GOD’S PLAN FOR MAN
Lesson 17

God Tests His People

IT IS the will of God that all his intelligent creatures shall enjoy everlasting life. Humans are now dying, not because they were created to die, but because of sin. None will be granted everlasting life until he has proved worthy by obedience to Divine law.

Our first parents had the test of obedience placed before them. (Gen. 2:16,17) They failed to pass this test, so they were sentenced to death. (Gen. 3:17-19) Through the law of heredity the penalty of death passed on to Adam’s posterity, so the entire human race became a dying race.—Rom. 5:12

However, through Christ, God’s love had made provision for the release of mankind from the original death penalty and for each member of the human race individually to have an opportunity to prove worthy of everlasting life. (John 3:16) Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the people, but that all might have an opportunity to live.—John 3:17

This opportunity will be given to the world in general in a future period of time described in the Bible as a day of judgment. (Acts 17:31) This day, or period of judgment, or testing, will be a time of enlightenment, when the people will learn righteousness.—Isa. 26:9; Ps. 96:10-13

With the exception of the generation living at the beginning of this future period of testing, it will be necessary for mankind to be awakened from the sleep of death in order to be enlightened concerning the Divine will for them. The impartation of this knowledge to the world of mankind is represented in the Bible as being accomplished by the opening of “books,” and those who obey the things written in these books are said to have their names enrolled in the “book of life.”—Rev. 20:12

Christ will be the great Judge during the world’s judgment day. He is described in the Bible as “that Prophet,” or teacher, and the information is given that those who will not obey that Prophet will be destroyed. (Acts 3:23) This destruction of the willfully wicked is described in the Bible as the “second death,” which is symbolized by a “lake of fire.”—Rev. 20:14,15

Jesus made a promise of the resurrection of the dead in which he spoke of the righteous—those who have “done good”—coming forth to life, and the unrighteous—those who have “done evil”—coming forth to judgment. (John 5:28,29, RSV) One group of the righteous will be made up of the faithful servants of God, from Abel to the first advent of Jesus. These will come forth in “a better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35) The faithful of the present age will also come forth to life—even to immortal life—in “the first resurrection.”—I Cor. 15:53; Rom. 2:7; Rev. 20:6

The ancient worthies, who will not come into the future judgment, will be the representatives of the Christ in the work of judging the world. (Ps. 45:16; Matt. 8:11) The faithful followers of Jesus during the present age will come forth in the resurrection to be associated with Jesus as co-judges of the world of mankind, and these will be represented on earth by the ancient worthies.—I Cor. 6:2

STUDENTS’ HELPS

Questions

What is the condition upon which any of God’s intelligent creatures may enjoy everlasting life?  How has this been demonstrated throughout the earth since the days of Eden?

What provision has God made to give life to the condemned and dying world?

When will the world in general be given an opportunity to learn and obey the will of God?

How will those who have died throughout the ages be given a knowledge of the truth?

How is the impartation of knowledge to the world illustrated in the Book of Revelation?

Who will be the great Judge of the world, and what will happen to those who disobey him?

What did Jesus say about the resurrection of the righteous and the unrighteous?

What part will the followers of Jesus have in the future work of judgment?  Who will then be the human representatives of Christ and his true church?

Reference Material

“The Divine Plan of the Ages,” pages 143-147

Summary of Important Thoughts

No one will have eternal life until proved worthy of it. Some have proved worthy in this life, and the remainder will be given a future test.