The Basis for Solving Mankind’s Problems

MANKIND’S sinful condition and the resultant problems came about through the loss of a proper relationship with God due to our forefather Adam’s disobedience. The basis for solving the many serious problems facing us therefore must be a provision whereby we can regain the position of perfect sonship that Adam enjoyed prior to his transgression. We must be brought into perfect unity with the Creator. As the One who really cares about us, Jehovah God has already laid the basis for this.

To understand what he has done, the reasons for it and why his arrangement will free mankind from weaknesses and imperfections, we must look at matters from his standpoint. The Bible reveals that God is righteous and “holy,” pure to the superlative degree. (Ex. 39:30; Ps. 89:14; Isa. 6:3; John 17:11) Therefore those who are sinful, imperfect, unclean or impure cannot on their own merit enter into an approved relationship with him. (Col. 1:21) Only by having their sins atoned for or covered over can they do so. The arrangement for making atonement for sins would have to be in full harmony with God’s righteousness and holiness. His intelligent creatures should be able to recognize the justness of God’s arrangement. To appreciate what was involved, we need to go back to the very start of the human race.

The Bible tells us that when the first man Adam transgressed God’s law, he sold himself and his unborn offspring into slavery to sin and death. (Rom. 5:12-19; 7:14-25) All the descendants of Adam thus came to be in need of release. Justice required the payment of a price.

To illustrate, a father might misuse his assets and incur a tremendous debt. Should his creditors be required to ignore his debt to spare his children from suffering? After the father’s death, would it be right to let the family get deeper and deeper into debt without ever having to be concerned about reckless spending? Would this not have a bad effect even on persons not directly involved, emboldening them to waste their own or other people’s assets?

How could matters be set straight if the children were infected with their father’s ways and prone to waste assets and resources? How could the debts be paid off and the children be aided to overcome their weaknesses?

Someone outside the family would have to step in and care for the debts. Then, in the case of the children who gave evidence of really wanting to avoid their father’s course, this outsider might assume responsibility for any debts they incurred until such time as he is able to help them to overcome their weaknesses.

This is similar to what Jehovah God purposed for bringing about the release of mankind from enslavement to sin and death. The first step was making provision for the payment of the redemption price. What was the price? Adam had grossly misused his asset, his perfect human life, forfeiting it by rebellion against God. He thereby lost perfect human life for his descendants. The redemption price for his offspring, therefore, had to be of a value corresponding to that which was forfeited. This would be in harmony with the principle of justice found in the Mosaic law: “Soul will be for soul.”​—Deut. 19:21.

None of Adam’s descendants could provide that valuable price, as none possessed perfect human life. The Bible says: “Not one of them can by any means redeem even a brother, nor give to God a ransom for him; (and the redemption price of their soul is so precious that it has ceased to time indefinite).”​—Ps. 49:7, 8.

Jehovah God, however, provided that valuable price in the person of his own Son. He transferred that one’s life from the heavenly realm to the womb of the virgin Mary. In this way, the child to which Mary gave birth, Jesus, came to be a perfect human son of God. (Luke 1:35; Phil. 2:5-7) The man Jesus Christ could therefore lay down his perfect human life in sacrifice. Matt. 20:28.

When he did so, Jesus Christ furnished the exact price needed for ransoming or buying the human race. However, for individuals to have their “debts” canceled or their sins forgiven on the basis of the atoning value of Jesus’ sacrifice, they must take advantage of this provision on God’s terms. Having supplied a legal basis for forgiveness of sins, along with requirements for having them forgiven, Jehovah God maintains his own righteousness when dealing with imperfect humans who sincerely want to serve him. In no way is he encouraging lawlessness.​—Matt. 6:12; Rom. 3:25, 26; 1 John 1:9.

Already over nineteen hundred years have passed since the human race was purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ and since his resurrection to immortal heavenly life. (Acts 13:34-37) Yet humans are still dying. Why? Because God’s time is yet future for applying the atoning benefits of Christ’s sacrifice to the point of liberating mankind from imperfection. (Rev. 22:1, 2)

FOR some nineteen centuries Jehovah God has been preparing a government that will bring relief to sinful, dying mankind. He has been selecting from among mankind the rulers in that government and bringing them into unity under his Son as head. (Eph. 1:9, 10) The prospect before such ones is resurrection to immortal heavenly life, to serve as king-priests. (1 Cor. 15:42-54; Eph. 1:3-23; Rev. 20:6) Along with Jesus Christ, these king-priests will administer the atoning benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice and liberate humankind from enslavement to sin and death. Billions now dead will be included among those to benefit from their services upon being restored to life.​—Acts 17:31.

What assurance do we have that the rule of Jesus Christ and his associates will have none of the undesirable features of man’s governments? Why can we have faith in the ruling body that God has been selecting for so many centuries?

When you think in terms of human rulership, you may have little confidence in any government’s having the answer to our many problems. Throughout history, social standing, rank, military prowess, fame, wealth or the like have often determined who ruled. In many lands even the most qualified person would have a hard time gaining a high office without the support of strong political parties and generous campaign contributions. Men have been unable to devise a system whereby they can make sure that the persons put into office will be of such integrity that they cannot be corrupted or influenced to use their position for selfish ends.

Tested, Qualified Rulers

What about the selection of king-priests in God’s government, his heavenly kingdom? The manner in which persons attain a position of rulership in that Kingdom is altogether different from what has been true of the world’s governments. The Bible clearly shows that social standing, education, rank, worldly fame, money and the like will not buy a place in that government. (1 Cor. 1:26, 27) No one can campaign for the position. The individual must be tested for the office. Under difficult circumstances, he must prove that he is a person of integrity and more concerned about the welfare of others than his own. (Acts 14:22; 1 John 3:16-18) Jehovah God, who can read the motivations of the heart, is the One who determines whether the individual measures up to the needed qualifications.​—1 Sam. 16:7; John 6:44; 2 Thess. 1:11; Rev. 22:11-15.

Consider what the chief one of this ruling body, Jesus Christ, had to undergo. As the only-begotten Son of God in the heavens, he had everything. “Though he was rich,” says the Bible, “he became poor.” (2 Cor. 8:9) Voluntarily he gave up his high position in the heavens to become a man, and learned obedience to his Father under unfavorable circumstances. He suffered much, finally dying on an executional stake like a criminal of the worst kind. (Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 5:7, 8) Because of what he experienced while on earth, Jesus Christ really understands the needs of humans and can deal compassionately with them.​—Heb. 2:17, 18.

As a man, Jesus Christ demonstrated depth of concern and love for people. He willingly and eagerly came to the aid of those in distress. (Matt. 14:14; Mark 6:34) He also proved that he was fully capable of solving the serious problems facing mankind. Empowered by God, he healed the sick, crippled and deformed; restored sight to the blind; unstopped the ears of the deaf; opened the mouths of the speechless; miraculously provided food for thousands, and even raised the dead. These things really happened. They are recorded by eyewitnesses.​—Matt. 11:5; 14:16-21.

As for those associated with Jesus Christ in rulership, they cannot be like men who promise much but, upon getting into governmental office, fail to keep their promises. The Bible says of those who will be in heaven with Christ: “No falsehood was found in their mouths; they are without blemish.” (Rev. 14:5) As did Jesus Christ, they must prove themselves to be unselfish and self-sacrificing, being willing to die for their Christian brothers.​—1 John 3:15-18.

In the case of human governments, rulers often do not really understand the problems of their subjects. But this is not so with the men and women whom Jehovah God has chosen over the past nineteen hundred years. As a group, they have come from all backgrounds and walks of life. There is not a trial or problem common to humans that some of them did not have to face. They experienced verbal and physical abuse, misrepresentation, hatred and even violent death. (John 15:19, 20) Despite their own weaknesses and imperfections, they succeeded in maintaining an approved standing before God. Knowing what it means to suffer as men and women, they can truly sympathize with imperfect humans and render needed help.

As immortal spirit persons, they will also have the power to assist humankind. Death will not be able to cut short the beneficial services of any of them. They will have ample time to bring the human race to perfection. The Bible shows that God has set aside a period of a thousand years for this task.​—Rev. 20:6.

According to God’s Word, Jesus Christ and his associate king-priests will be using earthly representatives to assist them in their vital work. (Ps. 45:16) What kind of persons will they be? The King Jesus Christ would certainly never use arrogant, self-seeking men. He willingly died for humankind in expression of his deep love and would, therefore, never tolerate anyone as his representative who would seek to exploit others for personal gain. Jesus’ attitude will be like that of ancient King David, who said: “I will not tolerate one who is conceited and arrogant. I look to the trustworthy in the land to be my associates. He who walks the path of integrity, he shall work for me.”​—Ps. 101:5, 6, New Berkeley Version.

Certain Liberation from Serious Problems

The qualifications of Jesus Christ, his associate king-priests and the Kingdom’s earthly representatives guarantee that the welfare of all who love righteousness will be safeguarded. They will not tolerate the development of a greedy commercial system based on competitive profit making. Nor will they allow anyone to interfere with a balanced distribution of food and other necessities. All mankind, not just the few, will experience freedom from want. With reference to the abundance then to be shared by all, the Bible says: “Jehovah of armies will certainly make for all the peoples . . . a banquet of wine kept on the dregs, of well-oiled dishes filled with marrow.”​—Isa. 25:6.

What about pollution and man’s present mismanagement of earth’s resources? The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, in his prehuman existence, worked alongside his Father in creation. (John 1:3; Col. 1:15, 16) So he understands the various cycles responsible for sustaining plant and animal life. As King, he can therefore impart knowledge that will prevent pollution, as well as mismanagement of earth’s resources. He can also provide man with the guidance needed for transforming the earth into a state of paradisaic loveliness and for making the best use of its productivity.​—Compare Genesis 1:28; 2:15.

Serious family problems, misunderstandings and hurts due to weaknesses and imperfections will come to their end as Jesus Christ and his associate king-priests aid humans to grow to perfection. This will also result in removing all other problems stemming from inherited sin, including old age, sickness and death. By means of the Kingdom in the hands of his Son, God “will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.”​—Rev. 21:4.

No one will then need to fear becoming a victim of crime, war, injustice or oppression. Everywhere people will be learning the ways of peace. (Isa. 2:4) All will be treated fairly. Speaking prophetically about Jesus Christ’s handling of matters, the Bible tells us: “He will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth.”​—Isa. 11:3, 4.

Never again will mankind face the fierce competition, frustrations or monotony that often accompany work in this old system. People will find pleasure in doing productive work, knowing that they are in no danger of seeing everything come to nothing through adversity. The language used by the prophet Isaiah reveals that there is a God-given basis for this conviction. We read: “They will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people be; and the work of their own hands my chosen ones will use to the full. They will not toil for nothing.”​—Isa. 65:21-23.

God’s kingdom by Christ is indeed the answer to man’s many problems. It alone can bring about conditions of peace, security and justice for all.