Renaia: I'm sure these quotes and scriptures have been posted on your threads before. You seem to question the sincerity of Christians here; that they want to tear you away from this organization. The reverse is most likely true also; that you want to bring people back to the organization. I sense many here are sincere believers who love God. I am one of them. I'm curious to know, when the organization brings new light why is that acceptable; that they are imperfect men. But when "Christendom" has made mistakes, they are tools of the devil, deceiving their people?
The following quotes are from the organization that you belong to. My comments are in italics. What the bible actually says is in red.
EVERLASTING LIFE
At the end of the thousand years, the last trace of sin and its consequence, death, will have been destroyed...But does this reaching of perfection...mean that such persons cannot sin? No, for persons reaching that state will not be assured of everlasting life until they prove faithful against a final attack by Satan the Devil.’ Life Does Have a Purpose, 1977. Because of time I can't go into this, but my understanding from my Bible reading, is that our salvation is secure. If we feel that we constantly have to seek God's approval then we think that our works will save us. Ephesians states that it is through grace that we are saved, so we can't boast. No amount of works will save us. We do works because we are saved already.
Your attitude toward them wheatlike annointed ‘brothers’ of Christ and the treatment you accord then will be the determining factor as to whether you go into ‘everlasting cutting-off’ or receive ‘everlasting life.’ Watchtower, Oct 1, 1981. They seem to claim that they are mediators between God and man (the Great Crowd?) If our attitude towards them is wrong they have the power to withold everlasting life?
‘...One moment’s indiscretion, one lapse in good judgment, may undo all that has been built up, even jeopardizing our eternal welfare.’ Watchtower, Aug. 1, 1992. Again, this sounds like works to me.
‘Do not conclude that there are different roads, or ways, that you can follow to gain life in God's new system. There is only one. There was just the one ark that survived the Flood, not a number of boats. And there will be only one organization—God's visible organization—that will survive the fast-approaching "great tribulation." It is simply not true that all religions lead to the same goal. (Matthew 7:21-23; 24:21)
You must be part of Jehovah's organization, doing God's will, in order to receive his blessing of everlasting life.’—Psalm 133:1-3. You Can Live Forever In Paradise On Earth, 1982. Show me where in the Bible that it states that a person has to come to an organization? And if it does state that, what makes you think it's the JW organization? According to my Bible it states that if you believe in the Son that God has sent into the world, you will have eternal life. You want to do what is right because you love God. He changes you when you allow Him to work in you. We can't change ourselves.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 6:40 For the Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 17:3 Now this eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Jude 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
MEDIATOR
Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members. Worldwide Security Under the Prince of Peace. I'm doing a personal study on Spiritual Israel and hope to post it before this site goes down. It proves without a doubt that this organization has not replaced Israel; that God has made an everlasting covenant with Israel. The Jews rejected God; He did not reject them; their hearts were hardened but God is doing wonderful things to bring His chosen people back to Him. May 14, 1948 one prophesy was fullfilled when the Jews went back to their homeland. Most Jews are secular but that is changing. Their hearts will be softened. When Jesus died, we as Gentiles were grafted into that same tree.
‘Is Jesus the ‘mediator’ only for anointed Christians? …… So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the ‘mediator’ only for anointed Christians. ……The ‘great crowd’ of ‘other sheep’ that is forming today is not in that new covenant. However, by their associating with the ‘little flock’ of those yet in that covenant they come under benefits that flow from that new covenant.’ Watchtower, Apr. 1, 1979.
They recognize that they are not spiritual Israelites in the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ, nor part of the ‘chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.’—1 Pet. 2:9. 24 Yet they do benefit from the operation of the new covenant. They benefit from this just as, in ancient Israel, the ‘alien resident’ benefitted from residing in among the Israelites who were in the Law covenant.—Ex. 20:10; Lev. 19:10, 33, 34; Rev. 7:9-15. 25. To keep in relationship with ‘our Savior, God, the ‘great crowd’ needs to remain united with the remnant of spiritual Israelites.’ Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1979.
1 Timothy 2:3-5 This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus...’
PROPHESY
I don't need to say how many times this organization has prophesied in God's name and it didn't come true. Either Russell or Rutherford basically said, when the organization prophesied, that God had spoken and we couldn't change it if we wanted to. These people are the foundation of this organization. In 20 years, in 1 year, what the Governing Body says today, might become obsolete? We have new light?
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die. And you may say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Are these verses not clearenough?
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: Because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.
