What do you think is the reason some members of the congregation never slow down or get tired out?
Two words - Will worship
Colossians 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of
wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in
any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. -KJV
Romans 8:13 “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
God says that when we try to do things by will-power alone,
it is nothing more than idolatry and only satisfies the flesh. It is offensive
to him and deadly. It does not address
the real problem of sin and only puts up a show of righteousness.
As a group, JW’s are not known as lazy people. Many members
have admirable powers of self-discipline, industriousness, and character.
However, I learned that Jesus is not asking us to try harder, run faster &
jump higher to be good enough for Salvation. That’s the good news. The bad news
is that he is asking us for nothing less than the death of all deeds rooted in our
flesh. He is asking us to abandon our self to him. And, in that abandonment he
promises freedom and rest. These are his terms for peace.
Jesus terms for peace with God are unusual. In the Roman
world, peace was achieved differently. The legions would march into an area
with a superior show of force and many times the local king would send out and
ambassador to see if terms of peace could be reached. The Romans were practical
people. They had mastered the art of war and they sought to export this
product. In exchange for a tax payment, they offered the protection of the
Roman legion against marauding bands of foreigners. The people could enjoy a limited
national autonomy, and they could enjoy the Pax Romana, the Roman Peace…. as
long as they paid the tax. This is how the major cities in Europe got their
start. It all seemed so practical.
It is against this backdrop that Jesus tells us his terms for
peace with God in Luke 14: 31-33
Or what
king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and
consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against
him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he
sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath , he cannot be my
disciple.
Jesus terms for peace with God is NOT a percentage of our works, it is ALL of them. This
is the meaning of his words where he said that, he who seeks to find his life
will lose it, and he who seeks to lose his life for my sake will find it.
Hebrews 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Jesus was once asked point blank
what the work of God was:
John 6: 29 Jesus answered and said unto them,
This is the work of God, that ye believe
on him whom he hath sent.
Jesus reveals that our most basic
responsibility before God is to believe him. A split second BEFORE Eve sinned;
she made a decision not to believe God. Belief is a CHOICE. Our obedience to
what Jesus commands proves our belief is real. JW’s love to quote James 2 where
it says, “faith without works is dead.” That is true, but it must be God
working in us both to will and to do, or else it is still tainted by sin. And, the only way that is going to happen is
to be born again with a new spirit.
Col. 1: 27 …God
would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles; which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory:
2 Cor. 5: 17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he
is a new creature:
Gal. 2: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me.
Having
to be born again is offensive to our intellect and our pride. Humans want to
believe they are good enough for God. They imagine a false God that will accept
their works. However, we must deal with the God we have, not the one we
imagine. For Jehovah’s Witnesses this is a great obstacle. They are very proud
of their works before God. And, only an understanding of Judgment, and the
payment made for each of us by Jesus Christ can motivate a person enough to get
past their pride and hurt feelings in my opinion.