Vindication or Reconciliation and Transformation?

For the last couple of weeks, we have been discussing this  claim that the Watchtower makes on its website:

“The most important reason why God’s Son came to earth was not to save mankind. Rather, it was to settle the slanderous issues raised by Satan with regard to Jehovah’s sovereignty.”

As a reminder, in Genesis 3:4-5, the serpent (Satan) led Eve to rebel against God, telling her that God had lied to Adam: “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Continue reading

Did Jesus Come to Vindicate Jehovah’s Sovereignty?

In last week’s post, I noted that in an article entitled “Appreciating Why the Messiah Was to Come,” the Watchtower makes the following claim:

“The most important reason why God’s Son came to earth was not to save mankind. Rather, it was to settle the slanderous issues raised by Satan with regard to Jehovah’s sovereignty.”

Let’s discuss what the Watchtower means by that second sentence.

What “slanderous issues” did Satan raise “with regard to Jehovah’s sovereignty”? Continue reading

Was Saving the Lost a Secondary Mission?

Although the Watchtower teaches that Jesus made the “ransom sacrifice,” in an article entitled “Appreciating Why the Messiah Was to Come,” the Watchtower makes the following claim:

“The most important reason why God’s Son came to earth was not to save mankind. Rather, it was to settle the slanderous issues raised by Satan with regard to Jehovah’s sovereignty.”

In a later post, I will explain what they mean by their second sentence and the issue of “Jehovah’s sovereignty.”

For now, I want to discuss the first sentence—specifically, the Watchtower’s contention that saving the lost was not the most important reason why God the Father sent Jesus into the world. Continue reading

Did Jesus Need to be Born Again?

The Watchtower teaches, “Jesus was the first one to be ‘born again’. This was in harmony with God’s rule concerning his Son: ‘that he might become the one who is first in all things.’ When was Jesus ‘born again’? At the time of his human birth? No, but rather thirty years later, at the time of his baptism A.D. 29.” (The Watchtower, “Who Are Born Again?”, 11/15/54, p. 682)

I discuss the new birth extensively in Chapter 10 of my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses.

There, I offer recommendations as to how to engage Jehovah’s Witnesses on this crucial topic.

In this post, I want to give you a brief overview of the Watchtower’s misconception about Jesus being born again, and to explain what I believe is at stake. Continue reading

Did Jesus Become the Messiah at His Baptism?

Thus far in this series, we have examined Watchtower misconceptions about the nature of Jesus.

Now we move on to look at its misconceptions about Jesus’ earthly ministry. Continue reading

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