1. None can appreciate redemption by Christ Jesus who do not admit the Scriptural statement that death--extinction of being--is the wages of sin. A158:bottom; A159:top; D575:3; A134:bottom; A135:Top; E370:1; R5690:9-end of section.
2. One does not join or embrace "The Truth in the way that one might embrace Judaism, Buddhism, Roman Catholicism or some other religion. To come into the truth or be spirit- begotten one must first be fully consecrated to God and fully justified by God*. Before proceeding further in this booklet, the reader should refer to (Articles 006 and 007) for the proper steps leading to full consecration and to justification to life R5041:1-4. *justification to life
3. Every one who has been spirit-begotten since 1881 has been given the place of some one previously called, but who had proved himself lacking in zeal--neither hot nor cold--and therefore spewed out. Rev.3:11; C213:2; C219:1,2; F78:2; F95:1,2; R5168:4-8, 13-16; R5169:1; R5918:2;
4. We challenge any who now deny the value of Christ's death as their ransom-price to say that they came into the present light--the knowledge of the Lord's presence and the other deep things of God, now so clearly seen-- without, at the time of entrance, being clothed in this garment. No one ever entered in without the robe; others can not see the deep things of God, 1Cor.2:7-14. Just as in the parable, so now, when this question is put to those who have rejected the robe, they are "speechless." They cannot deny that it was while wearing the robe that they were admitted; and they do not like to acknowledge it. C202:2; R5511:9; SM774:1;
5. All the children of God are begotten by the word and spirit of the truth, and not by human theory and spirit of the world. A196:2; 198:top; D575:3; R5550:2; R5833:C1; John 20:17; Rom.8:15; 1Pet.1:3; 1John 5:18; 1Cor.8:6; John1:12-13; James 1:18
6. To the "embryo new creature" old things (human desires, hopes, plans, etc.) pass away, and all things become new. The embryo "new creature" continues to grow and develop, as the old human nature, with its hopes, aims, desires, etc. is crucified. These two processes progress simultaneously, from the time consecration begins until the death of the human and the birth of the spiritual result. A197:1; R5931-5933.
7. When God would give us a clear conception of the generation of the new creatures to the divine nature, he represented them as "begotten of His Word of Promise in the Womb of the Covenant" which He made with Abraham, which Covenant was symbolized by a woman, Sarah, telling us that as Isaac was the heir of Abraham and child of promise (by Sarah), so we, as or like Isaac, are children of God, being children of the promise, or Sarah Covenant. Gal.4:23-31; 1Peter1:3,23; 2Peter1:4; E105:top
8. The sealing of one's consecration will be the divine acceptance of that consecration , which is indicated by a begetting of the holy Spirit. And begetting of the holy Spirit is indicated by his appreciation of the deep things of God, as represented in the altar of incense and the table of shew-bread; in experiences of chiseling and polishing, and by opportunities to serve. In some cases, these various steps are taken almost simultaneously. R5411:1
9. No one can receive the holy Spirit except he has received the truth, as every one of the Church class must have a knowledge of the privilege of coming into relationship with God through Christ. Whoever will receive the holy Spirit must first receive the knowledge; and then this truth will operate upon him. First he must take his stand for righteousness; next he must receive Christ as his Redeemer. Then after having accepted Christ as his Ransomer, he must go forward and make a consecration of himself to walk in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus. R5550:3,4,11
10. In 1914, the full number (144,000) of the saints had been sealed in the forehead with a knowledge of present truth, Rev.7:1-3. Reason and logic would surely teach us that all replacements since that time would have a knowledge of present truth and be sealed with it at the time of their spirit-begettal. This process would keep the number (of saints sealed in the forehead) complete and constant. R5715:last p; R5753:2-4; R5771:6; R5863:c2,p4
11. It was on the basis of this imputation of our coming restitution blessings, and our personal consecration to the Lord, that our Redeemer, acting as our great High Priest and Advocate, brought us into that relationship with the Father's Plan which permitted us to receive the begetting of the holy Spirit, and "To Cease to be of the Human Family and become Members of the Spiritual Family," of which Jesus is the Head. EF:11; C207:1.
12. The evidence of spirit-begetting is by the appearance of the fruits and graces of the holy Spirit--meekness, patience, gentleness, long suffering, brotherly kindness, love. The manifestation of these fruits would seem to mean that we were becoming more actuated by the Spirit of Christ. R5549:last p; R5229:1
13. Since Babylon (Christendom) was cast off to destruction in 1878 and that destruction completed in 1918, there could be no spirit- begetting since 1881 except through the efforts of the true church. C150-162; C167:2; C148-162.