The scriptures provided are the rebuttal to Watchtower salvation.
What I don't see in scripture is
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and associate with an organization with headquarters in New York and work hard for your gift of salvation.
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
The scriptures provided are the rebuttal to Watchtower salvation.
What I don't see in scripture is
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and associate with an organization with headquarters in New York and work hard for your gift of salvation.
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
@Fisherman
Perhaps to your satisfaction. A gift does not require work. Gifts are received freely out of the grace of the giver.
As many as received Jesus became sons of God. John 1:12. But of course this verse does not apply to 8 million Jehovah's Witness orphans who must work for 1000 years in the hope that they finally will be adopted by a prospective Father.
Watchtower salvation is not biblical salvation. It's man-made salvation promised by men to those who find the right organization, believe in and follow the directions of its leaders and serve the organization to perhaps qualify to survive Armageddon.
More on topic, as I see it, the 1914 generation, those who actually saw the events of 1914 and understood them are long dead.
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
<<But ultimately salvation is a free gift of God that we can never merit>>
If that's the case, why are you "working hard for the reward of eternal life"? https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1972602#
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.
Fisherman, have you received the gift of: salvation, justification, forgiveness, righteousness, sonship, Holy Spirit, and eternal life? These are immediate benefits belonging to every Christian alive today. Real Christians are not working for; they are working because of God's unmerited favor.
1Jn_5:11,13 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son....13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
But it seems that your organization does not want you to believe the Bible.
"It is to the Spirit anointed Christians who will rule in that kingdom that most of the Christian-Greek scriptures is directed, including the promise of everlasting life. WT, June 15, 1974
Instead they will grant you eternal life if you associate with their organization and work hard for that reward.
"Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part ofit." (Watchtower 1983 Feb 15 p.12 )
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
Why not provide quotations rather than just references to demonstrate that your verses actually confirm WT conclusions.
it seems to me scripturally speaking, that jehovah's witnesses are emphasizing the wrong name.. it should be jesus, not jehovah.
who is the way, the truth and the life?
(john 14:6).
Wonderment
Agreed.
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
Fisherman,
One or 2 verses don’t invalidate the rest of the Bible.
The problem with Jehovah's Witnesses is that they do not believe the Bible. Oh, they say they believe the Bible but hold the teachings of men higher than God's word and in the process of establishing their own righteousness, freely ignore it's life-giving truth.
Acts 13:39 KJV — And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 5:1 KJV — Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 6:11 KJV — And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 5:9 KJV — Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Colossians 1:13 KJV — Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Romans
3:24 KJV — Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:14 KJV — In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Colossians 2:13 KJV — And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV — For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2 Timothy 1:9 KJV — Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Titus 3:5 KJV — Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Romans
1:16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation
to everyone who believes,
to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Romans 3:21-26 21 But now God has shown us His righteousness; the law and the prophets tell us about it...God's righteousness comes to all who believe, just by their believing in Jesus Christ. There is no distinction. All have sinned and are without God's glory. They become righteous by a gift of His love, by the ransom Christ Jesus paid to free them. God set Him up publicly to pour out His blood before God to take away sin through faith, to show His righteousness...Now He wanted to show His righteousness, to be righteous Himself and make righteous anyone who believes in Jesus. (Beck)
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.
it seems to me scripturally speaking, that jehovah's witnesses are emphasizing the wrong name.. it should be jesus, not jehovah.
who is the way, the truth and the life?
(john 14:6).
Hi Wonderment,
I'm not sure what to make of the destiny of the Great Crowd, or how to interpret references alluding to the Great Crowd. You are welcome to forward your thoughts on this subject!
If you have 10 minutes, check out The Real Deal on the 144,000
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
Those who base their salvation on their own righteousness and good works including organizational involvement, can never have assurace of salvation. That's the way God planned it so they would hopefully repent of their self righteousness and trust alone in Christ for the salvation he procured. Until then they sadly make God a liar.
They read I John 5 this way
it seems to me scripturally speaking, that jehovah's witnesses are emphasizing the wrong name.. it should be jesus, not jehovah.
who is the way, the truth and the life?
(john 14:6).
Thanks for sharing your soteriological beliefs Wonderment.
Do you see the Great Crowd as being New Covenant, heaven bound Christians?
obviously, the older “ anointed ” from 1914 died.
and because they were anointed, they hopefully went to heaven.
in the first century though, a newer generation did not replace the old.
Where in scripture do you find Christians who are not in the New Covenant, not entitled to partake of the emblems of Christ's death, not born of the Spirit and bereft of a heavenly hope?