Pat
Well-Known Member
Reminders and Final Thoughts: Jesus is Jehovah
My encounters with Jehovah’s Witnesses are becoming less frequent now that COVID-19 has upset their personal visits to my home. But their invitation letters in the mail and their deceptive phone calls remind me that there are still false prophets and teachers out there who persist in bringing destructive heresies to us. * That may seem like a harsh statement, but Paul told us in Galatians 1:8, “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” The Watchtower Society of the JW’s preach a false Gospel. How is it false? First, as with all cults, they deny the authority of Scripture. When they invented their own Bible paraphrase, they became their own authority. Second, they teach that salvation is earned by doing good works. This is in direct opposition to God’s Word which says we are saved by grace through faith. Finally, they deny* that the Lord Jesus is Almighty God. Today, I will focus on the last of these false teachings. It is quite easy to prove, even from their own New World Bible “translation”, that Jesus is not Michael the archangel as they claim, but He is Jehovah God. * 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1
I initially establish with them that I attest, as they do, that there is only one Savior, who is identified as the LORD {Jehovah.} Reading from Isaiah 43:10-11, (by which they derive their name,) “You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I am the LORD; and beside me there is no Savior.” Once we again agree that this is a true statement, I direct their attention to the New Testament book of Titus. There we read in 1:3, “But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior.” Asking them to identify who God is in this passage, they confidently declare that it is Jehovah. But then they get very uncomfortable when we continue reading in verse :4, “To Titus, my own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” Since we’ve already established and agreed that there is only one Savior, and that He is Jehovah, I ask them to identify who Jesus Christ is in this passage. It is here that they have no answer that will affirm their false doctrine. They must either admit that Jesus is Jehovah, or that there is more than one Savior. As good JW’s they can do neither, and there are no other legitimate answers. The visit often ends there, and they excuse themselves from any further discussion. Titus has two more references that identify both God and Jesus as Savior. Titus 2:10 with 2:13, and 3:4 with 3:6. Even a cursory reading of the Scriptures reveals that Jesus is the manifestation of the LORD God Jehovah. One such verse, along with a host of others is, “…great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,” 1 Timothy 3:16a
Final Thoughts: No matter which denomination or religious group we encounter, it is never productive to get upset with, argue with, or belittle them. But it is always good to present the facts of Scripture, especially concerning the Gospel. Knowing a bit about each false religious group’s doctrine will help us to know which part of the Gospel they pervert. But what is more important, is that we know what the truth is, and how to present it clearly. Knowing what we believe is good. Knowing what, and why we believe it is better. Knowing what, why, and where it is in scripture, then reading it to them is best. A 3x5 card tucked in your Bible, that has key references written on it to share with these false teachers is not cheating, it’s smart. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16
