Living Now for a New World

1. What does God purpose to have, and what did Peter write about it?

IT IS God’s purpose to have a new world in which righteousness is to dwell. It was the hope of such a new world that encouraged the early Christians in the days of the apostles; indeed, it caused them to change their whole lives. Instead of living for the things that the world of the nations round about them had to offer, they began to live for that new world. The apostle Peter wrote: “Since all these things [the things of the old world around them] are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion . . . ! But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.”—2 Pet. 3:11-13.

2. What was the result of man’s rebellion in Eden? Does this mean that God has abandoned his purpose to have a righteous world?

² Long before the days of Peter, Jehovah, the Creator of the universe, had made known his purpose to have such a new world. Through the prophet Isaiah he said: “For here I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.” (Isa. 65:17) It was His purpose from the beginning to have such a righteous world, and it was only because of man’s rebellion in Eden that this earth became a place where wickedness and unrighteousness came to flourish, where sin has resulted in suffering and death for earth’s inhabitants instead of earth’s being a paradise of peace and happiness with everlasting life for those living therein. But God has not abandoned this thrilling purpose of his, for he promises that the righteous “will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.”—Ps. 37:29.

3. What will it mean for ‘righteousness to dwell in the earth’?

³ The word “righteous” means being “just, upright, virtuous, law-abiding.” It is God’s declared purpose then to have a cleansed earth, restored to a state of paradisaic beauty like the original Eden, in which “righteousness is to dwell.” It is to be a world in which justice, truth and uprightness will flourish, where all earth’s inhabitants will be law-abiding, that is, abiding by the divine law, doing the divine will. It is for such conditions upon earth that Jesus taught us to pray in his model prayer: “Let your kingdom come. Let your will come to pass, as in heaven, also upon earth.”—Matt. 6:9, 10.

4, 5. (a) Why did God bring the Flood on the earth? (b) Of what was the Flood a picture, and how are conditions on earth today similar to those just before the Flood?

⁴ Today we do not live in such a world. This world’s inhabitants do not dwell together in peace, nor do the majority deal justly with one another. Virtue is something easily laid aside. There is less respect for keeping proper laws, even the laws of men, for reports clearly indicate that lawlessness is on the increase. But most disturbing to sincere persons is the fact that this world shows little or no respect for the divine law of God. Similar conditions existed on earth in the days of Noah, when “the badness of man had become great in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time.” (Gen. 6:5) Because of its badness God destroyed that wicked society of men by a flood, allowing only Noah and his family to escape. The Bible speaks of it as a destruction of an “earth.” Not that the literal earth was destroyed; what was destroyed was the society of people living on the earth, those who were living only for their own degraded worldly ideas and who had forgotten God.—2 Pet. 3:5, 6.

⁵ What happened back there was a small-scale pattern of how God is to destroy this present evil world. Jesus himself warned of this and said: “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” (Matt. 24:37) It was accurately foretold that just prior to the end of this wicked world the conditions on earth would be similar to those preceding the Flood. Notice how true to the facts are these inspired words: “In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God.” (2 Tim. 3:1-4) A careful study of other prophecies in the Bible makes it most certain that we are now living in these last days, and this means that the end of this present evil world is to be experienced in our time.

GATHERING THE SHEEP INTO A NEW WORLD SOCIETY

6, 7. (a) To what kind of people is Jehovah now showing mercy? (b) How does Jesus speak of the gathering of lovers of righteousness today?

⁶ The destruction of this evil world will of necessity involve the lives of a great number of people. But in his loving-kindness and mercy it is God’s purpose that, before this world comes to its end, he will gather out from the nations those who love what is right, who desire to see righteousness flourish, who show faith in God’s Word the Bible and in the promise of the new world, whose faith is such that they are prepared to turn their backs on this old world and its bad ways and, instead, conform to the principles of righteousness that are forever to govern the new world of God’s making.

⁷ That such a gathering of lovers of righteousness would take place in our day is made clear from the Scriptures. Jesus himself gave the parable of the “sheep and goats” to illustrate this very thing. The account of this parable at Matthew 25:31-46 indicates that this would be a gathering of individuals of all the nations and a separating of them from the world in such a way that they could be identified as a separated and gathered people. Jesus further showed that there would be such a gathering of sheeplike individuals to form an identifiable people in these last days when he said: “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:16) These are the ones who respond to the call at Zephaniah 2:3 (AS): “Seek ye Jehovah, all ye meek of the earth, that have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye will be hid in the day of Jehovah’s anger.”—See also Isaiah 2:1-3.

8. What choice faces all persons now living?

⁸ So it is that all persons living today have the opportunity of learning the truth and then of making a decision concerning their own destiny. A choice must be made: Will you continue to live like this present evil world, engage in its wrong practices, be part of it and die with it? Or will you learn of the new world, desire its righteousness, be alive to it and live in it forever? Will you forsake this world of unrighteousness and live now for the new world?

9, 10. (a) Why must one not delay in making his decision? (b) What decision will lovers of righteousness make in harmony with Romans 12:2?

⁹ It is a choice that cannot be put off indefinitely. One cannot with wisdom say, “Well, when that new world comes I will change. Of course I will be willing then to conform to what God will want us to do in that new world.” No! Now is the time to begin living for the new world, giving evidence that one is a genuine worshiper of God in spirit and truth, sheeplike, a lover of what is right, for “the Father is looking for such kind to worship him.”—John 4:23.

¹⁰ Before the destruction of this world comes at the Bible-named battle of Armageddon, Jehovah God is giving opportunity to the people of the nations to learn the truth, to conform to it, and then to demonstrate their faith by seeking the way of righteousness, giving evidence that they are the kind of people who would live righteously in God’s perfect new world if given the opportunity. If it is your sincere desire to receive God’s approval and gain life from him in that new world, then you will gladly respond to the words: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and complete will of God.”—Rom. 12:2.

11. What is it that makes Jehovah’s witnesses so noticeably different?

¹¹ Jehovah’s witnesses, as a Christian body of people, are endeavoring to follow this Bible command. They are a people gathered from all the nations. They believe in the Bible promise of the new world and have begun to live for it now. For that reason they are in fact a New World society. It is this simple fact that makes them so noticeably different. Their faith in the new world is not a negative thing, but is positive. It is a living faith and moves them to an active support of what they believe. That is why you find them calling on the homes of the people to talk to them about their hope. In this they are privileged to fulfill one of the prophecies for our day: “And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come.” (Matt. 24:14) But they know that there is more to living for the new world than just preaching about it. Living for the new world means living in harmony with the righteous principles of the Maker of it in everything one does, and these principles must govern all one’s actions as parents or children, as employers or employees, in work or in play.

12. How does the world look upon those who make the change to New World living, but what should we remember?

¹² To those who take such a course it will mean a great change, but certainly a change for the better. Often such a change is misunderstood. This world is governed by one set of principles and ideas; the new world is governed by others—by divine principles and purposes. When we conform to the latter, the world may think it strange; we no longer conform to their way of thinking and acting. It may even lead to antagonism and opposition from persons we previously thought to be our friends. Did not Jesus experience this? And did not the apostle Peter write: “Because you do not continue running with them . . . , they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you”? (1 Pet. 4:4) But the Christian’s purpose in living is primarily to please God, and so the important thing for you to know is “how you ought to walk and please God,” not just men.—1 Thess. 4:1; Col. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4.

13. How were people faced with a similar issue in the early days of Christianity?

¹³ If it is your sincere desire to find life at God’s hands in his new world of righteousness, then it is in your interests to consider carefully some of the basic principles of conduct that God requires of those whom he is today gathering to his side of favor and blessing and assembling into one flock as a New World society. The decisions you have to make are similar to those that faced people who lived in the days of Christianity’s beginnings, when for the first time they were confronted with the truth preached by the apostles and they saw the choice between continuing along the way they had been going previously in harmony with the ways of the nations round about them and making the change that was needed if they were to come into a favorable relationship with their Creator.

PRINCIPLES OF NEW-WORLD LIVING

14, 15. From what course did Paul tell the Christians at Ephesus they should turn away?

¹⁴ About the year 60 or 61 (A.D.) the apostle Paul was writing to the Christians at Ephesus. Before they had heard the truth preached to them the members of that early congregation had been living just like the other peoples of the nations. But that kind of life was not the kind that pleased God. So Paul wrote to them that they should “no longer go on walking just as the nations also walk in the unprofitableness of their minds, while they are in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the insensibility of their hearts. Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every kind with greediness.”—Eph. 4:17-19.

¹⁵ Was that the kind of example of living that Christ Jesus had given them to follow? Most certainly not! “But you did not learn the Christ to be so, provided, indeed, that you heard him and were taught by means of him, just as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; but that you should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loving-kindness.”—Eph. 4:20-24.

16. What basic principle does Paul discuss at Ephesians 4:25?

¹⁶ Then the apostle goes on to mention by name some of the bad things being practiced by the nations that could no longer be practiced by Christians. What he has to say is just as important for us living now during the time of the end of this system of things if we want to follow the example of the early Christians and learn to live in the way that pleases God and receives his approval. First, notice that verse 25 of chapter 4 of Ephesians tells us that having put away falsehood we should “speak truth each one . . . with his neighbor.” This same principle was stated by Jehovah many hundreds of years previously through his prophet Zechariah (chapter 8, verses 16, 17, AS): “These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates; and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.”

17, 18. (a) How do people of this old world look upon dishonesty? (b) What are some of the reasons why people tell lies?

¹⁷ Dishonesty, which includes such things as lying, deceiving, stealing and cheating, is all too common in this world, is it not? We find it in all walks of life, among people of all ages. Not only will children lie to escape being found out in some wrong they have done, but adults show dishonesty in their dealings with one another, in business, in trying to escape responsibility for some debt or liability, or to cover over some wrong. Because of this, people have begun to lose trust in one another. Some will even claim that because other people are dishonest it is all right for them to be the same. But if we want to do what is right we can no longer walk “just as the nations also walk in the unprofitableness of their minds.”

¹⁸ There are many reasons why people are not honest with one another and why they resort to lying and deception. As mentioned above, one reason is to escape punishment for some wrongdoing. Fear is certainly a powerful influence in the lives of many and is one of the basic reasons for lying. In some lands the people are brought up with a fear of the “spirits” of the dead ancestors, and from youth are taught that it is necessary to deceive these “spirits” to avoid harm. Those having this belief often come to think that lying and deceit for such a purpose are not bad; but such ideas are certain to harm one’s conscience and to weaken one’s ability to speak the truth rather than falsehood in one’s dealings with his fellow men. Some take the attitude that lying is wrong only when one is found out, but if he is successful in his lies, then he is “clever” and has done something to be admired. This is indeed a perverted view of what is right and wrong. Still others lie out of pride. In fact, it is true to say that some people live their whole lives as a lie, pretending to be something that they are not, and having to make up untrue stories of their exploits to support their claims. Still others lie willfully to deceive, to mislead in order to obtain some advantage over others to their own selfish gain.

19. Why can there be no place in the New World society for lying and deception?

¹⁹ When one learns the truth of God’s Word, one sees the need to put away all practice of dishonesty. Fear is replaced by love; love for Jehovah, for his principles and for one’s Christian brothers. Learning that the ancestors are truly dead in the graves and not alive anywhere as “spirits,” those who previously had this belief would no longer have fear for such or feel the need to deceive them. The Christian knows that he cannot deceive God, and though he were to try to deceive or lie to other human creatures, Jehovah, who can see the very inmost thoughts of the heart, would not be deceived, and His disapproval could lead to disastrous results. Pride, another cause for lying, is something that God hates, but he approves of humility. So there is no place in God’s growing New World society for such things as deception, lying and other forms of dishonesty.—1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Thess. 2:4; Acts 5:3-5; Mic. 6:8; 1 John 4:18; Matt. 22:37-39; Prov. 16:5.

HONESTY IN VARIOUS RELATIONS

20. While there is trust and confidence among Jehovah’s witnesses, against what is it proper for them to be on guard?

²⁰ Thus among those now being gathered out of the nations of the world into the one “flock” of Jehovah’s sheep the distrust and suspicions of the old-world society are replaced by trust and confidence. Yes, even now the principles of God’s Word are changing people’s lives so that they can enjoy Christian fellowship without the fears that affect the association of those in the old world. That does not mean that Jehovah’s witnesses are, for example, a gullible people, easily deceived, trusting everyone on sight, as it were. They exercise sensible caution and are alert to deal with any wickedly designing person who might try to worm his way into their fellowship for reasons of personal gain, to take advantage of the kindness and trust exercised in the New World society. Such evil-intentioned ones quickly show by their works that they are not lovers of truth and righteousness at heart, and mature Christians soon see through their hypocritical disguise.—Matt. 7:20.

21. How would the principle of honesty apply to a Christian running a business?

²¹ What about a person who owns and operates a business? Can he as a Christian rightly use deceptive means to keep up with the competition of others and increase his profit? The following Bible principle is very much to the point in answering that question: “You must not commit injustice in judging, in measuring, in weighing . . . You should prove to have accurate scales, accurate weights.” So a Christian businessman would not cheat his customers by giving them short measure for their money or bad workmanship in order to make a dishonest profit. Likewise he would deal justly and honestly with his employees.—Lev. 19:35, 36; Col. 4:1.

22. For what purpose is the information in this article presented?

²² This does not mean that a Christian has the right to go around telling others how to run their businesses, as though he were the judge of such matters. The purpose of what is written here is not to try to tell people of the world how to run their lives. What are presented here are simply the principles governing Christian living, so that those desiring to quit living the way the nations do and live in harmony with the righteousness of the New World may be helped to do so.

23. How might a person be dishonest about his work, and for what most important reason should a Christian be a diligent worker?

²³ The same principle of honesty equally applies to employed persons in relationship to their employers. When a person enters into an agreement to work for someone at an agreed wage, then that agreement should be honored. If a person fails because of laziness to do the work assigned, that would really be a form of dishonesty, would it not? It would likewise be dishonest if a person used the time he has agreed to work for an employer and for which he is being paid wages for some other purpose, even though he may feel that the other thing he is doing is more interesting or even more beneficial to himself and to others. To use his employer’s time in this way without his knowledge and permission is being unfaithful to one’s agreement. An honest and diligent worker wins respect and an honorable reputation. (1 Thess. 4:11, 12) The Christian employee or servant does his work well, not just to please men or to win the approval of men, but because it is right to do so, it is being honest, and he appreciates that such a course pleases Jehovah and wins a reward from him. At Ephesians 6:5-8 Paul writes: “You slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters in a fleshly sense, with fear and trembling in the sincerity of your hearts, as to the Christ, not by way of eyeservice as men-pleasers, but as Christ’s slaves, doing the will of God whole-souled. Be slaves with good inclinations, as to Jehovah, and not to men, for you know that each one, whatever good he may do, will receive this back from Jehovah.”—Compare Colossians 3:22-25.

24. What further principle of New World living is stated at Ephesians 4:28?

²⁴ Continuing in chapter 4 of Ephesians (verse 28), the apostle states another rule of New World living: “Let the stealer steal no more, but rather let him do hard work, doing with his hands what is good work, that he may have something to distribute to someone in need.” To steal means to take away something one has no right to, secretly, without being seen. It is easy to understand that breaking into a house at night when the owner is not there and then taking away money or other goods, such as clothing, is stealing. But what about when one has to handle food or materials or equipment in the course of one’s employment as a house servant or in some business office or factory? Is one free to take for oneself of such things?

25. What questions might be asked to guard against stealing?

²⁵ It is the custom in some village communities in some countries that a traveler passing through the village may help himself to some food, so he can proceed on his journey refreshed. This is a custom that is considerate and shows commendable hospitality. All the people of the community understand this custom where it is practiced, and it is not in any way looked upon as stealing, even when the traveler uses the food in the absence of the owner. This custom reminds us of the provision made for the stranger, the traveler or the poor person under the Jewish law. (See Leviticus 19:9, 10.) But customs change, and, though this custom is still practiced in some rural communities, it is not commonly practiced in large cities under conditions of modern civilization. So one has to adapt himself to the situation where he is. A safe guide to what is stealing and what is not stealing is to ask oneself: “Do I have the right to take this?” That is, “Do I have the permission of the owner of this food or this material to use it or take it away?” If it is something that is the property of one’s employer one might ask: “Would I take this if my employer were present and could see me take it?” If you find that the answer is “No” to any of these questions, then you know that it would be stealing to take the thing in question.

26. What is an honest and diligent worker able to do?

²⁶ In harmony with the apostle’s advice, the Christian should be a hard worker, doing with his hands what is good, not bad; being honest and diligent, not needing to steal in order to have sufficient to eat. Instead, he will not only provide for his own needs and the needs of his wife and children, if married, but he will be in position to help any of his fellow Christians in the congregation who may not be so fortunate, having perhaps suffered some unexpected loss or disaster. And, too, he will be in position to make some contribution to the funds of the local congregation to help meet necessary expenses and advance the work of preaching the good news of God’s kingdom in his neighborhood.

27, 28. (a) How are people often dishonest when borrowing money? (b) How does the Bible speak of those who refuse to pay back what they borrow? (c) What good qualities should the Christian cultivate, and what bad qualities should he put away?

²⁷ This old system of things is filled with selfishness. People show this in their attitude toward life, looking for as much as they can get while giving as little as they can in return. This selfishness is appealed to by political and religious leaders in order to try to gain support for their particular organizations. It is seen in the way people are quick to borrow money from whom they can, but slow to repay, and often the borrower has no intention of repaying. Some will even try to justify this by saying that to borrow from a rich man and not repay is not really very wrong, since the rich man does not need the money for himself. How often it is that quarrels and fights are the result of debts not being repaid! That is why Psalm 37:21 says it is “the wicked one [who] is borrowing and does not pay back.”

²⁸ Jehovah does not bless the wicked. He does not bless those who are selfish, grasping, just interested in what they can get out of life while doing as little as possible for others in return. Those desiring life in the new world need to cultivate love rather than selfishness, the spirit of giving instead of greed. Rather than going into debt in order to increase material possessions, the Christian learns to be content with necessary things, working diligently to earn such things with honest labor. The apostle Paul was careful not to put any unnecessary burden on his brothers. Just because he was an apostle he did not use his position to make material gain from his fellow Christians. He did not covet their “silver or gold.” As a full-time apostle he appreciated assistance from the congregations so that he could devote all his time to the ministry, but where this voluntary assistance was not forthcoming he was ready to work with his own hands at tent-making so as to care for his material needs.—Acts 20:33, 34; 18:3; 1 Thess. 2:9.

The Benefit of Living for God’s New World

1. What do James and Paul have to say about anger, contention and the wrong use of the tongue?

IS IT not true that today in this world people quickly become angry, losing control of their tempers? Often this leads to harsh and abusive speech, even to unclean and filthy speech. Such kind of speech shows a lack of kindness and consideration for others and is but an evidence of the bitterness, jealousy and contention that are part of the bad conditions around us. The Bible writer James therefore asks: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show out of his right conduct his works with a meekness that belongs to wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above . . . For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are.” (Jas. 3:13-16) That is why Paul properly says, at Ephesians 4:29-32: “Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your mouth, but whatever saying is good for building up as the need may be, that it may impart what is favorable to the hearers. . . . Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all injuriousness. But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.”

2. What counsel should be followed when one is overcome temporarily by the heat of anger?

² Even when it may be necessary to give correction or reproof, as parent to child, or as a Christian overseer to one in the congregation, one’s speech should not reflect an uncontrolled spirit. If one feels momentarily overcome by the heat of anger, that is the time to keep silent until the anger has cooled and one can speak on the matter with proper balance. Under such circumstances he should be “slow about speaking,” and rather remember that “an enraged man stirs up strife.” To gain God’s approval we must learn to live in peace, be peaceable, for “happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ‘sons of God’.”—Jas. 1:19; Prov. 15:18; Matt. 5:9.

3, 4. What are some other things that have no place in the New World society?

³ There are times when one may be properly stirred by righteous indignation against what is wrong and evil. But to be moved to indignation against what is wrong because of love for Jehovah and what is right, and because one is disturbed to see His name and people reproached, is different from being moved to anger because of personal hurt feelings of pride or hatred for another person, or to cover up fear of being found out in some wrong that one has done.

⁴ Anything that would work contrary to the peacefulness and orderliness of God’s arrangement of living for his people can have no place in his now-forming New World society. This means that such things as fighting or drunkenness (which so often leads to strife) are no part of New World living.—Rom. 13:13.

PRINCIPLES FOR MARRIAGE AND MORAL BEHAVIOR

5. For what purpose did God make the two sexes, and what limitation was put on the privilege of sexual union?

⁵ When God originally placed man and woman in the paradise garden of Eden it was His purpose to have them reproduce and multiply to become a society of people eventually to populate the whole earth with a righteous race. So that they could multiply, God created them with the ability to reproduce, and that was why he made the two sexes, male and female. By the man and woman coming together in sexual union they would beget children “after their kind.” This would be a right and proper thing for them to do, with no shame attached to it, and it was therefore intended to be a pleasurable experience for them. But God set certain limitations on the exercise of the privilege of sexual union. It was to be practiced only with the arrangement of marriage—the husband with his own wife, the wife with her own husband.

6. (a) Was it God’s purpose that polygamy be practiced in Israel? (b) What did Jesus say about marriage and divorce at Matthew 19:4-9?

⁶ Although for a time God permitted the Israelites to practice polygamy, yet this was not God’s purpose for them, nor did he command them to adopt this practice. In instituting marriage in the first place God gave Adam only one wife. And so Jesus later said concerning the Jewish practice of polygamy and divorce: “‘Did you not read that he who created them at the beginning made them male and female and said: “For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh”? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together let no man put apart.’ They said to him: ‘Why, then, did Moses prescribe giving a certificate of dismissal and divorcing her?’ He said to them: ‘Moses, out of regard for your hardheartedness, made the concession to you of divorcing your wives, but such has not been the case from the beginning. I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except on the grounds of fornication and marries another commits adultery.’”—Matt. 19:4-9.

7. (a) With whom only may a man or woman have sexual relations? (b) What are the only grounds for divorce that permits remarriage?

⁷ The Bible principles in connection with marriage are really very simple. A Christian man may have only one living wife, and a Christian woman may have only one living husband. The man may have sexual relations only with his wife and with no other woman; the wife may have sexual relations only with her husband and with no other man. The two have become one flesh. If one of the marriage partners dies, then that, of course, ends the marriage and the remaining one may remarry. (Rom. 7:2, 3) But while the two are still living the only Scriptural grounds for divorce that allows remarriage is where either the man or the woman goes outside the limitations of marriage and has sexual relations with some other person, thus becoming one flesh with that other person, thereby committing adultery. For a married person to have sexual relations with any person other than his marriage partner is a violation of and a defiling of God’s law regarding marriage. (Heb. 13:4) Thus the Bible does not allow for a marriage being ended by a divorce for other reasons, such as a failure to bear children, difference in religion, sickness or disease, cruelty, and so forth. Where a person does obtain a divorce for any of these latter reasons he would not be Scripturally free to remarry and would therefore be committing adultery if he did so.

8. What course should be followed by unmarried persons or engaged couples?

⁸ Since the sexual relationship is permitted only in the marriage state, that means that unmarried persons may not indulge therein. Persons who have agreed to get married, that is, are engaged, must therefore guard their conduct and exercise proper restraint, waiting till after the marriage to enter into the intimate relationship that rightly belongs only to the marriage state. Any improper sexual relationship on the part of unmarried persons or single persons is fornication and is condemned by Jehovah God. That is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians who had turned their backs on the old world and its ways: “Let fornication and uncleanness of every kind . . . not even be mentioned among you . . . For you know this, . . . that no fornicator or unclean person or greedy person—which means being an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and of God.”—Eph. 5:3-5.

9. What has been the result of the lack of respect in this world for God’s principles of marriage? How does the New World society keep itself clean from wrong practices?

⁹ The lack of respect shown by this old world toward God’s righteous principles governing marriage has led to all kinds of troubles: broken marriages, broken homes, and children going bad because of lack of parental care and training and example. Those who wish to see life in God’s new world, where marriage will exist only in harmony with the divine law, cannot afford to copy the perverted ways of this world in this matter. Even now, while living in this world, those living for the new world need to follow Jehovah’s principles for marriage and moral behavior. That is why it is right and proper for Christian congregations to be alert to keep their association clean, expelling from their midst willful practicers of such wrongdoing.—1 Cor. 5:11, 13; 6:9, 10.

10. Why is it proper for a marriage to be legally registered?

¹⁰ Because of the seriousness of marriage and to guard against any abuse of its rights and privileges, it is proper that a marriage of a man and woman be properly registered and recognized by the community. In most countries a marriage must be registered with the local government authority and so become officially known, and the couple receive a certificate of marriage.

11. What is the basis for successful marriage, and what changes may be necessary if a family is to live together in harmony with Bible principles?

¹¹ The basis for successful marriage is love and not the selfish satisfaction of fleshly passion. In some communities it has been customary for the men to look down on the women as much inferior to them, even to the extent where a wife is looked on as more like some piece of property than as a helpmate and companion. Under such circumstances there is no sharing of life together in the way that God intended marriage to be. To conform to the requirements of New World living means a complete change in attitude toward marriage and the responsibilities to one’s marriage mate. The husband must recognize that his wife is not just a slave or house servant. She also can receive from Jehovah God the same blessings of life as he himself, and her worship and service are equally acceptable and pleasing to Him. As the man and his wife both come to learn of the New World hope they have something to share, something to work for together. The man will encourage his wife, talk with her of their hopes and their Christian work. Rather than a man’s neglecting his wife to be with his worldly friends, he will see the need to learn how to live with his wife and children as a family, training them at home in a study of the Bible and in the true worship of God. The wife, on the other hand, will show love and proper respect for her husband, co-operating with him in the rearing of the children in the “discipline and authoritative advice of Jehovah.” In this way the husband, the wife and the children are drawn close together in love and understanding, in kindness and helpfulness, living and working together for the new world.—Eph. 5:22, 23, 28, 33; 6:1-4.

12. Why is it necessary for Christians today to “put up a hard fight for the faith”?

¹² All kinds of immorality are today being practiced in this wicked world: loose sexual relations between young unmarried people, men and women who are married having sexual relations with others, and in some cases married couples even agreeing to exchange their wives and husbands to satisfy selfish desires. The minds of some are so perverted that they seek to deceive others into such wrong practices under the cloak of false religious teaching. All such things are wicked and they violate God’s principles of marriage. It is no wonder, then, that the apostle wrote that such people are “in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God . . . Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every kind with greediness.” (Eph. 4:18, 19) And the disciple Jude warns God’s people that some such men would even ‘slip in,’ “ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct.” And so Jude admonishes the Christians to whom he wrote “to put up a hard fight for the faith.”—Jude 3, 4.

13. Describe the conditions that will prevail on earth when wickedness is completely cleansed out of it.

¹³ What a blessed time it will be when the earth is cleansed once and for all time of such wrongdoing; when honesty and integrity and uprightness will flourish, and lying, stealing and deceit will be no more; when people will deal with one another with confidence and trust, not with doubt and suspicion; when, instead of the harsh sounds of anger, fighting and abusive speech, one will enjoy the calm, happy atmosphere of love, kindness and consideration; when family life will flourish in moral cleanness and the children be reared with affection and sound training to enjoy the blessings of a paradise earth! What a change that will be from the way the world is now! Describing that time, Revelation 21:3, 4 states: “Look! the tent of God is with humankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away.”

14, 15. (a) Why is it wise to choose to live now for the new world of God’s promise? (b) If we want to live for the new world, what commands should we obey as stated by Peter and Paul?

¹⁴ Do you not desire to live in such a world? If yes, then you will want to begin living for that new world now. What is there to gain by devoting all our time and energy to the things of this old world? The wise man Solomon answered that question: “For what does a man come to have for all his toil and for the striving of his heart with which he is toiling under the sun? For all his days his occupation means pains and vexation, also during the night his heart just does not lie down. This too is mere vanity.” (Eccl. 2:22, 23) Living for the new world does not result in vanity but brings the rewards of everlasting life in true contentment and happiness.

¹⁵ The time left for us to turn away from living according to the way of the nations and to live in accordance with the righteous principles of the new world is short. Of the one who wants to take this course the apostle Peter writes that he should “live the remainder of his time in the flesh, no more for the desires of men, but for God’s will.” That is a very positive command, but how many are carrying it out? Ask yourself, Am I? The apostle further emphasizes his instruction by saying: “For the time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations.” This is just the point that Paul was making in his letter to the Ephesians: “Keep strict watch that how you walk is not as unwise but as wise persons, buying out the opportune time for yourselves, because the days are wicked. On this account cease becoming unreasonable, but go on perceiving what the will of Jehovah is.”—1 Pet. 4:2, 3; Eph. 5:15-17.

HOW TO MAKE THE CHANGE TO NEW WORLD LIVING

16. How only can we learn to live for the new world and continue to keep doing so?

¹⁶ We cannot make this change from old-world living to New World living by just our own efforts. The apostle warns that we have a great adversary, Satan the Devil, who, along with his wicked spirit demons, is deceiving the nations and endeavoring to cause all to do what is bad, not what is good. To overcome all his deceptions and snares we need more than just a desire on our part to do what is right. We need Jehovah’s help, and this he supplies freely to those who really wish to worship and serve him. By means of his Word, the Bible, he provides accurate knowledge, and by studying the Bible we get to understand His will and purpose. By means of his holy spirit, which is God’s invisible active force, he strengthens us and gives us the power to do his will. By means of his visible organization among his faithful witnesses on earth he guides and directs us in how to use the knowledge gained in a practical way and brings us into unity with others now living for the new world. By diligently studying God’s Word, seeking the help of the holy spirit and His organization, we can put on “the complete suit of armor from God” and thus resist the wicked influence of Satan and of this evil world.—Eph. 6:10-18.

17. (a) Does living now for the new world free us from all obligations toward this present system of things? (b) What are some of the ways in which we follow the command of Jesus at Matthew 22:21 to “pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar”? (c) How do we render “God’s things to God”?

¹⁷ Our living for the new world does not mean that we are automatically freed from any obligation to the present arrangements of men in this world. A Christian receives many benefits from the services performed by human governments. For example, laws are made to restrain wicked people from harming others and damaging their property, and the police serve to apply these laws and protect the people from criminals and otherwise to keep order in the community. Hospitals, schools and other services are provided from which we all benefit. Because of such services the governments require the payment of taxes. Christians are peaceful, law-abiding, and pay their taxes. They do not try to cheat the governments of this world of what is rightly theirs. They follow the principle Jesus laid down at Matthew 22:21: “Pay back, therefore, Caesar’s things to Caesar.” In harmony with this principle, Jehovah’s witnesses, for example, follow the laws governing obtaining of property to build Kingdom Halls, or for holding large and orderly assemblies. However, they do not compromise by paying to Caesar what really belongs to God, but they pay back “God’s things to God.” That is why they hold fast to the Bible command to preach the good news of God’s kingdom even where communistic or totalitarian governments try to prohibit them, and they do not violate their Christian neutrality and so do not get involved in international or interracial quarrels of this old world. Above all, they give their worship exclusively to God, since that rightly belongs to him and not to men.—Acts 5:27-29.

18. (a) Even if we begin now to live for the new world, why is this no cause for boasting? (b) By our sincere efforts in seeking to do what is right we can give proof of what?

¹⁸ In living for the new world we are not to do so out of any pride or self-righteousness. It is not a matter of trying to prove that we are better or more righteous than others, so that we can boast. We should not measure what we are or what we are trying to do against what other imperfect men do. Rather, we should use as our measuring rod the perfect example of Christ Jesus, who always did his Father’s will and was perfect in his living for the new world. We fall very short of that standard, do we not? So we have nothing in ourselves in which to boast. We do not deserve the wonderful gift of everlasting life. Rather, everlasting life in the new world is a result of undeserved kindness from God. (Eph. 2:8-10) Though imperfect, we can demonstrate that we have the right kind of heart. By our whole-hearted support of Jehovah’s purposes and of his kingdom under Christ Jesus, and by our sincere efforts in seeking to practice righteousness now, we can show that we are the kind of people who appreciate God’s goodness and his principles of living, and that we will continue to do so when the New World conditions are fully in force on earth. It is so right now to “seek peace and pursue it. For Jehovah’s eyes are upon the righteous.” (1 Pet. 3:11, 12) That means being a Christian not in name only, nor just by membership in some organization, but rather being a genuine worshiper of God in spirit and truth.

19. What invitation is here extended to all lovers of righteousness?

¹⁹ Here, then, is a thrilling opportunity! We live now on the threshold of the new world of righteousness. Will you be one of those who will enter into its blessings of endless life? We hope so. Jehovah’s witnesses are very thankful to be able to share this happy prospect with you. They invite you to associate with them, to learn along with them the accurate knowledge of God’s will, to enjoy the same confident faith in the New World hope, yes, and to join with them in making public declaration of that hope to others. Make your life really worthwhile by living now for the new world!

“Easier to Join than Not to”

Said David W. Barry, executive director of New York City Mission Society: “Today there is little to distinguish a church member from a nonmember in most communities; membership is actively solicited and its requirements are not too heavy, so that it is often easier to join than not to join.”