15 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidSo one cannot be saved if one is not a JW?
Yes it is what I honestly believe. Probably the same way you believe in your church.
Is this seriously what you are saying?
@suzianne saidNo. I know that is not the way it sounds. Only Jehovah knows who will gain the gift of life.
So one cannot be saved if one is not a JW?
Is this seriously what you are saying?
The bible was given to us as a guide as to what Jehovah expects from humans especially if they are looking to have him in their life's and want to live the life he's asked of us and if we do the best we can we may be given that life the bible speaks of and that's eternal life. That was his original plan with Adam and Eve which was to live forever. Some of the things he ask of us can be hard to do and one of many things he told his son Jesus to teach us when he was on earth was to go to all that would listen earth wide and teach them God's ways and to help them to understand what he wants us to do. That command to teach earth wide, that his direct followers did do then has never changed. His followers are still expected to do this today.
There are a few religions that do that, some only until they reach a certain age and that is to gain life on some other place. Kind of confusing and not really what Jesus said or demonstrated.
But the JW's take this extremely seriously. Millions of hours are used every year to do this just as Jesus did with his disciples. So the command that is in your bible is one that we follow. If a religion does not do this or simply leaves it up to some priest or pastor to teach, that is not doing as Jesus said.
Plus Jesus commanded that his followers were to be NO part of the world. Most religions do not follow this command.
But to be clear just being one of Jehovah's Witnesses does not mean at all that we are saved. NO one is saved until after the judgement time is over with and that is way after Armageddon and after the influence of Satan is finally gone. At that time millions of resurrected ones will also be judged who are not and have never been JW's.
15 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidFair enough. But you'll remember the big debate we had where quotes from Watchtower were presented. Those quotes indicated that your organization's stance was: no one can be saved unless they are Jehovah's Witnesses.
But to be clear just being one of Jehovah's Witnesses does not mean at all that we are saved.
16 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidBut will any of them pass judgement and be acceptable to the Lord?
At that time millions of resurrected ones will also be judged who are not and have never been JW's.
16 Feb 19
@suzianne saidYes. One has to remember that death wipes away all of ones previous sins. Ones sins are wiped clean by our death. Romans 6:23 says this: "For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."
But will any of them pass judgement and be acceptable to the Lord?
So Jehovah and his son Jesus have made a very loving provision for all of us sinners in that if we should die before Armageddon, no matter how serious we've sinned before we die, he will resurrect us and give another chance to learn about him and bring our hearts into a condition that he approves. Hopefully with Satan now put away for a thousand years it will be easier to become the loving humans that Jehovah wants. But no doubt possibly many who don't change their heart towards God will eventually be destroyed just as Satan will be after he is let loose for a short time after the thousand years he has been confined.
16 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidWill a person be precluded from eternal life if they are not a member of the Jehovah’s Witness church?
No. I know that is not the way it sounds. Only Jehovah knows who will gain the gift of life.
The bible was given to us as a guide as to what Jehovah expects from humans especially if they are looking to have him in their life's and want to live the life he's asked of us and if we do the best we can we may be given that life the bible speaks of and that's eternal life. ...[text shortened]... At that time millions of resurrected ones will also be judged who are not and have never been JW's.
16 Feb 19
For more info go to JW.ORG
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Feel That They Are the Only People Who Will Be Saved?
No. Many millions who lived in centuries past and who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses will have an opportunity for salvation. The Bible explains that in God’s promised new world, “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) Additionally, many now living may yet begin to serve God, and they too will gain salvation. In any case, it’s not our job to judge who will or won’t be saved. That assignment rests squarely in Jesus’ hands.—John 5:22, 27.
16 Feb 19
1 edit
@galveston75 saidAside from people who lived before the JW organization was set up, what about people who are living at the time of the "tribulation"?
Many millions who lived in centuries past and who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses will have an opportunity for salvation.
16 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidWhat does "begun to serve God" mean? Have Catholics, Baptists, Anglicans, Pentecostals and other kinds of Christians "begun to serve God" or does your definition of who has and hasn't "begun to serve God" have something to do with the ideological beliefs that set Jehovah's Witnesses apart from other Christians?
Additionally, many now living may yet begin to serve God, and they too will gain salvation.
16 Feb 19
@galveston75 saidSimple honest question, asking for the third time:
For more info go to JW.ORG
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Feel That They Are the Only People Who Will Be Saved?
No. Many millions who lived in centuries past and who weren’t Jehovah’s Witnesses will have an opportunity for salvation. The Bible explains that in God’s promised new world, “there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Acts 24 ...[text shortened]... to judge who will or won’t be saved. That assignment rests squarely in Jesus’ hands.—John 5:22, 27.
Will a person be precluded from eternal life if they are not a member of the Jehovah’s Witness church?
@galveston75 saidWHAT?
Yes. One has to remember that death wipes away all of ones previous sins. Ones sins are wiped clean by our death. Romans 6:23 says this: "For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."
So Jehovah and his son Jesus have made a very loving provision for all of us sinners in that if we should die before Armageddon, ...[text shortened]... Satan will be after he is let loose for a short time after the thousand years he has been confined.
"Death wipes away all sins."
No, the atoning and substitutional death of Jesus, the Christ, our Savior, is what wipes away all sins, for those who believe in him and follow him.
What you encourage with this is a life spent sinning without atonement, without guilt, without repenting. This is NOT what Jesus said or encouraged. What you say here would make Judgement Day useless in determining the worthy from the unworthy.
Do you even believe in Jesus as Savior?
@suzianne saidSo you don't agree with Romans 6:23 or just don't understand it?
WHAT?
"Death wipes away all sins."
No, the atoning and substitutional death of Jesus, the Christ, our Savior, is what wipes away all sins, for those who believe in him and follow him.
What you encourage with this is a life spent sinning without atonement, without guilt, without repenting. This is NOT what Jesus said or encouraged. What you say here would make Judg ...[text shortened]... Day useless in determining the worthy from the unworthy.
Do you even believe in Jesus as Savior?
And yes we believe in Jesus. Where do you get that we don't and that we don't understand he is our savior?
Romans 6:23
the wages sin pays: Or “the wages of sin.” The Greek word o·psoʹni·on literally means “pay; wages.” At Lu 3:14 (see study note), it is used as a military term, referring to a soldier’s pay or allowance. In this context, sin is personified as a master who pays figurative wages. The person who sins “earns” death as his “wages,” or payment. Once a person has died and has received his “wages,” his sinful record no longer stands against him. He would never live again were it not for Jesus’ ransom sacrifice and God’s purpose to resurrect the dead.
gift: Or “undeserved gift; gracious gift.” The Greek word khaʹri·sma basically means a free and undeserved gift, something given that is unearned and unmerited. It is related to the word khaʹris, often rendered “undeserved kindness.” (See Glossary, “Undeserved kindness.&rdquo😉 Jehovah’s kindness in providing his Son as a ransom sacrifice is a priceless gift, and those exercising faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice can thereby gain the gift of everlasting life.—Joh 3:16; see Ro 5:15, 16, where the Greek word khaʹri·sma is twice rendered “gift.”
The point here is if it were not for Jesus giving his perfect life for imperfect mankind, we could never be forgiven for our sins and have the chance to live again. So as the bible says that now because of Jesus, when we die that will cancel out all of our sins up to the point we die. That is the gift these scriptures are explaining. And again when ones are resurrected in the future we start out with a clean record. Then it will be up to us and our actions as to where we end up with either the chance to live forever or to be in the grave forever. No other chances will be given.
Will be out of town until Thursday so will be back here at that time........