provision for freeing mankind from the grip of sin is the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ.a (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; 1 John 2:1, 2) When are Christians set free from the law of sin? Addressing anointed Christians, the apostle Paul said: “The law of that spirit which gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2) Those with the hope of life in heaven receive this freedom when they are anointed with the holy spirit. Though their bodies are fleshly and imperfect, God declares them righteous and adopts them as his spiritual sons. (Romans 3:24; 8:16, 17) For the anointed as a group, the Christian Jubilee began at Pentecost 33 C.E.

What about the “other sheep,” having the prospect of everlasting life on earth? (John 10:16) For the other sheep, the Thousand Year Reign of Christ will prove to be a time of restoration and liberation. During this Millennial Jubilee, Jesus will apply the benefits of his ransom sacrifice to believing mankind and will reverse the effects of sin. (Revelation 21:3, 4) By the end of Christ’s Millennial Reign, mankind will reach human perfection and will be completely free from inherited sin and death. (Romans 8:21) With that accomplished, the Christian Jubilee will be over.

“Everyone Shrewd Will Act With Knowledge”

THE guidance from God’s Word, the Bible, ‘is more to be desired than gold​—than much refined gold.’ (Psalm 19:7-10) Why? Because “the law of the wise one [Jehovah] is a source of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.” (Proverbs 13:14) When applied, the counsel from the Scriptures not only improves the quality of our life but also helps us to avoid snares that endanger it. How vital that we seek out knowledge of the Scriptures and comply with what we learn!

As recorded at Proverbs 13:15-25, King Solomon of ancient Israel gave advice that helps us act with knowledge so that we can enjoy a better and longer life.a Using concise proverbs, he shows how God’s Word can help us gain favor with others, remain faithful in our ministry, have a right attitude toward discipline, and choose our associates wisely. He also considers the prudence of leaving an inheritance for our offspring as well as disciplining them in love.

Good Insight Wins Favor

“Good insight itself gives favor,” says Solomon, “but the way of those dealing treacherously is rugged.” (Proverbs 13:15) The original-language expression for “good insight,” or good understanding, “describes the capacity for good sense, sound judgment, and wise opinions,” states one reference work. A person having such qualities does not find it difficult to gain the favor of others.

Consider the insightful way in which the apostle Paul dealt with his fellow Christian Philemon when sending back Philemon’s runaway slave Onesimus, who had become a Christian. Paul exhorted Philemon to receive Onesimus back in a kind manner, even as he might welcome the apostle himself. In fact, Paul offered to make the payment if Onesimus owed Philemon anything. Yes, Paul could have used his authority and ordered Philemon to do the right thing. But the apostle chose to handle the matter tactfully and lovingly. In doing so, Paul felt confident that he would win Philemon’s cooperation, moving him to do even more than what he was asked to do. Should we not also deal with fellow believers in this way?​—Philemon 8-21.

The way of the treacherous, on the other hand, is rugged, or “hard.” (New International Version) In what sense? According to one scholar, the word used here means “strong or firm, referring to the callous behavior of wicked people. . . . The man who is set in his evil ways, callous and indifferent to the wise instruction of others, is on a path to ruin.”

Solomon continues: “Everyone shrewd will act with knowledge, but the one that is stupid will spread abroad foolishness.” (Proverbs 13:16) This shrewd one is not a crafty person. Shrewdness here is connected with knowledge and is associated with a prudent person, who thinks things out before acting. When facing unfair criticism or even insult, the shrewd person keeps his lips in check. He prayerfully tries to manifest the fruitage of the holy spirit so that he does not get overly irritated. (Galatians 5:22, 23) The prudent one does not allow the other person or the situation to control him. Rather, he stays in control and avoids the fights that frequently befall an individual who quickly flares up when offended.

The shrewd one also acts with knowledge when making decisions. He knows that wise actions are rarely a product of guessing, acting on emotions, or simply following the crowd. Therefore, he takes time to investigate the situation at hand. He gathers all the facts and determines what options are open to him. Then he searches the Scriptures and decides which Bible laws or principles apply. The path of such a person remains straight.​—Proverbs 3:5, 6.

“A Faithful Envoy Is a Healing”

As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we are entrusted with the proclamation of a God-given message. The words of the next proverb help us to remain faithful in fulfilling our commission. It says: “A messenger that is wicked will fall into bad, but a faithful envoy is a healing.”​—Proverbs 13:17.

The emphasis here is on the qualities of the messenger. What if the