Posts by Vanderhoven7

Christianity became tribal, creating disdain, resentment, & even hatred among Christians worldwide. Prime example, Ireland. Every "tribe" claims to have the truth.

Yes, that's true of Watchtower religion as well. However, let's not paint all churches with one condemnatory brush. Many churches in the world do not claim special and unique status.; They preach Jesus as Lord and Savior. They don't advertise, "Come to a victorious organization for salvation."

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

Hi Godbeliever,

What can I say is that everything is about power and control of the state. Who dare to challenge that gets punished.

Looking at the Watchtower now:

Everything is about power and control of the organization run by the evil slave who has written himself into the salvation formula, that denigrates the Bible, elevating himself above scripture, destroying families over extra-biblical commands of men and preaches an unrelatable Jesus and preaches a non-salvivic gospel turning many of their adherents into theocratic deceivers. And whoever challenges this evil slave gets punished.

If you are confident with your standing what does it matter that much. If people are honest God can save them just by reading the bible but only with His help.

The gospel is not all about me and my security in Christ. Christians should be earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints .... which has nothing to do with the Watchtower Society or it's evil leadership.

Let's recap

a. false unrelatable Christ

b. false non-salvific gospel

c. false unbiblical religion that denigrates the Bible.

d. false and evil authority

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

@Nicolaou

Yes, thanks for the spelling correction.

Peace

18

Joel Osteen

by jhine in

i am reading a lot on quora digest about this chap joel osteen.

i and other brits have said that he is hardly known in the uk .

it has been asserted that he is filling stadiums over here.

Vanderhoven7

He seems like a Christian motivational speaker. I can listen to him and enjoy his messages for about 5 minutes.

Pastor Joseph Prince, a buddy of his, is a much better and more learned grace preacher.

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

@Nicolaou,

Your distain for faith is apparent and that is why I declined and will continue to decline your invitation for a respectful discussion on faith issues.

Peace

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

@Godbeliver

Yes, Jehovah’s Witnesses have stated billions will perish at Armageddon. In fact they have written that 99.9% of mankind alive at the end will be destroyed eternally. To them, only Jehovah's Witnesses have a scriptural hope of surviving Armageddon.

Thank you for questioning my beliefs. First I believe the Bible is the word of God from cover to cover., that there is only one class of Christian, that the 144,000 symbolically represent the innumerable great Crowd of believers.

So here is how I understand what the scriptures teach concerning eschatology.

Firstly, I see 1914, 1918, and 1919 as bogus and only serving to distract from the gospel by adding to it unnecessary elements to and requirements for salvation.

Since I see Armageddon is a thing of the past, I believe in and have a hope for the resurrection of all mankind, both the just and the unjust. This is because Christ died not only for the church, but for every person who has ever lived since and including Adam.

At Christ's Second coming, the just will be raised immortal and given a body like unto His glorious body. Their destiny includes reigning over the nations in Christ's kingdom during the millennium.

The unjust will face Christ in their sins and will experience both punishment and judgment. Severity of punishment will depend on circumstance and knowledge....but every evil deed, and word spoken will be brought to light.

All those of mankind, who have not sinned against the Holy Spirit will be ruled with a rod of iron during Christ's reign. Satan will be released at the close of the thousand years and and all those siding with him will be cast into the lake of fire..I.e., destroyed eternally.

Finally, all sin and suffering and death will be eradicated and the new heavenly Jerusalem will descend to the new earth and God's dwelling place will be with man in perpetuity.

Christ is going to win big time. He will draw all men unto himself and we will forever be with the Lord.

As for who has sinned against the Holy Spirit, I will leave that to the one who alone can read the hearts of men. I Chron 28:9, Revelation 2:23

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

Yes, Jehovah’s Witnesses are under a curse because their trust/confidence is in men who have them "working hard for the reward of eternal life" while salvation and its benefits are actually gifts of God’s grace.

Salvation And Its Benefits Are Gifts Of God

SALVATION A GIFT

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

JUSTIFICATION A GIFT

Romans 3:22b-25a… for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.

Roman's 5:18 Therefore by the offense of one judgment cam upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

ADOPTIVE SONSHIP A GIFT

John_1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Romans 8:15-17 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (also Galatians 3:26)

Galatians 4:4-6 4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

ETERNAL LIFE A GIFT

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1John_5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

John 17:3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

FORGIVENESS A GIFT

Romans_5:18 And not as through one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment came of one unto condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses unto justification.

Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

Eph. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

RIGHTEOUSNESS A GIFT

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Romans 4:23-25 Now it was not written for his (Abraham's) sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

HOLY SPIRIT A GIFT

Acts 2:38-39 Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."

Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit.

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

Thank you for the encouragement Thomas!

71

Wrong Religion

by Vanderhoven7 in

we brainstormed a while back on this forum and pooled our knowledge on how to recognize false religion.

i think the list is worth reviewing and adding to if possible.

please feel free to correct and or add insights of your own to this list:.

Vanderhoven7

@Godbeliver

Don't hesitate to fill in the details.

According to your current understanding:

Who was the Faithful Slave?

When did Jesus advent occur and when did His enthronement take place?

Can people be saved and sanctified and approved by God if they believe Christ's Second coming is still future?

Can people be saved and sanctified and approved by God if they have had no contact with the Watchtower Society or it's literature and only have the Bible to go on?