December 27, 2007

Comparing Christianity to the Jehovah’s Witnesses

What the Bible Says About the Bible:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About the Bible:
The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God, and is His sole written authority for all people (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).	The New World Translation is the official Jehovah’s Witnesses translation. It essentially strips out key doctrines such as the deity of Christ and salvation by grace alone through faith.The Bible is authoritative only when interpreted by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, because only the Watch Tower Society receives divine illumination as to its true meaning.During the era of founder Charles Taze Russell, it was stated that his Studies in the Scriptures were necessary to understand the Bible accurately: “They are not mere comments on the Bible, but they are practically the Bible itself … if anyone lays the ‘Scripture Studies’ aside … and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone, though he has understood his Bible for ten years, our experience shows that within two years he goes into darkness.” (The Watchtower, Sept. 15, 1920)
What the Bible Says About God:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About God:
There is one true and living God, who exists as three distinct, co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Deut. 6:4; John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 2 Cor. 13:13; 1 Peter 1:2).	The Christian God is, in fact, the devil, according to Charles Taze Russell: “The clergy’s God is plainly not Jehovah but the ancient deity, hoary with the iniquity of the ages – Baal, the Devil Himself.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 7, p. 410)”The obvious conclusion is, therefore, that Satan is the originator of the trinity doctrine.” (Let God Be True, p. 101)


The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are described as deity using similar terms: Omniscient (Matt. 9:4; Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:10); God (John 10:30; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Peter 1:2); Lord (Luke 2:11; Rom. 10:12; 2 Cor. 3:17); almighty (Gen. 17:1; Rom. 15:19; Rev. 1:8); truth (John 7:28; 1 John 5:6; Rev. 3:7); eternal (Ps. 90:2; Micah 5:2; Heb. 9:14); powerful (Jer. 32:17; Matt. 28:18; Luke 1:35; Rom. 15:19; Heb. 1:3; 1 Peter 1:5).	“Jehovah” is the only name by which God rightly may be called.”… the Bible plainly states that in his prehuman existence, Jesus was a created spirit being, just as angels were spirit beings created by God…. The fact is that Jesus is not God and never claimed to be.” (Should You Believe in the Trinity? pp. 14, 20)”… it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.” (Reasoning from the Scriptures, p. 381)
What the Bible Says About Jesus:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About Jesus:
He is the virgin-born Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18-23; Luke 1:35). He is eternal God, the Creator, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and Holy Spirit (John 1:1-3, 10, 14; 10:30; Col. 1:15-20; Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 1:1-3).	Jesus is the first creation of Jehovah; Jesus then made all “other” things. (See Col. 1:16 New World Translation)”In other words, he was the first and direct creation of Jehovah God.” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 47)”… Jesus was conceived by a sinless, perfect Father, Jehovah God … Jehovah took the perfect life of his only-begotten Son and transferred it from heaven to … the womb of the unmarried girl Mary … Thus God’s Son was conceived or given a start as a human creature … Jesus’ birth on earth was not an incarnation.” (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, pp. 126-27; What Has Religion Done for Mankind? p. 231)
	“… the true Scriptures speak of God’s Son, the Word, as ‘a god.’ He is a ‘mighty god,’ but not the Almighty God, who is Jehovah.” (The Truth Shall Make You Free, p. 47)


Jesus rose physically from the dead (Matt. 12:38-40; 28:5-10; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 15:4-8; 1 Peter 1:18-21).	“This firstborn from the dead was raised from the grave, not a human creature, but a spirit.” (Let God Be True, p. 276)
Jesus is coming back physically and visibly one day (Matt. 24:29-31; John 14:3; Titus 2:13; Rev. 19:11-14).	“Christ Jesus returns, not again as a human, but as a glorious spirit person.” (Let God Be True, p. 196)”Some wrongfully expect a literal fulfillment of the symbolic statements of the Bible. Such hope to see the glorified Jesus coming seated on a white cloud where every human eye will see him … Since no earthly men have ever seen the Father … neither will they see the glorified Son.” (Let God Be True, p. 186)”Jesus returned to earth in 1914, has expelled Satan from Heaven and is proceeding to overthrow Satan’s organization, establish the Theocratic Millennial Kingdom, and vindicate the name of Jehovah God. He did not return in a physical form and is invisible as the Logos.” (Walter Martin, summarizing the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Kingdom of the Cults, p. 52)
What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About the Holy Spirit:
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the triune Godhead (Matt. 3:16-17, 28:19-20).	“… The holy spirit is the invisible active force of Almighty God that moves his servants to do his will.” (Let God Be True, p. 108)”The Scriptures themselves unite to show that God’s holy spirit is not a person but is God’s active force by which he accomplishes his purpose and executes his will.” (Aid to Bible Understanding, p. 1543)
The Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son (Acts 5:1-11).	“As for the ‘Holy Spirit,’ the so-called ‘third Person of the Trinity,’ we have already seen that it is not a person, but God’s active force.” (The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, p. 24)

What the Bible Says About the Gospel of Jesus Christ:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
Christ’s death at Calvary paid our sin debt and purchased our salvation so that everlasting life is received by grace through faith in the Person and work of Jesus (John 3:16; 5:24; Rom. 4:4-5; 1 Cor. 15:1-4; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).	“The atonement is a ransom paid to Jehovah God by Christ Jesus and is applicable to all who accept it in righteousness. In brief, the death of Jesus removed the effects of Adam’s sin on his offspring and laid the foundation of the New World of righteousness including the Millennium of Christ’s reign.” (Walter Martin, Kingdom of the Cults, p. 52)”Those people of good will today who avail themselves of the provision and who steadfastly abide in this confidence will find Christ Jesus to be their ‘everlasting Father.'” (Let God Be True, p. 121)
Once believers are justified, their salvation is eternally secure based on the finished work of Christ at Calvary and the faithfulness of God (John 5:24; 10:27-30; Rom. 8:28-39; Heb. 7:25; 10:14; 1 Peter 1:1-5).	“We have learned that a person could fall away and be judged unfavorably either now or at Armageddon, or during the thousand years of Christ’s reign, or at the end of the final test … into everlasting destruction.” (From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, p. 241)
All who receive Christ by faith enter immediately and everlastingly into Christ’s kingdom (John 1:12; 3:16; 5:24; Rom. 10:9-10, 13).	“Who and how many are able to enter in (the Kingdom)? The Revelation limits to 144,000 the number that become a part of the Kingdom and stand on heavenly Mount Zion.” (Let God Be True, p. 136)
What the Bible Says About Life After Death:	What Jehovah’s Witnesses Say About Life After Death:
At death, man’s eternal destiny is fixed in one of two places: heaven or hell (Luke 16:19-31).Hell is a place of everlasting conscious existence, where the unbeliever is forever separated from God (Matt. 25:46; Rev. 14:9-11; 20:10).	“… the claim of religionists that man has an immortal soul and therefore differs from the beast is not Scriptural.” (Let God Be True, p. 68)”Who is responsible for this God-defaming doctrine of a hell of torment? The promulgator of it is Satan himself. His purpose in introducing it has been to frighten the people away from studying the Bible and to make them hate God.” (Let God Be True, p. 98)”Hell is mankind’s common grave.” (Jehovah’s Witnesses Official Web Site)


	“The doctrine of a burning hell where the wicked are tortured eternally after death cannot be true, mainly for four reasons: (1) Because it is wholly unscriptural; (2) it is unreasonable; (3) it is contrary to God’s love; and (4) it is repugnant to justice.” (Let God Be True, p. 99)
	“Would a loving God really torment people forever? … The wicked, of course, are not literally tormented because, as we have seen, when a person is dead he is completely out of existence…. And it is also a lie, which the Devil spread, that the souls of the wicked are tormented …” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, pp. 81, 88-89)
All believers have God’s promise of a home in heaven, will go there instantly upon physical death, and will return with Christ to earth one day (John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 19:11-16).	Only 144,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses, chosen by Jehovah, will be in heaven. The remaining faithful Witnesses, after an indefinite length of time in a state of soul sleep, will be raised to populate Paradise Earth.
	“So this ‘congregation of God’ is made up of all Christians on earth who have the hope of heavenly life. In all, only 144,000 persons finally make up the ‘congregation of God.’ Today, only a few of these, a remnant, are still on the earth. Christians who hope to live forever on earth look for spiritual guidance from members of this ‘congregation of the living God.'” (You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth, pp. 125-26)
There is no opportunity for salvation beyond the grave (Luke 16:19-31; Heb. 9:27).	“Many millions that have lived in centuries past and who were not Jehovah’s Witnesses will come back in a resurrection and have an opportunity for life. Many now living may yet take a stand for truth and righteousness before the “great tribulation,” and they will gain salvation. (Jehovah’s Witnesses official Web site)


Copyright 2008 Rob Phillips

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