AboutBrenda 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.
I have studied up to chapter 18 in the book What Does the Bible Really Teach? but I can't really agree that the Bible teaches all the things Jehovah's Witnesses say I have to do to get baptized.
I can find scriptures about repentance and conversion, but I can't find any about having to study before baptism, or go to meetings, or go preaching, or having to prove how much I know about the Bible to the elders. Whether or not you have to do these things after baptism, I can't find any reason in the Bible to teach that they have to be done before baptism.
But I did find some scriptures that show people getting baptized without doing these things first. Lots of scriptures. Acts 2; 8; 10; and 16 have some examples.
Acts 2: the three thousand baptized in one day didn't go to any meetings, prove Bible knowledge, or preach ahead of time. Peter didn't say anything about them having to dedicate their lives to God.
Acts 8: the Ethiopian eunuch didn't go to any meetings, prove Bible knowledge, or preach ahead of time. He was baptized the same day he said he wanted to be baptized.
Acts 10: Cornelius and his family received the Holy Ghost while Peter was speaking less than 200 Greek words. They were baptized immediately afterward. They didn't have any Bible study, go to any meetings, prove Bible knowledge, or preach ahead of time.
Acts 16: Lydia and her family were baptized after listening to Christ's disciples one time. They didn't have any Bible study, go to any meetings, prove Bible knowledge, or preach ahead of time.
Acts 16: The Philippian jailer and his family were baptized immediately after one late night conversation with Paul and Silas.They didn't have any Bible study, go to any meetings, prove Bible knowledge, or preach ahead of time.
So, here is my question: Why does the book "What Does the Bible Really Teach?" teach things the Bible doesn't really teach?
Or you could answer this by showing the scriptures that prove that the Bible teaches I have to have a Bible study, go to meetings, prove my Bible knowledge to the elders, and preach before I can get baptized.
Answer REPENTANCE
The cause making repentance necessary is sin, failure to meet God’s righteous requirements. (1Jo 5:17) Since all mankind was sold into sin by Adam, all of his descendants have had need of repentance. (Ps 51:5; Ro 3:23; 5:12) repentance (followed by conversion) is a prerequisite for man’s being reconciled to God.
CONVERSION
Conversion, that is, a turning around and abandoning any wrong course we followed when we did not have the knowledge of God. (Acts 3:19)
STUDY BEFORE BAPTISM
Paul stressed that “accurate knowledge” plays a vital part in gaining salvation. (1 Tim. 2:3, 4)
GO TO MEETINGS
Hebrew 10;24,25
GO PREACHING
Matthew 24;14; Matthew 28; 19,20.)
But then I’m sure you have came across these scriptures in your study.
Knowledge came first in every case you mentioned, then they quickly repented, turned around, and were baptised.
