Galatians 1:6-7,“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.”
I
witnessed to a woman recently who professed that she's a Jehovah's Witness
(JW's).
One of the hardest groups of people to win to the Lord are JW's, simply because
of the way they are indoctrinated by the demonic cult. JW's aren't taught truth;
but rather, how to defend their doctrines of devils. JW's are taught, “If
someone says this, you say that” and “If they say that, you say this.” That's
what they do each week when they meet. JW's are very defensive and militantly
protective of their false religion.
That prompted me to visit their official watchtower.org website and expose them further. Although JW's are only 1/200th the size of Roman Catholicism, they are aggressive and far more visible in communities worldwide than other demonic cults. What startled me was what I found on their page titled, “HAVE YOU BEEN SAVED?” I thought I was reading Ray Comfort's “The Evidence Bible” or listening to one of Paul Washer's sermonettes or reading John MacArthur's “The MacArthur Study Bible.” In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses teach Lordship Salvation, and those who teach Lordship Salvation are espousing the same damnable beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Lordship Salvation is the false teaching that faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is insufficient to save a person; but that the person must also depart from sinful bad habits, forsake the world, surrender all and make a commitment to Christ. Their heresy is based upon a wrong interpretation of what it means to “repent” in the Bible. Whereas the word “repent” simply means “a change of mind” in the Bible; Lordship Salvationists have redefined it to mean “a change of lifestyle.”
Here is what the Jehovah's Witnesses have to say about faith and salvation. Notice that it is the same attitude and philosophy as those who teach Lordship Salvation...
Have You Been SAVED?
JOHNNY was ten years old when a man stopped him at a fair and asked: "Young man, do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?" That sounded like a rather strange question to Johnny, since he had always believed in Jesus. So he answered, "Of course I do." "Praise the Lord!" the man shouted for all to hear. "Another soul saved for Christ!"
Is salvation really that simple? Was Johnny "saved" from the moment he said those words, regardless of what he would do for the rest of his life? Many sincere people would answer yes. Some religious tracts say to write down the date you were "saved" so that you can remember it.
A clergyman wrote that at "the moment of simple faith in Christ . . . one's destiny is permanently settled." He claimed that the Bible says that salvation depends on a single, one-time "act of faith, not on the continuity of faith." Another religion writer wrote: "This is a finished work. It has already been accomplished for you . . . Your 'warfare has ended.' Your 'iniquity has been removed.'" But even people who are firmly convinced that this is true may see a problem here. It is obvious that many people who have been told that they are "saved" do not live the way the Bible says they should. A common explanation is that perhaps they had not really "accepted" Christ.
So, what does "accepting" Jesus really mean? Is it a one-time act of faith, or is it a continuing way of life? Must our belief be strong enough to motivate us to action? Can we really accept the benefits of Jesus' sacrifice without the responsibility of following him?
Many people want the blessings but not the responsibility of following and obeying Jesus. In fact, the word "obey" often disturbs them. Yet Jesus said: "Come be my follower." (Luke 18:18-23) And the Bible states: "Those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus . . . will undergo the judicial punishment of everlasting destruction."—2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9; Matthew 10:38; 16:24.
SOURCE: Have You Been Saved? - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
As you see, Jehovah's Witnesses share the same false beliefs with Lordship Salvationists that faith in Christ Jesus is insufficient to save a person. They BOTH teach that a person must continue in obedience in order to be saved. Here is a frightening comparison chart showing that Ray Comfort, Paul Washer and John MacArthur share the same beliefs as JW's concerning salvation...
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Jehovah's Witnesses |
Comfort , Washer & MacArthur |
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
John MacArthur: |
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
Ray
Comfort: |
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Jehovah's Witnesses:
Thus, "accepting
Christ" involves far more than just accepting the blessings that Jesus'
superlative sacrifice offers. Obedience is required. ... So we must do
more than simply hear and believe. |
Paul Washer:
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
Ray
Comfort: |
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
Ray
Comfort: |
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
John
MacArthur: |
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Jehovah's Witnesses:
|
Ray
Comfort: |
|
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Jehovah's Witnesses: |
Ray
Comfort: |
|
UNBELIEVABLE!!!
As with all false prophets, Lordship Salvationists and Jehovah's Witnesses place the BURDEN of sin upon the sinner's shoulder, requiring CHANGE as a prerequisite to being saved...
Thus, "accepting Christ" involves far more than just accepting the blessings that Jesus' superlative sacrifice offers. Obedience is required.
SOURCE: What Must We Do to Be Saved? - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
In sharp contrast to the false plan of salvation put forth by Lordship Salvationists and JW's, the Bible places all the burden of our sins upon Jesus Christ. He bore our sins upon the cross, so we wouldn't have to go to Hell and pay for our own sins in the Lake of Fire forever. Eternal life is a free gift that need only be received without obligation.
JW's pervert 2nd Thessalonians 1:8-9 as they do other Scriptures. When they Bible admonishes us to “OBEY” the Gospel, it means to believe the Gospel, period. JW's try to wrest (twist) the Bible to mean obeying all the Commandments of God to be saved. Jesus clarified that the ONLY work required to be saved is to believe on Him. John 6:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” This is NOT a self-righteous work. Believe the Gospel and the work is done!
It is very interesting that JW's admit that salvation is the free gift of God; yet they add human effort and works to the plan of salvation, totally contradicting themselves...
We do not earn salvation by doing these things, for no human could ever do enough to merit such an astounding blessing. We are not worthy of this magnificent gift, though, if we fail to demonstrate our love and obedience by doing the things that the Bible says God and Christ want us to do. Without works to demonstrate our faith, our claim to follow Jesus would fall far short, for the Bible clearly states: "Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself."—James 2:17.
SOURCE: What Must We Do to Be Saved? - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Web Site
Like Roman Catholics, EvangelisticOutreach.com, proponents of Lordship Salvation, Seventh-day Adventists, Mormons and and other false religions and websites, JW's corrupt the meaning of James 2:17. The Apostle Paul speaks of the ROOT of the believer's faith in Romans 4:3-5; but James speaks of the FRUIT of the believer's faith in James 2:17-22. A changed life is the result (FRUIT) of genuine repentance, and not a part of the ROOT of the believer's faith. We are saved apart from all works.
As mentioned, Jehovah's Witnesses claim to believe that eternal life is a free gift; but they simultaneously teach that works are necessary for salvation. They are lying. It can't be both ways. The Bible plainly addresses this fact in Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Salvation is either by works or by grace, but it CANNOT be by both. Of course, the Bible condemns the teaching of self-righteous works for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5-6; Romans 3:20). Self-righteousness angers God and He does NOT accept it (Ezekiel 18:24). Even our best is filth in God's holy eyes (Isaiah 64:6).
Paul teaches that we are justified in THE EYES OF GOD by faith; but James
teaches that in THE YES OF MEN we are justified by works. Abraham was saved in
Genesis 15:6 (before Isaac was even born), but he was justified in the eyes of
men many years later in Genesis 22:10-12 by offering up Isaac for sacrifice unto
the Lord. Notice carefully whom James is showing his faith to in
James 2:18,
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” God is not the
one in focus here; but rather, the attention of the eyes of men. We are
justified in God's eyes by faith alone; but since men cannot see our heart's
faith, then we can only be justified by works in the eyes of men. This is a
proper interpretation, and rightly dividing the Word of truth, of James 2:18.
The Most Aggressive Demonic Cult In The World
Like a scorpion, Jehovah's Witnesses are one of the most dangerous demonic cults in the world, having over 5,000,000 members in 2012. Since the cult appeals to the intellect of the unsaved person, they often succeed at recruiting unbelievers who desire to find a religion that they can understand. JW's criticize the Biblical doctrine of the Godhead, which appeals to the unsaved (natural) man.
Islamic Muslims also attack the Godhead, accusing Christians of being polytheists. Muslims group Catholics with genuine Christians and are thus confused in the matter. We as Christians do NOT believe in multiple gods; but rather ONE GOD as Deuteronomy 6:4 teaches. But that one God exists in three distinct, unique and individual Persons known as the Godhead (Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20 and Colossians 2:9 - King James Bible). Note: All modern corrupt Bibles completely remove the word “godhead” because it offends many religious groups who are not true Christians.
In Colossians 2:2 the Bible admittedly calls the Godhead a “mystery” to believers. Thankfully, we need only believe and not understand to be saved. The Godhead wasn't meant to be understood. Unsaved people reject the doctrine of the Trinity because they can't understand it, just as the heretic Martin Luther (1483-1546) rejected the book of Revelation because he couldn't understand it. My friend, we are told to “study” the Word of truth, not chuck it out the window.
JW's deny Jesus Christ's deity, the Godhead, Christ's bodily resurrection and numerous other fundamental Bible doctrines. JW's are false prophets, which teach falsely in their own name. JW's do not follow the Word of God; but rather, the false teachings of their heretical founder Charles Taze Russell. JW's teach that Michael is Jesus, and that Lucifer is Jesus' brother. The Bible does NOT teach these lies. Jesus is Almighty God according to Revelation 1:8.
My friend, those religious teachers and ministers today who teach that trusting the Lord for salvation is insufficient to save are LIARS! Acts 16:30-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED! That's simple enough to do. God said what He meant, and meant what He said.
If you believe on Jesus, the Christ Who died, was buried and rose from the dead for YOUR SINS (1st Corinthians 15:1-4), then you are saved instantly, completely and eternally. Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
BEWARE of Paul Washer, John MacArthur, Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort, Moody Bible
Institute, the New International Version (NIV) Bible crowd, Nelson Bible
Publishers and the Southern Baptist Convention (publishers of the
Holman
Christian Standard Bible), who've embraced the damnable heresies shared by the
Jehovah's Witnesses, that is, that faith (trust) alone in Jesus Christ is
insufficient to save a person. They misunderstand repentance and teach that
people must change their lifestyle to be saved. This is putting the cart before
the horse. They're trying to do the job of the Holy Spirit, policing sinners,
forcing people to change as a prerequisite to obtaining salvation. It is a false
gospel and those who follow such teachings are adopting false religion instead
of believing the Biblical Gospel that saves.
Repentance From Dead Works
Carefully notice in Hebrews 6:1 what we are supposed to repent (change our mind about) to be saved... DEAD WORKS! ... and of FAITH TOWARD GOD. You repent only of your UNBELIEF my friend, and turn toward the Lord by faith in the Gospel to be saved...
Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.”
The very DEAD WORKS which JW's and Lordship Salvationists teach that you must have to be saved, are the very self-righteous works which must be repented of to be saved. We are saved by believing the Gospel, by resting in the finished redemptive work of Christ (Hebrews 4:1-2). Hebrews 4:10, “For he that is entered into his [Christ's] rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” The Sabbath was a picture of Jesus Christ, in Whom we rest, ceasing from our own self-righteous labors (pictured by the 6-day work week). Jesus is our Sabbath!
Are you resting in the precious blood of Jesus Christ my friend, that washes away our sins? (1st John 1:7; 1st Peter 1:18-19). Are you resting in Calvary and the cross of Christ? Jesus paid it all! Eternal life is a free gift that is received, not achieved. Salvation is receiving, not giving. It is a gift, not a reward. No one merits salvation. We are saved by receiving Christ's payment for our sins. We are saved by Christ's merit and righteousness, and not our own (because we have none to offer). The Bible couldn't be any plainer, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED!
"Faith" Him When You Can't Feel Him
Lordship Salvation
Lordship Salvation Exposed
The Curse of Lordship Salvation
The Hypocrisy of Lordship Salvation
The Foolish Doctrine of Lordship Salvation
Scriptural Proof that Lordship Salvation is a Lie
Lordship Salvation Ignores Babes
in Christ and the Backslidden
Lordship Salvation-An Enemy of Soul Winning
The Core of the Lordship Salvation Issue
Dr. John R. Rice Refutes Lordship Salvation
Dr. Harry Ironside DIDN'T Teach Lordship Salvation
Jehovah's Witnesses & Creation Science Evangelism Agree
Catholics Teach the Exact Same Meaning of
"Born Again" as Lordship Salvationists!
Lordship Salvation Heresy
— Ecumenical Bridge to Catholicism
Are There 2 Gospels?
Who's The Biggest Sinner?
Do I Have to Give Up My Sins to be Saved?
Men Who Opposed Lordship Salvation
Opponents of Lordship Salvation
Repentance
Repent! Repent! Repent!
What Is Biblical Repentance?
The Unbiblical REPENTANCE Heresy!
Repentance Is "A Change Of Mind"
Repentance: What Does the Bible Teach?
Dr. Curtis Hutson is 100% Correct on Repentance!
Stop Lying About Charles Spurgeon!
The Raging Battle Over "Repentance"
What Does "do works meet for repentance"
Mean in Acts 26:20?
A Dangerous Teaching in Fundamentalism
Has the Doctrine of "Repentance" Changed
in the Last 50 Years?
Biblically Refuting David Cloud's False Plan of Salvation
and Unjust Attack Against Soul Winners
Ye Must Be Born Again! | You Need HIS Righteousness!
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