Teachings on Salvation | doyouknowwhy

Jehovah’s Witness

Teachings on Salvation

Jehovah’s Witness’ teach a different doctrine of salvation than that taught by Christianity and the Bible. They teach that there are four requirements to be saved. These four requirements are listed in the Watchtower February 15, 1983 issue:

Taking in knowledge of the true God and of Jesus Christ
Obeying God’s laws and conforming to the moral requirements set by the Bible
Being associated with God’s Channel, his organization . . . “To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.”
Showing Loyalty to God

The issue is unavailable online on the Jehovah’s Witness website, but click the Feb 15, 1983 link at this site to see a picture:

What do Jehovah's Witnesses say is required of salvation?

www.spiritualhostages.org/questions/what-do-jehovah's-witnesses-say-is-required-of-salvation/

The Watchtower-September 1, 1989 issue states the following:

Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.

(Revelation 7:9-17; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

The issue is also unavailable online on the Jehovah’s Witness website. Click the Sept 1, 1989 link at this site to see a picture:

What do Jehovah's Witnesses say is required of salvation?

www.spiritualhostages.org/questions/what-do-jehovah's-witnesses-say-is-required-of-salvation/

This statement from the Watchtower indicates that there is a “united organization” under protection, with the inference being that the Jehovah’s Witness organization is that organization.

Looking up the two passages referenced, only Rev 7:10&17 seem to apply, and there is no mention of any organization:

Revelation 7:10, 17

10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

In the following 2 Corinthian. passage we see a reference to a blinding of the minds of unbelievers by the “god of this world”, and there is the reference to the “gospel of the glory of Christ”. The Watchtower section above doesn’t reference the next verse 5. ”what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord”.

2 Corinthians 4:4-5 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

Two of the verses Jehovah’s Witness point to as support for their teaching of the second requirement of salvation, are James 2:20 and Philippians 2:12:

James 2:20 "Faith without works is dead"

Philippians 2:12 "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"

What does the Bible Teach About Salvation?

The Salvation section toward the end of this guide shows many aspects of salvation taught in the Bible. These two verses in James and Philippians are part of the Biblical teachings on salvation, but not in the way Jehovah’s Witnesses or Mormons teach them. Jehovah’s Witness and Mormonism teach that works is necessary for salvation, but this is not what the Bible teaches.

The importance of works is not in that there is any work we can do for our salvation, as if we could do anything. The importance of works is that they are one of the evidences of our decision to accept Christ. There is nothing we can do to justify our salvation. It is only and completely the work of Jesus Christ. Our works don’t save us, they ONLY serve to give evidence of our being saved. If our works could do anything for our salvation, the concept would be contradictory to the following verses:

Romans 3:10 “as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one”

Romans 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the Law; rather, through the Law we become aware of our sin.”

Isaiah 64:6 “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”

Do these three verses give you any indication that our salvation has anything to do with what we do? No. They only show how what we do has nothing to do with our salvation.

So again, why do we do works? We do works to show our obedience to Jesus Christ and our commitment to our relationship with Him, because he died on the cross for our sins not that our works count toward our salvation. Think about being in a relationship with someone. What is the evidence of each of you taking the relationship seriously? How you each treat the other person, showing the respect you each have for the relationship? What if the other person ignored you, didn't call, and showed no consideration for what you wanted? Would these characteristics be consistent with showing respect for you and the relationship? Of course not! For each of you to show your commitment to the relationship, you take each other’s feelings into consideration and you do things out of respect for one another.

This is the same with a relationship with Jesus Christ. If we truly have decided to have a relationship with him, we will do what he has asked of us, because of the infinite value we place on the gift that he has given us. If we are not willing to do what he has asked, it is proof that we don’t truly have a relationship with Him, no matter what we say or believe.

We've already seen the two following verses. They both show that God the Father, and Jesus are involved in the work of Salvation. This make sense as only God can save.

Titus 1:3-4 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ

This link indicates many verses which show the different Persons of the Trinity being referred to as Savior.

Who is Our Savior?

www.godandscience.org/cults/savior.html

Next Page: Prophesies by The Jehovah’s Witness Organization