was by his thinking upon a wrong idea. (James 1:14, 15) There is nothing wrong in itself with seeing the possibilities in a certain situation. For example, a person in someone else's home may see money lying on a table. The possibility of his taking that money and putting it into his pocket is there. But, since that would be stealing, he should not even consider it. Or, if the idea does come into his mind, he ought to dismiss it. but if he keeps the idea in his mind and allows it to grow, then wrong desire develop. Soon this may move him to commit an act of wickedness. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - A SELF-MADE DEVIL - Conclusion 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Are There Wicked Spirits?

JESUS CHRIST, who came to earth from the spirit realm, acknowledged the existence of wicked spirits. You may recall that he often spoke of the Devil, and he called him "the father of the lie" and a "manslayer." (John 8:44) For our own protection in this time when lying and murder are on the increase, we do well to examine this subject. 

Many persons, of course, do not believe that there are wicked spirit creatures. Even some who claim to use the Bible that Satan the Devil is only a quality of evil, not and invisible spirit person. But do the facts agree with their belief? What about Jesus Christ own experience with the Devil tempted him? The Bible tells us that the Devil  showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and said to him: "All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me."  "Go away, Satan! For it is written, it is Jehovah your God you must worship.' " Then the Devil left Jesus. - MATTHEW 4:1-11.

During that experience, by whom was Jesus Christ tempted? By a real person or by a mere quality of evil? If he was tempted by a mere quality of evil, in whom did the quality dwell? Was this evil in Jesus Christ? If so, then it could not be true that in him there was no sin. Yet the Bible, God's Word of truth makes it very clear that Jesus was "guileless," undefiled, separated from the sinners." (Hebrews 7:26) The Bible also says: "He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1 Peter 2:22) So Jesus could not have been carrying on a conversation with "evil" in his own self. He was talking to a living spiritual creature. Thus the Scriptures and sound reasoning make clear that Satan is real live person in the invisible realm. - 1 PETER 5:8.

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RULER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

 During his earthly ministry Jesus constantly directed attention to the kingdom of God. He taught his followers to pray: "Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done, in heaven as well as on earth." And he urged them to "keep, on, then seeking first the kingdom" (Matthew 6:10, 33) Many of his parables drew attention to the Kingdom. He made it the theme of his preaching. (Matthew 9:35) By his miracles of healing and raising the dead, he showed on small scale what will take place on earth under the kingdom of God. At that time sickness will come to an end, blind eyes will opened, deaf ears unstopped, and crippled arms and legs will be healed. What a blessing that will be! - REVELATION 21:3, 4.

Jesus himself is the one anointed by God as ruler of the Kingdom. However, when Jesus returned to heaven it was not the due time for to exercise that kingly power. He must await his Father's appointed time. (Acts 2:34-36) Yet, he pointed forward to the time when he would return with Kingdom power, saying: "When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another, just as a shepherd separate the sheep from the goats." (Matthew 25:31, 32) We are living in that time of separating now. Soon Christ on his heavenly throne will use his kingly authority to destroy the wicked and deliver sheeplike ones who will inherit the earthly realm of the Kingdom. - MATTHEW 23:34, 41. 46.

By means of Jesus Christ blessings are available to all mankind, but we must exercise faith in him in other to receive them. (John 3:36) We must become his disciples and submit ourselves to him as our heavenly king. Will you do that? (We are talking about the true God, not a traditional God with holidays etc. That is not the true God) There are opposers who want to hinder you, but if you put your full trust in Jehovah you will without fail receive the blessings that God has in store for those who love him. - (PSALM 62:7, 8 [61:8 9, Dy]. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - Are There Wicked Spirits? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM PAIN AND SIN - Conclusion

 Jehovah God did not leave his Son dead in the grave, but raised him to life on the third day. He was given a human life again, because that would have meant that he was taking back the ransom price. But he "made alive in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18) During a period of forty days after his resurrection he appeared visibly to his disciples a number of times, in materialized bodies, to prove that he really had been raised from the dead. Then, with the disciples looking on, he ascended heavenward and was caught out of sight in a cloud. He returned to heaven, there "to appear before the person of God for us, bearing the value of his ransom sacrifice as the great high priest. (Hebrews 9:12, 24) The requirements of divine justice had been met; relief was now available for mankind. 

Even now we may benefit greatly from the ransom. By exercising faith in it we can enjoy a clean standing before God and some under his loving care. (Revelation 7:9, 10, 13-15) When due to imperfection, we commit a sin, we can freely seek forgiveness from God on the basis of the ransom and confidence that he will hear us. (1 John 2:1, 2) Furthermore, the ransom has opened up the way for preservation through the end of this wicked system of things. It makes possible the resurrection of the dead. And it provides the basis for gaining eternal life in God's new system of things, where it will be applied to every mankind in order to wipe away all the effects of inherited sin. - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:25, 26; REVELATION 7:17.

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The Truth That Leads to Everlasting Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 On Nisan 14 of the year 33 C.E. Jesus' enemies put him to death on a torture steak. He could have resisted, but he did not. (Matthew 26:53, 54) He willingly laid down his life in sacrifice for us. As his apostle Peter tells us: "He himself bore our sins in his own body upon the stake, in order that we might be done with sins and live in righteousness. And by his stripes you were healed.' " - 1 PETER2:24; see also HEBREWS 2:9.

That was indeed a marvelous expression of God's love for mankind! The Bible helps us to appreciate it, saying: "God Loved the world so much that he gave his only- begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) If you are a parent who has a dearly loved son, no doubt you can appreciate, at least to some extent, what that meant to God, it surely could warm our hearts toward him to realize that he cares for us so much. - 1 JOHN 4:9-11. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Conclusion 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH - Continue

 God did not weaken and compromise as to his own laws. This would have merely encouraged further lawlessness by a bad example. Yet he did not turn his back on mankind and leave them without hope. While sticking to his laws, God lovingly provided relief, not for the willful sinner Adam, but for his offspring, who without any choice in the matter, suffered the effects of his wrong. God did this in harmony with a legal principle that he later included in the Mosaic Law, namely, "soul will be for soul." (Deuteronomy 19:21) Let see how that principle applied in the ransom provided through Jesus. 

The "living soul" Adam, who forfeited life for what he lost, another human soul, equal to Adam, was needed, one who could offer his own perfect life as a sacrifice on behalf of mankind. (1 Corinthians 15:45) No offspring of Adam's was qualified for this, because all were born imperfect. As a result they all die because they are sinners, and they have no right to human life that they can sacrifice on behalf of others. (Psalm 49:7 [48:8. Dy]) So God sent his own son to earth. Jesus was born as a human, because it was a human life that was required. But he was born without the aid of a human father, so he would be perfect as Adam was. God alone was the Father of the human Jesus, ashe had also been Adam's Father. (Luke 3:38) Thus Jesus was fully qualified to offer his life as a "corresponding" ransom." - 1 TIMOTHY 2:6; Ephesians 1:7. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - RELIEF FROM SIN AND DEATH

 Jesus knew that his coming to earth as a man was a direct part of Jehovah's arrangement for releasing mankind from sin and death. So he said: "The Son of man came . . . to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many." (Matthew 20:28) Exactly what does that mean? Well, a ransom is the price paid to obtain deliverance from captivity. In this case, Jesus' perfect human life offered in sacrifice was the price paid for to obtain mankind's release from bondage and from sin and death. (1 Peter 1:18, 19) Why was such a release needed? 

This was because Adam, the forefather of us all, had sinned against God. Thus, Adam became imperfect  and lost the right to life. As a willful violator of God's law, he came under its penalty of death. God has also established laws of heredity, which assure that we all receive physical characteristics and other traits from our parents. According these laws, Adam could have passed on tohis offspring only what he himself had; so we received from him an inheritance of sin and death.  (Romans 5:12) All mankind therefore has been dying in payment of the penalty of sin. How could this death penalty be lifted and the requirements of justice still be met? 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - HIS LIFE ON EARTH

 However, something else happened to Jesus at the Jordan. The heavens opened up, God's spirit came upon him, and God himself spoke from heaven, saying: "This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved." (Matthew 3:16, 17) There was no mistake about it; this was the one whom all God's prophets had foretold! There at the Jordan by means of holy spirit, Jesus was anointed by God to the foretold great high priest, and the king of God's kingdom, and to preach while here on earth. (Luke 4:16-21) There was work for him to do. 

For and a half years he preached God's Word throughout the land and he taught his disciples to do the same. (Luke 8:1) Though others in those days superstitiously avoided using the personal name of God, Jesus did not hold back from making it known. (John 17:26) He always spoke the truth, whether it was popular or not. In what he did he provided an example that we should follow if we want to please God. But also accomplished more than that. 

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The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - HIS LIFE ON EARTH

 In harmony with God's purpose for blessing men of faith, the due time arrived for this heavenly Son to become a man on earth. This required a miracle of God. Jehovah by his holy spirit or active force, transferred the life of Jesus from heaven to the womb of a Jewish girl named Mary. Announcing this to Mary in advance, the angel Gabriel said: "Holy spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason also what is born will be called holy, God's Son." (Luke 1:35) It was well within the power of the Creator to do this.  Certainly the One who formed the first woman with ability to produce children could cause a woman to conceive a child without a human father, God himself being directly responsible for the life of the child. This child, Jesus, was not God, but God's Soj. He was a perfect human, free from the sin of Adam. How was that possible? Because as the angel said, the "power of the Most High" was responsible; it even guided his growth while in the womb of Mary. 

As foretold centuries before, Jesus was born in King David's city, Bethlehem of Judea. (Micah 5:2) He lived with his mother and his foster-father Joseph, working a the trade of carpentry until he was about thirty years of age, Then God's time came for him to do other work. So he went to John the Baptist to be baptized or dipped completely under the waters of the Jordan River. This showed that he was presenting himself to God to carry out the work that God had sent him to earth to do. By submitting to baptism Jesus set an example for all who exercise faith in him, and later, he commanded that all who became his disciples should be baptized. - MATTHEW 28:19, 20. 

Next time: The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life - HIS LIFE ON EARTH -Conclusion

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