Reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses |
11. God's Organization |
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11. God's OrganizationJehovah's Witnesses believe that: a. In these days God is dealing exclusively with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and with those who are responding favorably to its teachings.7 b. One's salvation is dependent upon his response to this earthly organization.8 c. One can only come to understand the Bible and God's purposes by associating with this earthly organization.9
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Q1. What group of people has God been primarily dealing with since the first century? Acts 20:28-the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 1 Cor 12:12-The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 2 Cor 11:2-I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. Eph 2:21-22-In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Eph 4:4-[There is] one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling...p[g Eph 5:29-32-After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. 1 Ti 3:15-...the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Heb 12:22-23-But you have come to...the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.
Q2. Does the Bible indicate that one's salvation is dependent upon his response to an earthly organization? See SALVATION See CHRISTIAN FREEDOM
Q3. Does the Bible teach that one can only come to understand the Bible and God's purposes by associating with His "earthly organization?" See THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE, Q4
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Summary: a. In our day, as in the first century, God is dealing primarily with the church of Jesus Christ. b. One's salvation is dependent upon his response to the person of Jesus Christ. c. One can only come to understand the Bible and God's purposes apart from the corrupt and deceptive teachings of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
Endnotes: 7. Watchtower, 8/15/34, p. 249 8. Watchtower, 11/15/81, p. 21 9. Watchtower, 9/1/54, p. 529; Watchtower, 10/1/67, p. 587; Watchtower, 12/1/81, p.27 |
