Chapter 1

Making the Right Choice

1. What way of life would be truly satisfying?

A LIFE with true meaning​—how satisfying that can be! And especially if it holds promise of a secure and happy future. Can we personally choose such a way of life? There is sound reason for believing that we can.

2. With reference to life, why is there an urgency about making the right choice?

² It is essential, however, to make that choice without delay. For one thing, our human life-span covers at most only a few decades, and it holds many uncertainties. Who can count on being able to spend many years trying out first this approach to life and then that one, hoping eventually to find the best way? Choices made may seem good​—at the time. But how often do we hear it said: ‘If I could only do it all over again’? Not only this, but there is reason to believe that time is limited for the human race as a whole to find the way to make the right choice.

HELP IN FINDING THE WAY

3. Who can tell us about what makes life really meaningful, and why?

³ The question is, then, who can tell us just what will make our life really meaningful? Who can point us to a way that will result in no regrets, one that definitely assures a happy, secure future? Logically, should it not be the One who made mankind? Certainly our Creator knows the way of life that is best for us. And he reveals this to us in his inspired Word. But he does not force us to adopt it. Rather, he warmly appeals to people of all races to make a wise choice.

4. How has the Creator encouraged humans to make a wise choice respecting their life?

⁴ Centuries ago, he began using devoted, unselfish men and women to make this appeal. His own example in generously providing all that is needed for life adds force to his entreaty. God is truly interested in us​—all of us—​and is ready to help us. This was made clear in these inspired words of the apostle Paul directed to people in ancient Athens:

“The God that made the world and all the things in it, being, as this One is, Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade temples, neither is he attended to by human hands as if he needed anything, because he himself gives to all persons life and breath and all things. And he made out of one man every nation of men . . . for them to seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him, although, in fact, he is not far off from each one of us. For by him we have life and move and exist, even as certain ones of the poets among you have said, ‘For we are also his progeny.’”​—Acts 17:24-28.

5, 6. What choices have been set before mankind?

⁵ As the “offspring” of our Creator, what choice do we all face? The continuing words of the inspired address point to it, saying:

“Seeing, therefore, that we are the progeny of God, we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man. True, God has overlooked the times of such ignorance, yet now he is telling mankind that they should all everywhere repent. Because he has set a day in which he purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead.” (Acts 17:29-31)

In harmony with this, there basically are just two choices: People can choose to turn to the Most High and submit to his will; or they can choose to continue living a life that ignores him and his guidelines for happy living. What would our turning to God include?

⁶ Most importantly, it includes accepting the one through whom he “purposes to judge the inhabited earth in righteousness.” This is his own Son who, on earth, bore the name of Jesus. (John 5:22, 27) Why him? Because humankind is undeniably in bondage, in enslavement to imperfection, sin and death, and this one proved to be the long-awaited Messiah or Christ through whom the Most High purposes to bring freedom from that enslavement.​—Isaiah 53:7-12.

7. How is Jesus Christ involved in a person’s choosing the best way of life?

⁷ Here is what the Bible account shows: In the spring of 33 C.E., Jesus died on an executional stake. His death provided the needed sacrifice to atone for our sins. (1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2) Forty days after being raised from the dead, he ascended to the heavens, there to present the value of his sacrifice to the Father. From then on, mankind everywhere needed to learn that freedom from sin and death could be gained only by accepting Jesus as God’s appointed Savior. “There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” (Acts 4:12) Hence, the desirable course of life is that which gains for us an approved standing with God as followers of his Son, yes, as genuine Christians.

THE BENEFITS THAT COME FROM SUCH A LIFE

8. Why does a person’s professing to be a Christian not necessarily mean that he has found the best way of life?

⁸ Hundreds of millions today claim to be Christians. Does this mean that they have found the best way of life? No, for the mere profession of being Christian does not guarantee such a life. In fact, Jesus said that many would claim him as their Lord but that he would say to them: “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23) If we profess to be Christians, we have good reason to examine whether we genuinely conform to the example and teaching of God’s Son. This gives rise to the question, What should we expect to see about the way in which genuine Christians live that makes it the best course of life even now? The answer to this question is basic in determining what group among the many professed believers in Jesus Christ represents his true congregation.

9. What quality identifies the true Christian congregation, and how is this quality expressed?

⁹ The Son of God said: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) The true Christian congregation, therefore, must be an international brotherhood, free from racial, national, tribal, social and economic barriers. In that brotherhood, wherever we may go on earth, we should be able to find loyal friends, persons in whom we can confide and to whom we can entrust our belongings. Though not even being acquainted with us personally, they would show greater concern and affection for us than many of our own relatives would. (Mark 10:29, 30) To millions of professing Christians, it may sound unbelievable that such an international brotherhood exists. But many thousands of Jehovah’s Witnesses can testify to the fact that they have experienced true brotherly affection.

10. How does copying the example of Jesus Christ contribute to our enjoying good relations with others?

¹⁰ Who would not agree that enjoying good relations also with family members, neighbors and fellow workers contributes tremendously to our personal happiness? Jesus Christ lived and taught the way of love. This way builds good relations with others, for “love does not work evil to one’s neighbor.” (Romans 13:8-10) Then, too, when we treat others with kindness, compassion and love, we make it easier for them to display those desirable qualities toward us.

11. How do the Bible’s guidelines protect us from harming ourselves?

¹¹ Bible guidelines can shield us from harming ourselves. Surely we should expect this from the best way of life. Following the Bible’s moral standards protects us from the emotional hurts and fears that inevitably accompany illicit relationships. (Proverbs 5:3-11, 18; Matthew 5:27, 28; Hebrews 13:4) Living as devoted disciples of Jesus Christ gives us the needed strength to stay away from heavy drinking, overeating, drug abuse, gambling and other vices. (Proverbs 23:29, 30; Isaiah 65:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Corinthians 7:1) Resources formerly wasted on such habits can be used to benefit others, resulting in our experiencing the superior happiness that comes from wholehearted giving. (Acts 20:35) Following the Bible’s counsel to avoid bitter resentment and envy actually promotes better health.​—Psalm 37:1-5; Proverbs 14:30.

12. Despite our imperfections, how can we continue to have a clean conscience?

¹² All of us, of course, at one time or another fall short of being the kind of person we would like to be. Either in word or in deed, we may hurt others. The fact that we are imperfect humans is painfully brought home to us. Yet, when we humbly ask God for forgiveness, he grants this to us on the basis of our heartfelt sorrow and our faith in the atoning benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice. (1 John 2:1, 2) That is why we can continue to enjoy a clean conscience. We do not fear to approach God for help with any matter, confident that he will, by means of his spirit, aid us in dealing successfully with our problems and trials.​—1 John 3:19-22.

13. What is the situation of those who have little regard for the Creator’s Word?

¹³ What of persons who choose to live a life that shows little concern for the Creator’s Word? They bear their problems and afflictions alone. Aside from the possibility of enjoying a few years of life now, they have no real hope for the future. As death approaches, they often experience a fearful expectation of possible punishment from a higher power.

14. To what event do genuine disciples of Jesus Christ look forward with keen anticipation?

¹⁴ How different it is with genuine disciples of Jesus Christ! They do not fear a future day of reckoning. Rather, with eager anticipation, they look forward to Jesus Christ’s coming in glory as a victorious king who will deliver them from all injustices and oppression and then extend his rule to every part of the earth. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation 19:11-16; compare Psalm 72:8.) Yes, a grand future lies ahead. What will then be enjoyed?

A SUPERIOR HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

15, 16. What glorious future is in store for faithful servants of God?

¹⁵ The Bible answers: “There are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell.” (2 Peter 3:13) “[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Not even death can prevent the realization of this future, for the Creator of life can also resurrect the dead. And he will do so by means of his Son.​—John 5:28, 29.

¹⁶ What can the fulfillment of the divine promises mean for you? Think of living under the flawless rulership of Jesus Christ among persons who genuinely care for you, who gladly put your interests ahead of their own. With all obeying the supreme law of love, there will be no crime, no injustice, no oppression. You will disappoint neither yourself nor others. Mental anguish over uncertainties or grave dangers will be unknown. The depression, emptiness and loneliness that have made life bitter for millions will be no more. The groaning due to great physical pain will never be heard. Tears of sorrow will not fill the eyes of anyone. Not even death will harm you, cutting short your activities or tearing loved ones away from you.​—Isaiah 25:6-8; 65:17.

17. Why is the life of those who make no room for the Creator not truly meaningful?

¹⁷ Contrast this with what people have who, even though not being morally corrupt, make no room for the Creator in their lives. They may have the honor and the material possessions that they desire, perhaps find a measure of satisfaction in helping the needy and enjoy cultural activities and wholesome pleasures. Yet, they must admit the inescapable fact that nothing in this world has any real permanence. No one is immune to accidents, disease or death. Possessions will neither protect against these things nor can they be taken along when life ends. (Psalm 49:6-20; Ecclesiastes 5:13-15; 8:8) Well-meaning efforts to help fellow humans may come to frustration because of unfavorable circumstances. So it might well be asked: How meaningful can a life be if the ultimate future it offers is just the grave? How can it be good if it actually works against a person’s eternal future?​—Compare Ecclesiastes 1:11, 15, 18; 2:10, 11; 9:11, 12.

A TIME FOR CHOOSING

18. (a) Why should we not delay in making the right choice respecting our life? (b) How is our position like that of the patriarch Noah?

¹⁸ Especially since there is to be a day of reckoning, it is imperative for people everywhere to choose a way of life that will bring rewards, not condemnation. There is an urgency about making this choice. We do not know what tomorrow may bring. Additionally, the coming of Jesus Christ to extend his royal rule over the whole earth is drawing ever closer. The position of mankind is like that of the patriarch Noah in the days before the global deluge. He had two choices: (1) adopting the lawless ways of his contemporaries or (2) submitting to God’s will. Happily, Noah made the right choice. He built an ark and, with seven members of his family, entered it at divine direction. These eight members of the human family survived the flood, and that is why we are alive today.​—1 Peter 3:20.

19. What does 1 Peter 3:21, 22 reveal about salvation?

¹⁹ Similarly, for us, one of the requirements for gaining everlasting life is to make a commitment to serve Jehovah God as disciples of Jesus Christ. Just as there was no salvation outside the ark, for us there is no salvation apart from God’s provision through his Son, Jesus Christ. After referring to the deliverance experienced by the eight humans in the ark, the Christian apostle Peter wrote:

“That which corresponds to this is also now saving you, namely, baptism, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the request made to God for a good conscience,) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is at God’s right hand, for he went his way to heaven; and angels and authorities and powers were made subject to him.”​—1 Peter 3:21, 22.

20. What shows that water baptism alone is not enough for one to gain everlasting life?

²⁰ It is not water baptism alone that results in salvation. While water can wash away filth or dirt, it is “not the putting away of the filth of the flesh” by a solemn external washing that saves. Note that Peter said that salvation is “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Hence, the individual who is baptized needs to acknowledge that everlasting life is only possible because the Son of God died a sacrificial death, was resurrected on the third day and finally was exalted to the right hand of God.​—Romans 10:9, 10.

21. How does a person get a “good conscience”?

²¹ Furthermore, the apostle Peter put the emphasis on a “request made to God for a good conscience.” To come into possession of such a good conscience, all who wish to get baptized first need to repent of their past wrongdoing, exercise faith in God’s provision for everlasting life, turn around from a bad course and dedicate or commit themselves fully to the doing of the divine will. Baptism is the public symbol of this inward resolve. After following through on what Jehovah God now requires, the baptized disciple comes into possession of a good conscience. As long as he maintains that good conscience he is in a saved condition. God’s adverse judgment will not be expressed against him.​—Compare Acts 2:38-40; 3:19; 10:34-48.

22. How can we benefit from the two inspired letters of the apostle Peter?

²² The sooner persons choose this superior way of life, the sooner they will begin to reap its benefits. Once the choice is made to conform to God’s will and submit to water baptism in symbol of our commitment or dedication, we certainly want to stick faithfully to that decision. But what will help us to continue choosing to pursue this way of life? How can we resist the influences that could result in our losing out on the present and future blessings associated with being genuine disciples of God’s Son? Long ago, the inspired apostle Peter provided excellent answers to these questions. His two letters constitute the basis for what is presented in this publication. It is hoped that, by our examining these letters, we will be encouraged to embrace the best way of life as servants of God and to keep on enjoying this course of life in fuller measure.

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Chapter 2

Encouraging Aid to Stick to Our Decision

1, 2. (a) How did Jesus Christ illustrate the importance of sticking to our decision to serve God? (b) Why is it unwise to disregard Jesus’ counsel?

“NO MAN that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62) To plow effectively, to make the furrows line up, a plowman has to keep his eyes on a fixed point at the other end of the field. How much more important it is to keep our eyes on our life’s goal! Then the precious days and years of our life-span will display a pattern that is consistent with the goal for which we are aiming.

² The words of God’s Son quoted above show that, once we make a commitment to serve our Creator, we should be determined to stick to that decision, come what may. The world may offer what seems to be a more alluring course​—the pursuit of pleasures, popularity or material possessions. But to look back longingly to any of these things​—worse, to let them become the focal point of our lives—​could mean the loss of the prize we seek. It could result in a wasted life.

3. What is a basic objective of our faith?

³ “Better is the end afterward of a matter than its beginning,” says Ecclesiastes 7:8. So, while making a start in our chosen course is essential, it is the finish that really counts. That is why, in God’s Word, so much stress is placed on proving faithful to the end. (Matthew 24:13) Our faith has as a basic objective, purpose or goal, the securing of salvation or everlasting life.​—1 Peter 1:9.

4. (a) To remain faithful, what view of salvation is important? (b) What does 1 Peter 1:10-12 tell us about the interest of the prophets in the divine arrangement for salvation?

⁴ What can help us to persevere as loyal disciples of God’s Son? For one thing, we need to see clearly, feel deeply, the precious worth of the salvation we seek. The inspired words of the apostle Peter, a close associate of Jesus Christ, can greatly aid us in this regard. His admonition can help us to see that our final salvation is something for which we should gladly endure all the pressure of opposition, no matter how severe. It is something for which we should be willing to work, to sacrifice, yes, to die if need be. (Luke 14:26-33) At 1 Peter 1:10-12, the apostle writes:

“Concerning this very salvation a diligent inquiry and a careful search were made by the prophets who prophesied about the undeserved kindness meant for you. They kept on investigating what particular season or what sort of season the spirit in them was indicating concerning Christ when it was bearing witness beforehand about the sufferings for Christ and about the glories to follow these. It was revealed to them that, not to themselves, but to you, they were ministering the things that have now been announced to you through those who have declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent forth from heaven.”

A MATTER OF INTENSE INTEREST TO PROPHETS

5. What did the prophets foretell about Messiah’s sufferings?

⁵ Centuries before Jesus’ days on earth, the Hebrew prophets were inspired to foretell the suffering that would befall the promised Messiah or Christ. The prophecy of Daniel specified the time for the arrival of the Christ and indicated that he would be cut off in death after a ministry of three and a half years. (Daniel 9:24-27) From Isaiah’s prophecy we learn that the Messiah would be rejected and come to be a stone of stumbling. (Isaiah 8:14, 15; 28:16; 53:3) That prophecy also showed that he would carry the sicknesses of the people, be tried and condemned but remain silent before his accusers, would be spit on, numbered with sinners, pierced, die a sacrificial death and carry away sins in order to pave the way for many to gain a righteous standing with God. (Isaiah 50:6; 53:4-12) The prophecy of Zechariah pointed to Messiah’s being betrayed for 30 silver pieces. (Zechariah 11:12) And the prophet Micah foretold that the Christ, the “judge of Israel,” would be struck on the cheek.​—Micah 5:1.

6. What details about Messiah’s sufferings are set forth in the Psalms?

⁶ Among the statements in the Psalms applying to Jesus Christ are the following: He would be betrayed by an intimate associate. (Psalm 41:9) Rulers, supported by their subjects, would range themselves up against him. (Psalm 2:1, 2) The Jewish religious builders would reject him. (Psalm 118:22) False witnesses would testify against the Messiah. (Psalm 27:12) On arriving at the place of execution, he would be offered a stupefying drink. (Psalm 69:21a) Those fastening him to the stake would be ‘at his hands and his feet’ like wild beasts. (Psalm 22:16) Lots would be cast over his garments. (Psalm 22:18) His enemies would mock him with the words: “He committed himself to Jehovah. Let Him provide him with escape! Let him deliver him, since he has taken delight in him!” (Psalm 22:8) Suffering from great thirst, he would ask for a drink and be offered sour wine. (Psalms 22:15; 69:21b) Just before his death, he would cry out: “My God, my God, why have you left me?”​—Psalm 22:1.

7. What do the prophecies reveal about the “glories to follow” Christ’s sufferings?

⁷ As Peter points out, the prophets were also inspired to speak of the ‘glories that would follow’ Messiah’s suffering. By God’s majestic power, this faithful Son would be raised from the dead. (Psalm 16:8-10) On his ascension to heaven, he would be seated at God’s right hand, waiting until his enemies would be placed as a stool for his feet. (Psalm 110:1) He would occupy the position of an everlasting priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4) His Father, “the Ancient of Days,” would grant him kingly authority. (Daniel 7:13, 14) The time would finally come for God’s anointed one to dash to pieces all nations opposing his rulership. (Psalm 2:9) He would then exercise dominion over the whole earth.​—Psalm 72:7, 8; Zechariah 9:9, 10.

8. How did the prophets show intense interest in what they wrote, and why did they do so?

⁸ Yes, the prophecies provided splendid foregleams of the Messiah’s role in the divine arrangement for salvation or liberation from sin and death. His faithfulness under suffering, his death, resurrection and ascension to heaven as a glorious spirit person​—all of these were needed for individuals to receive the foretold “undeserved kindness,” including forgiveness of sins and total reconciliation with Jehovah God as his sons. The prophets themselves could not fully understand how salvation would come through the Messiah. Nonetheless, as the apostle Peter shows, they were intensely interested in the things that they had recorded. They diligently examined the prophetic words, repeatedly studying their own prophecies to discover the significance of what they had been inspired to write. Recognizing that there were marvelous truths incorporated in the revelations that they had received, the prophets used their mental faculties to the full in an effort to gain the greatest benefit from the God-given predictions. This was despite the fact that it was not until the coming of the Messiah that individuals could be recipients of the foretold unmerited kindness. Nevertheless, what the prophets understood was enough to sustain them and it also incited them to want to know still more. They were especially interested in knowing about the conditions that would exist at the time of Messiah’s appearance, yes, in what “sort of season” he would undergo the foretold suffering and then experience exaltation.

9. Who especially benefited from the prophecies about the Messiah?

⁹ As Peter made clear, the Hebrew prophets came to understand that the Messianic prophecies were not primarily recorded for their profit but for the benefit of those who would actually be living at the time of Messiah’s appearance. (1 Peter 1:12) Regarding the revelations that he received, the prophet Daniel admitted: “I heard, but I could not understand.” (Daniel 12:8) However, persons who accepted the “good news” that was proclaimed in the first century C.E. were the ones who profited fully from the inspired words about Messiah’s first coming. It was to them that the prophets were actually ministering.​—Matthew 13:16, 17.

10. How should we be affected by the interest that the Hebrew prophets showed in salvation, and why?

¹⁰ How, then, should our knowing about the intense interest of the prophets affect us? It should make us examine ourselves to see whether we have the same concern about salvation. Is our remaining approved servants of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ the main object in life? Are we truly intense about this matter? Certainly, we have good reason to be totally absorbed in proving ourselves to be loyal disciples of God’s Son. The Messiah came centuries ago. His sacrificial death provided the very basis for salvation and made certain the fulfillment of every single promise of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20) The passage of time in no way weakens the certainty of the fulfillment of the divine promises. Rather, it confirms that God’s desire is for as many as possible to gain salvation. (1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 3:9) So, with confidence, we can look forward to inheriting the blessings that the Most High has in store for faithful ones.

WHY ANGELS ARE INTERESTED

11. According to 1 Peter 1:12, how intense is the interest of the angels in the divine arrangement for salvation?

¹¹ The example of the angels should also serve to encourage us to do our utmost to remain in God’s favor. Though having no personal need for the divine arrangement of salvation, faithful angels take a real interest in the outworking of God’s grand purpose for humankind. The apostle Peter wrote: “Into these very things [that occupied the attention of the Hebrew prophets] angels are desiring to peer.” (1 Peter 1:12) Yes, before the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth, the angels were desirous of knowing more about Christ’s sufferings, the “glories to follow these” and the impact of the “good news” on humankind. The apostle Peter could speak of them as “desiring to peer” into these matters. In the original Greek, the expression “to peer” suggests a stooping down with a view to scrutinizing an object more closely. But why were the angels so keenly interested in making a careful examination of Jehovah God’s revelation about salvation? As perfect spirit persons, why should the provisions for sinful, earthly humans particularly concern them?

12, 13. How might we explain the great interest of the angels in the salvation of mankind?

¹² Since the angels are not all-knowing, they doubtless increase their knowledge by studiously considering God’s dealings and revelations. The arrangement for the redemption of the human race truly furnished a marvelous example of Jehovah’s love, justice, mercy and wisdom. Hence, by occupying themselves with gaining greater understanding of Jehovah’s arrangement for saving sinful mankind, the angels would come to appreciate their heavenly Father even more. They would learn things about his personality and ways that could not be discerned from a study or an examination of any other development in the universe.​—Compare Ephesians 3:8-10.

¹³ Furthermore, the angels have a “fondness” for the human race. (Compare Proverbs 8:22-31.) They want to see mankind reconciled with the heavenly Father, Jehovah. That is why Jesus Christ could say: “Joy arises among the angels of God over one sinner that repents.”​—Luke 15:10.

14. (a) What should the attitude of the angels toward our salvation help us to do? (b) What counsel of the apostle Peter should we keep in mind in order to remain faithful servants of God?

¹⁴ Yes, millions of angels rejoiced when we ourselves came to repentance. They are very much interested in seeing us maintain faithfulness to the very end. In effect, they are ‘cheering us on.’ May we not let our vision of the great heavenly host that have deep concern and affection for us become dim. Surely we want their joy respecting us to continue. This requires that we heed Peter’s admonition: “Hence brace up your minds for activity, keep your senses completely; set your hope upon the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”​—1 Peter 1:13.

BRACING UP OUR MINDS FOR ACTIVITY

15. How are we to understand Peter’s admonition to ‘brace up our minds for activity’?

¹⁵ What does it mean for us to ‘brace up the mind for activity’? A literal translation of the apostle Peter’s words would be: “Gird up the loins of your mind.” In the days of the apostle, men wore long robes. When working or engaging in vigorous activity such as running, a man would pull up the robe between his legs and fasten it securely by means of a girdle. “To gird up the loins” meant to be prepared for activity. For us to ‘gird up the loins of the mind’ would, therefore, signify having our mental faculties in a state of preparedness for discharging our Christian obligations and for bearing up under whatever trial may befall us.

16. How can we show that we are ‘keeping our senses completely’?

¹⁶ With our mental powers in a state of readiness to continue in faithful service to God, we would certainly be ‘keeping our senses completely.’ We would be balanced in our thinking, able to evaluate matters properly. Our life would show that we have our faculties in control and are not yielding to the allurements of a world alienated from Jehovah God. (1 John 2:16) Foremost in our lives would be the doing of what is pleasing in the eyes of our heavenly Father and his Son.

17. (a) What is the “undeserved kindness” that will be brought to believers? (b) How do we ‘set our hope on the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ’?

¹⁷ To ‘brace up our minds for activity and to keep our senses completely,’ we must ‘set our hope on the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ.’ At the time that the Lord Jesus Christ comes in glory, all those with the heavenly hope who have remained his devoted disciples will become sharers in divine undeserved kindness. (1 Corinthians 1:4-9) Not only will these spirit-begotten disciples experience refreshing relief from the suffering that they have undergone at the hands of wicked men; but also those Christians with the hope of an earthly paradise will be preserved alive through the “great tribulation” that follows Christ’s coming and have before them the prospect of unending earthly life. Indeed, we have good reason to keep ever before us the fulfillment of our Christian hopes, looking forward with eagerness to our being recipients of divine favor. Our confidence in the sure fulfillment of these hopes can spur us on in remaining loyal to our heavenly Father and his Son. May we set our sights firmly on the blessings that Christ’s coming in glory will bring for his faithful followers.​—Matthew 25:31-46.

PROVING OURSELVES GOD’S OBEDIENT CHILDREN

18. How do we show ourselves to be “obedient children”?

¹⁸ In harmony with these hopes, our attitude should be that of “obedient children.” The apostle Peter continued: “As obedient children, quit being fashioned according to the desires you formerly had in your ignorance.” (1 Peter 1:14) As children who respect and love their heavenly Father, we should want to submit ourselves joyfully to his requirements, appreciating that this is the right thing to do. No longer do we want to conduct our affairs of life in the manner to which we were accustomed before becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. In our ignorance of God’s commands, we may have indulged our sinful passions, selfishly put our own interests first to the hurt of others, or centered our lives around gaining material possessions, popularity or authority. To a large extent, we patterned our lives in harmony with the attitudes, words and actions of those around us. We now know that such a way of life that ignores God is empty, meaningless.

19. As illustrated by the Mosaic law, what is included in being “holy”?

¹⁹ To enjoy a richness of life, we need to imitate Jehovah God, who is holy, clean or pure. Is our imitating our heavenly Father limited to formal worship? Note that the apostle Peter says: “In accord with the Holy One who called you, do you also become holy yourselves in all your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15) Then he quoted from Leviticus 19:2, which reads: “You should prove yourselves holy, because I Jehovah your God am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) These words in Leviticus appear in a setting that outlines what Jehovah God required of the Israelites in conducting both their formal worship and their regular daily affairs. Included among these requirements for holy conduct are: Proper regard for parents, honesty, consideration for the deaf, the blind and other afflicted ones, not harboring grudges but loving one’s fellowman, refraining from slander and from bearing false witness, and rendering justice. (Leviticus 19:3, 9-18) Really, then, no aspect of life is exempted from the requirement to be holy or pure from Jehovah’s standpoint.

“CONDUCT YOURSELVES WITH FEAR”

20. What should we keep in mind about judgment, and how should this affect our conduct?

²⁰ Another powerful reason for living up to our dedication to God is found in the apostle Peter’s next words: “Furthermore, if you are calling upon the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your alien residence.” (1 Peter 1:17) We should never lose sight of the fact that our heavenly Father, by means of his Son, will judge us. That judgment will not be influenced by outward appearances but will be impartial, in harmony with what we really are as persons. (Isaiah 11:2-4) So, if we acknowledge the Most High as our Father, we will want to conduct ourselves in such a way that he can look upon us with approval, rendering a favorable judgment toward us. We would rightly continue pursuing a course of life that reflects a healthy and reverential fear of Jehovah God.

21. How do we show that we view our being in this world as a time of “alien residence”?

²¹ Then, too, we need to appreciate that the world and what it has to offer are temporary. We are to think of ourselves as being in an “alien residence.” It is essential for us to guard against attaching ourselves to anything in this world as if it were going to continue forever. Even the once luxurious palaces of the kings of ancient Assyria, Babylon and Persia no longer provide a comfortable home for anyone; they lie in ruins. No architectural work, no product of modern engineering and technology, no painting, no sculpture, no single item manufactured by man can remain unchanged for all eternity. True, we must live in this world that is alienated from God, and we cannot “emigrate” from it. (1 Corinthians 5:9, 10) But we do not want to feel really ‘at home’ in the present arrangement of things. No, for we are looking forward to something far better, to the coming “new heavens and a new earth” of God’s making. (2 Peter 3:13) Our journey through life in the world is a ‘time of alien residence,’ and our attitudes, words and actions should demonstrate that this is the case.​—Compare Hebrews 11:13-16.

A PRECIOUS PRICE WAS PAID

22, 23. Why should we feel forever indebted to Jehovah God and Jesus Christ?

²² Further emphasizing the importance of our continuing to be holy, devoted servants of Jehovah God, the apostle Peter writes: “For you know that it was not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, that you were delivered from your fruitless form of conduct received by tradition from your forefathers. But it was with precious blood, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, even Christ’s.” (1 Peter 1:18, 19) Having been redeemed from the condemnation of sin and death, we are under obligation to Jehovah God who made the arrangement for our being ransomed. Suppose a large amount of silver or gold had been paid to ransom us from death. Would we not feel deeply indebted to the one who made such a major material sacrifice in our behalf?

²³ How much greater, then, is our indebtedness to Jehovah God and to Jesus Christ! The ransom price paid was far more valuable than any material treasure that can be lost, stolen or destroyed. Its value is greater than all the silver and gold found on earth today. The precious blood of the sinless Son of God is the valuable ransom price that was paid. It is the lifeblood of someone who had the right to live forever and, hence, of one who did much more than give up his life prematurely, as other men have done for what they thought to be a noble cause. The payment of this ransom price also provided the basis, as Peter says, for our being ‘delivered from our fruitless form of conduct received by tradition from our forefathers.’ How so?

24. Before we became disciples of Jesus Christ, how may our conduct have been “fruitless”?

²⁴ When we accepted the fact of our having been ransomed or bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we abandoned our former course of life. Without knowledge of Jehovah God or his purposes, our life had been “fruitless,” vain, empty, in that it revolved exclusively around the attainment of things that had no permanence. The way we conducted ourselves may even have harmed us mentally, physically and emotionally. Moreover, our parents and grandparents may have been unacquainted with the Holy Scriptures. Therefore, the standards and principles by which they conducted their affairs of life may not have been in harmony with the divine will. They may even have engaged in God-dishonoring religious practices. Thus, even the “tradition” we may have received from our ancestors respecting conduct did not lead to our enjoying a purposeful life.​—Compare Matthew 15:3-9.

25. How can the words of 1 Peter 1:10-19 provide strong encouragement for us to remain faithful to Jehovah God and our Lord Jesus Christ?

²⁵ Surely, the words of the apostle Peter are a real encouragement for us to stick to our commitment to serve Jehovah God as devoted disciples of Jesus Christ. Never should we allow ourselves to forget about the keen interest that the Hebrew prophets and the angels showed in the divine revelations concerning salvation. May we keep ever before us the certainty of God’s judgment, the fulfillment of our hope at the revelation of Jesus Christ, the importance of being clean in all our conduct because Jehovah’s holiness requires it, and the fact that the period of our life in this world is but a time of alien residence. Above all, may we never, no, never, lose sight of the fact that we have been ransomed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ!

26. How do the things this world can offer compare with what we gain from serving Jehovah?

²⁶ When compared with the blessings that come from serving the Most High, the showy things of this world are really refuse. (1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Philippians 3:7, 8) No amount of money can buy a clean conscience, a meaningful life now and an abiding future of happy living. But faithful service to God does bring such blessings. What powerful reasons we have for making this our chief concern in life!

Chapter 3

A Hope with a Sure Guarantee

1-3. (a) Why is mere belief in the existence of God not enough for us to have divine approval? (b) According to Hebrews 11:6, what must we believe, and why is this important?

MANY people claim to believe that God exists. But to live in a way that meets divine approval requires far more than this. We need to be firmly convinced that what may come to us in the way of suffering is as nothing when compared with the grand blessings the Almighty God will bestow on his servants.

² For this reason, just to serve our Creator out of a sense of duty because of his being our Life-Giver is not sufficient either. A mere sense of duty is not strong enough to keep us faithful in view of all the trials we might face​—physical and verbal abuse, sickness, disappointments, economic hardships. Only an intense, unbreakable love for our heavenly Father could do that.

³ To have that kind of love for God, we must believe that he himself is loving, good, generous. The Bible shows that such faith is absolutely essential for Christians. It says: “He that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Any minimizing of God’s promise to bless his servants actually distorts our knowledge of him. It may hinder us from recognizing Jehovah as a God who deeply appreciates the fine works of his people. (Hebrews 6:10) On the other hand, our firm conviction that the Most High is a rewarder creates within us an appreciative response, stirring us to want to please him.

‘SAFEGUARDED FOR SALVATION’

4. How does Jehovah God help us to secure salvation, and so what should we be doing?

⁴ Of course, we do not earn salvation by our service to God, such as by maintaining fine conduct and aiding others spiritually and materially. Our heavenly Father himself has made all the provisions for our gaining everlasting life, and he helps us to do his will and to receive that blessing. Our God-given hope, therefore, encourages us to submit ourselves fully to divine direction. Total confidence in Jehovah as a rewarder enables us to continue cooperating with him in making us genuine, fully developed Christians. (Ephesians 4:13-15) True, such active cooperation with our Maker demands that we exert ourselves to control our sinful tendencies. But he is the One who, by means of his spirit, really makes our spiritual growth possible. The following words of the apostle Peter beautifully emphasize God’s part in securing the fulfillment of our Christian hope:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance. It is reserved in the heavens for you, who are being safeguarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last period of time.”​—1 Peter 1:3-5.

5. Why did first-century Christians have good reason to bless Jehovah?

⁵ The Christians to whom these words were directed had good reason to bless Jehovah God, and also to speak well of him or to praise him. They had been brought forth as children of the Most High by a second birth, as it were. (John 1:12, 13; 3:5-8) This “new birth” came about through the operation of the holy spirit toward them. It was not as a result of any special merit on their part that they were constituted sons of God. But it was because of the divine mercy or compassion expressed in their being forgiven of their sins. On becoming children of the Almighty, these disciples of Jesus Christ were also made heirs.

6. What are some aspects that make the Christian hope a “living” one?

⁶ As heirs, they had the hope of receiving an inheritance. That hope, as Peter shows, is a “living hope.” It is “living” in more than one way. Like God’s message or word, which is “alive and exerts power,” the hope is living and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12) Primarily, this is because it is a hope divinely given by the living and eternal God, and it is centered in his Son who ‘dies no more.’ The Son has the power of an indestructible life and is able to save completely those putting their trust in him. (Jeremiah 10:10; Habakkuk 1:12; Hebrews 7:16, 25; 1 Peter 1:23) Jesus Christ is himself the “living bread” sent by God and “if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” (John 6:50, 51, 57) The Son gives “living water” that becomes in those receiving it a “fountain of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life.” (John 4:10, 14) So, too, the “living hope” given as a result of the “new birth” is capable of carrying its possessors onward to the realization of their reward and life eternal.

7. How does the “living hope” affect its possessors?

⁷ There is vitality in that hope. It is an invigorating, energizing force in the life of those cherishing it. This hope affects their whole life, makes itself evident in the way they use their life. Like true faith, such a hope cannot be dead, with no fruitage, no activity to demonstrate its existence. (James 2:14-26) It is a spirited hope that enlivens us, and we are encouraged, supported and strengthened by its comfort and by its unshakable certainty of fulfillment.

8. Because it is a “living hope,” what can be said about its being fulfilled?

⁸ Far different, then, from the hopes of those putting their trust in imperfect, dying men, this hope is not a dead hope that will come to disappointment because of lacking any solid basis. It cannot fail to be realized. Jehovah’s unchangeable promise, coupled with his matchless power to fulfill it, serves as a sure foundation for the Christian hope.​—Compare Isaiah 55:10, 11; Hebrews 6:13-20.

9. What has made this “living hope” possible?

⁹ The apostle Peter links this “living hope” with “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” When God’s Son was impaled on the stake and his disciples saw him die, their hope virtually died with him. But when the evidence of his resurrection reached them, their hope was revived, took on new life, ‘caught fire’ and impelled them to bear witness. (Luke 24:13-34; Acts 4:20) Because he was raised to spirit life, the Son of God could present the value of his sacrifice, the redemption price, to the Father. Had Jesus Christ not been resurrected, no one could have been redeemed from sin and death. (1 Corinthians 15:14-19) Apart from his resurrection, there could have been no “living hope.”

10. Why could Peter refer to the inheritance as being ‘incorruptible, undefiled and unfading’?

¹⁰ The grand inheritance to which the apostle Peter and his fellow believers looked forward is ‘incorruptible, undefiled and unfading.’ Being incorruptible, it cannot be destroyed or damaged in any way. No defilement or pollution could become attached to it, for it cannot be obtained through any scheming, deceit or other lawless means. That wonderful inheritance will never fall into the hands of unprincipled men. Furthermore, unlike lovely flowers that soon lose their beauty and brilliance, throughout all eternity the inheritance will never fade in its grandeur and attractiveness.

11. Why is the “inheritance” secure?

¹¹ According to Peter’s words, the promised inheritance is “reserved in the heavens.” It is sure for Christ’s joint heirs. There in the heavens, it is more thoroughly protected and preserved than in any bank vault, because the invisible heavens are the permanent abiding place of the eternal God, Jehovah. (Psalms 103:19; 115:3, 16; Matthew 5:11, 12) Furthermore, the apostle Peter pointed out that the Almighty would help them to receive their inheritance. The Most High, by means of his spirit, would exercise his “power” toward them, aiding them to remain acceptable before him, protecting their life interests. As a result, “in the last period of time,” they would not share in the condemnatory judgment passed on faithless ones but would be saved for everlasting life.

12. How will Jehovah God “safeguard” us for salvation?

¹² Like first-century Christians, all believers today can be confident that Jehovah God will safeguard them for salvation. By means of his holy spirit, he initially made it possible for us to have faith and, by the same spirit, he will continue to strengthen our faith. This faith can carry us through all manner of trials successfully. (1 John 5:4) Do we not have sound reasons, then, to be thankful for what Jehovah God continues to do in aiding us to secure everlasting life? Indeed, and especially when we consider that this is not due to any merit on our part but because of Jehovah’s great mercy.

DEATH CANNOT PREVENT THE REALIZATION OF OUR HOPE

13. What guarantees that our Christian hope rests on a solid foundation?

¹³ Not even death can prevent our seeing the fulfillment of our Christian hope. What our heavenly Father did in connection with his Son provides a sure, unfailing guarantee that our hope rests on a firm basis. The apostle Peter wrote:

“True, he [God’s Son] was foreknown before the founding of the world, but he was made manifest at the end of the times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, the one who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.”​—1 Peter 1:20, 21.

14. How was Jesus Christ “foreknown before the founding of the world” and “made manifest at the end of the times”?

¹⁴ Before Adam and Eve founded a world of mankind by having children, Jehovah God determined that his only-begotten Son would be the one to redeem the human race from enslavement to sin and death. (Compare Genesis 3:15; 4:1, 2; Luke 11:49-51.) With the coming of the Messiah, the Jewish system of things, including its priesthood, sacrifices and temple services, entered its last days. Messiah’s arrival did mark the start of a new epoch in human history. Therefore, the apostle Peter spoke of Christ’s being “made manifest at the end of the times.”

15. Why could Peter say that Jesus Christ was made manifest “for the sake of you who through him are believers in God”?

¹⁵ But why did the apostle say that God’s Son was made manifest “for the sake of you who through him are believers in God”? Before Jesus came to the earth, no one could take advantage of the redemptive work that he would accomplish. Only in the first century could believers start doing so. By exercising faith in the Christ, these believers were also putting faith in the Father, the One who had sent the Son to this earth. (John 17:21) Furthermore, as Peter stated, what Jehovah God did for his Son​—resurrecting him and giving him “glory” by exalting him to his own right hand—​provides sound reason for putting our faith and hope in the Almighty. How so?

16. Of what is the resurrection of Jesus Christ a guarantee?

¹⁶ Just as the Most High raised his Son, he can also resurrect others of his servants. Since Jesus Christ was raised to immortal heavenly life, his first-century disciples could be sure that they, too, would share with him in celestial glory. The resurrection of God’s Son stands as an unchangeable guarantee that humans who are sleeping in death will be raised to life.​—1 Corinthians 15:12-22.

17. How well established is the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

¹⁷ That is why the fact of Jesus’ resurrection needed to be well established, and it was. There were upward of 500 disciples who saw the resurrected Son of God. (1 Corinthians 15:6) These eyewitnesses knew that God’s enemies might take away their freedom and even kill them if they presented testimony regarding this grand miracle. Yet, faithful disciples of Jesus Christ witnessed to this fact with all boldness. (Compare Acts 4:1-3; 7:52-60.) Such courageous faith was only possible because they had solid evidence of his resurrection.

CHRIST’S COMING IN GLORY IS SURE

18. What does the apostle Peter indicate about “the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ”?

¹⁸ As in the case of the resurrection of his Son, Jehovah God also saw to it that clear testimony was provided respecting the certainty of Christ’s coming “with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7) The apostle Peter said:

“No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories that we acquainted you with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when words such as these were borne to him by the magnificent glory: ‘This is my son, my beloved, whom I myself have approved’ Yes, these words we heard borne from heaven while we were with him in the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18)

To what event was Peter here referring?

19. When and how did Peter, James and John become eyewitnesses of Christ’s magnificence?

¹⁹ It was to the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometime after Passover of 32 C.E., the Son of God told his disciples: “Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here that will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” (Matthew 16:28) In a matter of days, those words of Jesus were fulfilled. Taking with him the apostles Peter, James and John, God’s Son climbed a high mountain, presumably Hermon. On a spur of this mountain, the following took place: “[Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant as the light.” Thus the three apostles had confirmed to them that Jesus’ coming in Kingdom power would indeed be glorious. Then a “bright cloud” formed and a voice came out of it, saying: “This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved; listen to him.”​—Matthew 17:1-5.

20. Why is faith in Jesus’ return in Kingdom power solidly based?

²⁰ Faith in Jesus’ arrival in Kingdom power, therefore, was not based on false stories originating with men. No trickery or deceit was involved in trying to persuade others to accept the belief that the Son of God would return “with power and great glory.” Peter, James and John saw Jesus Christ glorified before their very eyes, and they heard God’s own voice sounding forth from the bright cloud or the “magnificent glory.” This voice acknowledged Jesus as being the beloved Son. The acknowledgment and the brilliant appearance that was then granted him were truly a bestowal of honor and glory on Jesus. Because of this grand divine revelation from Jehovah, Peter rightly referred to the mountain where the transfiguration took place as “the holy mountain.”

21. Of what significance is the transfiguration vision to us?

²¹ Of what import should this transfiguration be to believers? Peter answers: “Consequently we have the prophetic word made more sure; and you are doing well in paying attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and a daystar rises, in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19) Yes, the transfiguration vision verifies the prophetic word about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in Kingdom power. This vision provided a foregleam of his kingly glory. Of course, apart from power or authority, there can be no royal glory, magnificence or dignity. Hence, the transfiguration also served to establish the certainty of Jesus’ coming in power.

22, 23. (a) How do we show that we are “doing well” in paying attention to the prophetic word? (b) How is that word like a lamp?

²² We today ‘do well’ in giving heed to the prophetic word, for nothing could be more vital to our life interests, could result in greater or more lasting benefits. People may avidly read world news, examine predictions by political, economic and scientific experts and, in the end, find that they have gotten nowhere. But the light shining from the prophetic word will never lead us down a dead-end road or leave us in a confusing maze of conflicting signposts and directions. So this prophetic word merits an important place in our study and meditation. We are wise to avail ourselves of all opportunities to assemble with fellow believers when the “word” is discussed. But our “paying attention” involves more than careful reading or respectful listening. It means acting on the prophetic word, letting it influence our conduct, the way in which we use our time, energy and assets. (Compare James 1:22-27.) Yes, we rightly acknowledge the genuine practicality of that prophetic word in our daily life and do not view it as merely something to which we give consideration during periods of formal worship.

²³ In harmony with Peter’s urging, we should let the prophetic word serve us as a lamp shining in a dark place, illuminating our hearts. If we ‘pay attention’ to it by allowing it to guide us in all affairs of life, it will conduct us safely until that grand day when the “daystar,” the Lord Jesus Christ, reveals himself in all his magnificent glory. (Compare Revelation 22:16.) The revelation of the Son of God will spell destruction for the faithless ones and the bestowal of grand blessings on his devoted disciples. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10) Surely the hope that is bound up with the fulfillment of the prophetic word should encourage us to do our utmost to be found standing as approved before our Lord at his revelation.​—Luke 21:34-36.

24. Why can we have confidence in the entire prophetic word contained in the Bible?

²⁴ In fact, the entire prophetic word contained in the Holy Scriptures needs to be given sober consideration and allowed to guide our life. The very nature of the prophetic word, the way it came to be written, should fill us with confidence respecting the future. Jehovah’s prophets did not evaluate certain trends in human affairs and then make predictions based on their personal interpretation of these developments. The prophecies were not the conclusions that the prophets themselves reached after making a careful analysis of the then-existing conditions. No, the prophets had their minds stimulated by the holy spirit and were moved to express God’s message. The apostle Peter continued: “You know this first, that no prophecy of Scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were borne along by holy spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20, 21) Because true prophecy does not originate with error-prone humans but with our all-wise Creator, we know that all prophecies set forth in God’s Word will be fulfilled.

25. What can we say about the surety of our Christian hope?

²⁵ The Christian hope does rest on solid evidence. Reliable eyewitness testimony confirms that humans sleeping in death will be raised to life and that Jesus Christ will manifest his glory and power. Grand will be that day when our Lord takes action against all who refuse to serve the Creator and delivers his faithful followers from all suffering, bringing in a righteous new order free from sickness, pain and death.​—Revelation 21:4, 5.

Chapter 4

Food That Is Essential for Everlasting Life

1. Why are the things set forth in God’s Word like honey?

TO A hungry, famished person, even a taste of honey can bring renewed strength, can make his eyes shine. Of the things set forth in God’s Word, it is rightly said that they are “sweeter than honey and the flowing honey of the combs.” This is because of the tremendous benefits that divine guidelines bring to the lives of those receiving them with appreciation. (1 Samuel 14:27; Psalms 19:9-11; 119:103) For those gaining the wisdom set forth in the inspired Word, “there exists a future, and [their] own hope will not be cut off.”​—Proverbs 24:13, 14.

2. If God’s spirit is going to accomplish good within us, what must we do?

² We have God’s promise that he will ‘safeguard his servants for life everlasting,’ doing this by means of his spirit. (1 Peter 1:5) This is certainly encouraging. But we are mistaken if we think this comes with no effort required on the part of those so helped. God’s spirit can work to the good of any of us only to the extent that we cooperate with it, and such cooperation includes feeding on the inspired Scriptures. The Son of God showed why this is so.

3. What did Jesus Christ say that the spirit would do for his disciples?

³ Explaining to his disciples how God’s spirit would aid them, Jesus said: “The helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.” (John 14:26) After Jesus’ returning to the heavens, the spirit, in the capacity of a remembrancer, would recall to the minds of the disciples his sayings and, as a teacher, it would enable them to understand the application of the things brought to mind.

4. How can God’s spirit help us, and how does this emphasize the importance of increasing in Bible knowledge?

⁴ Since we have never been taught personally by Jesus Christ, our situation differs from that of the apostles. However, all the vital teachings of the Son of God are preserved for us in the Bible. So, whenever necessary, the holy spirit can recall to our minds points from the inspired Scriptures and help us in discerning their correct application. Since God’s spirit functions as a remembrancer and a teacher, we must cooperate with it by a careful consideration of the Bible. If our deposit of Scriptural knowledge is very limited, we cannot possibly get the full benefit from the spirit’s operating in our behalf as a remembrancer and a teacher.

5. (a) To benefit fully from the operation of God’s spirit, why is it important to put away bad traits? (b) What counsel did the apostle Peter give about spiritual feeding?

⁵ Then, too, the spirit is holy and, therefore, aids only those who are holy or clean from Jehovah’s standpoint. That is why it is not enough merely to read the Bible or to have it read to us. There also needs to be a heartfelt desire to put away all traits that conflict with God’s standard of cleanness or purity. Note how this is stressed in the following words of the apostle Peter:

“Put away all badness and all deceitfulness and hypocrisy and envies and all sorts of backbiting, and, as newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk belonging to the word, that through it you may grow to salvation, provided you have tasted that the Lord is kind.”​—1 Peter 2:1-3.

6. Who are being urged to form a longing for the “milk”?

⁶ When we diligently strive to do God’s will, our minds and hearts are prepared to feed on the Scriptures. But still more is involved in developing a fine spiritual appetite. The apostle urged: “As newborn infants, form a longing for the unadulterated milk belonging to the word.” (1 Peter 2:2) Milk totally satisfies newborn babies. They want no other food. Like such infants, new believers need the ‘milk of the word’ and should cultivate a real desire for it. Then, on attaining Christian maturity, they would certainly want to have a like craving for the solid spiritual food.​—Hebrews 5:12-14.

7. Why can we not expect to have a full understanding of God’s Word in a few years?

⁷ Yes, regardless of the length of time that we have been walking in the way of the truth, there still is much more to be learned about our Maker and his will for us. (Compare 1 Corinthians 13:12.) Because the Scriptures contain the thoughts of the all-wise God, Jehovah, even angels benefit from the revelations set forth therein. (1 Peter 1:12) How, then, could any human think that he can gain a complete understanding of God’s holy Word within a matter of a few years? So it would be most inappropriate to content ourselves with knowing a small portion of his Word and, in effect, be telling our heavenly Father that we wish that he had been less generous with his spiritual provisions contained in the Holy Scriptures.

CULTIVATING A TASTE FOR SPIRITUAL FOOD

8. What should incite us to want to gain a better understanding of the Scriptures?

⁸ Our love for Jehovah God and Jesus Christ should move us to want to understand as much of the Bible as possible. It is through the pages of the Scriptures that we are aided to come to know our heavenly Father and his Son better, drawing us closer to them. As the apostle Peter observed, we have already “tasted that the Lord is kind.” (1 Peter 2:3) In expression of his love, Jesus Christ died for us and made it possible for us to have a clean standing before our heavenly Father. (John 15:13; 1 John 2:2) As a result, we can approach Jehovah God freely, committing all our cares and anxieties to him. (Hebrews 10:19-22; 1 John 3:19-22) The blessings, guidance and help that we have received as disciples of Jesus Christ amply demonstrate that our Master is kind and has great affection for us. (Matthew 11:28-30) If what we have already tasted or experienced is so good, should we not want to conform ourselves even closer to the example of Jehovah God and that of his Son? (Psalm 34:8) Careful, prayerful consideration of the Bible will help us to do just that.

9. (a) What may work against a good spiritual appetite, and why so? (b) What can be done to improve our spiritual appetite?

⁹ What if you find that your longing for the “word” is not very great? Take time, then, to think appreciatively about what Jehovah God and Jesus Christ have done in your behalf. Also, examine whether you have spoiled your spiritual appetite by giving undue attention to the philosophies, speculations and propaganda of a world alienated from God. Another enemy of a spiritual appetite is a person’s largely restricting his reading to picture magazines or to material that does not require careful thought and meditation. It simply must be recognized that the Bible was written to instruct, not to entertain. While the words themselves may not be difficult, often the thoughts expressed convey a depth of meaning that can only be fathomed by taking time to reflect prayerfully on what is said.

10. What facts about the illustrations of Jesus Christ prove that casual reading of the Scriptures is not enough for one to gain accurate knowledge?

¹⁰ The illustrations used by Jesus Christ, for example, are simple. But the vital truths that they reveal cannot be discovered merely by a casual reading of any translation of the Bible. Remember, Jews who heard the Son of God speaking in their own language did not get the full impact of what he taught. Though ordinary persons understood the words that he used, the significance of what Jesus said remained hidden even from the educated. Why? The majority of Jesus’ listeners lacked humility and a longing for spiritual food. Hence, they made no further inquiry to gain real insight.​—Matthew 13:13-15.

11. Why should we not be satisfied with superficial Scriptural knowledge?

¹¹ Certainly, we do not want to be satisfied with a superficial knowledge of the Bible, perhaps being familiar with the Bible narratives or “stories,” as well as elementary doctrines. If we claim to love God and Christ, we need to be willing to spend time with the Bible, exerting ourselves to get the import, the sense and spirit of what it says and then to apply these. No worthwhile skill is gained without effort. Therefore, should we not expect to put forth great effort in order to increase our knowledge of Jehovah, the source of all wisdom?​—Compare Proverbs 2:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:13-16.

12. What bearing does our attitude toward gaining accurate knowledge have on the blessings that we may receive?

¹² Our attitude toward gaining a better understanding of God’s Word will have a direct bearing on the blessings that will be bestowed on us. A failure to use our opportunities to the full in coming to know Jehovah God better may not necessarily result in losing our lives. But it could lead to our being guilty of not carrying out the divine will in certain respects and then losing out on blessings. In one of his illustrations, Jesus showed that ignorance will not shield a person from a measure of loss. The servant who does things deserving of strokes because of not understanding his master’s will is still punished, though not as severely as the slave who, with full knowledge, deliberately disobeys. (Luke 12:47, 48) It is, therefore, a serious matter when a person fails to make room in his life for regular study of God’s Word and, as a result, is not making the needed advancement in Christian conduct and activity.

13. What can God’s Word help us to secure, and how should this affect our spiritual feeding?

¹³ The entire Word of God is designed to help us to “grow to salvation,” that is, to secure our final salvation as approved disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, if we are truly interested in our eternal welfare, this should be manifest from our earnest desire to come to a better knowledge of Jehovah God and of his Son by means of the inspired Scriptures.

14. What effect can genuine interest in the spiritual welfare of others have on our spiritual appetite?

¹⁴ Of course, more than our own life is involved. (Compare 1 Timothy 4:16.) As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a commission to help others to become his disciples. (Matthew 28:19, 20) How can we do this when we are seriously lacking in Biblical understanding? Can we really say that we are genuinely interested in the spiritual welfare of others when we put forth only limited effort to increase in the very knowledge that could help them? At times the needed stimulation for improving a spiritual appetite comes when a person starts to teach someone else. Not infrequently those who increase the amount of time spent in sharing Bible truth with others find that their own desire for spiritual food is intensified. For example, questions raised by interested ones may provide the needed incentive for a person to dig deeper into the Word of God, with a view to providing satisfying answers.

15. How can persons who cannot read or who have difficulty in reading benefit from what is contained in the Scriptures?

¹⁵ But what about persons who have serious difficulty in reading or who are unable to read the Scriptures for themselves? They can get the benefit of what the Bible contains by having it read and explained to them. Then they can meditate on the information they hear and can apply it in their lives. (Revelation 1:3; Nehemiah 8:8) Of course, if the problem involves limited education, it would be good for such persons to take advantage of available arrangements for learning to read or to improve their reading ability. When only some portions of the Scriptures are available in a particular language, great responsibility falls on those who are teaching others and who know languages in which the complete Bible is available. Like the apostle Paul, they should strive to make known “all the counsel of God.”​—Acts 20:27.

THE WORD’S EFFECT ON OUR LIVES

16, 17. (a) According to the apostle Peter, what impact did God’s Word have on first-century Christians? (b) What shows that personal effort was required for the “word” to be truly at work in believers?

¹⁶ Our prayerful consideration of God’s Word, in all humility, can have a wholesome effect on our lives now. This is evident from what the apostle Peter wrote to his fellow believers:

“Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth with unhypocritical brotherly love as the result, love one another intensely from the heart. For you have been given a new birth, not by corruptible [seed that is responsible for human, fleshly existence, which is subject to death], but by incorruptible reproductive seed, through the word of the living and enduring God. For ‘all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like a blossom of grass; the grass becomes withered, and the flower falls off, but the saying of Jehovah endures forever.’ Well, this is the ‘saying,’ this which has been declared to you as good news.”​—1 Peter 1:22-25.

¹⁷ Consider how Peter’s words applied to Christians in the first century C.E. When those disciples of Jesus Christ absorbed the truth of the “good news,” they were moved to put forth effort to purify themselves, to cast away wrong practices. With the aid of God’s spirit, they obediently conformed to what the truth required of them. As a result, they began displaying real love toward those related to them in the faith. (John 13:34, 35) However, this marvelous transformation in their lives did not come about without personal effort. Only by obediently yielding to the influence of the truth and of God’s spirit could they display unhypocritical brotherly love. For this reason, Peter could urge them: “Love one another intensely from the heart.” (1 Peter 1:22) The Greek word for “intensely” literally means “outstretchedly.” So, this display of love is not to be narrow or confined because of suspicion, envy or jealousy but is to be expressed from a pure heart. It is not a formalistic love lacking in genuine warmth but a love distinguished by intense feeling and affection. Because the God of love, Jehovah, had made such Christian disciples his sons, giving them a new birth, it was only right that they apply themselves diligently in giving proof of their sonship by manifesting intense love for their fellow believers.​—1 John 3:10, 11.

18. (a) Why are the changes that can result from conforming to God’s Word not superficial or short-lived? (b) How does what is accomplished through the “word” and God’s spirit differ from the experience of sinful humans?

¹⁸ In the case of all disciples of Jesus Christ today, the changes that can result from feeding on and conforming to “the word of the living and enduring God” are not superficial or short-lived. That “word” is incorruptible. Hence, all who continue under the influence of the truth of the “good news” are continuously affected for good. While sinful humans, like the grass, lose their fine appearance and die, the changes effected by the enduring “word” and spirit of God remain.

19. How should we feel about our spiritual needs?

¹⁹ May we, therefore, never neglect our spiritual needs but be diligent in filling our minds and hearts with the truth. By our fine spiritual appetite we can gain spiritual health and strength. Then, as we humbly submit to the influence of the “good news” and God’s holy spirit, may we prove ourselves to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, aiding others to come to an accurate knowledge of the Scriptures. Thus our feeding on the enduring “word” will help us to grow to salvation, securing for us an eternal future.