[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":530},["ShallowReactive",2],{"nav-current-\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196c":3,"reprint-\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196c":5,"nav-reprints-en-1881-04-01":507},{"date":4},"1881-04-01",{"id":6,"title":7,"author":8,"body":9,"date":4,"description":494,"extension":495,"issue":496,"meta":497,"month":498,"navigation":499,"path":500,"reprint":501,"seo":502,"sitemap":503,"stem":504,"year":505,"__hash__":506},"reprints\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196c.md","Looking Unto Jesus",null,{"type":10,"value":11,"toc":490},"minimark",[12,44,58,270,405,420],[13,14,15,16,20,21,24,25,28,29,32,33,36,37,40,41,43],"p",{},"There are two principles involved in the word look, two mediums by which we are enabled to discern objects, ",[17,18,19],"em",{},"light"," and the eye. Without these mediums there may be ever so ",[17,22,23],{},"many"," or ",[17,26,27],{},"interesting"," objects to be seen, but they will ",[17,30,31],{},"not"," be seen; there must be both light and the instrument of seeing (the eye). These are the requisites in nature; these are the necessary things for material sight, and the ",[17,34,35],{},"basis"," of our understanding of spiritual things, the things of God. Light in ",[17,38,39],{},"nature"," is the means of knowing (or seeing) natural things; so in spiritual things means of knowing are called ",[17,42,19],{},"—\"By using such lights as we have we arrive at probability, if not certainty.\"",[13,45,46,47,50,51,53,54,57],{},"Explanation and illustration are ",[17,48,49],{},"other"," means of knowing or understanding and are also called light: \"one part of scripture throws ",[17,52,19],{}," on another part.\" Point of view—situation to be seen, is called light— this is a use of the word taken from painting; \"let every thought be presented in the strongest ",[17,55,56],{},"light.\""," Looking in the natural is to direct the eye—in the spiritual to direct the mind of the understanding; \"the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.\"",[13,59,60,61,64,65,68,69,72,73,76,77,80,81,84,85,88,89,92,93,96,97,100,101,104,105,108,109,112,113,116,117,120,121,124,125,127,128,131,132,135,136,139,140,143,144,147,148,151,152,155,156,159,160,163,164,167,168,171,172,175,176,179,180,183,184,187,188,191,192,194,195,198,199,202,203,206,207,210,211,214,215,217,218,221,222,225,226,229,230,233,234,237,238,241,242,245,246,249,250,252,253,256,257,260,261,269],{},"With these terms in mind let us consider the subject before us, \"Looking unto Jesus.\" Let us bring in the lights and turn the eyes of our understanding toward the desire of all nations,\" the hope of the world. How, \"we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels ",[17,62,63],{},"for the suffering of death\"","—",[17,66,67],{},"Heb. 2:9",". O earth! bow down, hide thy face in the dust, the Lord of life dies for ",[17,70,71],{},"thee."," The mystery of God is among men. Did we ",[17,74,75],{},"see rightly? How"," was he made? A ",[17,78,79],{},"little"," lower than the angels? Let us look ",[17,82,83],{},"closely."," Does Paul mean ",[17,86,87],{},"just"," that? Yes, it ",[17,90,91],{},"seems"," so. But ",[17,94,95],{},"man"," is a ",[17,98,99],{},"great deal"," lower than the angels. Did he not take upon him the ",[17,102,103],{},"nature of man?"," Yes, he took the \"seed of Abraham.\" ",[17,106,107],{},"Heb. 2:16",": Well, if he took on him the seed of Abraham did he not take a nature ",[17,110,111],{},"much"," lower than angels, even the ",[17,114,115],{},"fallen nature,"," and ",[17,118,119],{},"work"," his way up ",[17,122,123],{},"to"," this position a ",[17,126,79],{}," lower than the angels? We think not—let us ",[17,129,130],{},"see."," Hold the light this way a little, brother; there, now. What said the scriptures? ABRAHAM ",[17,133,134],{},"believed"," God and it was counted unto him for righteousness....",[17,137,138],{},"How"," was it then ",[17,141,142],{},"reckoned?"," When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision but in uncircumcision...for the promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.\" ",[17,145,146],{},"Romans 4:10-13",". If then, Abraham was ",[17,149,150],{},"justified"," by faith—reckoned in God's sight a ",[17,153,154],{},"perfect"," and righteous man, who will say that Jesus must have taken the ",[17,157,158],{},"fallen"," nature—imperfect, because it says: He partook of the \"seed of Abraham.\" But was he not made of the seed of Abraham ",[17,161,162],{},"according"," to the ",[17,165,166],{},"flesh?"," Well, yes; he was \"made of the seed of David according to the flesh.\" ",[17,169,170],{},"Rom. 1:3",". \"When the fullness of the time was come God sent forth his son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.\" ",[17,173,174],{},"Gal. 4:4-5",". But he was \"made ",[17,177,178],{},"not after"," (down towards) the law of a ",[17,181,182],{},"carnal"," (fleshly) commandment but after the power of an endless life, for there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and ",[17,185,186],{},"unprofitableness"," thereof; for the law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope ",[17,189,190],{},"did,"," (viz: Jesus, the ",[17,193,154],{}," one, in whom was ",[17,196,197],{},"no sin,)"," by the ",[17,200,201],{},"which,"," we draw nigh to God. ",[17,204,205],{},"Heb. 7:16,18-19",". But was he not made ",[17,208,209],{},"in all things like unto his brethren?"," And does not this ",[17,212,213],{},"plainly"," show that he took the ",[17,216,158],{}," nature of man, the ",[17,219,220],{},"lowest"," step that could be taken? \"In ",[17,223,224],{},"all"," things it behooved him to be made like unto his ",[17,227,228],{},"brethren"," that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ",[17,231,232],{},"Heb. 2:17",". But was he not made like ",[17,235,236],{},"other men,"," was he not in his fleshly nature just as low in the scale of ",[17,239,240],{},"being"," as any other man, only that he did not ",[17,243,244],{},"actually"," sin? No; if he had been, he could not have resisted ",[17,247,248],{},"actual"," sin; the ",[17,251,158],{}," human nature is \"prone to sin as the sparks to fly upward,\" and as long as we are of the ",[17,254,255],{},"fallen human"," nature we cannot avoid sin. Of such \"there is none righteous; no, ",[17,258,259],{},"not one.\""," ",[262,263,264,265,268],"span",{},"It is only when ",[17,266,267],{},"justified, new"," creatures, that we can realize ourselves as no longer sinners and enemies, but *sons of God.","*",[13,271,272,273,276,277,279,280,283,284,287,288,291,292,295,296,299,300,303,304,307,308,311,312,315,316,319,320,323,324,327,328,331,332,335,336,339,340,343,344,347,348,351,352,355,356,359,360,363,364,367,368,371,372,375,376,378,379,382,383,386,387,390,391,393,394,397,398,401,402],{},"Again, if on the ",[17,274,275],{},"depraved"," plane of being he could not be said to have been \"made a little lower.\" He as a perfect one was to mediate and bring about a reconciliation between God and his fallen ",[17,278,182],{}," creatures who by sin had become His ",[17,281,282],{},"\"enemies;\""," hence Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, ",[17,285,286],{},"\"for"," the suffering of death,\" that he might raise ",[17,289,290],{},"us"," up to a point but a little lower than the angels, (as perfect beings—justified or reckoned perfect,) thus becoming our ",[17,293,294],{},"mediator"," \"for if when we were ",[17,297,298],{},"enemies"," we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life.\" ",[17,301,302],{},"Rom. 5:10",". But in ",[17,305,306],{},"what"," sense was he higher or superior to Adam? In this, that Adam was ",[17,309,310],{},"created"," of God, but Christ was ",[17,313,314],{},"begotten"," of God; now do we see how he was made like unto his ",[17,317,318],{},"brethren?"," Not like unto fallen man, they are not begotten of the spirit Christ and ",[17,321,322],{},"his brethren are."," Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, (and Jesus) are children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? \"Cast out the bond woman and her son: for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.\" So then, brethren, we (nor Christ) are not children of the bond woman, but of the *free. *",[17,325,326],{},"Gal. 4:28-31",". But was he not for our sakes made ",[17,329,330],{},"poor"," that we through his poverty might be made rich? Yes, he became poor for our sakes; when he died upon the cross he consummated his poverty, giving up ",[17,333,334],{},"all,"," even life itself, and thus reconciled us to God; for, as by Adam's death in or because of sin all die, so by Christ's death in or because of righteousness all are made alive; but we who are reckoned in the Adamic nature by the ",[17,337,338],{},"death"," of Christ are much more\"...\"saved by his life;\" we begin to be new creatures in Christ Jesus, and so we are not (reckoned) in the fallen condition, ",[17,341,342],{},"as the world,"," but in that which he recognizes as ",[17,345,346],{},"brethren."," \"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of ",[17,349,350],{},"one for which cause"," he is not ashamed to call them *brethren.\" *",[17,353,354],{},"Heb. 2:11",". He came low enough to reach us and taste death for every man, but a little lower than the angels was low enough for that, for from that intermediate position God can reach us ",[17,357,358],{},"through"," Christ and \"raise us ",[17,361,362],{},"(from our fallen"," condition where we were with the world) up ",[17,365,366],{},"together"," and make us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his ",[17,369,370],{},"kindness toward us through"," Christ Jesus. ",[17,373,374],{},"Eph. 2:6-7",". Now, if we can see clearly that his being made a ",[17,377,79],{}," lower than the angels was for no other reason than that he might suffer death (to which he was not legally subject) and destroy him who had the power of death ",[17,380,381],{},"for us,"," do we not see that there is no reason for his being made a little lower, or even ",[17,384,385],{},"as"," low as the angels ",[17,388,389],{},"again"," for ",[17,392,290],{}," whom (in our ",[17,395,396],{},"brotherhood"," condition) he was made like unto? He ",[17,399,400],{},"was"," as we are (reckoned) and we shall be as he ",[17,403,404],{},"is now.",[13,406,407,408,411,412,415,416,419],{},"Beloved, ",[17,409,410],{},"now"," are we (reckoned) the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And ",[17,413,414],{},"every man"," that hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure. ",[17,417,418],{},"1 John 3:2-3",".",[13,421,422,423,426,427,430,431,434,435,438,439,442,443,445,446,449,450,453,454,457,458,461,462,465,466,469,470,473,474,477,478,481,482,485,486,489],{},"Now let us ",[17,424,425],{},"look"," close, (hold the light ",[17,428,429],{},"steady"," and keep an ",[17,432,433],{},"humble position,)"," there, now, if it behooved him to be made like unto his ",[17,436,437],{},"brethren,"," if we can get a good view of ",[17,440,441],{},"him"," we can get a good idea of what his ",[17,444,228],{}," are, for they will be somewhat as he ",[17,447,448],{},"was,"," \"wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, ",[17,451,452],{},"consider"," the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to him that appointed him.\" He was \"appointed heir of all things.\" \"And ye are complete ",[17,455,456],{},"in him\""," \"In whom ye are ",[17,459,460],{},"builded together"," for an habitation of God through the spirit.\" Now, dear brethren, is it not clearly God's design to glorify his Son and his church (bride) by what he shall ",[17,463,464],{},"accomplish"," through them? Think you they are to be exalted and honored ",[17,467,468],{},"merely"," for the honor? Ah, no! Honor and glory and happiness are in store for those \"who are the called ",[17,471,472],{},"according to his purpose,\""," and that ",[17,475,476],{},"purpose"," is the bringing of ",[17,479,480],{},"\"many sons"," unto glory,\" and to accomplish that purpose it was necessary that the captain of our salvation should pass through ",[17,483,484],{},"suffering,"," \"leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.\" Dear brethren, are we willing to do that? Is the lesson so often set before us in the \"Watch Tower\" (drawn from the word) forgotten and overlooked in our eager gaze at the coming glory? Wherefore let us suffer \"according to the will of God and commit the keeping of our souls to him in ",[17,487,488],{},"well-doing"," as unto a faithful Creator.",{"title":491,"searchDepth":492,"depth":492,"links":493},"",2,[],"There are two principles involved in the word look, two mediums by which we are enabled to discern objects, light and the eye. Without these mediums there may be ever so many or interesting objects to be seen, but they will not be seen; there must be both light and the instrument of seeing (the eye). These are the requisites in nature; these are the necessary things for material sight, and the basis of our understanding of spiritual things, the things of God. Light in nature is the means of knowing (or seeing) natural things; so in spiritual things means of knowing are called light—\"By using such lights as we have we arrive at probability, if not certainty.\"","md","Vol. II, No. 10",{},"April",true,"\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196c",196,{"title":7,"description":494},{"loc":500},"en\u002Freprints\u002F196c",1881,"jAFUABVcOUxSjIjhlEdgPt440l3OrjL0SUlfr3lpR9A",[508,512,515,518,521,522,526],{"title":509,"path":510,"reprint":511,"date":4,"issue":496},"Sheep and Goats","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F195",195,{"title":513,"path":514,"reprint":511,"date":4,"issue":496},"Waiting and Watching","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F195b",{"title":516,"path":517,"reprint":501,"date":4,"issue":496},"Spiritualism","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196",{"title":519,"path":520,"reprint":501,"date":4,"issue":496},"The Unpardonable Sin","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F196b",{"title":7,"path":500,"reprint":501,"date":4,"issue":496},{"title":523,"path":524,"reprint":525,"date":4,"issue":496},"Number Three (Part I)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F197",197,{"title":527,"path":528,"reprint":529,"date":4,"issue":496},"Number Three (Part II)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F198",198,1776402511873]