Category: New Birth and New Covenant (page 2 of 3)

Our Need for Inner Transformation

Bible teach Ch 19

Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website

“Bible Teach”, Chapter 19, paragraph 7 (p. 186) says, “As described in the Bible, love for God is much more than a feeling… The Bible teaches: ‘This is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome.’ (1 John 5:3). To be genuine, love for God must bear fine fruit. It must be expressed in actions.”

What the Watchtower fails to understand is that none of this is possible without the inner transformation provided by the new birth (see The New Birth Approach from my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways, pp. 131-133).

You can drive the point home by asking the Witnesses to tell you honestly how they think they are doing at keeping all of Jehovah’s commandments. Are they certain if they died tonight that Jehovah would consider them worthy to be resurrected? Continue reading

The Meaning of Baptism

Bible teach Ch 18

Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website

What is baptism all about?

“Bible Teach,” Chapter 18, paragraph 23 (p. 182) states that baptism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit… means that a baptism candidate recognizes the authority of Jehovah God and of Jesus Christ. He also recognizes the function and activity of God’s holy spirit, or active force.”

This provides a good opportunity to use The Holy Spirit is God Approach from my book, Getting Through to Jehovah’s Witnesses: Approaching Bible Discussions in Unexpected Ways, especially pp. 193 and 197 regarding the “name” shared by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Continue reading

What Makes Us Precious to God?

Bible teach Ch 14

Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website

In contrast to earlier chapters which dealt with the identity of Jesus, the Watchtower’s “sovereignty challenge” view of life, and the like, Chapter 14—“How to Make Your Family Life Happy—isn’t heavy on doctrine.

Accordingly, my primary goal is to get the Witnesses to think outside the Watchtower box. Continue reading

Dealing with Specific “Commandments”

Bible teach Ch 12

Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website

“Bible Teach,” Chapter 12, paragraph 17 (p. 121) emphasizes the importance of obeying Jehovah’s commandments. Paragraph 18 (p.121) refers you to a box entitled “Shun What Jehovah Hates” (p. 122). The list includes the following:

  • Spiritism
  • Participation in wars or political controversies of this world
  • Misuse of blood
  • Use of tobacco or so-called recreational drugs

Continue reading

Overcoming the Power of Sin

Bible teach Ch 5

Click image to access this “Bible Teach” chapter on the Watchtower’s website

The Watchtower greatly underestimates the power of sin that dwells within us and greatly overestimates the power of natural man to overcome it. Continue reading

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