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About Brenda Martin
Expertise
I have been one of Jehovah`s Witneses now for over 30 years, in those years I have brought up 4 children, teaching each of them the bible.Being one of Jehovah`s Witnesses has helped me cope with my Epilepsy and bring up a daughter with learning difficulties.I have conducted bible studies with people from nearly every denomination i.e. Muslim. Having used the bible all these years to answer peoples questions, I feel I am qualified to give any answer regarding Jehovah`s Witnesses and the bible.

Experience
My experience has been one of attending bible lectures 5 times a week,taking part in these lectures in front of an audience and being with thousands of J.W. at conventions where I have seen the bible at work in peoples lives.It is truly a miracle when you see thousands of people meeting together and not one policeman needed, and not even a piece of litter in sight.It is like another world.

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Jehovah`s Witness - Saved

Expert: Brenda Martin - 10/29/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Brenda,

I'm hoping this is my last question on this topic of "How to be saved".

Let see if I got this right now:

Step 1

To be saved we have to believe in Jesus Christs, who he is, that he died for us and rose again. He did this once only. However, we cannot consider that once we believe, that is enough, and that we are permenantly saved. In fact believing ( rather than calling it "being saved" ) is Step 1 and allows us to progress to Step 2.

This is "Going over the top" as I mentioned in my previous post.

Step 2

We need to endure to the end to be saved by living Godly lives, through following Christ's example.

It seems to me the crux of all this is enduring through living in a Godly way. We NEED fellowship with other christians as well as mature christians ( elders ) who can help us and guide us. This is why we are told to congregate together in Christian groups so we meet for bible study & bible instruction, which helps equip us for life as a Christian and prepares us for all the issues we will face as Christians. This is so we can be helped to endure to the End as we live to Godly standards, especially when under pressure and/or persecution.

This is the "Sprinting across the battlefield under fire" I mentioned in my previous post.

Is this correct? Have I forgotten anything?

Thank you for all your help so far.

Cheers,

Brian.

ANSWER: One question Brian, you said--"We NEED fellowship with other christians as well as mature christians ( elders ) who can help us and guide us etc"

Have you been a Witness before? or studied, as that is how a Witness would talk.

thanks
Brenda

There are six distinct steps that we must take Brian to put ourselves on the “narrow road that leads to life”

1. To begin with, persons must take in accurate knowledge about Jehovah God, their Creator and Life-Giver, and about his Son, Jesus Christ, their Saviour and Redeemer. (Psalm 36:9; 100:3; Matthew 20:28; Romans 10:13-15) John 17:3

2. However, knowledge of itself is not enough. A person must then exercise faith, even as we read: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.” John 3:16; Hebrews 11:1, 6; James 2:19, 26.

3. The very first work that is required as proof of a person’s faith is that of repentance. Yes, a person must repent of his wrongful course and cease willingly engaging in sin. When Jesus began preaching, he said: “Repent, you people, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” (Matthew 4:17) Psalm 145:20

4. However, merely to stop doing what is sinful is not enough. A person must take the step of conversion. That is, he must turn around and make progress in the opposite direction. He must heed the counsel Peter gave the Jews in his day: “Repent, therefore, and turn around so as to get your sins blotted out.” ‘Do works that befit repentance.’ (Acts 3:19; 26:20) Proverbs 2:20, 21.

5. Then, just as Jesus presented himself at the Jordan to do his Father’s will, so the next step required of all who desire to become followers of Jesus Christ, is to present themselves to God. Today, this includes making a dedication to Jehovah God, after which they must follow in the footsteps of his Son, Jesus. (Luke 9:23)

6. Further, as a sixth step they must symbolize this dedication and make an open confession of it by undergoing baptism just as Jesus did.—Matthew 28:19; compare Acts 2:41.

--
After these 6 steps have been taken, then & only then can we say we are on the road to life, then the race for life begins, or as you put it, the spiritual battle.

You are taking the first step Brian; you have started to learn that it is indeed “serious stuff” I hope you continue & enjoy, I know I am.

All the best
Brenda

HI Brian, I have just got back from my holiday, how are you? I expected a question from you to be lying in my "inbox" :¬) hope to hear from you as I loved our chats.

all the best
Brenda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Brenda,

I have friends who live literally 1500 km away from me who are Witnesses, so perhaps some of the Witness-specific language has stuck over the years. I dont like to bombard them with questions and find the internet good because I can work through things at my own speed and look at all the angles on a topic and provide you meaningful questions this way.

The scriptures talk of taking in "milk" as spiritual "youngsters" ( my paraphrasing ) and that those people who have been attentive to Gods word for a long time would perhaps be mature christians. How do we define "mature christian" - perhaps its better to say "mature christians" are those in a christian community who probably would have a shepherding role for that community - a persons age doesnt always mean they are mature in their thoughts. That said, I have met rare people in their 30s and you would think they were 200 years old based on how they put things together.

Yes I enjoy the chats. I think the biggest breakthrough for me has been the understand what to do to be saved. It has driven me half mad trying to get a specific answer ( not yours by the way ) as there seems to be 1000s of variations ranging from "only those who are Bishops can be saved" to "dont worry, all you have to do is believe and thats it".

I usually go "quiet" when I'm mulling things over. This can take any period of time and me being "quiet" it isnt related to anything youve said.

A new question ( I may have to start a new thread ) when people talk of "Saints" what does this mean? Some people think it means only those who were the Apostles, others say its just people who believe, others believe its only those who are martyred, others say its those who will be raptured. What biblical proof do we have for determining what "Saint" means, is "Saint" a proper translation of the root of this word, who is entitled to be called a "Saint"?

Cheers,

Brian.

Answer
"HOW DO WE DEFINE "MATURE CHRISTIAN"

A mature Christian is a spiritual person. He’s learned to looks at things from Jehovah’s point of view. (John 4:23) Paul wrote: “Those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit.” (Romans 8:5)

A spiritual outlook makes the person happy, because it is focused on Jehovah, “the happy God.” (1 Timothy 1:11) A spiritual person is eager to please Jehovah and rejoices even when under trial. Why? Trials present opportunities to prove Satan a liar and to build integrity, delighting our heavenly Father.—Proverbs 27:11; James 1:2, 3.

What do we need in order to mature and to maintain our spirituality? Above all, love. We need to keep growing in love for Jehovah and for our fellow believers. If we do not have love, all our knowledge and works would amount to nothing—like a lot of empty noise. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) With love, we can attain Christian maturity and continue growing spiritually.

THE BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH FOR ME HAS BEEN; THE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TO DO TO BE SAVED.

Well you know what Jesus said; “keep on knocking, keep on seeking, keep on asking (Matthew 7;7,8) & you WILL “find the very knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2;1-5) I feel privileged that I was instrumental in aiding that understanding.

WHEN PEOPLE TALK OF "SAINTS" WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

According to Roman Catholic teaching, saints are those who died and are now with Christ in heaven and who have been given recognition by the Church for outstanding holiness and virtue. The Tridentine profession of faith states that the saints are to be invoked as intercessors with God and that both the relics of saints and images of the saints are to be venerated. Other religions, too, invoke the help of saints. Certain religions teach that all of their members are saints and are free from sin.

“WHO IS ENTITLED TO BE CALLED A "SAINT"?

The Bible teaches; a person doesn’t have to attain to heavenly glory before he is recognized as a saint.

The Bible refers to holy ones, or saints, that are in heaven. Jehovah is spoken of as “the Holy One.” (1 Pet. 1:15, 16; Leviticus 11:45.)

Jesus Christ is described as “the Holy One of God” when on earth and as “holy in heaven. (Mark 1:24; Rev. 3:7, JB)

The angels too are “holy.” (Acts 10:22, JB) The same basic term in the original Greek is applied to a considerable number of persons on earth.

Acts 9:32, 36-41, (However these saints were not yet in heaven, nor was just an outstanding individual such as Peter viewed as a saint.

2 Cor. 1:1; 13:12, (All these early Christians who were cleansed by the blood of Christ and set apart for God’s service as prospective joint heirs with Christ were referred to as saints, or holy ones. Recognition of their being saints was obviously not deferred until after they had died.)

All who made up the first-century Christian congregation were saints. (1 Cor. 14:33, 34; 2 Cor. 1:1; 13:13 ) They are described as ones that received “forgiveness of sins” and were “sanctified” by God. (Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 1:2 )

Nevertheless, they did not claim to be free from all sin. They were born as descendants of the sinner Adam. This inheritance often made it a struggle for them to do what was right, as the apostle Paul humbly acknowledged. (Rom. 7:21-25) And the apostle John pointedly said: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8, RS) So, being a saint in the sense that the term is used regarding Christ’s true followers does not mean that in the flesh they are free from all sin.

The many Scriptural references to living members of the congregation as “holy ones,” or “saints” (Dy, KJ), make it clear that a person is not made a holy one, or “saint,” by men or by an organization, nor does such a one have to wait until after death to be made a “saint.” He is a “holy one” by virtue of God’s calling of him to joint heirship with Christ. He is holy in the eyes of God while he is on earth, with the hope of heavenly life in the spirit realm, wherein dwell Jehovah God and his Son, along with the holy angels.—1Pe 1:3, 4; 2Ch 6:30; Mr 12:25; Ac 7:56.

Nice to hear from you again Brian :¬)

All the best
Brenda

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