It has been my experience that jw' s have no concept of salvation in the traditional Christen viewpoint.
Hi Carla,
It hit me in my core when she said that. She was making fun of the idea that Jesus = salvation or that it's a free gift. She truly thinks that by dying we pay for our sins. WHAT? We all die so what's that mean then? We are all sinless at death? Where they get this stuff is beyond me. No wonder Jesus is just a blip at the end of a prayer.
I was aware of how they get stuck on James and works. I dont know why they cant understand that James is speaking about much later time after Isaac was born some 25 years AFTER God had declared Abraham righteous way in back in Gen 15 for believing the promise. It was a test to prove he was genuine. But even that confusion doesnt explain the blatant self- atonement rhetoric.
It comes from a single line in Romans 6 OUT OF CONTEXT. People think that Jws understand their bibles because they TALK SO MUCH but, sadly nothing is further from the truth. WT uses cherry picked verses and make entire doctrines. It's wickedly deceptive. What the Gb can do to person's mind is frightening. They utterly reject what the bible plainly says because we arent the suited men in the castle with the gnosis.
I'm going to write the chapter out and explain it to her, and snail mail it in the hopes that she can see it is not saying anything like what she has been taught. I can only hope she will read it. It's really sad.
It has also been my experience that a jw will not discuss or entertain the mere concept of 'salvation'.. And in no way willl they accept any 'salvation' through or because of Jesus Christ.. In fact, my jw will prefer to run away than to have this conversation, go hide in bathroom, need to answer phone, need to answer neighbor he neglected for months on end , etc......I think he would prefer a tornado than do have an actual discussion. And, for goodness sakes, never, ever, find youtubes or museum, college, academic, etc... that might negate their beliefs.
That would be comical if it wasn't so sad. It seems you've hit the sweet spot there. Running away or changing the subject are the two MO's. Bring up the trinity and you'll have 4k at your door haha.. bring up Michael and most leave. It breaks my heart to pieces, honestly. There is no rejoicing in them, no joy, no peace, no singing in their hearts, and the love? My kids don't know my own family.
Jesus died for your sins is the roach spray? I may need to remember that one day. It's such a tangled web they are caught in. Don't give up hope! Keep praying and chasing into the bath on occasion.