In the watchtower organisation / Jehovah Witness' due to a belief that they hold to about the Holy Spirit being a mere force and not a personal entity or person, they further take the role of the spirit as the sanctifier and claim this role is one of the roles of the organisation.
notice this opening statement from a publication of the organisation called "keep yourself in Gods love" ...
This small statement although it will not be assessed in full in this article, it does however set up an important factor in this investigation, that it assume a human contribution to holiness. from this we can start to assess what this book states as apart of this organisation ability. what this is telling is very important to flesh out by appealing to other parts of this booklet
The first example we can discuss is upon the jehovah's view on commandments, it states the following;
then based on the fact that it states the bible is not sufficient in the claim that it does not give guidance in many situations, they proceed in taking the role of being Gods very power in convicting the believer
We should also consider the underline reasoning in stating it pleases Jehovah to follow more than just his laws, this gives them room to add additional works which over throw the bible such as this booklet, but what this book does not do is provide a solid basis of how one is led by God to follow the laws which he has left in place we need to turn to his word found in the inspired scriptures
But before we do we need to make a point of make a list of points
a) the bible does not deal with the programs on t v nor films that portray a negative aspect since they had not even been dreamed up in the first century Jerusalem ... however it does give us a strong foundation to not participate in violence through the moral laws
b) in claiming an out side source that provides a safe guard the watchtower has open itself to a grave refutation of hypocrisy, such as the many Jehovah who follow the organisation and not the bible in matters such as giving blood, birthdays and so on, the cases of infidelity and marriage laws being broken by the organisation
Now what about the biblical evidence about how one is to follow the law
It is very clear from the above passages that every act of coursing mankind to walk in his laws as he proclaims it is God himself who is making this move in our heart through the new covenant in Christ and by means of the the work of regeneration and sanctification of the Holy spirit/ spirit of God
and for the watchtower to even proclaim for themselves to be the origin of this work is just complete blasphemy and damn right ungodly
The new testament is just as open on this fact as the old testament, take the following passages as evidence
New testament passages such as these openly declare the fact that it is not any man made organisation such as the watchtower, but is in fact God whom is working through the spirit to accomplish his will, and bring us to a life of obedience .. and one thing is correct in the above statement in the book .. since we are in this sinful world and are prone to sin .. it is not an easy thing to live up to. but thankfully it is not just us who are involved in this process God is bigger then us
note these words of his to us believers in Philippians 2;
Though from an outside appearance; it seem like it is us who are doing all the works in reality these things are Gods works in and through us, he is at work to accomplish his divine purpose and will... from the beginning of time this is the very case that every act has being decreed .. and this is the case in the crucifixion of Christ too
therefore, since the watch tower have rendered the spirit of God to a mere force and taken his roles in salvation upon themselves, they are now facing Gods wrath and judgement, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11 : 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"
it is clear that these people are false Christians and unregenerate deceivers who are leading many to hell.
notice this opening statement from a publication of the organisation called "keep yourself in Gods love" ...
'However, as important as it is to have an accurate knowledge of the truth and to have a regular share in telling others about it, we must also conduct ourselves in harmony with the truth. to do that, we must keep ourselves in Gods love'
This small statement although it will not be assessed in full in this article, it does however set up an important factor in this investigation, that it assume a human contribution to holiness. from this we can start to assess what this book states as apart of this organisation ability. what this is telling is very important to flesh out by appealing to other parts of this booklet
The first example we can discuss is upon the jehovah's view on commandments, it states the following;
to please Jehovah, however, we need to obey more than his direct commands. Jehovah does not hem us in with laws governing every aspect of our daily lives. hence, in the course of each day, we we may encounter many situations for which there are no specific bible commandments ---chapter 1, section 8, page 8, keep yourself in Gods love---
for example, the bible contains no direct commands telling us not to watch movies or t . v programs that feature gross violence and sexual immorality. but do we really need a specific law against watching such thing ---chapter 1, section 9, page 9, keep yourself in Gods love---
this is not to say that obedience to God is an easy course to follow we must fight against the influences of this debased world. which is "lying in the power of the wicked one (1 john 5:19) and we must also contend with the flesh which inclines us to violate Gods law (Romans 7 :21-25) -chapter 1, section 16, page 12, keep yourself in Gods love---
From these above quotations provide us with the much needed tool to analyse if the watch tower have taken over the holy spirits role as regenerator and sanctifier of the believer (elect) we note upon the statements above that the organisation has to in no uncertain terms reduce the spirit of God to a mere force and hi jack his divine roles in salvation
our obedience, then, is not given begrudgingly nor is it selective or conditional. we do not pick and choose, obeying only when it is convenient or when doing so presents little or no challenge. on the contray, we are obedient from the heart --chapter 1, section 11, page 10, keep yourself in Gods love---
then based on the fact that it states the bible is not sufficient in the claim that it does not give guidance in many situations, they proceed in taking the role of being Gods very power in convicting the believer
We should also consider the underline reasoning in stating it pleases Jehovah to follow more than just his laws, this gives them room to add additional works which over throw the bible such as this booklet, but what this book does not do is provide a solid basis of how one is led by God to follow the laws which he has left in place we need to turn to his word found in the inspired scriptures
But before we do we need to make a point of make a list of points
a) the bible does not deal with the programs on t v nor films that portray a negative aspect since they had not even been dreamed up in the first century Jerusalem ... however it does give us a strong foundation to not participate in violence through the moral laws
b) in claiming an out side source that provides a safe guard the watchtower has open itself to a grave refutation of hypocrisy, such as the many Jehovah who follow the organisation and not the bible in matters such as giving blood, birthdays and so on, the cases of infidelity and marriage laws being broken by the organisation
Now what about the biblical evidence about how one is to follow the law
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31 :31-34
Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 11 :17 -21
And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. Ezekiel 36 :23 -28
It is very clear from the above passages that every act of coursing mankind to walk in his laws as he proclaims it is God himself who is making this move in our heart through the new covenant in Christ and by means of the the work of regeneration and sanctification of the Holy spirit/ spirit of God
and for the watchtower to even proclaim for themselves to be the origin of this work is just complete blasphemy and damn right ungodly
The new testament is just as open on this fact as the old testament, take the following passages as evidence
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. ---- So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8 : 9 -17
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. john 16 :7 -15
New testament passages such as these openly declare the fact that it is not any man made organisation such as the watchtower, but is in fact God whom is working through the spirit to accomplish his will, and bring us to a life of obedience .. and one thing is correct in the above statement in the book .. since we are in this sinful world and are prone to sin .. it is not an easy thing to live up to. but thankfully it is not just us who are involved in this process God is bigger then us
note these words of his to us believers in Philippians 2;
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Though from an outside appearance; it seem like it is us who are doing all the works in reality these things are Gods works in and through us, he is at work to accomplish his divine purpose and will... from the beginning of time this is the very case that every act has being decreed .. and this is the case in the crucifixion of Christ too
therefore, since the watch tower have rendered the spirit of God to a mere force and taken his roles in salvation upon themselves, they are now facing Gods wrath and judgement, as Paul states in 2 Corinthians 11 : 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"
it is clear that these people are false Christians and unregenerate deceivers who are leading many to hell.
