Posts by Chalam

31

Do you believe in predestination?

by jetery in

jw
friends

jw teach that your life is not predestined.

predestination means the path of your life(death) is suppose to be determined at birth right?

its kind of a confusing subject.

Chalam

Hi Kiera,

Yes you read my posts right, I agree with both viewpoints, even though they would seem to be opposed to each other.

If you studied Physics at school they used to say things like 'is light a particle or is it a wave?' Then they would go through the views that it was one or the other and discuss it. Then afterwards they would tell you it is both and one could either think of it as one or the other, depending on the application. Both are true, both are quite different and both depend on your viewpoint.

Here is another, what colour is light Look at a torch and it looks white. However, send it through a prism and light is actually all kinds of colours, some you can't even see! So different answers but both are equally true, even though they seem to disagree.

All the best,

Stephen

49

can we do a list of jw things that go "beyond what is written?".....

by oompa in

or if there is one already...point me to it...the longer i am here...the more i realize that the fds/wt may have started with good intentions like maybe the pharisees did....but they went nutso and added a zillion things not even in the bible and so have the fds...some of these things are minor and some are not...like".

1. hatred of mens facial hair and sideburns (privileges witheld if you have too much or wrong style) also length of mens hair.

2. clothing requirements, ties/jackets/suits mandatory for ministry/talks/privileges....and sisters can freeze there ass of rather than wear a hilliary clinton pantsuit or they can not be on the school.

Chalam

Well the list of written and unwritten rules that are imposed on JWs are what we would call legalism i.e following laws. As Jesus said, there are only two rules to follow, love God and love your fellow man. If you follow these then that is all you need. As Paul said, if you are trying to get to God by following the rules then if you break a single one then you break them all. It is impossible so you need the grace of God i.e. his favor which you don't deserve or can earn. JWs are trying to earn it by being good, door knocking, what the bible calls "works". The bible teaches that you need faith and works. The faith will lead to being born again and then the true works will come, not by trying or working them up but because the Spirit of God is now living inside the believer and motivating and guiding him.

Theory lesson over, that is what I find in practice too!

If you need and verses to support all this then give me a shout :)

All the best,

Stephen

31

Do you believe in predestination?

by jetery in

jw
friends

jw teach that your life is not predestined.

predestination means the path of your life(death) is suppose to be determined at birth right?

its kind of a confusing subject.

Chalam

In short, do we choose God or does he choose us is like a coin. One side says heads, the other tails. They appear to be be opposite and not compatible. However, it just depends on your viewpoint. God sees all sides of the coin at once (so to speak), he exists outside of time having created it in eternity. The only way to understand God fully is to know everything, just like God does.

Like I said, things like this can mess with our finite heads so save on the stress and just have faith as a child :)

All the best,

Stephen

31

Do you believe in predestination?

by jetery in

jw
friends

jw teach that your life is not predestined.

predestination means the path of your life(death) is suppose to be determined at birth right?

its kind of a confusing subject.

Chalam

Does God chose us or do we chose him? The best answer is that both are true!

Plenty of reading here but don't beat yourself up over the issue

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminianism

Far better to get to grips with the real issues first, who really is Jesus, why did he die, why is he coming back etc.

All the best,

Stephen

31

Do you believe in predestination?

by jetery in

jw
friends

jw teach that your life is not predestined.

predestination means the path of your life(death) is suppose to be determined at birth right?

its kind of a confusing subject.

Chalam

Hi,

It's clearly in the bible so I believe it :)

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, [ a ] who [ b ] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Ephesians 1: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he [c] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he [d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, [e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

As Paul says, it is a mystery so the key is not to get too hung up on it!

No wonder the WT doesn't believe it, they want to keep you enslaved to a never ending stream of good "works" without faith in the true Jesus.

All the best,

Stephen

15

Jesus said a "helper" would come, Holy Spririt...so why the FDS???

by oompa in

john14:25-26)25 "while remaining with you i have spoken these things to you.

26 but the helper, the holy spirit, which the father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things i told you.

jesus said the father would send the helper, and he identified it.

Chalam

Hi,

Neither is that what Joel said.

Acts 2:17 " 'In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Or Peter

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

All the best,

Stephen

144

Is Jesus Jehovah?

by lostsheep82 in

i'm watching some youtube video's from newagegamer3018.

before in my research...i watched some of his video's when he was a jw apoligist.

now he has da'd himself and is defending the scriptures, not jw's.. this is the first time ever that i actually am starting to think/beleive that jesus and jehovah are the same thing.

Chalam

Good stuff passowrdprotected, keep up those youtube moments!

OK here's another.

Is 9: 6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Another verse which mentions Jesus directly as Father and Holy Spirit.

Otherwise, calling Jesus "Father" is blasphemy, see Jesus' warning in Matthew 23:8

Here's more.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

In short, the Holy Spirit, is the Counselor who lives inside those who are born again, has the same name as Jesus, "Counselor". This is no surprise because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus (Galatians 4:6) & The Father (Romans 8:14).

Still not sure?

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Or here

John 15: 26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Now consider this verse.

Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

No surprise it says "name" not "names".

All the best,

Stephen

144

Is Jesus Jehovah?

by lostsheep82 in

i'm watching some youtube video's from newagegamer3018.

before in my research...i watched some of his video's when he was a jw apoligist.

now he has da'd himself and is defending the scriptures, not jw's.. this is the first time ever that i actually am starting to think/beleive that jesus and jehovah are the same thing.

Chalam

Hi reniaa,

Thanks for your post. Some important verses for sure.

So can I ask who you believe Jesus is?

All the best,

Stephen

144

Is Jesus Jehovah?

by lostsheep82 in

i'm watching some youtube video's from newagegamer3018.

before in my research...i watched some of his video's when he was a jw apoligist.

now he has da'd himself and is defending the scriptures, not jw's.. this is the first time ever that i actually am starting to think/beleive that jesus and jehovah are the same thing.

Chalam

Hello again,

Back to the thread question, try these verses.

Revelation 1:8 (New International Version)

8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 22:12-13 (New International Version)

12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Who's that then?

16 "I, Jesus..."

Still not sure?

Isaiah 44:6 (New International Version)

The LORD, Not Idols

6 "This is what the LORD says—
Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
apart from me there is no God. All the best, Stephen

144

Is Jesus Jehovah?

by lostsheep82 in

i'm watching some youtube video's from newagegamer3018.

before in my research...i watched some of his video's when he was a jw apoligist.

now he has da'd himself and is defending the scriptures, not jw's.. this is the first time ever that i actually am starting to think/beleive that jesus and jehovah are the same thing.

Chalam

Hi,

I was wondering what you thought about this verse then?

Revelation 22:3-4 (New International Version)

3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Or this?

Psalm 11:7 (New International Version)

7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
upright men will see his face.

Or this?

1 John 3:2 (English Standard Version)

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

So who did Moses see in these verses?

Exodus 33:19-23 (New International Version)

19 And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."

21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."

All the best,

Stephen