Jehovah's Witnesses and salvation

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Jehovah's Witnesses teach that salvation is possible only through Christ’s ransom sacrifice[1], and that individuals cannot be saved until they repent of their sins and call on the name of Jehovah.[2] According to them, salvation is a free gift from God, but they say “Faith that does not prompt us to do good works is not genuine and will not result in our salvation”.[3][4] This is based on their understanding of James 2:2, "faith without works is dead". They feel that preaching is one of the works necessary for salvation, for them as well as for those to whom they preach.[5] They believe that people can be "saved" by identifying God's organization and serving God as a part of it.[6] Regarding whether non-Witnesses will be 'saved', they state that God has committed the responsibility of judging such ones to Jesus.[7]

The Witnesses reject the doctrine of universal salvation,[8] as well as that of predestination or fate. They believe that all intelligent creatures are endowed with free will. They regard salvation to be a result of a person's own decisions, not of fate.[9] They also reject the concept of "once saved, always saved." To them, one must endure faithfully until the end to be saved.[10]

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[edit] The 'Anointed'

Based on their understanding of scriptures such as Revelation 14:1-4, Jehovah's Witnesses believe that 144,000 of mankind will go to heaven to rule with Christ in his Kingdom. Most of these are said to be already in heaven. They believe that the "remnant" at Revelation 12:17 (KJV) refers to those of this number still remaining alive on earth and waiting to go to heaven after dying. The Witnesses understand Jesus’ words in John 3:3, "... except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," to apply to the 144,000 who are "born again" as "anointed" sons of God in heaven.[11] They teach that the New Testament, which they refer to as the “Greek Scriptures”, is primarily directed to the 144,000, and by extension, to those associated with them.[12]

In the congregations, members who claim to be anointed are not given special treatment.[13] However, only those in the anointed class partake of the unleavened bread and wine at the yearly commemoration of Christ's death, or Memorial (see also, Eucharist). Only anointed males can serve on the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that being 'anointed' involves a personal revelation by God’s spirit which "gives positive assurance of adoption" to the individual alone.[14] They believe that falsely claiming to have this inner knowledge is a sin, but they are instructed not to pass judgment on members who make such a claim.

[edit] The 'Other Sheep' and the 'Great Crowd'

It is understood that in John 10:16 Jesus used the term 'other sheep' to indicate that some of his followers were not part of the 144,000. They would have an earthly, rather than heavenly hope. Most people that have died will be resurrected. [15] In the resurrection, those who died faithful to God are included in the 'other sheep' and will receive the "resurrection of the righteous" ("just" KJV) mentioned in Acts 24:15.[16] Those who died without faithfully serving God will receive the "resurrection of the ... unrighteous" ("unjust" KJV). They will be given the opportunity to join Jesus' 'other sheep' and live forever on a paradise earth.[17][18] There are some who will not be resurrected due to special judgment by God.[19] Those of the 'other sheep' who are alive today, some of whom survive through Armageddon without needing a resurrection, are referred to as the 'great crowd'.[20]

[edit] Development of Doctrine

In 1932, as the number of Jehovah's Witnesses grew, they began to teach that those not of the 144,000 made up a class referred to as the "Jonadab" class, who hope to live on earth rather than in heaven.[21] At first, the "Jonadab's" were not considered fully consecrated witnesses. They were not included in some Witness activities.[22][23][24] Then, in 1935, the “Jonadabs” were identified as the "other sheep", a designation based on their understanding of the passage at John 10:16 where Jesus speaks of having "other sheep ... that are not of this fold."[25] Another group, based on the “great crowd” (“great multitude” KJV) of Revelation 7:9 was said to be the modern day members of the “other sheep”. These groups were now collectively understood to represent a fully consecrated group of loyal servants of God who will live forever on earth, rather than in heaven.[26] The teaching of a heavenly and an earthly class of believers is in contrast to the mainstream Christian belief that the term "other sheep" generally refers to Gentile believers who Jesus would bring into 'one fold' with Jewish believers, the "little flock".[27]

In the 1930s, the number of believers desiring to live forever on earth rather than in heaven rose sharply, leading the Witnesses to the conclusion that the 144,000 limit had been essentially filled.[28] Members who believe they were called to the heavenly hope after 1935 were for a time considered 'replacements' of other anointed who proved unfaithful.[29] The current thinking is that a date for the end of the heavenly calling cannot be determined. [30][31]

[edit] References

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  1. ^ Watchtower 6/1/00 p. 11 par. 6 Keep Your “Hope of Salvation” Bright!
  2. ^ Watchtower 3/15/89 p. 31 Call on Jehovah’s Name and Get Away Safe! “The Way of Salvation”
  3. ^ Watchtower 3/1/83 p. 13 James Urges Clean and Active Worship
  4. ^ “Our Kingdom Ministry” 1/79 p. 2 Meetings to Help Us Make Disciples: “Salvation does not come merely from claiming to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses”
  5. ^ Watchtower 5/15/06 pp. 28-29 par. 12: “By sharing with others the message of salvation outlined in the Bible, we engage in a work that can result in our own salvation and in that of those who listen to us. (1 Timothy 4:16)”
  6. ^ Watchtower 2/15/83 p. 12 You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth—But How?: “Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.”
  7. ^ “Jehovah’s Witnesses—Who Are They? What Do They Believe?” p. 29 Questions Often Asked by Interested People: “God looks at the heart. He sees accurately and judges mercifully. He has committed judgment into Jesus’ hands, not ours.—Matthew 7:1-5; 24:21; 25:31.”
  8. ^ Watchtower 4/15/60 p. 229 Does the Bible Teach What You Believe?: “Does the Bible teach that all persons will be saved despite their course of action? ... There is a penalty for willfully ignoring and disobeying the revealed will of God.”
  9. ^ Awake! 5/07 p. 13 Is Your Life Predestined?
  10. ^ You Can Endure to the End The Watchtower October 1, 1999, p. 17.
  11. ^ Watchtower 11/1/96 p. 10 Look to Jehovah for Comfort: “One of the main operations of God’s spirit upon first-century Christians was to anoint them as adopted spiritual sons of God and brothers of Jesus. (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) This is reserved for only 144,000 disciples of Christ. (Revelation 14:1, 3)”
  12. ^ Worldwide Security Under the “Prince of Peace” chap. 13 p. 110 par. 10 The “Prince of Peace” Turns to Those Outside the New Covenant
  13. ^ Watchtower 5/1/07 p. 31: “They do not believe that they necessarily have more holy spirit than their companions of the other sheep have; nor do they expect special treatment or claim that their partaking of the emblems places them above the appointed elders in the congregation”
  14. ^ “United In Worship Of The Only True God” chap. 14 pp. 112-113 ‘I Make a Covenant With You for a Kingdom’: “Spiritual Sons—How Do They Know? ... God’s spirit gives positive assurance of adoption as spiritual sons to baptized Christians who have received the heavenly calling.
  15. ^ Watchtower 2/1/98 p. 20 par. 7 The Other Sheep and the New Covenant
  16. ^ Watchtower 2/15/95 p. 11 par. 12 'There Will Be a Resurrection of the Righteous: “Men and women of old who exercised strong faith in Jehovah and his promises and remained faithful to the death were declared righteous by Jehovah on the basis of their faith, and they will without doubt share in the ‘resurrection of the righteous.’
  17. ^ Watchtower 6/15/06 p. 6 A Sure Guide to Happiness: “Acts 24:15 ... “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” So even “the unrighteous,” many individuals who did not know and serve Jehovah, will get a future opportunity to gain God’s favor.”
  18. ^ You Can Believe in a Paradise Earth The Watchtower November 15, 2003, p. 4.
  19. ^ Watchtower 3/15/06 p. 6 The Only Remedy!: “Some committed sins for which there is no forgiveness. They are not in Hades (mankind’s common grave) but in Gehenna, a symbolic place of eternal destruction. (Matthew 23:33)
  20. ^ Watchtower 4/15/95 p. 31 Questions From Readers: “In summary, we might remember “other sheep” as the broader term, encompassing all of God’s servants having the hope of living forever on earth. It includes the more limited category of sheeplike ones today who are being gathered as a “great crowd” with the hope of living right through the impending great tribulation”.
  21. ^ Watchtower 12/1/55 p. 709 Part 23—Expanding with a Trained Ministry
  22. ^ Yearbook 75 p. 156 Part 2—United States of America: “In 1932 it was concluded that this present-day class of “sheep” had been prefigured by Jehu’s associate Jonadab. First in 1934 was it made clear that these “Jonadabs” with earthly hopes should “consecrate,” or enter a dedicated relationship with Jehovah
  23. ^ Watchtower 3/1/54 p. 153 par. 15 Restoration of True Religion Today: "The Watchtower for May 1,1935, stated: Heretofore not many Jonadabs have had the privilege of attending a convention, and the convention at Washington may be a real comfort and benefit to them."
  24. ^ Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of chap. 7 p. 83 Advertise the King and the Kingdom! (1919-1941): “In 1932 it was explained that Jehonadab (Jonadab), King Jehu’s associate, prefigured a class of persons who would enjoy everlasting life on earth. (2 Ki. 10:15-28)”
  25. ^ Watchtower 9/15/05 p. 16 par. 3 Walk by Faith, Not by Sight!
  26. ^ “Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom” chap. 12 pp. 169-170 The Great Crowd to Live in Heaven? Or on Earth?
  27. ^ Watchtower 2/1/95 p. 10 par. 7 A Great Crowd of True Worshipers—From Where Have They Come? | "7 Christendom’s commentators generally take the view that these other sheep are Gentile Christians and that those in the sheepfold referred to earlier are Jewish"
  28. ^ “Revelation—Its Grand Climax at Hand!” chap. 20 p. 125 par. 18 A Multitudinous Great Crowd
  29. ^ Watchtower 5/1/07 pp. 30-31 Questions From Readers: “Hence, especially after 1966 it was believed that the heavenly call ceased in 1935. ... Thereafter, any called to the heavenly hope were believed to be replacements for anointed Christians who had proved unfaithful.”
  30. ^ Watchtower w07 5/1 p. 31 Questions From Readers: "On the other hand, as time has gone by, some Christians baptized after 1935 have had witness borne to them that they have the heavenly hope. (Romans 8:16, 17) Thus, it appears that we cannot set a specific date for when the calling of Christians to the heavenly hope ends.
  31. ^ Watchtower 1/15/08 pg. 23 par. 16 "It seems, however, that not all who have been called to a heavenly hope since the 1930's are replacements..."

[edit] See also