AboutBrenton Hepburn Expertise I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
I can answer questions on the reliability of the NWT, the so called mind control problems, so called prophecies, and general practices and history of Jehovah’s Witnesses.....
>>>>WARNING<<<<<< ....Please be aware that there are at least ... 3 .... people here who ARE NOT practicing JWs and, (at other times there have been as many as 5.) These ones will, at times, appear to have an agenda against JWs., and will often give answers that are not correct in regard to JW teachings and practices. If you are after a answer from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, please read some of the answers that the various experts have published before choosing someone. If you want to ask them a question that is fine, but if you want a balancing view after asking one of the NON JWs, ask a JW the same question
Experience I have been a publisher since 1964. When I first went on the internet I found a lot of negative information dealing with Jehovah’s Witnesses covering prophecy, mind control and what many said was a very bad translation of the Bible known as the NWT. It shook my faith. After may hours researching these topics I could see why some felt that way, but, I was also able to explain why there were these misleading views. I can now set matters straight for anyone that has negative information about Jehovah’s Witness to show them that such information is at best misleading and at worst dangerous lies.
Education/Credentials I have been a student of the Bible for many years, am trying to teach myself Biblical Greek.
Was a public tax accountant for many yrars untill SEP 2009 when I gave it up.
Question Hello Brenton.
I would like to ask what answer the Watchtower provides for the way of salvation - ie, as the Philippian Jailor asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
As a loyal JW, how were YOU personally saved? And what scripture can you draw upon in the book of the Acts or Pauls letters (where many people were converted) -to undergird your reponse?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Chris.
Answer Hello Chris
Thank you for your question.
The idea of salvation is something most Christians ask about, and a lot of Christians do wonder what the JW view of salvation is. Many are under the impestion that JWs get salvation form an organisation and or by doing works eg door knocking. This is not the case as I hope I will be able to demonstarte.
So how was I personally saved? The answer is not as simple as pointing to one event. The answer I have prepared is not in any particular “order of importance” as, for me, all of the following are important, but they do represent the “steps” that I and JWs view must be taken
Please not all texts used are from the RSV.
We must take in knowledge of God and his Son, We have to get to know them as friends John 17:3 “3 And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent” The getting to know God and Jesus should be an ongoing part of our lives as we continue to get to know the personalities of friends and family. By continuing to learn about God we grow to salvation 1 Peter 2:2 “Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation;” we also must grow in spiritual maturity Heb 6:1 “therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God”
When we start to get to know God and Jesus we will see the need to repent and turn around “Mark 5: 12 “So they went out and preached that men should repent.” As an out ward display that we have repented and turned around we must be baptized. Just as Noah was saved by entering the Ark, we must be baptized 1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”
By getting to know God and Jesus and by repenting and being baptized, would (or should) indicate that we have faith in the promises that the Bible holds out.
The entire provision for salvation is an expression of God’s undeserved kindness. There is no way that a descendant of Adam can gain salvation on his own, no matter how noble his works are. Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son. This in part is expressed in Eph. 2:8, 9, “By you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.”
As a people that have willingly dedicated ourselves to God by baptism, we now have to OBEY him and his Son as Paul writes to the Hebrews in Heb. 5:9, “He [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who OBEY him.” (Capitals mine) Does this conflict with the statement that Christians are “saved through faith”? Not at all. Obedience simply demonstrates that their faith is genuine. That is demonstrated at Jas. 2:14, 26, “What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.” No person can earn salvation by his works. But anyone who has genuine faith will have works to go with it—works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ, works that demonstrate his faith and love. Without such works, his faith is dead.
Just going back to Noah (1 Peter 3) Noah showed he had faith in the word of God when he was told there was going to be a flood. Noah’s faith would have meant nothing if he did not build the Ark. To illustrate that in another way, a young man may court a young lady, telling her that he loves her. But, if he never asks her to marry him, is he really demonstrating that his love is thorough and true? Likewise, works are a means of demonstrating the genuineness of our faith and our love. If we do not obey God we do not really love him or have faith in the rightness of his ways. 1 John 5:2,3,” By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome..”
But we cannot earn salvation no matter what works we do. Eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus Christ, not payment for our works.— see Eph. 2:8, 9.( quoted above)”
But what about Acts 16:30, 31, “‘Men, what must I do to be saved?’ And they [Paul and Silas] said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’” Does that go against what I have said. Well no. If that man and his household truly believed, would they not act in harmony with their belief? Certainly.
Acts 2:38: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins.” Did the baptism itself bring forgiveness to them? Consider: This was stated to Jews who shared responsibility for the death of Christ. Their baptism would give evidence of something. Of what? That they now put faith in Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ. Only by their doing this could their sins be forgiven. [Acts 4:12; 22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know”] Notice also Acts 5:30-32 “30 “The God of our fathers raised Jesus whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who OBEY him." (Capitals mine)
In the first part of your question you asked “I would like to ask what answer the Watchtower provides for the way of salvation” We do not believe the Watchtower provides the way to salvation. We must work out our own salvation as per as Paul those in Philippi not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” So no organization can save us. Once we are in a saved position can we be assured of salvation. Absolutely provided we continue to obey God . (“as you have always obeyed”)
We are warned by the Paul that we can, if not careful, lose are saved status Look at Jude 5,: “I desire to remind you, though you were once for all fully informed, that he who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, AFTERWARD DESTROYED those who did not believe.” (Capitals mine.) Many Israelites were saved out of Egypt only to lose faith and die.
Matthew records for us that those that follow Jesus must ENDURE to be saved Matt. 24:13,: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” So a person’s final salvation is not determined at the moment that he begins to put faith in Jesus.
Heb. 10:26, 27, “If we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries.” Thus the Bible does not go along with the idea that no matter what sins a person may commit after he is “saved” he will not lose his salvation. It encourages faithfulness. See also Hebrews 6:4-6, where it is shown that even a person anointed with holy spirit can lose his hope of salvation.” 4 For it is impossible to restore again to repentance those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they then commit apostasy, since they crucify the Son of God on their own account and hold him up to contempt.”
To summarize on what is needed for salvation.
We must get to know God and Jesus
We must exercise faith in the ransom death of Jesus
Must get baptized
Must obey God and Jesus
Stay faithful and endure to the end
