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Our discussion will take the form of a simulated conversation between a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named Chris.
Chris: Joe, one of the things that I learned when I started to grow spiritually is that my trust is not to be place in any mortal man because they can fail me. I have learned how to trust my Lord and Savior alone.
Joe: Are you trying to insinuate that I am putting my trust in men?
Chris: Well, you tell me. You are believing the Watchtower when they tell you that all will be resurrected onto a paradise earth and yet Jesus showed that not all would have the same kind of resurrection. Jesus very clearly taught that the kind of resurrection one had depended on how we lived our lives in this life. If we lived our lives putting our trust in Jesus alone, we would have a resurrection of the just. If we lived our lives in our own wisdom and trusting in our own righteousness we would have a resurrection of the unjust. No where does the Bible say we will be judged on how we live our lives after the resurrection. We only have one chance to live for God and that is here and now. The reason that I have an assurance of my salvation is that I have trusted Jesus to come into my heart and life. Jesus said in John 5:24 "Most assuredly I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life." The moment I trusted in Jesus I passed from death into life. Even though my body may die, I have the promise of eternal life right here and now. Joe you have chosen to trust the words of an organization that contradicts God's word by their traditions. And their tradition is that there is a second chance after death. People want to believe that they can have a second chance but Jesus said that people can die in their sins. Those who die in their sins can never hope to be with him. Jesus said in John 8:21, 24 "Then Jesus said to them again, ‘I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come...Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins.'" Joe, you can never come to God through an organization. You must come to Jesus admitting that you have sinned and that you are accountable for your sin. One of the sins that you need to confess is that you have trusted in an organization for your salvation when he told you through his word not to trust in men.
Joe: Why do I need to ask Jesus to forgive me? I can just ask Jehovah for forgiveness.
Chris: Jesus has been given authority to forgive sins - Matthew 9:6. You need to ask him to forgive you and you need to trust him. The next thing that you need to do is invite Jesus' spirit to come into your heart and life.
Joe: But I have a hard time believing what you believe because what the Watchtower teaches has always been so logical and reasonable to me. And what happens if I were to ask Jesus into my heart and I received a demon?
Chris: God already knew that Jehovah's Witnesses would ask that question. He has already put his answer in his word. Jesus said in Matthew 7:9-11. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he given him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" Joe, God already knew that there would be people and organizations who would teach things that sound reasonable but would lead a person into spiritual death. He tells in Proverbs 16:25 "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Anyone who contradicts God's word by teaching that there is a second chance for people after death is leading people away from God and his word. Joe, I know you don't understand everything right now but why don't you ask Jesus to help you to understand God's word and to trust it. Ask Jesus to lead you into truth because he is the Truth. Ask him to forgive your sins.
Joe: But I have never prayed a prayer like that. I don't know how.
Chris: Joe, you just talk to Jehovah like you are talking to me. You ask him to forgive you for believing other people's words above his Son's word. Then you ask him to take control of your life and give you his Son's righteousness. Then just ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Saviour.
Joe: Jehovah God please help me...I have never prayed a prayer like this before. Please forgive me for all my sins. I know that I haven't lived up to your standards. Jehovah please forgive my unbelief. There is still so much that I don't understand, please help me in those areas that I don't understand yet. Help me with my unbelief, because I really want to trust you fully. Give me your Son's righteousness. I know that I need his righteousness because I know that I could never be good enough for you with my own good works. Now, Jehovah, I ask your permission to talk to your Son Jesus. Jesus.....I'm sorry for believing in an organization that teaches that there is a second chance after death. Help me to be acceptable to Jehovah. Thank you for dying in my place and for defeating death by your resurrection. Thank you that you are willing to give me your righteousness in exchange for my own flawed effort at good works. Please be my Lord and Saviour. I ask you to be in my life to give me direction. Thank you Jesus. I pray all of this in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Chris: Joe, welcome to the family of God.
In the next few months we will be discussing some of the questions and concerns that Joe has about doctrine, and personal beliefs. If you would like us to include a subject that you have questions on we invite you to e-mail us your question or topic.
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