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| Who Does A Jehovah's Witness Get Everlasting Life From? |
| Written by Mark Hunter |
| Saturday, 20 June 2009 06:27 |
John 17:. 3 This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses are taught repeatedly that the means of everlasting life is the "taking in" of knowledge. However, this verse is very badly (purposefully or otherwise) translated from the original Greek.
The Watchtower Society published Kingdom Interlinear Translation (KIT) renders the original Greek text as follows:
"This but is the everlasting life in order that they may be knowing you the only true God and whom you sent forth Jesus Christ". Perhaps you immediately notice the very subtle, but important, difference. Everlasting life comes from knowing God and Jesus. Knowing someone implies having a personal relationship with them. If I were to read a book about a person I would have "taken in knowledge" of them. Would that mean I'd actually know them? No. However, if I had a relationship with them, if we conversed with each other, spent time in each other's company we would know each other.
So, right out of the gate Jehovah's Witnesses use a translation of the Bible that is slanted to support their work of preaching and teaching people about their unique beliefs. They use John 17:3 as support for them going from door-to-door, pointing out what's wrong with everyone else's beliefs and encouraging them to have a Bible study with them in order to "take in knowledge". A person "taking in knowledge" and associating with the "anointed remnant on earth" may be in line for everlasting life. Receipt of such is dependent upon the following of certain criteria outlined by the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Christian's view this very differently. To a Christian, everlasting life isn't about studying publications to get know a series of unique beliefs, including the doctrine of 1914 or the "faithful and discreet slave". Christians, instead, have a relationship with God. They speak to him through Jesus and he speaks back through his Word.
The Holy Spirit also plays a hugely important part in a Christian's relationship with God, which in turn impacts on their hope of everlasting life.
Jesus didn't leave us guessing as to how Christians would get to know him and his Father. In John 15:26-27 he tells us that the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of truth, will come from the Father on Jesus' behalf and the Spirit will testify, or witness, to Jesus.
What's fascinating about this is that Jesus didn't say the Holy Spirit would come upon a small, elite group of men on earth and that through them we would learn about Jehovah. Rather, right there in black and white in the Bible, he says that the Spirit will be available to Christians and the Spirit will witness to them about Jesus.
In John 14:15-17 Jesus explained to his followers, who would become known as Christians (Acts 11:26 - notice how it was by "divine providence", not the will of any man, that witnesses of Christ be known as Christians and not Jehovah's Witnesses), that he would request the Father to send another helper (or counselor - see Isaiah 9:6). This helper would lead them into truth.
Just before this Jesus had explained in verse 6 of the same chapter that he alone was the way, the truth and the life. Life and the way to find and receive life would only come through Jesus. Truth and the way to understand truth would only come through Jesus. The way to salvation would only come through and by Jesus. You'll notice that Jesus did not say that the way to salvation, knowledge of the truth and everlasting life would come through an organisation. This is a hugely important point; there is only one source of life and it's Jesus.
So, if Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, if the Spirit of truth is sent to us by Jesus' request, and this spirit witnesses about Jesus, what room is there for an organisation?
Yet, that is exactly what the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society expects us to believe. Via the Governing Body, Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that Jesus Christ is not enough. Even though a Christian's eyes are fixed intently on Christ, the Chief Agent and Perfecter of faith, a Jehovah's Witness cannot allow himself to believe that salvation and everlasting life will come through faith in Jesus alone.
Consider the following quotation from Watchtower Society;
"To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." Watchtower 1983 February 15 p.12 A recent talk delivered by Circuit Overseer's stated the following;
"Trees of life" can be found on earth today, they are the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses who represent the "faithful and discreet slave" class. The only way to attain the gift of everlasting life is only by means of the "faithful slave." Humanity must accept these "trees of life" if they are to be saved. Which means we should willingly accept whatever the Governing Body decides, and follow their direction even though our "imperfect" mind cannot understand the reasons behind the "slave's" decisions."
This is stunning. Jesus, plainly, is not enough for Jehovah's Witnesses.
If you are disturbed by this, please consider the following verses from God's Inspired Word:
- John 3:16, 36:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[f] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." Hopefully those verses will help you to realise that an organisation does not have any claim or authority over your salvation. Everlasting life comes from knowing and having faith in Jesus. It's a free gift; there is nothing you can do to earn it.
Ask Jesus to forgive you in his name for placing your faith in men on earth and ask him to come into your life, to be your lord and saviour, open your heart to receive forgiveness and salvation.
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Comments (9)
  written by LeeAnn Hardement , June 20, 2009 Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. I've always felt this was a great scripture.... Good post, very well written.... report abuse
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 written by the bible student , June 20, 2009 Although I know the bible well, I dont know christ. I have failed. I was blinded by these people. All those years wasted and I didnt know christ at all, and as hes tells his apostles in Acts 1:8 that they would be witnesses of him, "christ" to the most distant corners of the earth, those being his witnesses would even be hate on account of his name Matthew 24:9..they would be witnesses of him...be hated on account of his name.... This organisation truely has set itself up to implode. They have even become the masters over the faith of others, and as Jesus had said in Matt 23, because they are not going into that kingdom, they prevent others from doing so by stumbling them, by false teachings and other issues..all of which they do in Gods name.....but not in Christs. Those of us who have woken up, have seen the light, where do we go from here? if we dont want to go to mainstream religions to other false teachings, or go back to false teachings of the wt, where do we go from here? Soon, the last two witness will come and they will perform many owerful works, and they will be the ones that preach the good news before the end comes (Reve 10:8-11 11:3-7 Matt 24:14) But, sadly, the weed will grow along with the weeds until the conclusion does come. I feel a fool for all those wasted years, and the damage that has been done by their teaching, and I never knew christ, I never knew the greatest man that ever lived, because all emphasis is on the organisation for salvation by means of spurious unhealthful teachings. report abuse
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written by the bible student , June 20, 2009 Soon, during the first half of the 7 year tribulation that is coming, the 2 witnesses will arrive. They will preach a new message and it will be preached in the whole world to peoples, nations, tongues and to many kings (Revelation 10:8-11 11:3 Matt 24:14) Their ministry will be reflective of that of the christs, public preaching backed up by powerful works. Whilst christ was on the earth, he cured the sick, fed the hungry, and even raised the dead. But, he said that his apostles will do greter and more poweful works than he did (John 14:12 Matt 21:21). These 2 witnesses will be like Elijah and Moses, closing heavens to rain, and brining as many plagues upon the earth as they wish and for as often as they wish (Revelation 11:4-7). But, will there be a resurrection? Although the resurrection is reserved for after Armageddon during the 1000 year reign of christ, it cannot be ruled out that these witnesses will perform works like these. And during the time of Elijah, he was sent to a widow of Zerapath in Sidon where he saved her house from famine, and when her son became sick and he died, Elijah raised him from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-27). And the bible tells us that Elijah is still to return before the great and fear inspiring day of jehovah begins (Malachi 4:5), and the day of Jehovah is the great tribulation that will last for 3.5 years, it is marked and begins by Satans ousting from Heaven. So, the 2 witnesses to come,are indeed Elijah, who will set all things staright and lead many men back to God. And they will perform many powerful works, and as Jesus himself said, not only perform works greater than he did, but be witnesses of him to the most distant corners of the earth, and on this account they will be hated (Matt 21:21 Acts 1:8 Matt 24:14 24:9). So, will be the raising of the dead be part of their witnessing mission? we dont know, all we do know is that they will have powers to perform great works, as were the apostles, and by faith in Christ they will perform them. But, can you imagine the crowds they will draw when they do arrive and start doing these things? I think it would be hard not to notice them. But,as discussed, a resurrection of the dead this side of Gods Kingdom cannot be ruled out. The all the evidence there it is possible, for we have the accounts in the Bible concerning Elijah, Christ, the Apostles and the Aostle Paul himself. For man indeed all things are impossible, but not for God if one really believes (Matt 19:26) report abuse
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 written by Anthony Mathenia , June 22, 2009 Mark, This one of those things that stood out to me early on when my eyes were being opened to the Truth. I wrote about it on my blog - http://www.anthonymathenia.com...tionships/. Thanks for bringing out this information about the "trees of life". It is incredible just how much glory and honor the GB continues to heap upon themselves. While I do not like their apostasy and idolatry I can only hope that honest-hearted ones will be able to see this more and more ... report abuse
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 written by JoJoJones , June 25, 2009 After reading this great post, I realize that even though I have been out of this cult for more than 20 years, it still sickens me to think about the 10 or so wasted years I was in it, believing it to be God's literal truth. It is anything but, and I feel for all the poor souls still in it thinking they have the truth and believing in an organization as the channel to our Heavenly Father rather than Jesus. Ugh. Also, it is so sad that they believe their New World Translation Bible to be accurate above all other Bibles when that is simply not the case. Greek and Hebrew scholars have been able to prove this, and the five men who translated the NWT didn't really know what they were doing. Either that, or they were being devious in order to make the Bible mean what they wanted it to mean, wanted to bring it in line with their own doctrines. Anyway, the thought of all those Jehovah's Witnesses being misled and feeling helpless about it is so depressing. report abuse
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 written by jules , June 26, 2009 sour grapes by sound of it, you were probably trying to be somebody when you were rejected, reap wot ya sow report abuse
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 written by radu , June 29, 2009 returning to your vomit, are you? report abuse
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 written by Dharminder , July 03, 2009 I think you've hit the nail on the head. I have just become a christian and realised that only through Jesus can you be saved so a Jehovah's witness has a relationship with an organisation which is very sad. I am glad that I'm now free from Jehovah's witnesses and it has no emotional hold on me anymore. report abuse
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 written by yahkins , July 05, 2009 God bless you Mark... I hope you gather to worship somewhere, I used to be in Worldwide church of God-Herbert Armstrongism many years ago, I still get sick to my stomach when my parents in law spout all that nonsense still. Now I attend and serve in a Presbyterian church and yes they are not perfect (they believe in eternal torment which I find contrary to the nature of God), but they let me hold and even express my view freely, so they're closer to perfection than my Church of God experience. They hold onto inspiration of Scripture, and God wanted me serving there; He answered my prayer with signs to affirm this. We are truly saved by faith alone thru Christ alone, all the rest is man trying to add to what God has done. True faith is never alone, but has works which reveal our salvation: That we have received a new nature of Christ, the second Adam. Just as we had been born into a life of sin and death because of the curse given for what Adam did; we now have been born into the Spirit of the life of Christ (Rom.  cool report abuse
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