Bill Parker

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Posts by Bill Parker

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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

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  Bill Parker

  BJC:
  You asked: "How do we know the Bible writers were inspired." Fair question. You seem to believe that the "Chieftain is" So then why do you have so much trouble believing that the Bible is?" If we believe that Jehovah is who He say's He is, and that He will do exactly as He has promised to do; and if we believe that Jesus is really the Son of God and has really accomplished what He set out to do. Opened the way for us to receive foregiveness for ours sin's and be able to approach now Jehovah in humble heartfelt prayer to receive that foregiveness then of necessity we must believe the Book that answers all the questions that we can put forth regarding those things. Now if we really do not believe any of that then why are we sitting here on this board batting things back and forth that have to do with this Book? Particularly when some do not believe that the Book is not even inspired as is your belief. Many have pointed me to other Books written by various writers today that say this or that about a variety of scriptural subjects. Its funny people today will accept what is written in THOSE BOOKS as though everything they are told therein is carved in stone. Is it really though? Can the things they say be backed up by current events as the Bible can and is every day now? While I quote this next scripture at Ezekial 33:33 keep in mind all of the things Jesus foretold that would identify the period known as the last day's, and the sign of His coming. Matthew 24. Mark 13, Luke 21- "When this comes to pass-for behold it will come!-then shall they know,understand, and realize that a prophet has been among them" Everything that Jesus foretold for the first century christians came true. Everything that He foretold for the last days of our system has come true is coming true every day. He said: "if these days were not cut short no flesh would be saved, So we can from that statement expect things to get much worse. THey are every day now. So the fulfillment of all of the things Jesus uttered stamps Him as a true prophet of God because evrything He stated has come true is coming tue every day Fear is building around this world because of the threat now of nuclear and biological warefare. If that gets going full tilt there will be no one left alive on this planet. Focus your attention on the news of the day. Something very catastrophic is in the making right now. The BIble foretold it all. That stamps it in my mind as the inspired word of Jehovah God. Is everybody going to believe? Why the Bible even covered that point too. 2Peter 3:3' "To begin with, you must know and understand this, that scoffers {mockers} will come in the last days with scoffing, {people who}walk after their own fleshly desires.And say, where is the promise of His coming? For since the Forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation." Are those scoffers here today? I'll let you answer that for yourself.The bible even foretold the conduct and actions of people on the earth in our time period at 2 Timothy 3:1-5.Is more convincing evidence needed than that. You may need it! I do not! Bill
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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

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  2. 
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  Bill Parker

  SixofNine:
  When I wrote the article I was aware that there were divisions among those first Century Christians. The Apostle Paul made that clear in 1Corinthians 11:16-18. His councel to them at that time was: :"But in what I instruct you next I do not commend you, because when you meet together,it is not for the better but for the worse.For in the first place,when you assemble as a congregation,I hear that there are cliques {divisions} and factions among you; and I in part believe it.For doubtless there have to be factions or parties among you in order that they who are genuine and of approved fitness may become evident and plainly recognized among you" ... In my discussion I was talking solely about those teachers who were chosen by Jehovah through Christ. Those one's who were taking the lead in preaching and teaching. Look in the congregations today. As in the fist century there are the same kind of factions and divisions going on among the witnesses. Trouble is up to now there is no one like Paul among them to give the needed councel that would discourage that sort of thing. Rather it is encouraged. You know what I am talking about if you sat there for any length of time. So do many others. They play one person against the other with some of their so called Christian practices. Some are exalted to heaven high places while others are put down so low {and they were there already in their own minds}. Then the superfine one's hand them a shovel so that they can dig down deeper. Teachers like Paul are desperately needed today to set matters straight. Do you think we will ever see them there? I have met a few of the people on this board personally. One individual I have in mind I would like to mention. You see we really do not know some of the people on this board personally. This person I mention who I have come to know is a really nice individual. Very kind and generous. Sometimes while I'm sitting talking to him the saddness that he is feeling becomes very evident. It is almost an overwhelming saddness. You cannot help but pick it up. He will not talk too much about it. So what I try to do is be as kind and friendly to him as I can. You see "I have been there I have done that" and because I have I now can have deep feeling for the others who have and are going through what I myself have gone through and am still going through. So if that makes me some kind of mentally deranged individual maybe we need a few more like that. Bill
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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

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  2. 
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  Bill Parker

  BJC:
  From reading your post it becomes obvious that you were not paying attention when you read mine. Try reading it again! "All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people's lives and teaching them to be Holy.This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work." My article's focus was the refuting of religious error. I used the Bible and did that. No one really has to be inspired today. The Bible writers were inspired. The Book itself is an inspired book. What is required is for one to sit down and "Ponder over these things be absorbed in them that your advancement may become manifest" 1 Timothy 4:15. I f 0ne has spent many years pondering over Jehovah's truth's feeding his mind daily on them then Jehovah's Spirit can recall all of things necessary for imparting those truths to others. John 14:26 Jehovah is the one who does the teaching. Not only in the first century but today as well."But you have not lost the anointing that He gave you, and you do not need anyone to teach you, the anointing He gave teaches you "everything; you are anointed with truth, not with a lie" 1 John 2: 27 So you are quite wrong in your reasoning! So is the "Chieftain!" King David said: "The spirit of the LORD has spoken through me and His word is on my lips" 2 Samuel 23:1,2 It is no different today. Any faithful Christian today can claim the same as David did.When Jehovah "enlightens the eye's of the heart" one then can understand the Holy writings. Ephesians 1:18 Coupled with that one has to be "granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of God"Matthew 13:11.It's true that interpretation of scripure belongs to God but He has always conveyed the correct interpretaion of scripture to His servants the Prophets. He has spoken via the medium of His Holy Spirit through trusted faithful individuals. Just as KIng David said.
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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

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  2. 
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  Bill Parker

  Englishman:
  The answer to your question is yes. I believe that that pratice is not meant for Christians today. I am not saying that the willfully wicked shouldn't be removed. I am saying that I do not believe that it is any man's business to do that today. My twenty two page article on Apostasy covered that point in depth. It is still on the board. It is a long read I know. Perhaps you could quickly scroll through it until you get to where that is covered. Examine only that portion. Let me know what you think about my reasoning.Look at the parable of the wheat and the weeds.The disciples asked Jesus: "Do you want us to collect them out." Jesus told them: "NO" "Let them grow together until the harvest season." HE said that He would send forth the angels to do that work. He is the only one who can really tell the difference between those weeds and wheat. He did not want them to take the chance of pulling up the wheat along with the weeds. He was saying at that point without saying it, you cannot read the heart!Only Jehovah's appointed judge can do that Will do that. First Century Christians who had those special gifts of the spirit could read the heart.They were empowered by Jehovah to do that. So where corinthians say's to remove the wicked man from among yourselves,because certain one's could read the heart , they could carry out that command. Who today can read the heart as those first century christians could? There is no one. That is why I do not agree with the action of disfelloshipping marking and shunning. Bill
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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  To all with the exception of Englishman!

  You are all entitled to your opinions. At the same time I am entitled to mine. Who is right who is wrong will be made known by Jehovah when He is ready to do it. If I am wrong I will be chastized by Jehovah. If you are then you will be chastized. Let's wait and see how it all turns out.I will continue on with what I am doing. Because my own coscience is impelling to do what I do. You continue on with what you are doing. I think that's fair. I can live with that. You should be able to too.Bill
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  17

  Present the truth as taught by the Master!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  but when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.. a case in point is the belief of the trinity doctrine.

  still another is the belief in torment in a fiery place called hell.

  how did he say that we should worship his father jehovah?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  PRESENT THE TRUTH AS TAUGHT BY THE MASTER!

  Saturday, December 01, 2001

  There are many religious doctrines that are presented to us today by various Christian scholars; and individuals who believe that the Bible supports their beliefs. But when called upon to support their beliefs with scripture they are unable to present a solid scriptural discussion that cannot be refuted.

  A case in point is the belief of the “Trinity Doctrine.” Another is the belief in the teaching of an “Immortal Soul.” Still another is the belief in “Torment” “in a fiery place called Hell.” “ Purgatory” is still another.

  Are these teachings biblically sound? If so how should they be presented to others? Does the Bible mark out a particular way to present these teachings so that it is impossible to refute them? We will see that it does. If it does not then they are false teachings and to be avoided.

  If we find that the Bible does not support these teachings would we be willing to discard them in favor of what the Bible really does say about them?

  What is the scriptural way to present all of the truths found in the Bible? What did Jesus Himself have to say about this matter? What method of teaching did He impart to the 1st century Christians? How did He say that we should worship His Father Jehovah?

  The answer to the last question can be found in the account in John 4: 5-26.
  … Jesus said: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour will come- in fact it is here already- when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth: this is the kind of worshiper the Father wants. God is Spirit, and those who worship MUST worship in spirit and truth.” {Verses 21-24} Before I discuss this scripture any further I would like to draw attention to what the Bible has to say in the prophecies of Daniel. “ But you O, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book until the the time of the end. {Then} many shall run to and fro and search anxiously {through the book}, and knowledge {of God’s purposes as revealed by His Prophets} shall be increased and become great.” {Daniel 12:4} … “ and they who are wise and understanding among the people shall instruct many and make them understand” …{Daniel 11: 33} … “ and none of the wicked shall understand, but the teachers and those who are wise shall understand.”

  When Jesus appeared on the earth the end of the Jewish system of things was very close at hand. So at that time they were living in the “time of the end.” In Matthew 24: 1,2 Jesus foretold the complete destruction of the Jewish Temple. In 70 c. e. that prophesy was fulfilled when the Roman Army led by General Titus completely destroyed the Jewish Temple. That is now a matter of history.

  From Daniel’s time right up to time of Christ the Book was sealed. So no one alive in that time of spiritual darkness could understand what was written in Jehovah’s word of truth. It was sealed until the time of the end. As Christ began His ministry the seal on the book was removed. Then the first application of Daniel 12:4 went into effect. … “ Knowledge of God’s purposes as revealed by His Prophets was increased and became great.” {Daniel 12:4} This of course would have a chain reaction. Those who were wise and who understood Jesus teachings would in turn impart their knowledge to other wise one’s. We read in Romans 10:18 about the great impact Jesus Ministry had on the World of Mankind at that time. Those whom He chose to send out filled the entire inhabited earth of their time with that knowledge.

  This brings us back to where Jesus spoke to the Samaritan Woman at the side of the well. The conversation He had with this woman explains how they accomplished this feat. “The hour will come- in fact it is here already when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth” …John 4:23 Those He taught were able to accomplish that earthshaking preaching campaign because they were worshiping the Father in “spirit and truth.” What exactly does that mean? Turning to 1 John 5:6 informs in part: “the spirit is the truth.” In 2 Peter 1: 19-21 we learn this: “So we have conformation of what was said in prophecies and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises rises in your minds. At the same time we must be most careful to remember that the interpretation of scriptural prophecy is never a matter for the individual. Why? Because no prophecy ever came from man’s initiative. When men spoke for God it was the Holy Spirit that moved them.” In 1 John 5:6 we learn that “the Spirit is the truth.” The Apostle John informs us “that no lie can come from the truth.” 1 John 2:21. Compare Titus I: 2-Hebrews 6:18. Speaking about those faithful men who took the lead in the first century the Apostle John in Revelation 14:5 tells us about them: “ They never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.” Every word they taught was exactly what Jehovah wanted them to say. They were all “filled with Holy Spirit.” They gained and maintained that Spirit right to the end of their lives. That is why they were able to fully accomplish their ministry. Acts 2: 1-13, 14-21

  In our day are we able to follow a like course? Of necessity we must! The way to do exactly as all of Jehovah’s faithful witnesses have done is clearly marked out in the Bible.

  Beginning with 1 Corinthians 1:10 we read this: “ But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissension’s or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and your opinions and judgments.”

  So everything we believe and teach must be exactly in harmony with those 1st Century Christians with absolutely no deviation. Paul counseled us … “not to go beyond the things that are written” 1 Corinthians 4:6. In harmony with that statement are the words of the Apostle Luke at Acts 26:22 where he stated: “ to this day I have had the help which comes from God … and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, asserting nothing beyond what the Prophets as well as Moses declared would come to pass.” Then we learn from the Apostle Paul, this: … “Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Corinthians 13:1 So in every teaching or interpretation of scripture that we put forth must be in full harmony with those early Christians. We must examine every teaching today by looking to those ancient writers for guidance. We must use these faithful men as our “two or three witnesses” to establish every teaching as to whether it is true or false.

  In the matter of the Trinity doctrine we will look to what those ancient Prophets believed to see if it harmonizes with this teaching. It must be remembered I only need three of the ancient witnesses to establish what I say as the truth! At Deuteronomy 6:4 we read this: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is ONE LORD.” {The only LORD} This same witness penned these words in Psalms 83:18. “That they may know You, whose name ALONE is Jehovah, are the most High over all the earth.” The Prophet Malachi wrote: “Have we not all ONE FATHER? Has not ONE GOD created us?” Malachi 2:10. Zechariah wrote: “And the LORD shall be King over all the earth; in that day the LORD shall be ONE … and His name ONE.” Zechariah 14:9 Compare I Corinthians 15:28. So we see that those ancient witnesses did not believe or teach the doctrine of the Trinity!

  What about the 1st Century Christians? For the bible to be a complete harmonious whole they would have had to be in full accord with those ancient witnesses. Were they? Notice the Apostles Paul’s words at Ephesians 4: 4,5. {There is} one body and one spirit-just as there is also one hope {that belongs} to the calling you received- {There is} ONE Lord, {Jesus Christ} one faith, one baptism. ONE GOD and Father of us all Who is above all {Sovereign over all”}… The Apostle James wrote: “You believe there is ONE GOD; you do well. So do the Demons believe” … Jesus told His followers: … “ONE” is your Father, the Heavenly One.” Matthew 23:9. It can be seen from this that none of Jehovah’s faithful people ever believed or taught the doctrine of the Trinity. Since the Demons were at one time dwelling in the heavenly realm they would have known for a certainty just how Jehovah should have been viewed. They did not believe that He was a three in one God. They knew He was only ONE GOD! That knowledge caused them to shudder. As it should the Trinitarians!

  Even and with much more importance was Jesus own view because He also existed in the heavenly realm before His presence on earth. He stated Himself “Why do you ask me about the perfect and essentially good? There is only ONE who is good {perfectly and essentially”} …Matthew 19: 17. The matter has been scripturally established at the “mouth of more than the required “two or three” witnesses! The Trinity doctrine is a false teaching!

  Who in their right mind would want to argue against what the Son of God Himself taught about this matter? All of the 1st Century Christians referred to Jesus as the “SON OF GOD”, not GOD! There are many, many references in scripture to support that. There are also many references to show that Jesus and His Father are distinctly different and show clearly that Jesus is not Jehovah. To cite them all would make my discussion book length. Those references are there. Truth hungry one’s will search them out for themselves. Those with no spiritual appetite will not bother.

  What about the doctrine of “Purgatory?” Do the dead really go into this place and await their judgment. Then later receive their rewards or punishments? What do the ancient and 1st Century Christians have to say about this teaching?

  What punishment did Jehovah pass on the perfect pair that He put in the Garden of Eden? Did He say that they were going into a place called Purgatory? I have never read that! Neither has anyone else! He told them: “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surly die.” {Genesis 2: 17} So then where do the dead go after they die? Where does the Bible say they are? Does it say there are in Purgatory?

  I guess the words of Jehovah God are sufficient in this case to establish the matter sufficiently. But I will supply other witnesses to buttress my argument. Jehovah told the pair: “In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return.” Think about this! Would Jehovah sentence a perfect pair of people to die to return to the dust; and then allow imperfect persons to suffer agonies in torment in a fiery hot place? That would be much more punishment than the perfect pair received. That would certainly throw the divine scales of justice out of balance. The Psalmist wrote: “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no help. When his breath leaves him, he returns to his earth; in that very day his {previous} thoughts, plans, and purposes perishes.” {Psalms 146: 3,4} All of these witnesses together put to death the Hell Fire Teaching, the Purgatory doctrine as well as the doctrine of the immortal soul! At Ecclesiastes 9: 5 we read: “For the living know that they will die. But the dead KNOW NOTHING; and they have no more reward {here}, for the memory of them is forgotten.” Verse 10 reads: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol {the place of the dead}, where you are going.”

  This article thus far has clearly shown that all of the aforesaid teachings are totally out of harmony with all of the Bible writers. Some do not believe that the preaching work should be done today. This idea has also been shown to be a false idea. In as much as it is being done in our day. Is foretold that it would be. Has been done for quite some time now. None of the ancient Prophets or 1st Century Christians taught such things as have been dealt with here. They are all false teachings. That has been conclusively proven! They have completely “gone beyond” what all of the Bible writers spoke and taught. Those who are guilty of teaching those God dishonoring doctrines, as well as all those who in turn believe and teach them themselves are in dire peril. Why?

  Notice the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8,9. “But even if we or an angel out of heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, he is to be condemned.” In verse nine he repeats this statement. All of the teachings under consideration are “contrary” and “different” to what the ancient Prophets spoke and wrote. They are a babble of confusion designed to mislead those searching for truth.

  Some today believe and teach that we must follow and apply the Mosaic Law. Should we? Does the Bible support this idea? The point that I am about to make about this I will establish at “the mouth of three witnesses.” The point is this: The nations of the world were never taken into that covenant. They were not then or now under that covenant. They were not included at the time that Law was brought into being. So they were never obligated to follow that Law. Here are the three witnesses that support what I have said. Psalm 147:19,20 “He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; and as for His ordinances they have not known them. ”Amos 3:1,2 continues: “Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt: You ONLY have I known …of all the families of the earth” … Romans 3:1,2 supplies the final witness to establish what I have stated as the truth. … “ {Only} the Jews were entrusted with the oracles the brief communications, the intentions, the utterances of God.” Jehovah does not hold guilty the nations for anything written under that law. If they try to apply that law now they are rejecting the ransom sacrifice. Then they will be held guilty! By doing that they put themselves under obligation to perform the whole law. If anyone sits down opens their Bible and reads completely chapters 3 and 4 of Galatians they will clearly recognize that no one today is under the Mosaic Law. Notice what Paul said in Galatians 5:4: “ if you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the law, you are brought to nothing and so separated {severed} from Christ. You have fallen away from grace” … Paul tells us in Colossians 2:14 that the old Mosaic law was “taken out of the way” it was “nailed to the Cross” {tree-stake} Pick one! Note Hebrews 8: 7-13. Specifically verse 13. “When He said a new covenant He has made the first obsolete.” Romans 10:4 tells us: “For Christ is the end of the Law” …So those who tell us that we must observe that law is teaching a false teaching. Scripture overwhelmingly supports that. So much so that it is a subject to deal with at a later time.

  “Who really is the faithful Slave” today? It is all those who profess to be Jehovah’s Witnesses today! Those who have their feet firmly planted in the footsteps of Christ following exactly the guidelines He laid out in dispensing spiritual truths. They must do as those first Century Christians did. When they learned the truth they discarded their way of worship under the Mosaic Law. In favor of true worship. Others as well at that time did likewise. They abandoned the false way of worship that they were following. They began presenting the truth just as Jesus had taught them to. Can we today do any less and expect to have Jehovah’s favor and blessing? Absolutely not!

  Jesus told His followers “What you hear whispered Shout from the house tops" {Matthew 10: 27}

  The entire brotherhood of Jehovah’s witnesses today worldWide must now follow this direction. They have heard something that was whispered. Does fear of man’s oppressive tactics {Disfellowshipping} {Marking} {Shunning} hold them back from shouting from the housetops something that they have heard whispered? Then their fear is misplaced. “It is Jehovah your God you should fear and Him Alone you render sacred service” Luke 12:5

  Those who really do follow the example set by Christ will incur the hatred of all that are not lovers of Jehovah even though they may profess to be. They will suffer the ill treatment inflicted upon them by oppossers. They will be ridiculed, insulted abused in every way possible. Should that discourage anyone? Not in the least! All of Jehovah’s faithful servants suffered treatment like that! It served to show that the Spirit of God was resting upon them. 1 Peter 4:14. It was a cause for great joy! When we are not receiving treatment like that we are doing something wrong! So expect it. Enjoy it when it comes. When it does you will know that you are presenting the truth exactly as the Messiah presented it! End!
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  15

  "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE"-REALLY???

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  unconditional love really?

  some today believe that all anyone has to do is believe on the lord jesus christ.

  just believe that this unconditional love is enough for us to gain this free gift.

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  Bill Parker

  “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” REALLY? ?

  Some today believe that all anyone has to do is “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Just believe that this “unconditional love” is enough for us to gain this “free gift.” Is that correct scriptural reasoning?

  To begin this discussion I would like to examine this word “UNCONDITIONAL” in Webster’s New World dictionary.

  This dictionary defines this word as: “without conditions or reservations; absolute” This word “absolute” is defined: “without condition or encumbrance” “Condition” is defined: “anything called for as a requirement before the performance or completion of something else”. So those who believe that they are saved merely on the basis of “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” would have us believe that we can just sit back put our feet up and relax. Everything is taken care of. Does the Bible really support that idea? Is this “free gift” really “without condition” or “requirements?” Is this “UNCONDICTIONAL LOVE ” really enough, so that nothing else is required of us?

  We might begin this discussion by looking at some of the scriptures that talk about this “free Gift.”

  It becomes clear that certain stipulations are set forth in the Bible for those seeking this “free gift.” Notice what the Apostle Peter had to say about this at Acts 2: 38. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the Free gift of the Holy Spirit.” So the first stipulation is we must “repent of our former deeds and “do works that befit repentance” Acts 26: 20. Ephesians 4:17-32 clearly lays out a list of personality traits that must be gotten rid of. When we are able to accomplish that we have done some of the “works that befit repentance.” Without doing that we would never receive that “free gift.” This shows that the idea of “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE” is not at all scripturally sound. There is much more that shows it up to be nothing more than “empty headed reasoning.”

  Focus attention now back to the scripture in Acts 2: 38! WE need that “free gift of the Holy Spirit” in order to understand the knowledge necessary for gaining everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. For John 17:3 tells us: “ And this is eternal life: {it means} to know {to perceive, to recognize, become acquainted with, and understand} You, the only true and real God, and {likewise} to know Him, Jesus {as the} Christ {the anointed One, the Messiah} Whom You have sent.” So taking in knowledge of Jehovah and His Son is a prerequisite for those who profess to be followers of Christ. Once taken in it must be imparted to others of like mind. 1 Timothy 4:15,16. If we fail to do either of these the “Free Gift” of the Holy Spirit would be withdrawn. So once it is gained it must be maintained. Gaining knowledge and imparting it to others are conditions that must be kept. So how can it be said that all we have to do is just believe in Christ, have faith in Christ and we will be saved? Some will tell us that “all we need is Faith in that unconditional love Christ displayed by dying for our shortcomings” nothing else is required. How far from the truth can you get than that? Up to this point I have left out the most important truth of all. This one will totally destroy this idea of “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.” What is that? It is this!

  Jesus whole focus while He walked this earth was to preach the Kingdom of God. He said in Luke 4: 43 … “ I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God … for I was sent for this purpose.” Jesus told us in John 13: 15 that He “set the example for us to follow.” 1John 2:6 adds this to that: “Whoever says he abides in Him ought {as a personal debt} to walk and conduct himself {herself} in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.” The Apostle Paul could say because he followed in the footsteps of Christ: Pattern yourselves after me {follow my example} as I imitate and follow Christ.” {1 Corinthians 11:1}

  Each Christian today if he wants to gain and maintain God’s Holy Spirit must follow the guidelines laid out in the Bible for doing so. He must firmly plant his feet in the footsteps of Christ and follow Him even if it leads to his death at the hands of cruel persecutors. “UNCONDITIONAL LOVE”? Not a chance! There are conditions! There are requirements that one must fill before this “free gift” is given. Jehovah does not give this gift to those with only a mere “form of godly devotion.”
  In fact His command is to “avoid all such people turn away from them.” 2Timothy 3”5

  There are those on this board who are reasonable people. They appreciate someone who is willing to share his knowledge. There are others who only like to drag others down with their nasty comments. They do that because they have little or no knowledge of Jehovah. Lacking that knowledge they lack the proper fear of Him. With nothing positive to offer they attack with slurs and insults and snide innuendoes.

  I appreciated the kindly comments of those who listened. As for the others they are really not even worth giving that much attention to.

  They will all be happy to know though that I am now deleting this board from my computer. Bye all!
• 
  18

  FOR THOSE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wednesday, november 28, 2001 .

  i can remember that prior to my study of the bible i never gave a thought to my conduct and actions.

  that was a concern far from my thoughts.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Siegswife:
  There are two kinds of faith! One has the works evidenced by that display of unconditional love that was mentioned. It is a faith that has been severely tried and tested and proven. The end result of said testing produces the works necessary to identify the individual as a true worshipper of God. James 1:2,3. Faith apart from these works of obedience is lifeless as a corpes "DEAD!" James 2:26. To have Faith in God one has to believe that He is God. The demons manifest the kind of faith that you are talking about. Believing in God and the fact He is one God really doesn't cut it. The Demon's belief causes them to shudder. James 2:19 That should tell you something!
• 
  18

  FOR THOSE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wednesday, november 28, 2001 .

  i can remember that prior to my study of the bible i never gave a thought to my conduct and actions.

  that was a concern far from my thoughts.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  Wallaby Jack!
  "arrangement" was merely a term.Nothing more than that.One hears it all the time. If you can describe it in a better way-that's fine. I did not mean it to sound cold or unfeeling. We hear many expressions today describing this or that. So you pick one you think suits. If you have had good relationships in your lifetime that's good. Some of us have not been so fortunate. Maybe we do not share your viewpoint for that reason. Anyway the sole intent of that article was to try and lift up the spirits of a few fallen souls. I suppose there are many on this board that will do as you did. Pick out an expression they think doesn't suit them and pick it apart. But you'll notice I directed the article to the one's i felt might appreciate a little encouragement. You seemed to have missed that entirely.
• 
  18

  FOR THOSE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED!

  by Bill Parker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wednesday, november 28, 2001 .

  i can remember that prior to my study of the bible i never gave a thought to my conduct and actions.

  that was a concern far from my thoughts.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Bill Parker

  FOR THOSE CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL NEED!

  Wednesday, November 28, 2001

  I can remember that prior to my study of the Bible I never gave a thought to my conduct and actions. That was a concern far from my thoughts. It never even crossed my mind.

  I must admit too, looking back on my life that my conduct and actions hurt many people. My own Mother told me one day: “Bill do you know how awful you are?” At the time I did not give that statement much thought. But those words were burned into my memory to later come back and haunt me.

  As my study of the Bible progressed I really began to get a first hand look at myself and I began to become very troubled about what I had been like in the past. Like a continuous movie, events of my life would keep flashing into my mind and my Mothers words that were etched into my mind would keep repeating themselves. “Bill do you know how awful you are?”

  As I continued with my study my life instead of getting better was becoming even more intolerable. As my knowledge increased so did my anxiety because of my awareness now of just how sinful I had been, and was even now. The fact that I seemed to have a certain propensity to sinning even though I now knew it was displeasing to Jehovah was what was most troubling of all.

  I cannot remember leaving a meeting feeling good about myself. The meetings always seemed to tear me down rather than build me up. At many of the big assemblies I would leave just to sit in my car because of hearing things that would even more deeply trouble me.

  I reached a particular plateau of knowledge and then it just seemed to stop. Some of the things that I believed, {and I was told that I must believe them on pain of Disfellowshipping} were then changed to something else. Then later changed again. IN some cases this went on many times. If I myself personally were to change any of the teachings and I was heard expressing myself to someone else something contrary to what I was being taught. There would have been a judicial meeting. Anyone in this situation was expected to repent of his or her wrongdoing or be removed. A process of “marking” and “shunning” would follow this. And has actually destroyed many family arrangements. So it was all right for them to change teachings but no one else dared try it!

  AS troubled as I was these actions only caused me more grief. I knew something was wrong but I was not certain exactly what it was. So it added to the anxiety that was already too much for me to bear.

  As I sat in the meetings listening to the speakers announcing that this one or that one whose “love for Jehovah” was so great that they were going to “be “special pioneers” or “regular pioneers” ect,ect. Then I watched as these one’s were given all of the privileges in the congregations. They were always on the platform telling of their experiences. While many others were relegated to the lowest position. This also added to my anxiety. Now I had to be concerned with the fact that because I could not at the time follow a like course I of course did not Love Jehovah as much as those. So away I went those evenings feeling even lower than before. More troubled!

  Being as aware of my sinful condition as I was I would go to Jehovah in prayer many times. I would honestly confess to all of my sins to Him. I was at times very specific mentioning to Him exactly what the particular weaknesses were. Then I would ask for the help I needed in gaining the mastery over them so that I could be found pleasing to Him as I walked before Him.

  No answers as far as I could tell ever came. The anguish and torment continued. I was in an upset state almost all of the time, without letup.
  I reached a point in my life that I wanted to die. I wanted to get from under the heavy burden that I was carrying. I prayed to Jehovah many times to end my life so that I could finally be at peace. I’m still alive so that prayer was never answered. I had sat in silence for years in the various congregations that I attended listening to things being taught that the Bible did not support.

  One night at a Book Study I had had enough. The study was in the Revelation Book. It was discussing the “coming cry of “Peace and Security.” The elder conducting the Book Study was summing up adding his comment. In actuality though all he was doing was parroting the Society’s interpretation that was not scripturally sound. I put my hand up after his comment and told him in the presence of all that what he had just stated was not correct! At that point he became very belligerent. He said in an angry tone “I am the Book Study conductor here.” Then he said I will speak to you about this later in private.” I stood up looked him in the eye and told him to “conduct away.” Then I just walked out. He was supposed to speak to me first alone as the Bible directs. Instead he went to another elder who in turn phoned me. He said: “Are you challenging the faithful Slave?” Then he said: “Do you want to leave the truth?” Then I heard: “When are you going to start celebrating birthdays?” At that point I had taken enough insults. I threatened to rearrange his face and hung up on him.

  The following Sunday during the Watchtower study I tried many times to make a comment. My hand was simply ignored. After the study I went to the Elder who I had spoken to on the phone and asked him if I “was barred from commenting?” He told me that I could comment but I was to “keep my opinions to myself!” Away went my rights and freedom’s under Canada’s Charter. I was told not “to go beyond what was written in the Watchtower.” I told them later in a letter to them, that it was the Bible the Apostle Paul commanded us not to go beyond. But they put the Watchtower articles before Jehovah’s word of truth. With that statement he violated every one of my rights and freedoms under Canada’s Charter. I left that day never to return again. I received one visit from them later. They rang my enter-phone and said they wished to speak with me. They owed me an apology. I had neither done nor said anything wrong at all. They were the one’s in the wrong. I said: “ Is this visit about the apology you owe me”. I received a gruff “No!” I then told them to “Get Lost!” They complied.

  The empty years that followed were a time of turmoil that I could never describe to anyone. My life was a time of unbelievable upheaval. Only someone who has been through the same thing would understand what I am saying here.

  I began to study and research alone. I spent many days, many hours many years pouring over the pages of the Bible as well as articles that I retrieved from the Internet and the Library. I gathered a huge amount of information about so many people who had been seriously hurt by the Watchtower Society and their Wolf like elder arrangement. As well as historical evidence that proved beyond all doubt that the particular stand that I was taking on the cry of “Peace and Security was correct beyond all doubt. AS I read their stories and looked at the inserted scriptures some of them used to prove why they believed they were treated unjustly I was finally able to piece it all together. At the end of this study I knew why my knowledge never progressed. I had been allowing others to do my thinking for me. I was accepting all of the teachings of the Society as though they were carved in stone. I was in fact violating Bible principles by doing that.

  Jehovah had instructed me and all other lovers of truth through the mouth of the Apostle John with these words: “Do not believe every inspired utterance but test the inspired utterance to see if it originates with God for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Then in Romans 12:2 I focused on these words: … “Prove to yourself the good and acceptable and perfect will of God” … Then for my third biblical witness are these words at 1 Thessalonians 5: 21 “Make sure of all things” … In all of that I learned that all of us, in order to fully please Jehovah must before accepting any scriptural teaching follow all of that scriptural direction. We do not just blindly accept everything we are being taught by religious leaders today. That is true because all of us stand alone before the” judgment seat of God”. We will be judged individually on the basis of the knowledge we possessed and how we conformed from the heart to our own understanding of the scriptures. Romans 14: 10,12

  Only recently because I was so troubled and because I began to think that I must have committed the Sin against the Holy Spirit I began to pray in earnest. Since I believed that not one of my prayers all through that troubled period had been answered. I asked Jehovah in prayer if that actually was the case. Then I asked Him that if it was, to show me that it was and that He wanted to have no more to do with me. Then I would refrain from any more prayer and trouble Him no longer.

  Shortly after I came into contact with someone who worked very closely with the Governing Body. He had left the organization. I am not certain of the circumstances in his case. We began communicating with one another through E-mails. I found that this individual had a great depth of knowledge. As I began reading his E-mails I found he possessed a very unloving attitude. He had little kindness compassion or love for certain fellow humans. He was judging others as “haters of God and his word the Bible” That is the point that I corrected him on. I believe that none of us are the appointed judges. I believe that the business of judging belongs to Jehovahs appointed judge. I told him that. I used the Bible to do that. The words that I spoke to him were not my words. They were from the pages of the Bible. In his last E-mail to me he called me a “liar” he called me “stupid” he said that I “was an evil man.” Of course now I was really feeling bad about myself.

  After thinking about it for awhile I began to see I too was sadly lacking in those qualities, although as the years went by I notice a change coming over me. I was ever so slowly developing a very caring attitude towards others. Even though I possessed much anger a gradual change in attitude was going on within me. I find now that because of all of the adversities that I have been suffering I have a little more understanding. I have a little more love. I am slowly becoming conscious of the need to show kindness to others. When I started to think about all of the changes that were slowly being made my mind for some reason went to the scripture at Hebrews12: 6 I turned to that scripture and began reading it. At that point I realized that Jehovah had been answering every prayer that I ever uttered. I realized then what had actually been going on in my life. That scripture in Hebrews 12:5,6 reads: “and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as Sons, “MY SON DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISIPLINE OF THE LORD NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE HAS RECEIVED”

  What many have been going through was foretold in Malachi 3:1-3 in Verse three it states: … “ He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver And He will purify the Priests, the Sons of Levi. And refine them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.” The prophet Isaiah helps us even more to understand what has actually been going on in our lives. We are informed: “ Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried and chosen you in the furnace of affliction.” Isaiah 48:10 now we can understand exactly what it was that the Apostle Peter had in mind when he stated: “Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange … were befalling you” … 1 Peter 4: 12-14

  From all of the foregoing it is clear Jehovah has not cast us aside at all. Quite the contrary! Everything that has been occurring in our lives and that will occur has been occurring to mold and fashion us so that Jehovah will eventually view us as worthy of entering His Kingdom under Christ Jesus.

  But the going may even get rougher as time goes on. We will still continue to fail and fall short of pleasing Jehovah. The discipline may even become more severe. The furnace of affliction may become even hotter as the refining process continues. We have to keep remembering that we are going through this process of refinement that will in the end produce “righteous fruit.”

  We have all now been brought very low. In the eye’s of others and probably in our own eye’s. That is the position every professing Christian should be in. It is wise to remain in that position! The Apostle Peter tells us: “ Humble yourselves {demote, lower yourselves in you own estimation} under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you.”1 Peter 5: 6

  What do we all have to do now? Give up because we are going through such hardships? Not at all! Jehovah like the loving Father He is will be with us every step of the way as long as we keep on enduring the fiery trials that are coming upon us. Follow the direction given by Jesus Himself at Matthew 7: 7,8 “KEEP ON ASKING AND IT WILL BE GIVEN YOU; KEEP ON SEEKING AND YOU WILL FIND; KEEP ON KNOCKING {reverently} and {the door} will be opened to you. For EVERYONE who KEEPS ON ASKING receives; and he who KEEPS ON seeking finds; and to him who KEEPS ON KNOCKING, {the door} will be opened” They can remove us from the congregations. They can mark and shun us. They can destroy our marriage arrangement. They can break up our families. They may even break our hearts and spirit. They can never though snatch us from Jehovah’s loving hands. Jesus said: “No one is able to snatch them out of my hand” and “No one is able to snatch them out of my Fathers hand.” John 10: 28,29

  All of our unanswered prayers were really answered. Not according to the way we might have wanted them to be answered. They were and are though being answered according to the way Jehovah views matters because He has our everlasting well being in mind. He knows far better than us what is in our best interests. That is why Jesus always prayed: “Let your will be done” That is the way He directed all of us to pray. Matthew 6: 9-13

  All of us now must continue to be conscious of our spiritual need and never just give up because the going is getting too tough. The hotter the Furnace of affliction gets will be our assurance that Jehovah is still dealing with us as Son’s. If we allow this refining process to mold and shape us into vessels fit for an honorable use we will make it into the Kingdom. Then under more favorable conditions Jehovah will finish our training. The Apostle Peter summed it all up nicely when he said at 1 Peter 5: 10 “ And after you have suffered a little while {in the furnace of affliction} the God of all grace {Who imparts all blessing and favor}, who has called you to His own eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be establish and ground you securely, and strengthen and settle you”. The only one who wants us to give up now is Satan the Devil. If we give up, he wins. Jehovah does not want you me, or anyone to stop worshipping Him. So never even entertain the idea of giving up. You have too much to lose but everything to gain by getting up if you have been stumbled. Begin again! The opportunity for everlasting life in Jehovah’s new order of things is right at the doors.