Thursday, August 29, 2013

Jehovah's Witnesses feel it is important to identify and differentiate between fornication and adultery

I submit that it does not matter.

Jesus goes further in identifying adultery: "You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna." (Matthew 5:27-30)


It is important to remember that, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (James 2:10) That is why I feel the distinction between fornication and adultery is not something I would ask about. "For all have sinned" and the "wages of sin is death". (Romans 3:23; 6:23) All we can ever earn for ourselves is death.

But the good news is that Jesus has received that wage for us. “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:25) “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.” (Romans 4:4)

See what Jesus says to woman that He Himself identifies as adulterous: "“If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” John 4:10

Yes, fornication or adultery, "the wages of sin is death...

but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Jehovah's Witnesses false prophets? Do they claim to be inspired like prophets?

"The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic." - August 15, 1950, page 263.

Jehovah's Witnesses say that their writers are "spirit-directed":


The second question also reminds the candidate of his responsibility to work with Jehovah’s spirit-directed organization.—WT 06 4/1 p. 24-25

Jehovah’s organization alone, in all the earth, is directed by God’s holy spirit or force (Zech,4:6) Only this organization functions for Jehovah’s purpose and to his praise. - Watchtower, 1973 July 1st p.402



There must be agreement among all true Christians, a unified message, if people are to hear what is correct, put genuine faith in the true God and call upon Jehovah’s name with the prospect of being saved. Moreover, one spirit-directed organization must be used in connection with the sending forth of those truthful preachers of the “good news.”—Romans 10:11-15.—WT 84 7/15 10-15


What does Spirit-directed mean?


In order to assist us to acknowledge the provision of strength to stand against an archenemy, we might look to the fine spirit-directed counsel that Paul wrote to the Christian congregation—WT 72 3/1

JEHOVAH’S servants must pay attention to the spirit-directed words of Jesus Christ to the seven congregations named in the Bible book of Revelation.—WT 03 5/15 15-20

But now the receipt by the Antioch congregation of a spirit-directed letter, coupled with this visit of the two “prophets,” had settled the matter. The congregation had reason to rejoice.—Acts 15:2, 22-31.—WT 79 2/15

Reap Blessings Through Jehovah’s Spirit Guided King, public discourse to be delivered at the 2008/2009 “Guided by God’s Spirit” District Convention -- back cover Awake! May 2008



Looks to me like inspired and spirit-directed are synonyms.


"The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic." - August 15, 1950, page 263.

“Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses.” - Watchtower Apr 1, 1986 p.30-31 Questions From Readers

Sunday, August 4, 2013

My beliefs

Jesus Christ is the central message of the Bible. (John 5:39-40) Jesus is speaking literally when He says, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.” (Luke 18:31)

The gospel is the power of salvation. (Romans 1:16) The GOSPEL. If your church does not proclaim the GOOD NEWS of what JESUS has done, and is doing, FOR YOU, and instead preaches what you should do, then find a new one.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4 For through Christ we all have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. Philippians 3:9

1 John2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 27As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

I take Jesus at His Word. I quote scripture without explaining away what He plainly says. “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:38 “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:54

I have been a Christian for two years. After a year, I had found a local Lutheran Church Missouri Synod church that agrees with me on these things and I am no longer afraid; I have decided to join and receive the gifts in the church that Christ has prepared for me.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Everlasting cutting-off

Jesus was cut off from the Father, experiencing hell. "Why have you forsaken me?" (Mathhew 27:46) We do not have to experience that when our body dies. (James 2:26) "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59)

Friday, August 2, 2013

I found an email my mom wrote me after I told her that I could not stay in a cult.


Mom's words are in green. My reply is in blue, with some scriptures that I typed in black.

What about the scripture that tells us to not forsake the gathering of ourselves together? I obey.


What about the scriptures that tell us to go from door to door to preach about the Kingdom? Could you show me those scriptures please?


Mom, you say that you love me, but if you choose to not have any association with me, is that love? I am following my conscience and I am obeying God and you would shun me for that?




if you choose to not have any association with us, is that love?  My choice is to associate with you. I made that clear.




You can't just use part of the Bible and ignore the rest. Exactly my point. You keep saying that you know scriptures. God's word has power. You think I am lost. Why on earth aren't you trying to save me by using His word? If I am taking things out of context then why aren't you showing me how I am doing that, correcting me?




What about the many scriptures that call Jesus God's son and Jesus speaks of God as his Father?
I did not say that Jesus is not God's son.

Jesus is the Son of God. John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus is the Rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4 Jehovah is the Rock. Isaiah 44:6-8 Jesus is the Lord of all. Romans 10:12.  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him



Now if I am taking any of these scriptures out of context, let me know.

What I did say was that Jesus was the only mediator between God and man. I said that Jesus is my mediator. (John 14:6) I said that the Great Crowd of Jehovah's Witnesses do not have Jesus as mediator, according to the Worldwide Security book, the Watchtower and the Insight book. I said that based on John 8:24 the identity of Jesus Christ is very important and could mean your life. I said that Christ's Spirit is in me. "To make known what the riches of the glory of the mystery, this which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27) I said that the only way to please God is to have His spirit. (Romans 8:8,9)
So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.  However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this one does not belong to him.

(John 14:20) In that day you will know that I in the Father of me and you in me and I in you.-- Kingdom Interlinear

I said that God is all-powerful and can be in 2 places or persons at once, and he can be anywhere at the same time. Genesis 18 Then he said: “Jehovah, if, now, I have found favor in your eyes, please do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be taken, please, and YOU must have YOUR feet washed. Then recline under the tree. And let me get a piece of bread, and refresh YOUR hearts. Following that, YOU can pass on, because that is why YOU have passed this way to YOUR servant.” At this they said: “All right. You may do just as you have spoken.” the men seized hold of his hand and of the hand of his wife and of the hands of his two daughters and they proceeded to bring him out and to station him outside the city. Then Lot said to them: “Not that, please, Jehovah! —I am not able to escape to the mountainous region for fear calamity may keep close to me and I certainly die. Please, now, this city is nearby to flee there. So he said to him: “Here I do show you consideration to this extent also,  Then Jehovah made it rain sulphur and fire from Jehovah, from the heavens, upon Sod′om and upon Go·mor′rah. Jeremiah 23:23, 24  “Am I a God nearby,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and not a God far away? Or can any man be concealed in places of concealment and I myself not see him?” is the utterance of Jehovah. “Is it not the heavens and the earth that I myself actually fill?” is the utterance of Jehovah.

I read a Watchtower quote that said the Son of God is not Michael the Archangel and Bible verses that said that God did not call one of the angels his Son, and he did not subject everything under angels. (Hebrews 1 and 2) I read Isaiah 25:23 and Philippians 2:10,11 But I never said that Jesus is not God's Son.

Is God's name Jehovah?

He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; (Matthew 10:37) "and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength." And I do. Even if that this interferes with your beliefs.

I love you and Dad. I haven't left you. I will not leave you.

Carmen
There are only two classes of people in 1 John 3, Romans 8 and Matthew 13. I choose to be the wheat, in the spirit and a child of God. I see no other approved class or group of people. Do you? It also concerns me very much if you are not considered a child of God.