Thursday, August 6, 2015

False Teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses




JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: The Watchtower Society




"If they speak not according to this word,
it is because there is no light in them."
(Isaiah 8:20)

Jehovah's Witnesses



FALSE TEACHINGS



The Deity of Jesus Christ

Watchtower Doctrine: Jesus was an angel who became a man (Watchtower, 5/15/63, p 307). He was just a man, however -- not God in the flesh (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, p 306).

Biblical Doctrine: Jesus is/was fully God and fully man. [See The Deity of Jesus Christ]


The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Watchtower Doctrine: Jesus was only 'spiritually' raised, not physically (Awake, 7/22/73, p 4; Let God be True, p 276).

Biblical Doctrine: Jesus was literally physically raised from the dead. In fact, Scripture teaches Jesus raised Himself from the dead. [See The Resurrection of Jesus Christ]


Eternal Judgment/Hell

Watchtower Doctrine: The doctrine of eternal torment (hell) is not valid. (Let God be True, p.90-90, and p. 94-95) The soul becomes extinct (nonexistent) after death, also known as Annihilationism (Let God be True, p. 74, 75 and p. 99).

Biblical Doctrine: Scripture, in both the Old and New Testament, teaches that the wicked will be eternally tormented in hell. [See The After-life]


Salvation


Watchtower Doctrine: Salvation is by works (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp. 150, 152), through membership in the organization (Watchtower, 2/15/79, p 30).

Biblical Doctrine:
Salvation by grace through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. [See Salvation]


The Trinity

Watchtower Doctrine: The doctrine of the "trinity" is an invention of man. (Let God be True, p 100, 101)

Biblical Doctrine: Although the word "trinity" is not in the Bible, the concept of the three-in-one Godhead is given throughout the Old and New Testaments. [see The Godhead]


The Holy Spirit

Watchtower Doctrine: The Holy Spirit is an inanimate force or power. (Watchtower, 6/1/52, p 24; Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp 406, 407)

Biblical Doctrine: The Holy Spirit is a person and is part of the triune Godhead (the Trinity). [See The Holy Spirit]



What does Scripture say about false teachers?

1. It is the personal responsibility of the individual believer to test doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) and see if it is "the doctrine of the Lord" (Acts 13:12), "sound" (I Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1) and "good" (Proverbs 4:2; I Timothy 4:6).


2. Scripture repeatedly warns of the coming of false teachers.
(Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Matthew 5:19; 7:15; 15:2-20; 16:12; 23:2-33; 24:23-26; Mark 8:15; 13:21-23; Luke 11:38-52; Acts 15:11 24; 20:28; Galatians 1:7 ; I Timothy 1:3-7;6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:13-14; 4:34; Titus 1:10-11; 3:10-11; Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 2:1; 2 John 7-10; Jude 1:4; Revelation 2:14-15)

a.) They teach the "doctrines of men" (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Colossians 2:22) and demons (I Timothy 4:1), not the "doctrine of Christ" (2 John 9).

b.) If it is the "doctrine of God" (Titus 2:10), it will in every aspect correspond with the written Word of God (Isaiah 8:20).

c.) Teachers of "divers and strange doctrines" (Hebrews 13:9), who use the scriptures but twist their meaning (2 Peter 3:16), make no distinction between right and wrong (Ezekiel 22:26). Often their motive in ministry is one of monetary gain (Micah 3:11).

3. Because people without a solid foundation in the Word can so easily be led astray (Matthew 24:24), "handling the Word of God deceitfully" (2 Corinthians 4:2) will be met with severe punishment (James 3:1).

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