The Pilgrim Path---John 1: 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“…THE WORD WAS GOD”

When we lived in Mississippi, I remember a particular serviceman coming to our home. He was a moral man. You would have looked long and hard to find someone less inclined to lie or misrepresent the facts about what needed to be done in a situation. He was diligent, attentive, industrious---and lost. He was a Jehovah’s Witness (Isaiah 43: 10). The “Witnesses” are compelled to live in a way that absolutely pleases God (they really believe they may). A large component of their theology of course---would mean “leading others” to follow them. They have no understanding of how heinous our personal sin is before a Holy God---thus, no appreciation of atonement---or the role of a God-Man (Jesus, as Second Person of the Trinity). They are caught up in the ancient heresy of Arianism: the 4th century teaching which denied the Deity of Jesus Christ---saying He is the “first” of the Father’s creations (named after Arius / 256—336).

In my office I have a copy of The New World Translation (the Scriptures produced by the Watch Tower for Jehovah’s Witnesses). John 1: 1 is tweaked:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god (italics mine).

Think about the implications of what you “see” in the passage “so translated.”

The “Witnesses” say---based upon Isaiah 43:10, there was no God before Jehovah---or after HIM (remember, no understanding of the Trinity at all).

Now hear the Apostle Paul in Titus 3: 4 – 7,

But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Believe me, I needed a Savior for initial justification---AND I need HIM for ongoing sanctification. I always need a Savior. This is the real problem with Jehovah’s Witnesses---and many souls we encounter: at present---they have no need of a Savior. We pray the Holy Spirit’s powerful work upon them and within them---to show them their sin---and reveal to them the Saving Jesus of Glory!

From John Duncan: Men cannot be saved without atonement and without regeneration.

From R. C. Sproul: Who needs a Savior when there’s no clear and present threat of judgment?

From Martin Luther: Without Christ, God will not be found, known, or comprehended.

From Charles Spurgeon: The child of God knows his good works do not make him acceptable to God, for he was acceptable to God by Jesus Christ long before he had any good works.

HYMN

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,

Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;

Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,

Tell them of Jesus the Mighty to Save.

Fanny Crosby, 1869.

Grace and Peace in Jesus, the Only Redeemer of broken and wretched souls, Pastor Jason