Are the Jehovah's Witnesses Just Another Christian Denomination?

Jehovah's Witnesses just another Christian denomination. That's one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

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Let's go to Donald calling in from Nebraska, Donald, what's your question for atrial call the nation and political bottom line was parted from each other. He said that Judy's had to do what he had to do because it was predestined that he would fulfill Scripture and loss of absolutely incorrect. Ultimately you into this new center will be helpful. People responsible for their action even though it may be predestined for.

You are held responsible and I want to find Scripture to say that and I get going back to talk about Judas went to his own place I went to his own place was one nugget in Greece and when they got only what the hell Scripture to back that up course and and and and am I correct. Thank you for calling in.

Man I love that you're having these theological conversations with with friends and I do believe that you are correct them even even for those who embrace the doctrine of predestination or unconditional election that God chooses his own from before the foundation of the world that that's never meant to strip away human responsibility and the fact that God is not the author of sin or evil he doesn't course us to do evil.

He didn't course Judas to do evil. Yes, these things had been prophesied very clearly, as is indicated in places like acts, chapter 1, but you have this this the relationship between the sovereignty of God and the free action of human beings in each and every one of us are going to be held responsible for the choices that we made for the things that we did, and yet at the same time.

For those who believe we attribute that the first and foremost solely to the grace of God that it's only the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, we would be and have Nina continue to be dead in sin and there are some places I think that that helped to bring this sort of tension together again that that tension that we sometimes see between the sovereignty of God and human responsibility and actually some I think of the best ones are in acts as well. Acts chapter 2.

Speaking of the death of Christ as Peter is preaching to a group of Jews there on the day of Pentecost. He says in verse 23. This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men, the at least two things together right there.

Donald, you have the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, and yet you have be the human responsibility in a Peter says you got me.

This is God's plan all along. But you guys killed Jesus your guilty your responsible your murderers and not not a very ear tickling sermon that he preach there, but one that led to the repentance of many thousands of people there on the day of Pentecost. You also have the words of this prayer in prayer for boldness and act.

Acts chapter 4 where in verse 27 of actually read for truly, in this city.

They were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. So look in the minds of the apostles of our Lord Jesus. Everything took place. According to the definite plan foreknowledge and predestination of God and yet still the people who killed Jesus who murdered him were responsible for that sinful act now got a used those those things.

I mean ultimately that the crucifixion of Christ to be redemption for the whole world to me to that that amazing thing we see here is how God is able to take our sinful acts. The sinful acts of Judas and turn them around for the good of humanity and his own glory just highlights the majesty of the God that we worship. But even recognizing that the absolute majesty of God. We don't strip away human responsibility and so if your friend was saying oh yeah, Judas couldn't have done otherwise. Judas was just, you know, basically forced by God.

No, that's not what we believe.

It's no Christians have ever believed it's it's holding those two things together be the freedom of of man, to the extent that we have freedom and the absolute sovereignty of God over all things that take place. God bless mother such a challenging issue that we often grapple with on this program that tension between our free will and God's sovereignty. So thanks for clarifying that appreciated this core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez here it is summer time wedding season a lot of weddings taking place right now that maybe you're going to want in the next month or two and we actually have a wonderful resource on marriage would like to offer you today yeah NS. As you know, if you listen the broadcasts. We get a lot of questions about relationships, dating, engagement, marital conflict really questions about conflict in in marriage.

The list really goes on and on and as we answer these questions is absolutely vital for us to ask why did God create marriage in the first place is marriage adjusted to meet our individual needs and desires is the biblical view of marriage, outdated right why why why would anybody get married today me and that's the question that we tackle in this booklet. Why would anyone get married a case for the beauty and goodness of marriage.

Now that I would say more than ever Christian should be able to answer different questions about marriage and relationships and point others to what the Bible says about marriage that the beauty actually of what marriages is meant to to portray for us and for the world and so I do hope you get a hold of this resource and I thank you for your support. Once again it's called, why would anyone get married a case for the beauty and goodness of marriage, and it's yours for a donation of any amount you can find out more by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers we do receive voicemails here at the core and you can call us 24 hours a day and leave your voicemail with your question. We try to review her voicemails each day, so feel free to call anytime. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. There's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Mark, will you please help me document understand him able to explain and debate if necessary. The Christian point of view to the Jehovah witnesses Robinson and my son Bible verses every day since he was traumatized in a mass shooting last fall. I'm not sure yet if my son has accepted Jesus as Savior.

Now there is a subtle witness coming at him from the other side and although I know it is wrong and occult. I do not have clear answers for my son on these people.

I would think that true Christianity would seem like just another variation of something like the Jehovah witnesses.

I want to be able to point out and prove that my faith belief and trust in Jesus as my Savior. Accepting the salvation for the price you pay for me by taking my place on the cross and died for my sins is the 1 True Way to achieve salvation and establish the love relationship in him being my God and my Savior appreciated a whole lot of answer that for me and help me. Thanks a lot.

God bless Mark thank you for just calling in with that question and I hope that you hear this and that that your son also gets to hear this. I am so sorry about the trauma that he experienced. He just is absolutely devastating and so I know I know he's probably looking for longing for answers for hope.

But that that the truth is, and it sounds like you know this is not can you get that from the watchtower Society and organization from the Jehovah's Witnesses.

I Jehovah's Witnesses are not just another branch of Christianity similar to Mormonism right Mormonism is not just another denomination of Christianity that kind of the thing. No, not at all. These are sects that came and reject the true gospel reject the true Jesus, but oftentimes will use terminology language that sounds very Christian.

I think this is part of the deception is a kind of come off as I go well in a week.

We were were Christians you know we follow Jesus we believe in grace.

We believe in the atonement of Jesus and so on and so forth. But then when they begin defining those those words like grace, salvation even.

Even Jesus who is Jesus.

They they get it wrong and it's a question I mean those questions are questions of eternal significance.

I mean, it's what Jesus himself said in Matthew chapter 16 what he's talking to Peter and some of his other disciples and and he asked them who do men say that the Son of Man is who peoples of the Son of Man is and they said, some say John the Baptist others say Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets and he said to them, but who do you say that I am in Simon Peter replied, you are the Christ, the son of the living God and Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. And I tell you you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against its there's no more important question that we can answer correctly, then the question who is Jesus me getting that that answer wrong. Not understanding who Jesus is.

It is eternally significant and again this is what the Jehovah's Witnesses get wrong. Now how do they get this wrong while they reject the deity of Christ, the person of Christ is revealed in in Scripture of the word, the eternal son of God that we read about in John chapter 1 what they do is they take a lot of those passages that very clearly teach the preeminence.

The supremacy, the deity of Jesus and they twist them they missed translate them they'll add a word or pull take away a word. I'll give you just one example in the New World translation of the of the Scriptures. This is the Jehovah's Witnesses version of the Bible in Colossians chapter 1 where it says in the New Testament correctly translated by him all things were made that is by Jesus. And this is also what what John tells us in the beginning of his gospel by him all things remain apart from him nothing was made that was made well in the New World translation Colossians when they add the word other by him, all other things were made in order to suggest that he himself is is a creature, a created being. And that's what they say. They say that Jesus is the first created being of God that you know he's he's divine, but he still in the category of Creek creature, not creator will right there. They've rejected the God of the Bible because Jesus, the eternal word of the father is not a creature, he is in the category of creator God father son and Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity and so is so important that that we get these things right. The spirit of the antichrist is at work in the world today trying to confuse people about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

And that's that's what he's done in these groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses and in the Mormons and so I would just plead with your son and say my friend go to the Scriptures get get plugged into a solid church that loves Jesus, the true Jesus that loves his word and that embraces the gospel and what is the gospel has affected all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's law.

God's glory God's goodness and yet he calls us to himself and he forgives our sins through faith in Jesus washing them away so that we can have hope.

The hope of eternal life. The hope of of the new creation, the hope of the resurrection of the dead. The restoration even of our bodies and and that's what's given to us in the Christian faith in the true Christian faith.

But again, that the Jehovah's Witness organization doesn't have that gospel, because it rejects Jesus as is revealed in Scripture. And so may God be with you Mark and Ben with your son and were here to encourage you guys and support you guys however we can. One resource I recommend you get is core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton because got a lot of information there about the person and work of Christ. Maybe that be a good book for you and your son to go through together. Douglas and Lamarck were to send you a complimentary copy of that book so call us back. Give us your address will be glad to send that to you a wonderful book for all of our listeners core Christianity by Dr. Michael Horton is really that the book that started this whole program several years ago so check that out on her website core Christianity.com.

Let's go to an email that came in from one of our listeners and this one from Jerry. Jerry says, with the recent ruling of Roe V Wade being overturned at what point does a baby have a soul. Sometimes I feel that a baby is better with God than being born into an unfit situation. I am not for abortion, but sometimes I just struggle with the thought of that baby being thrown into a life where they may never have a chance.

Hey Jerry, thank you for for that question me. I would say that the baby has a soul is a living being at at the moment of of conception that's that's my view. I mean, I think.

I think there are passages that you can go to the Psalms.

For example, the speak of God needing needing us together in the womb. Think John the Baptist also in in the womb of Elizabeth leaping when Elizabeth was greeted by the virgin Mary right there in Scripture being treated you always in the womb is as a person and as a person who is able to somehow mysteriously by the work of the.

The Holy Spirit recognize Jesus in the presence of Christ.

There through Mary with Jesus and in her womb. And so I would say that and I recognize that you noise as you do you know the complexity of people born into broken homes and situations, and we lament that right. I mean, I think that this is where the church were we as Christians want to come alongside of people and come alongside of families to help them and to encourage them, but certainly you know that that that that brokenness isn't isn't it a II think any any argument in favor of what they know that.

Maybe then abortion is a good thing.

Or maybe your Oracle abortion is permissible know absolutely not. And so we lament the you know that the dissolution of a families of brokenness of families poverty, all those things and I think we we want to think about how we as as individual Christians are loving our neighbors well and letting the people in our community well on to help families in need and so I and I I imagine that you want to do that is once my God bless you and give you wisdom and we give thanks to the Lord for his kindness to us in in helping us in these days, so thank you again Jerry your listing to your core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible of the Christian life. You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day, 833.

The core is the number that's 1-833-843-2673 also sent us a voice.

The melody time at the questions at core, Christianity.com here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Christina my family have to go searching for church. The last 2+ years because the one that we were attempting participated in the NAR, especially in their music ministry. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find another church that does not participate in this movement is there some rainy or some recommendation that you can make to help us find a church that is grounded in our neck of the woods. Thank you talk about things Christina for those of our listeners who don't know what the N a R is there's a movement that's been around for for a handful years now that goes by the that that you know this is all that new apostolic Reformation and its I think more prevalent in some charismatic circles mean they emphasize the office of apostle new apostolic Reformation in the name prophets of these individuals having authority in the church today. A lot of emphasis on spiritual warfare and hiding it in.

In many ways just of unhealthy and un-biblical but it's this movement that has has really gained some steam in some areas and it sounds like it's gained quite a bit of steam wherever it is that you live. I wish I knew more specifically where you were, so I could maybe point out what will be in wet what I would recommend I read. I realize that there someplace which is hard to get to a a good church so so a couple of things one we need understand with the marks of the true church is and what what makes a church or church.

A true church, a true church. First and foremost, it's the pure preaching of the word of God. Faithfulness to the gospel. The word creates the church God makes the church exists through his word is that this is a beautiful thing I'd do if you don't have the preaching of the word of God. You can't have a church, even if you have a building even if you have a pastor even if you have people going in and sitting in the pews are the chairs where they are the word of God is not being taught, preached, well the spirit of God is not at work and you don't you just don't have a church. You also have the faithful administration of the ordinances that Jesus gave that is theirs.

There's right preaching and right worship were worshiping. According to Scripture and then another mark of the church that that at least some of the price reformers understood in an embrace. Does this idea of discipline. The true churches take sin seriously may take Christian fellowship seriously so that when there's an issue gets dealt with and so it's a think you want look for you what you want to find a church where any maybe maybe the music is not the style that you like per se, or they don't have all the programs that you that you would like for your family. But the most important things are is the word of God being faithfully taught is Jesus being worshiped. According to Scripture and is this church does this church take seriously the word of God and the calls to two church discipline and just to Christian encouragement and fellowship that we see in the New Testament. Think of what the pictures given to us and in acts chapter 2 of the early community of of the faith. It says there and this is really after the dip Pentecost important or right after it is they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching there's that that is the right preaching and teaching and of fellowship, so it might say that there you have that discipline that care for each other and the breaking of bread and the prayers. The breaking of bread, there is probably a reference to the Lord's supper. Holy Communion and so what was the early church doing from the very beginning is focused on apostolic doctrine, true apostolic doctrine not new apostolic reformers that have the original apostles that were sent by Jesus to to go and plant churches. It's that apostolic doctrine that we need to recover too often today. I think people are looking for for movements you give me something new.

Give me that fresh wave of the spirit and and prophecy and and they get caught up in these these movements and often times in these movements, not what they lose is the doctrine of the original apostles, a focus on the cross of Jesus Christ repentance from sin, so we we actually get back to the original apostles teaching that the early Christians you know fellowship around and recover that recover core Christianity and if you can't find any church in your area for your family that's that's focusing on that, again, I do know I do know where you live, but I would I would honestly say many, it might be worth it is worth considering moving concluding somewhere else because it's so important for us to be plugged into solid Christian community were not meant to live the Christian life in isolation on our own as a sort of commando Christians me by myself with my Bible and is it me that's not that's not the way it's supposed to be no church is perfect and so sometimes I think people can be a little too picky and and just say want nothing to go to church anywhere because no church you don't has everything that I want personally, but the fact of the matter is that you never to find that because churches are made up of sinners and men were sinners and so what we do is we go to churches that are faithful to the word where people are gathering to receive the grace of Jesus and want to join them and and serve and grow together with them so that we might be built up in our faith and I pray that you find that Chris Christina and and that the Lord blesses you and that search nine gives you wisdom for yourself and for your family. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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