Expert: Mrs. Priscilla Lyons - 5/26/2011

Question
Hi i usually post and ask question over on the JW forum but i thought i would come to this section and ask a couple questions.

Little background about me; I am 26 studying the bible off and on, been studying with JW's for about 2 years now. My Father is a Witness (been one for about 10 years now) I have never been baptized ever ( which i want to be so bad ) But i feel like i am caught between a war in my head and with religion that i cannot understand. I have some questions if you can answer them to the best of your knowledge i would appreciate it.

1: What is your take on removing YHWH name from the old testament?

2: What is your take on LORD replacing YHWH in the New Testament? Also i did a search and found out that YHWH (hebrew name of GOD) found in the oldest Greek manuscripts but later people started replacing it with Kurios (LORD).

3: I have been reading alot of the new tesament and where Jesus quote the old Testament it shows that he had to be using the original YHWH  when he quoted it and not LORD so why do humans replace it? when did Jesus/GOD say to replace the original Name for GOD to LORD? This just mind boggles me.

4: What is your take on the Heavens and the Earth? Why is it that in the bible we hear about True Believers living in heaven and True believers living on earth? In the future. Hence  Relations: "created new heavens and Earth" Mathew 5:5 and psalms proverbs etc...

I find myself stuck between some beliefs. There is alot of evidence pointing to Jesus being GOD, but there is alot of Evidence pointing to him being another Person other than GOD. I have been fighting myself so to speak on this. I just don't understand it. At first i used to think how could people think he (Jesus) can be GOD but now i understand;BUT There is also scriptures that make it seem like he is another person other than GOD.

Maybe you can help me with my Journey to find GOD because i am stumbling and i am not perfect and SIN When i know i am sinning, sometimes i find myself asking myself is there really a Christian GOD? IS GOD different than what these books or people are telling me? Might he be ALLAH instead?  I have been questioning myself for days now. I just really want the truth but it is hard to find.

Answer
  Hello, Keikei .
Thanks for your questions.  That's how we learn.

The YHWH in the O.T. is Creator.  As languages change we acknowledge Him in different ways.
This is not a critical thing from His perspective.  We have made it difficult.  He hears his Name when we cry out to Him, whether God, Jehovah, Creator, Lord.
When Jesus says in John 14:6 (New World Translation) "I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through me", He is speaking about the Creator of the world. When Jesus says in John 10:30 (NWT), "I and the Father are one" he is talking about the Creator-the same Creator that speaks of Jesus in Genesis 1:26 NWT, "God went on to say:  Let us make man in our image....".
They wanted to stone Jesus for his 'radical' claims.  He was who He said He was or was a crazy person.  Can't be both.
True believers Heaven or Earth.  Does it matter?  Shouldn't we just want to be where God wants us?  John 14:2-3 NWT.  In the house of my Father there are many abodes.  Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going my way to prepare a place for you.  Also, if I go my way and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you home to myself, that where I am you also may be.

     Keikei, if you read your Bible, there is Truth, even with much of the New World Translation, you can come to enough understanding to accept Christ into your life.  As in Acts 3:12 NWT (speaking of the one, Jesus, who had been impaled and God raised from the dead)"There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved."
Also, look at Philippians 2:10-11 NWT "..in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."
Hebrews 7:25  "He is able to save completely those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to plead for them."
Romans 10:9-10 "For if you publicly declare that word in your own mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and exercise faith in your heart that God raised him up from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation."  The next verse says that none will be disappointed, who rests his faith on him.

I recently attended a JW meeting where they celebrated Christ's death.  At the end they asked if I had questions, which I did.  Rather than go to their own bible for answers, they were going to use a 'watchtower guide', to assist in answering my questions.
I see the JW group as depending on other things for their salvation.  Not very secure, in my estimation.  
You won't attain perfection.  It is correct to desire holiness, but won't be achieved in this life.
Our perfection comes through Christ being the perfect sacrifice for our sins.   
When you offer your life to Jesus, He will come in, and you will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and scripture will open up to you a greater understanding for His plans for your life.
Keep in touch.
Your friend.