Sunday, July 5, 2020

Bible Study (Is the Jehovah’s Witness Doctrine False?)


By Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III, BA, MA, DD

I.                 GOLDEN TEXT.

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

LESSON NOTES:[1]

     I.            DOCTRINES DISAPPROVED. The Bible teaches and demands doctrinal agreement and speaks of it as "The pillar and ground of truth" (1 Timothy 3:15. 4:13). In Ephesians 4, Paul stresses the unity of the Church of God and gives further emphasis in verse 15: “That we be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." The apostle admonishes the Corinthians, that they "All speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among them" (1 Corinthians 1:10). In 1 Timothy 6:3-5, Paul gives a stern judgment. "If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself." Unity in doctrine then is evidently regarded as of the greatest importance to the well-being of the Church. Unity in doctrine, therefore, involves the confession of a common dogma. Dogma is defined as "Church proclamation, so far as it really agrees with the Bible as the Word of God." Therefore, anyone who teaches doctrine contrary to the dogma of the Church should be dealt with according to Titus 3:10.

Titus 3:10 10A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

II.            IT HAS BEEN ALLEGED THAT JEHOVAH WITNESSES' TEACHES: 1. The person and work of Christ - Christ's Deity, incarnation, atonement, resurrection, and Second Coming is denied. 2. The doctrines of grace relating to our salvation The Witnesses teach the believer does not have everlasting life now, but only at a future time. This is contrary to John 5:24. 3. The future wicked shall have another chance to receive Christ as Savior during the Millennium and under circumstances more favorable than those of today. This is contrary to the teachings in Psalms 9.17. Gal 5:19- 21, John 5:28-29. Hebrews 9:27. But, let us go further and see what Jehovah’s Witnesses actually teach.

III.            WHAT DO WITNESSES ACTUALLY TEACH; ACCORDING TO THEIR WEBSITE?[2] Please note that what is in red, denotes doctrinal error. The deity of Christ is denigrated in Jehovah’s Witness doctrine. We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God; God manifest in the flesh.

                             I.            GOD. We worship the one true and Almighty God, the Creator, whose name is Jehovah. (Psalm 83:18; Revelation 4: 11) He is the God of Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. —Exodus 3:6; 32:11; John 20:17.

                        II.            JESUS. We follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ and honor him as our Savior and as the Son of God. (Matthew 20:28; Acts 5: 31) Thus, we are Christians. (Acts 11:26) However, we have learned from the Bible that Jesus is not Almighty God and that there is no Scriptural basis for the Trinity doctrine. —John 14:28.

                    III.            SALVATION. Deliverance from sin and death is possible through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. (Matthew 20:28; Acts 4: 12) To benefit from that sacrifice, people must not only exercise faith in Jesus but also change their course of life and get baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 3: 16; Acts 3: 19, 20) A person’s works prove that his faith is alive. (James 2: 24, 26) However, salvation cannot be earned —it comes through “the undeserved kindness of God.” —Galatians 2: 16, 21.

                    IV.            DEATH. People who die pass out of existence. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10) They do not suffer in a fiery hell of torment. God will bring billions back from death by means of a resurrection. (Acts 24:15) However, those who refuse to learn God’s ways after being raised to life will be destroyed forever with no hope of a resurrection. —Revelation 20:14, 15.

IV.            ISSUES WITH THE JW TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE (New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures). Christ’s deity is completely denied and rewritten. The Holy Ghost is denigrated to an “it” and “active force.” This is totally contrary to Scripture.

Genesis 1:1-2 1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:1-2 NWTHS: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and desolate, and there was darkness upon the surface of the watery deep, and God’s active force was moving about over the surface of the waters.”

John 1:1 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 NWTHS. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.

Colossians 2:9 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Colossians 2:9 NWTHS. because it is in him that all the fullness of the divine quality dwells bodily.

V.                        JESUS IS NOT A CREATED BEING.[3] He is Almighty God in flesh.

Colossians 1:15-17 (NASB), "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Colossians 1:15-17 NWTHS: "He is the image of the invisible God,m the firstborn of all creation;  16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist."

Hebrews 1:6 (NASB),”And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, 'and let all the angels of God worship him.'”

Hebrews 1:6 NWTHS:  "But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: 'And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.'”

Hebrews 1:8 (NASB), "But of the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom.'"

Hebrews 1:8 NWTHS: "But about the Son, he says: 'God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness.'"

VI.                        THE HOLY GHOST IS NOT AN IT; HE IS GOD.

Acts 8:29, "Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”

Acts 13:2, "While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

VII.         JESUS IS GOD WITH US.[4]

·  John 1:1 – The Word is eternal and the Word is God. This Word is identified later as the one who became human flesh; i.e. Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

·  John 1:18 – Jesus Christ is equal with God the Father and has made Him known.

·  John 20:28 – Thomas recognized the resurrected Jesus Christ as Lord and God.

·  Romans 9:5 – Jesus Christ is God over all.

·  Titus 2:13 – Jesus Christ is not only Savior, but also the great God.
·  Hebrews 1:8-9 – The Son of God is equated with God who sits on the throne of heaven.

·  2 Peter 1:1 – Jesus Christ is both Savior and God.

VIII.PRAYER FOR SALVATION. As we close, if you have not received this Jesus pray this simple prayer:

"Father, I know that I have sinned against You. Please forgive me. Wash me clean. I promise to trust in Jesus, Your Son. I believe that He died for me—He took my sin upon Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that He was raised from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today.

"Thank You, Father, for Your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen."
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