Jehovah's Witnesses
Origins: In the late 19th century, Chase Taze Russell founded the belief system with his teachings disputing the Trinity, the immortality of the soul, predestination and the literal return of Christ.
Beliefs: They are called Jehovah’s Witnesses as followers of Jehovah, their name for God, and they do not accept the Christian doctrine of the triune God. Theirs is a works-based faith in which witnessing is essential. With no recognized clergy, all members are on equal footing and are equally responsible for evangelism. Believers who reach an age of accountability are baptized by immersion and immediately contribute to evangelism efforts. Members study and memorize scripture. They are famous for door-to- door evangelism and the distribution of the publication The Watchtower.
Their Holy Book: The New World Translation of the Bible, which is said to have been edited to conform with the organization’s doctrine.
Who Jesus Is to Them: Jesus, to them, is the first of God’s creations but is not deified, even though they believe His death paid the punishment for sins. As a created being, they believe He is beneath Jehovah God. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus rose from the dead as an immortal spirit being. They discount the cross as a pagan symbol and say instead that Jesus died on stake.
Followers: About 8 million
Teachings on Salvation: Their salvation doctrine is based on Revelation 7:4-8, which tells of 144,000 Jews – 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel – who will be saved. Followers interpret that to mean only 144,000 total people will enter heaven. Those who enter will be saved by faith plus works such as morality, witnessing and obedience to God. Because Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in hell, they teach the rest of humanity will remain in the grave.
The Jehovah’s Witness Path to Accept Jesus Christ as Savior
The Alpha and the Omega
Jehovah God is worthy of all worship and glory. As Creator and Sustainer of all created things, He is mighty, and He is worthy of all our worship and praise. He is the Alpha and the Omega.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and He will be My Son.” (Revelation 21:5-7)
Jehovah alone is the First and the Last; He is the living one who holds the keys to death and Hades.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.” (Revelation 1:17)
I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. (Revelation 1:18)
Did you catch that? God “was dead”! But when did God die?
One True God
You worship the one true God, Jehovah. Christians do as well. But we recognize that the eternal Godhead – though one God – expresses Himself through the persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”’ (Genesis 1:26)
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
Each personality of the three-in-one Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – are equally God. And Jesus Christ came to earth as God in flesh, fully God yet fully man.
In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form (Colossians 2:9)
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 2:5)
And as the long-awaited Messiah, as Jehovah God expressed in flesh, Jesus is worthy of glory, honor and worship.
When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the home, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. (Matthew 20:10-11)
Why Jesus Died
Jesus died so we wouldn’t have to. Dating all the way back to the Garden of Eden, a blood sacrifice has been required for sin. But only God Himself – perfect and sinless – could ultimately pay the price for our atonement.
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. (1 Peter 3:18)
Death had no victory over Christ. He rose again so that we may live eternally with Him. His resurrection, witnessed by more than 500 people, is historical fact testified to in secular history.
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. (Luke 24:39)
He came that you could be assured of an eternity in heaven with Him. Only a cruel god would have required Jesus’ death if it didn’t complete the work of our justification. But we don’t serve that kind of God. Our God is merciful. Our God came to us to do what we couldn’t do for ourselves. All that is required is that you believe.
For it is by grace we are saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
And someday He will come again – a glorious sight to those who believe, and a fearsome one to those who don’t.
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky; and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (Matthew 24:30)
Where will you spend eternity? Are you assured a place in heaven? You can be. Jesus is calling your name. Will you declare Him your Savior and Lord?