Do Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Jesus?

•  Jehovah's Witnesses belive that Jesus is a real historical figure, that he created all things besides himself (though they never say that, they always say Jehovah made such and such), they believe that he died and somehow came back (like a cloning). They call him Savior because without his death canceling out Adam's sin we wouldn't have a chance of everlasting life.

  
  Christians believe that Jesus is a real historical figure. That He is begotten of God, eternal. (Micah 5:2) That He created everything, (John 1:3) He is almighty, (Matthew 28:18) His body died on the cross (James 2:26) and the same body was resurrected (John 2:21), They call Him Savior because both His death and His life save us, make us righteous, (Romans 4:25) and we trust Him to save us (1 Thess 1:10). When we worship Jesus we are worshipping God (John 5:23, 1 John 2:23, John 12:44)

When Religion Divides

Jesus did not come to bring peace between people. He came to reconcile people to God. So, when one is a Christian and one is of the devil, there is division. Jesus let us know ahead of time:

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than ME is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for MY sake will find it.- Matthew 10:34-39

It is not the Christian that is set against the non-Christian. Christians love their enemies and bless them. (Luke 6:27-28) and pray for them. It is the non-Christian that hates.(John 15:19)

Christians can remember Christ's promise:

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. - Mark 10:29-30

Faith without works is dead.

Faith without works is dead. This is used to automatically shut down anything a non-Jehovah's Witness has to say about their faith. After all, they are not going door to door...

Our first response to this was to read the book of James to see what kind of works he was talking about. Caring for orphans and widows. Judging impartially. Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked when you see their plight. Not the works that the cults promote.

Here is another response:

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-5

Notice that it is after salvation, and after being justified (declared righteous), and after becoming heirs that this is said in verse 8: "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people."

"We all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:3-9

Once again we notice that it is being saved by receiving the gift of God, that enables us to do good works in verse 10: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Jehovah's Witnesses base their teachings on the Bible?

"Logically, to enjoy God’s backing, one must teach only what God reveals in his Word and reject teachings based on human wisdom or tradition." - The Watchtower, June 1, 2001, pp. 12-17

Compare:
"All who want to understand the Bible should appreciate that the "greatly diversified wisdom of God" can become known only through Jehovah's channel of communication, the faithful and discreet slave." - The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1994; p. 8
 

"to rely simply on personal Bible reading and interpretation is to become like a solitary tree in a parched land."- The Watchtower, June 1, 1985, pp. 19-20

"They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." - The Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1981, pp 28-29

I AM HE

I, Yahweh, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:10

"The Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like burnished brass, says these things: ... and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds." Revelation 2:23
Jesus says, "and all the assemblies will know that I AM HE."

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. John 5:22-23

It is the Son who judges the minds and hearts. It is Yahweh who judges minds and hearts.

”Before me there was no God formed, neither will there be after me. You are my witnesses," says Yahweh, "With my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he." Isaiah 43:10

"and all the assemblies will know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts." Revelation 2:23

Jesus says "unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”" John 8:24

John 18:6 "when He said to them, “I am,” they drew back and fell to the ground."


Jesus says, "I am He, do not fear." John 6:20 Greek Interlinear

Jesus says, "I am He, do not fear."

Will you listen?

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)

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