Why Did the Apostles Preach the Ministry of Reconciliation Instead of Mt. 24: 14 ...Like JW's Do?

by Sea Breeze 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Sea Breeze

  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. - 2 Cor. 5: 18

  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 5To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 6But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. - Gal. 2

  Q: Since the ministry of reconciliation is what the apostles preached, why don't JW's preach the same? Why the singular message on God's Kingdom and virtually noting about reconciling with God?
  
  
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  Disillusioned JW

  The source of the ministry of reconciliation which you presented is only coming from one source, namely from Paul. We don't have any writings from James, Cephas, or John testifying that Paul was accepted by them. We have the book of Acts but it was not written by them. We have the letters called 1 Peter and 2 Peter but modern critical scholars say they were not written by the Apostle Peter but instead are forgeries in the name of the Apostle Peter.
  

  Paul said elsewhere he never met Jesus in the flesh. Paul claimed he was convinced he saw a a supernatural risen Christ, but naturalists believe he saw only a vision which his own mind created (not a vision sent by Christ). Paul probably had temporal lobe epilepsy and such can induce a person to see visions. The historical Jesus (if he really existed) preached an apocalyptic message of the coming of the kingdom of God and the coming of the Son of Man (later Christians came to believe that Jesus was himself the Son of Man).
  
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  Sea Breeze

  The source of the ministry of reconciliation which you presented is only coming from one source,

  DJW,

  The scripture showing your view to be in error was already provided in the OP.
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  Disillusioned JW

  Please clarify what you mean by "The scripture showing your view to be in error was already provided in the OP." Do you mean the following words (ones which I didn't read till about a minute before I made this post)? "Q: Since the ministry of reconciliation is what the apostles preached, why don't JW's preach the same? Why the singular message on God's Kingdom and virtually noting about reconciling with God?"

  According to the gospels called "According to Mark", "According to Matthew", and "According to Luke" and according to the book of Revelation, that vast majority of people who ever lived will never be reconciled to God or to Christ. According to those three gospels, the primary message of Jesus was the coming of the kingdom of God to the Earth, but I now admit it does involve a message reconciliation to God. For according to those gospels, in order to enter the kingdom of God one must repent and become reconciled to God.
  

  I admit that I actually read very little of your first post of this topic. I Read the first paragraph of it and that which you boldfaced in the second paragraph, and very little else (since I have very little interest in scripture these days) before I made my first post in this topic.

  Atheism is truth - not supernaturalism.
  
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  Vanderhoven7

  The gospel proclaimed by the WTS is not even close to Paul's gospel. One JW (Dan) wrote that he was saved after the challenge. I wrote back the following:

  Dan, I'll tell you what you have and that is the empty promise of 8 men in New York that you MIGHT survive Armageddon if you stay in close association with them and believe everything they teach and obey everything they say. You might, maybe…so keep working hard for the reward of a chance to earn your way to the new earth.

  But if you die before the tribulation, these men guarantee you a resurrection and a chance to continue working for 1000 years to acquire eternal life.

  This is a man-made heretical gospel

  And you believe these men and put your faith in them.
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  ThomasMore

  Someone I loved and respected once told me that JWs was a man-made religion. As I absorbed that truth and all that it implied, I began ti understand the “Why?” behind everthing they do.
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  Sea Breeze

  I went to the KH since infancy and never heard about how to be reconciled to God. How could JW's miss this central message?

  2 Corinthians 5:18

  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
  

  2 Corinthians 5:19

  namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
  

  Colossians 1:20

  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
  

  Romans 11:15

  For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
  

  Luke 12:58

  For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.
  

  Ephesians 2:16

  and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
  

  2 Corinthians 5:20

  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
  

  Matthew 5:25

  Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
  

  Colossians 1:22

  yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
  

  Romans 5:11

  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
  

  1 Timothy 2:5

  For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

  Romans 5:10

  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
  

  Hebrews 2:17

  Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
  

  Romans 5:1

  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

  Q: Why don't JW's teach reconciliation and peace with God through the finished work of Christ? Having peace with God is amazing. Knowing that you are not in any kind of trouble with God is a huge relief!

  What a heavy price JW's pay just so they can take credit for their own salvation.