What to know about JWs
Are Jehovah’s witnesses a cult
Charles Taze Russel was the creator & leader of the Jehovah’s Witness religion that formed in 1870. Originally known as the Russelites, the group has now grown to about 8.7 million active followers. The markings for this movement are cultish.
A student, who is a Christian, asked why a preacher refer to Jehovah’s Witnesses as a cult. “After all,” he said, “they believe in Jesus.” The preacher said, Yes, they believe in a Jesus, but is it the Jesus (of the scriptures God has given us) who is the Son of God, the Savior who died for the sins of the world? No...They have a diff god, diff Jesus, different gospel and have done what God warned against... they have a altered the Bible to fit their false religions teachings, thus have a diff Scripture.
A cult is a group of people that embrace a counterfeit Christian religion. All cults have a leader who claims to be uniquely called by God. Not all cults follow all of the characteristics of a cult, but following any one of them should be a warning to us to stay away. The group requires the study of books other than the Bible. Their “revealed truths” supersede or contradict the Bible. They claim to be the only true church and do not hold back from criticizing all [actual] Christian churches. Cults use excessive control by the leaders of the group, and the leaders keep their followers living in fear of Hell and losing their whole family and business and friendships if they even look into what Christians believe and teach. Cults like JW dont even let their people read material offered by Christians, bcuz they know if they see the truth they'll leave the cult. Cults often claim new revelations from God and change their beliefs with new revelations. Their doctrine is nothing short of a total lie; Doctrines of Demons. These Satan lead leaders don't know the truth & don't want people to know the truth so they maintain power, control, status and their money. They drag as many people to Hell with them [just what Satan wants].
Those in cults need to hear and know the truth.
But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light - Ephesians 5:13
*Fortunately because of the internet and social media era, more of their members are looking at what they see online, but they won't take printed material.
They'll either flee from truth or look into it.
John 3:20:
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light, for fear that their deeds will be exposed."
Luke 8:18
So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
Let's look at this false religion briefly:
Below is info that helps clarify the errors of their religion and how it is not Christian and not compatible with the Bible. And explains what you need to know from Scripture, as well as understand about their demonic religion.
Just like when they go door to door, some of them sneak into Christian forums online and try to pick off the weak in faith; they are trying to decieve new and weak believers [because they haven't read the Bible nor have a firm grasp on its contents, so they can twist God's Word (as Satan did in Eden) and introduce confusion and heresy to the weak]. So if you are not a believer who has read the Bible cover to cover many times and have memorized important verses, and have a clear understanding of the warnings of false teachings and false gospels, fully grasp the biblical Gospel, essentials of salvation, and can refute cults easily... don't engage them, & don't listen to them or you will fall for their deception. Stay far from them.
Exposing JW's:
How does their doctrinal position line up with the central tenets of the Christian faith?
1. The deity of Christ
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael, the archangel, the highest created being. This belief contradicts many Scriptures which declare Jesus to be God.
The JW’s bible, called The New World Translation, translates John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was a god.”
The Bible tells us Jesus was eternally God and still is God. One of the members in the Triune Godhead.
John 1:1 from the true historically accurate Christian Bible reads, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
John 8:58, “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.
2. They teach a false god. Their god is not the God revealed in Holy Scripture.
The Trinity
The trinity in Christian doctrine believes there is one eternal being of God, indivisible and infinite. This one being of God is three co-equal, co-eternal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the trinity.
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;” (Matthew 3:16,17)
Matt. 3:16-17
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Summary of truth about the Trinity
3. Holy Spirit
Jehovah’s Witnesses reject God the Holy Spirit as a part of the trinity and yield to the false belief that the Holy Spirit is an inanimate power of God.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Study more on the Holy Spirit
Scroll down to section
4. Salvation
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation comes through faith, good works, and obedience.
Once again, their belief in works for salvation contradicts the clear revelation of God in the Christian Scripture -- which declares that salvation comes by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection. It is granted by God's Grace, not by works.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8,9)
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)
Understand the Gospel simply & clearly (short video)
5. Christ’s substitutionary atonement
The JWs reject Christ’s substitutionary atonement. However Christian Scriptures reveal that Jesus Christ died as a substitute for all sinners. The Scriptures teach that all men are sinners (Romans 3:9-18, 23). The penalty for our sinfulness is death. Romans 6:23 reads, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Cults deceive and most in them do not know they are in a false religion unless they actually examine it, question it, and investigate it. Just like all who are in any false religion. Their love of their sins & self righteous religiosity and prideful thoughts that they have the right religion keeps them from the truth. They are headed to Hell and drag others there. They need to be warned so they can flee to the truth and be saved by God.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice the son of hell as you are." Matthew 23:15
7. JWs altered the Word of God
One example was already shown.
"In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Heb. 1:1-2
Rev 22 at the very end of the Bible, Jesus clearly warns us not to add to the Scriptures nor take anything out of the Scriptures, anyone who does is hell bound.
They are in serious trouble with God for changing Scripture so it aligns with their [Satanic] beliefs.
They did the same with twisting and altering what God has told us about Hell too.
They are guilty of Idolatry because they made up a god, savior, salvation and eternity they preferred over the truth.
Romans 1:25
They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator
With this brief look at the JW's religion we can see thru reject the Essentials which are clearly revealed in Holy Scripture, and required to believe in order to be Christian. They fail the test.
Challenge and Encouragement to JWs:
to actually examine & investigate your religion and flee to the truth, no matter the cost.
Born Again Believers exhortation:
Beware and avoid Mormons, Jehovahs Witnesses and all cults & false quasi Christian religions like Catholicism, Orthodoxy, etc. They all have a different gospel, a different Jesus and a different god, and teach unbiblical heresy & doctrines of demons.
Be aware of and stay away from all false groups (and do not associate with those in them). Hold fast to the truth God has given us in Scripture. Do not be decieved by cults. And Proclaim truth in love to them.
Luke 11:35
Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.
1 John 1:6-7
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
Ephesians 5:11
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them
2 Corinthians 6:14
Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
1 John 4:1
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world
Galatians 1:6-8: I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But should we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Corinthians 11:1-15 do not recieve "Another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel".
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Do not be gullible and fall prey to false teachers and gospels and embrace lies.
"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds."
2 Cor. 13-15
Galatians 1:6-12: "There is only one Gospel, and it comes from Jesus Christ"
Matthew 7:15-16 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
1 Timothy 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
Matthew 24:24-25 False messiahs and false prophets will come and do great miracles and wonders, trying to fool the people God has chosen, if that is possible. Now I have warned you about this before it happens.
2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were false teachers among the people. And there will be false teachers among you also. These people will work in secret ways to bring false teaching to you. They will turn against Christ Who bought them with His blood. They bring fast death on themselves. Many people will follow their wrong ways. Because of what they do, people will speak bad things against the way of truth.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Romans 3:22-26
namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God publicly displayed him at his death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate his righteousness because God in his forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate his righteousness in the present time so that he would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.
Study and know the Christian Bible so you are not decived by cults and groups that masquerade as Christian.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15),
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
Do not assume anyone who claims to be a Christian, is one.
Understand the Biblical Essentials of Christianity
Have a Clear understanding of what the Gospel is.
Have a clear understanding of what false religions (especially ones that masquerade as Christian) actually believe, so you do not fall prey to them. They like their Father the Devil are good at twisting Scripture to deceive new or weak believers who do not know what the Bible actually says.
A fuller look into Essentials, Gospel and on Cults and False religions
Know how to counter their lies and false teaching with the truth from Scripture, and share the gospel with them; perhaps God will save them.
Acts 26:18
to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
We need to care about others and reach the lost. Not all will be saved, but our job is to preach the Gospel and revealed truth from true Scripture.
Colossians 1:13
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son
John 1:5
The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 3:19
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil
John 3:20
For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
John 11:9-10
Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. "But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."
Jude 1:22-23 Have mercy on some as you endeavor to convince them,
save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh
Resources for Born Again Believers
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