Let us now begin with the arguments that they have cared enough to offer,
10 The Bible teaches that Jesus lived in heaven before he came to earth. Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and also said that His origin was “from early times.” (Micah 5:2) On many occasions, Jesus himself said that he lived in heaven before being born as a human. (John 3:13; 6:38, 62; 17:4, 5) As a spirit creature in heaven, Jesus had a special relationship with Jehovah
In this first argument they want to paint the picture that Jesus of Nazareth was simply a spirit being; this of course is very foundational to their belief that Jesus is Arch Angel Michael transformed. But is not what the bible actually teaches About who Jesus of Nazareth really is, this is nothing more than a false belief.
Let us consider Just the bible teaches about Jesus so we can get a deeper understanding of the truth at hand,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Each word has depth in the Greek so we need to understand it from that prospect "in the beginning" here is a reference to eternal nature of the word it is more apt to say this "before the beginning the word already existed" this gives us the important point that the term in Greek "en arche" has a few meanings the primary is in the beginning . this is not stating the word had a beginning but that he is the centre of all things
This line makes a clear claim of eternal existence and divinity .. and no matter how the enemy of the gospel see this it is irrelevant to the point since the spirit of God communicated this to us by John the apostle, so we must deal with it accurately and fairly the language is clear in Greek "ho logos ēn theos" as I have said the term was ... is a form of eimi .. means am .. (existing) eternally ... and God ... not simply a god but he is the eternal one .. so it could be seen as such:
In the above information we find a very detailed examination of the text in question which the opponent can not do as they have no respect for the text they are utilizing ... when such information is provided they will usually state "that just your opinion " and not what the passage states as i have proved to you
but this reasoning misses the point that such an exegesis is no based on an opinion, but is based on the study of the Greek text, and all the related rules that are essential to the discussion.
And every chapter in the gospel of John from here on out has to be understand in light of the prologue and its central truth claim that Christ is the God incarnate. Therefore, when we come to such passages as John 3, 6 and 17. We have an established truth already laid out in the first chapter which greatly enhances the rest of the gospel, but even more the particular them also enhance the fist chapter; it is what we can consider a dual action, the first chapter compliments the whole book through making it come alive and the rest of the book compliments the first chapter.
Let's consider some of these sections briefly,
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
This single verse is offered as support of the false teaching regarding Jesus being"spirit being" and yet, we see that the verse does not even suggest this at all. It is wise for us to consider the whole section of this chapter for a closer examination,
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. --- John 3 :1-15.
In this passage Jesus lays out in the clearest word how one is saved by faith, in doing this he also teaches the great truth of the divine will, known as Regeneration unto faith. In verse 3-8 Jesus lays out the basis of regeneration; in that it is the work of the spirit that renews the person and makes them acceptable into heaven through divine faith in Christ ( verses 12-15, 16-21).
So rather than this text teaching that Jesus just a heavenly spirit being, it teaches something much different; which no Jehovah can except.
The teaching of this passage taking in connection to John one is that Jesus pre-existed with the father as God himself. In other words, the Father and Jesus along with the Spirit are the tri-personal being called Yahweh, God.
Now lets consider John 6 :38; before we do it is dishonest to only quote one verse, therefore, i will quote the whole section,
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me ...... (John 6 :35-45)
....... When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6 :60 -65)
You will search long and hard for the idea or any reference to Jesus "existing as spirit being" in these contexts, it does not exist. In fact, it is quite the opposite these scripture reveal tri-personal nature of God, the Father, the Son ( the Lord Jesus. ) and the Holy Spirit as the sovereign of salvation. There is no evidence in these scripture that suggest what the watchtower want us to believe "the spirit being --Arch Angel Michael."
These texts demonstrate that God is in complete control of all points in regards to salvation. The father is the fount head, the one who makes it all come into being, the Son is the central focus of salvation, he is the object which God brings all thing into being in and through. The Holy Spirit is the one who prepares the believer for salvation through regeneration and sustains them through sanctification.
The final text from John in this point comes from John 17, which here is the last 2 verse. Therefore I will provide the entire opening to it,
When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. (John 17 :1-5)
Here is the final speech from the Lord Jesus before he was put to death; in which entails a whole other side to it, in that his death is our entrance into his heaven, it is the vicarious atonement which is our only hope of redemption. But we need to stay focus on the this prayer, specifically these first 5 lines. As it is often said this passage refutes the trinity belief and the divinity of Christ. However, this is not the case, it is simply one member "the son" of the tri-personal God giving worship to another "the father." Even the context tells us this much, the members have always been in a inter personal relation where worship was at the centre of Gods existence.
Verses 4-5 are not speaking merely of a existence such as an angel or spirit being, they are in line with the whole gospel; they are demonstrating that God is tripersonal to his nature / being and that the father and the son (as much as the spirit) have always been in existence. It is vitally important that we allow the context to define its own truth and not read into a single verse or a few verse some foreign concept.
Next i will examine the following point from the same chapter,
11 Jesus is Jehovah’s most precious Son—and for good reason. He is called “the firstborn of all creation,” for he was God’s first creation.# (Colossians 1:15) There is something else that makes this Son special. He is the “only-begotten Son.” (John 3:16) This means that Jesus is the only one directly created by God. Jesus is also the only one whom God used when He created all other things. (Colossians 1:16) Then, too, Jesus is called “the Word.” (John 1:14) This tells us that he spoke for God, no doubt delivering messages and instructions to the Father’s other sons, both spirit and human.
To further misrepresent who Jesus is according to the scriptures; Watchtowers, sets out to redefine biblical terms to suit their false understanding of the truth. In doing this injustice this cult has set themselves apart being true Christians. Lets us consider this point with some in depth understanding of the matters at hand.
In this attempt at redefining who Jesus is, the watchtower used the same scripture twice,
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1 :15 -20)
To understand any scripture in context one must know the background of it to some degree. This passage Paul wrote as a refutation to the Gnostics who believed in dualism (and still do), which is the belief in two powers Good and evil that different manners of existence. The first being good was consider the spiritual, and no material elements. The second being evil which was all that was physical, material in nature.
Therefore since they believed that Christ was a pure, good being, they denied his physical existence only allowing him the existence in the spiritual realm.
So when we consider how Paul starts this passage off "He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation." He is in fact, making a point in this refutation to state that Jesus Christ is in fact, God and was also man. the term "firstborn" has nothing to do with being the first thing God created for the rest of Paul's writing make it clear Jesus is the eternal God. Therefore, the term "prototokos" does not point to the first creation of God, but it actually refers to the one who has all authority.
the context bares this point out as it goes on speak of the creation being his work. The term means "the preeminent one," the one who has full charge over his own people, like that of a king, he is the eternal king who reigns over the elect. If there was any consistency in the argument how do they understand other uses of firstborn in the passage. it is found in verse 18 which states "firstborn from the dead." Does this mean he is the first creature of the dead. There simply is no consistency in this argument; it is based on ignorance of the meaning of text from the Greek and the context as well. it is a false argument being hoisted upon the text.
Another issue that the Watchtower has made with this text is the use of a word which has no place in the context, "Jesus is also the only one whom God used when He created all other things." the text does not even contain the Greek word for other. there is no reason to add it in the five places in this passage they have. it is an addition where there is no ground in doing so. this again is a move in order to make their false doctrine of Jesus being only a creature in eternity rather than the creator.
Even when we consider verse 16-17 and what they state about his role, one is left with very little difficulty in understand Paul's meaning; he is the agency of creation and it's very birther. It was by him the father created everything that is in existence, he himself is not created but is the eternal one (also see john 1:1-3 Hebrews 1 :2-3, 8-12)
Now lets consider John 3 :16 and it relevance to the current point at hand,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (John 3 :16-21)
This passage is of importance for many reasons; one such reason is the fact that we are not entirely certain of how we are view this , if it is Jesus word or inspired commentary by John, right now this is not the issue at hand. Lets consider just what is being said within the passage itself.
First of all, the term John uses "mono-genes" which is translated as only-begotten" in some translations like King James, it is not the correct understanding of the term. The correct one one or only "mono" and then unique or kind "genes." so it could be either "one of a kind" or "only unique" point to his true position as the eternal son.
Second, the term son is the Greek term "huios" this hold the understanding of one who hold the same nature as; the son has the same divine nature as the father, the term denote an eternal bond that is like that of a father and son.
So when we put these point together, we understand that Jesus is a unique person in that he is God by nature. he is the son. And John 1 :1, 14 has some baring on this truth; the eternal word who is God by nature is the one who took on the nature of a human and became Jesus, therefore we must understand that Jesus has two natures .. one is divine (the eternal word/son) and the other is the humanity of Mary's so.
Here is the next point to be examined
12 Is the firstborn Son equal to God, as some believe? That is not what the Bible teaches. As we noted in the preceding paragraph, the Son was created. Obviously, then, he had a beginning, whereas Jehovah God has no beginning or end. (Psalm 90:2) The only-begotten Son never even considered trying to be equal to his Father. The Bible clearly teaches that the Father is greater than the Son. (John 14:28; 1 Corinthians 11:3) Jehovah alone is “God Almighty.” (Genesis 17:1) Therefore, he has no equal.%
This comment starts out on a fully refuted false teaching as seen in the last point on Colossians 1 :15-20. the term "firstborn" does not refer to a creature, therefore it is not significant to the matters at hand. It nothing more than a belief they hold which they can not substantiate from the exegetical based understanding.
Clearly when one allows for the bible to consistently teach it own truth, the idea of Jesus and the father (even the Holy Spirit) being equal is fully substantiated.
This is a point which the Watchtower fully knows and concedes; lets consider a past comment from these people,
- "From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such ï'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago..." (Watchtower, Aug. 15, 1981).
- What are the apostate doctrines of 100 years ago? Why, the Trinity of course.
It is vital for us to fully understand the above assertions as it not contradicts everything the Watchtower exclaims about the clear reading of the bible in relations to the trinity and the inter-relatedness of the persons. But it in fact, goes far beyond its self to show that this is not a God given organisation. Does the bible teach the trinity according to the watchtower 1981 issue yes according to the recent publication "what does the bible teach" no?
So which is the truth, God can not make contradictory statements in such a short spans of time; in fact, he does not contradict himself at all, this is the very work of fallible godless men.
Let's consider the scriptures being quoted that are being used to deny the trinity, the first is from Psalms 90 which reads,
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.(Psalms 90 :1-2)
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly (Genesis 17 :1-2)
Are we to take away from these passages and others like them that God is one in both his being and person, or are the Watchtower using such scripture to overthrow the full truth that is being presented in all the scriptures? Since there is nothing in the texts which actually rules out God being tri-personal, all the texts are stating is that God had done something with his people at some point in history.
To use one set of scriptures to overthrow another set just because you don't want to believe in the other passages and the truth they present. The person who loves truth, will always seek to allow it to define it own truth; even when it presents something uncomfortable or something which you can not fully grasp.Therefore, as a believer of Gods truth i submit to the passages which describes him as being 1, and I also submit to the many passage which define the three person that this 1 God has revealed himself to be : the Father, The son and the Holy Spirit.
And based on the above information Watchtower has to agree with my point, for if it does not then it has contradicted it own words and falsified the organisation.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.John 14 :25-31
Upon reading the context of the surrounding verse to verse 28; one quickly realizes just what kind false application . Firstly, the verse in question "I am going to the father, for the father is greater than I" the term greater, does not mean in nature meaning that God the father and Jesus are of two different natures, as if it were saying Jesus is a lesser being to the father. Rather the fact is that it means that Jesus in his then human nature was in a lesser position to the father.
Secondly the wider context reveals that Jesus is more than a created being. take notice of these verses,
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.
In this section we learn a great truth about the tri-personal God; which is that they are inter -related, interconnectedness that each of the persons enjoy with freedom.Jesus states first that he will come the disciple after he leaves, "I will come to you" Jesus will come via the work of the Holy Spirit from the day of Pentecost on wards. Next we have this statement, "I am in my father, you in me, and I in you." This inter connectedness is also in the Father and son, and is also present in each of the believers unto Christ. (John 10 :27-29) But before this section we have the words, "I an in the Father and The father is in me." which establishes the interpenetration or interconnectedness of the members.
Therefore, the idea of the term greater "mezion" means that the father is greater in nature is scripture unfounded; meaning this is a false application of the text.
The next scripture to be utilized in this point is from 1 Corinthians 11 which reads,
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head.--- 1 corinthians 11 :1-6.
This passage is about Church order in the service; and there is a hierarchy or order of headship in the form of church. The head of every man is Christ, this is to say that Christ is the head of every believing husband, the husband answers to Christ for his directions of family worship. the head of the wife is her husband, this is not saying that she is his captive; they are equal in marriage, but he take the role of being responsible over everything. The head of Christ is God, this is not a denial of divinity rather it an affirmation of his divinity and an acknowledgement of the different roles they both take (including the Holy Spirit). We have two other text whit similar language being used too, one in Ephesians 5 and the other in Colossians 3.
The final point to cover from this magazine is as follows:
13 Jehovah and his firstborn Son enjoyed close association for billions of years—long before the starry heavens and the earth were created. How they must have loved each other! (John 3:35; 14:31) This dear Son was just like his Father. That is why the Bible refers to the Son as “the image of the invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15) Yes, even as a human son may closely resemble his father in various ways, this heavenly Son reflected his Father’s qualities and personality.
In this point, we are told that the relationship in which the father and son have enjoyed for "billions of years" not certain how they could even place a time on this eternal relationship, let alone one that seems to be in toe with the ideas of evolutionary thought. As we have established from previous points they hold the belief that the "first-born son" at some point did not exist, which i have demonstrated through exegeting the passages that they raise to refute their conclusions.
Beyond this little fact, does this false teaching also comprehend the fact that if it were true that it would mean that the father for "billions of year" could not even begin to know what love is till he brought his supposed first born son" in existence.
The only scripture here that I will consider is from john 3 as the others i have already dealt above to reveal the falsehood of "watchtower." Lets us do this very thing,
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3 :31-36)
As I have already established from John 1 in one of the above comments; Jesus is identified as the God incarnate (the God-man) The 2nd member of the tri-personal God, In john 1 :1-3,14 and 18. Therefore with this basis we now look to the rest of the Gospel of john as an in depth explanation of this prologue. And in this passage we first note that Jesus is not simply making himself to a created being, having said, "He who comes from above is above all." This differentiation is one that immediately makes it clear, he is not just an ordinary man like us, yet he is far greater than the angels being the son.
Even more direct is the "Father, Son" language in connection to the final judgement, God the father would never share in his glory with a mere man nor an angel; meaning that Jesus himself attests to his divine nature through this fact.
Conclusion.
Based upon a contextual study in each point we find the Watchtower to be in severe trouble through not handling the scriptures accurately. In doing this they have show a great disrespect to the words of Christ and the word of God. It is important that we take our time to demonstrate that this blatant false hood needs to be correctly dealt with and exposed.
As Paul stated in Ephesians 5 about the necessity of truth being clearly understood,
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. (verses 6-14)
In other words, we as the Lords chosen have the right to determine what is true and what is false with regards to groups that claim to be of the LIGHT, and so clearly distort the biblical truth at their own destruction. We do this by examining all their fruits (teachings, good works and bad works) to see if they are truly in line with the scriptural foundations.
This however, does not mean such people are going to except correction when presented with it, in fact, most cases they go on celebrating their faith and disregard the concerns of others.
