Some Observations In Relation To The Jehovah's Witnesses

The Father and Son are distinct persons from the Holy Spirit . Jesus distinguishes the Spirit from Himself and from the Father. The Father and Son are distinguished as the sender and the sent. See John 6:32,37; Psalm 2:7; John 1:14; John 10:36; Gal 4:4.

The Holy Spirit is a PERSON, the COMFORTER, INSTRUCTOR, PATRON, GUIDE, ADVOCATE. When these terms are used this must be a PERSON. This is evident from the application to Christ in 1 John 2:1, "We have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous".

His name is mentioned in immediate connection with other persons, and in such a way as to imply His own personality, in connection with Christ, in connection with the Father and the Son. If the Father and the Son are persons, the Spirit must be a person also.

He (Holy Spirit) performs acts proper to personality. That which searches, knows, speaks, testifies, reveals, communes, commands, strives, moves, helps, guides, creates, recreates, sanctifies, inspires, makes intercession, orders the affairs of the church, performs miracles, raises the dead cannot be mere power, influence, efflux, or attribute to God, BUT must be a person.

He (Holy Spirit) is affected as a person by acts of others. That which can be resisted, grieved, vexed, blasphemed, must be a person ; for only a person can perceive insult and can be offended. The blasphemy against a power or attribute of God, since in the case of blasphemy against God would be a less crime than blasphemy against His power.

That against which the UNPARDONABLE sin can be committed must be a person. See Isaiah 63:10 ; Matt 12:31; Acts 5:3,4,9; Acts 7:51; Eph 4:30. Here we have the indication of the Spirit’s emotional nature. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself in visible form as distinct from the Father and the Son, yet in direct connection with personal acts performed by them.

While these are three persons, there is but one essence. The undivided essence of the Godhead belongs equally to each of the PERSONS Father, Son and Holy Spirit, each possesses all the substances and all the attributes of the Deity. The plurality of essence; but a plurality of personal distinctions. God is NOT three and one, but THREE IN ONE. NOT 1+1+1 BUT 1x1x1=1.

The ONE invisible essence has three MODES of substance.

God speaks; He is REVEALER (Father), REVELATION (Son), and REVEALED NESS (Holy Spirit). John Calvin said , "A substance in Divine essence". The three persons are equal, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Only as we are spiritually united to Christ do we become children of God. John 14:16,17...The Holy Spirit is a living, loving, intelligent person. He is spoken of as "Another Comforter" the Spirit of truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him, but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you".

Tom Rees said, "You would naturally be offended if friends referred to you as ‘it’".

THE TRINITY: Matt 3: 16-17 ; 28:19 ; John 14:26 ;15:26 ; 1 Cor 12:3-6; 11 Cor 13:14 ;Eph 2:18; 3:1-5, 14-17:4:4-6 ; 5:18-20 ; 1Peter 1:2 ; Jude 20 .21.

THE DEITY OF CHRIST: Isaiah 9:6(cf 10:21) ; John 1:1,23 ;(cf Isa 40:3) ; John 8:58 ; 12:37-41 ; (cf Isa 6:1-10) Heb 1:1-12 ; (CF Ps 102:25-27) ; Rev 22:13.

THE PERSONHOOD OF THE HOLY SPIRIT : Matt28:19 ; John 14:26 ;16: 13 ; Acts 10:19-20 Rom 8:26-27 ; 1 Cor 12:11.

THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST : Ps 16:9-10 ; (cf Acts 2:25-31) ; Mark 16:6 ; Luke 24:3-8 (cf John 2:19-22) ; Luke24:36-43 ; Rom 8:11 ; 1 Cor 5:1-15.

BORN AGAIN : John3:3,5,7 ; 1 John 5:1-5 (See Luke 13:28-29 and Matt 8:11.Old Testament saints will be found in the ‘Kingdom of God’ or the ‘Kingdom of heaven’).

THE SOUL (SPIRIT) : Acts2:27 ; 1 Thes 5:23 ; Heb 12:13 ; Rev 6 :9-11 ; 20:4.

ETERNAL PUNISHMENT: Matt25:46 ; 11Peter 2:17 ; Jude 13 ; Rev 19:20 with 20:10. See also e.g. Matt chapter 5 and Mark chapter 10.

THE VISIBLE RETURN OF CHRIST : Zech 12:10 ; Matt 23:39 ; 24:30 ; Acts 1:11 ; 1 Thes 4:16-17 ; Rev 1:7.

Acts 5:3-4.. In verse 3 Peter accuses Ananias of lying to the Holy Spirit , and in verse 4 he declares the Holy Spirit to be God, an equation hard for the Watchtower to explain, much less to deny.

Acts 13:13:2,4.. In the context the Holy Spirit speaks and sends, as He does in chapter 21:10.11 where He prophesied Paul’s imprisonment . Only a Personality can do these things , NOT "an invisible active force", as Jehovah’s Witnesses describe Him.

Such references as JOHN 14:16,17,26 and 16:7-14 need no comment . He (Holy Spirit) is a divine person and He is God .

See the plural use in Geneses 1:26 (Psalm 104:30) Jehovah is speaking of the creation .. "Let US create man in OUR image after OUR likeness".

Gen 11:7.."Let US go down.."

Isa 6:8.."..who will go for US.."

Matt 28:19 "... we have the THREE - FOLD name ... Father , Son and Holy Spirit."

We ought not to redesign the terminology of Scripture in a theological framework of our own making and liking which can be and often is at variance with the historically accepted meanings of the terms. We should not adhere to or be in the business of theological term-switching, or term-lifting. Revelation 22:18-19.

We are not called upon to lift texts out of context, without proper concern for the laws of language or the established principles of biblical interpretation.

There are those of whom Peter warns us , who "wrest scriptures, unto their own destruction." 11 Peter 3:16.

Cultish movements have a difficulty with their terminology which is a major problem.. .difficulty in defining let alone their authority in making usage of their terminology.

E.g. The doctrine of personal redemption from sin is defined in an Un-Biblical manner.

A problem with many "movements" is not their methodology but in their theology . Much of their interpretation is a diluted response often with human error which is more deadly than falsehood.

The New World Translation of Scriptures in part in 1950 then revised in 1951 then revised again 1961 ... The Christian declares the BIBLE is the FINAL AUTHORITY , inspired not by mere man but through the Holy Spirit...He alone is the Divine Author.

"The soul that sinneth ...it shall be separated", EZEKIEL 18:4.

"The wages of sin is death ." Rom 6:23.

By grace are ye saved..." Eph 2:8 .
 

GENERAL COMMENTS.... In RELATION to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Witnesses have published two Greek interlinear new Testament texts. The older work is The Empathic Diaglott, translated by Benjamin Wilson, a Christadelphian.

The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, published in 1969 and revised in 1985, combines the Greek text edited by Westcott and Hort with the Society’s translation and an improved text of the New World Translation. Both works clearly reveal a doctrinal bias.

Two topically arranged handbooks (with verses frequently quoted out of context) should be mentioned ; "Make sure of All Things ; Hold Fast to What is Fine":(1965), and Reasoning from the Scriptures (1985). A Bible dictionary, Aid to Bible Understanding, which reflects the Witnesses understanding on many of the topics explained and was completed in 1971. In 1973 The Comprehensive Concordance of the New World Translation was published. A Witness can now ‘study’ the Bible and never leave the Watchtower Society publications.

PROPHETIC SPECULATION (FAILURE)

Claiming divine insight, the publications distributed by the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their predecessors, the Bible Students have promoted a message of urgency-ARMAGEDDON IS NEAR- for over one hundred years. In reality they have succeeded in creating an illusion of urgency. Many have left the Witnesses because ARMAGEDDON has failed to come. "It would take a book-length treatment to adequately show the extent of the erroneous speculations which have characterised the movement. "The Witnesses are not reluctant to expose the failures of others. The 22nd March 1993 issue of AWAKE! contains three articles under the title "The World’s End-How Near?" The story of the boy who cried "Wolf! Wolf!" is told and an application is made.

"So it has become, with those who proclaim the end of the world. Down through the centuries since Jesus’ day, so many unfulfilled predictions have been made that many no longer take them seriously. "These predictions when found to be incorrect become "suggested dates" which glosses over the true nature of their speculation.

The Witnesses have made virtually hundreds of predictions here are some references dates...1877, 1886,1889 (1914), 1915, 1920 (1925 another end of the world), 1930, 1939, and as recently as September 1975 .

These predictions in their failure and falsehood conveniently become "suggested dates".

Without being disrespectful to anyone...This indoctrination is full of flaws...it can only be a form of brain-washing, which is a systematic replacement of established ideas in a person’s mind by others.