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Spirit of Truth or Error

Jehovah's Witnesses ORIGIN Charles Taze Russell (1852-1916) founded the movement out of Seventh Day Adventism. His ideas were published in the magazine, Zion's Watchtower and Herald of Christ's Presence in 1879. He was succeeded by Judge J.F. Rutherford (1869-1942) and Nathan Knorr.

Biblically Sound Doctrine ORIGIN In the beginning God... Gen 1:1. God is assumed. The Bible makes no attempt to prove Him. All nations have some concept of God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

GOD The Doctrine of the Trinity is denied. There is one solitary being from all eternity, Jehovah God, the Creator and Preserver of the universe and all things. Jesus is personal but not Divine. The Holy Spirit is Divine, the invisible force of the Almighty God that moves His subjects to do His will. The Holy Spirit is not personal. "The doctrine of the Trinity is well suited to the dark ages which it helped to produce." "Jehovah, as the One God, must be vindicated by faithful witnesses."

GOD The Lord He is God and there is none else beside Him. Deut 4:35 God is Spirit existing in three persons "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." John 4:24 (NKJ) Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; Gen 1:26 (NKJ) "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language,..." Gen 11:7 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:19 (NKJ) For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim 2:5 (NKJ)

JESUS CHRIST Jesus was just a man who is forever dead. He was the first creation of Jehovah. Before he entered the world, he was a created angel named, Michael, the arch-angel. He entered as a man and died as a man at the Cross. He laid aside His human nature by the apparent death of the Cross and returned to His spirit nature by an apparent resurrection in which he returned to this world and will soon meet Satan at Armageddon. We do not know what became of Jesus' body, whether it dissolved into gasses, no one knows. When Jesus was in the flesh, he was a perfect human being and nothing more. The Deity of Christ and His two natures, Divine and Human are denied. To the Witness, Jesus IS NOT God.

JESUS CHRIST Jesus Christ (The Word) existed in the beginning with God and IS GOD. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1 (NKJ) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NKJ) "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." Matt 1:23 (NKJ) Jesus is God yet distinct from God the Father "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel [God], and his Redeemer [Christ], the LORD of hosts: `I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God. Isa 44:6 (NKJ) God was manifested in the flesh. 1 Tim 3:16 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Rom 1:4 (NKJ) Col 1:15-16 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. (NKJ) Jesus Christ is coming again. "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Acts 1:11 (NKJ)

THE HOLY SPIRIT The Trinity of God is denied as God is viewed as One Jehovah. The Holy Spirit is the influence or power exercised by the one God Jehovah. Witnesses deny the Person and the personality of the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT The Holy Spirit is called God. Acts 5:3-4 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26 (NKJ) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. John 15:26 (NKJ) "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8 (NKJ) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;..." John 16:13 (NKJ) The Holy Spirit raised up Jesus Christ and dwells in us. Rom 8:11

THE SCRIPTURES The Bible is viewed as fully inspired. The Witnesses have their own translation called The New World Translation which is an effort to get around the proper interpretations and to reinterpret the Greek of certain key passages. Charles Taze Russell wrote a seven volume Studies in Scripture which was viewed as the KEY to the Bible. It is officially disavowed, but his views are still basic to the Witnesses.

THE SCRIPTURES All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 2 Tim 3:16 (NKJ) For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Pet 1:21 (NKJ)

SIN Adam as the first created human being was placed on probation for mankind. He sinned and fell. As a result, he and all his descendants lost the right to life. Death is the extinction of being and is the wages of sin. During the millennium, the spirit will be resurrected and given a second chance or trial for everlasting life.

SIN As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; Rom 3:10 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? Jer 17:9 (NKJ) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 (NKJ) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:10 (NKJ) The central sin is not believing in Jesus Christ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 (NKJ)

REDEMPTION Jesus was sinless and obedient to Jehovah. He deserved Justification, but did not need it, so He deeded it. He became a Ransom for Adam's sin and able to cancel the believer's debt putting the believer in a position to work out by human merit his or her salvation or receive another chance in the millennium for eternal life. The path of working out one's salvation involves witnessing, usual commandments, abstention from saluting the flag or service in any of the "devil's governments", no blood transfusions, and work for the Jehovah Witnesses.

REDEMPTION In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Eph 1:7 And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. Col 1:20 (NKJ) 1 Pet 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (NKJ) [Christ] who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 (NKJ)

SALVATION All have shared death because of Adam's Sin. The ransom of Jesus' perfect life (not the Cross) is offered to all as payment for Adam's Sin and gives those accepting the chance to be on trial for life. In this trial, observing the works system of the Witnesses moves one towards salvation. There is also the offer of a second chance during the millennium to be placed on trial for life. The results will determine eternal life or the second death of annhilation. No one has eternal life by recreation nor by the death of Christ. The significance of the Cross is denied. Salvation becomes a "Works System."

SALVATION But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: John 1:12 (NKJ) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph 2:8-9 (NKJ) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5 (NKJ) Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Rom 3:24 (NKJ) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom 10:4 (NKJ) "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36 (NKJ)

CHURCH Church for the Witnesses is attendance at the Kingdom Hall on Sundays for concerted Bible Study and training to be door to door witnesses. Area book studies are held on Fridays. The Christian Church (religion) is the chief enemy! Home Bible Studies are hooks.

CHURCH And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 1:22-23 (NKJ)

HEAVEN & HELL From the Adventist beginnings, there is much emphasis on the end times. It culminates is heavenly immortality for the most faithful, the 144,000 and earthly immortality for the "Jonadabs" - lessor Witnesses. Christ will return to lead the witnesses against Satan at Armageddon. Hell is denied. The Second Death is annihilation. All who refuse Witness salvation will be annihilated. Jehovah Witnesses believe that in 1874-1914 Christ became visible Lord over the Witnesses. In 1914 the apostles and other dead Witnesses of the 144,000 were caught up together with Him. In 1914, He was to return to the temple and rule by the Witnesses.... They have an intensive publishing and literature campaign in the form of the "Watchtower" that is used to spread their heresy.

HEAVEN & HELL And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Dan 12:2 (NKJ) And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 2 Thes 1:7-10 (NKJ)

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