Page 5: Through the prophet Moses, the Israelites were instructed: "Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. And you must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul and all your vital force. And these words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your hear; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up."
Correction: The word "one" in Deuteronomy 6:4 is defined as a "grouping of one."
Amplified Text: "Hear, O Israel: Our Jehovah God is a grouping of one Jehovah."
Note: Do you love Jesus Christ with all of your body, soul, and spirit?
John 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
Page 7: From December 1 to 7, 1998, Lloyd Barry, John Barr, and Gerrit Losch visited the Bethel Home in Havana and attended some of the "God's Way of Life" District Conventions held in Cuba. They were happy to be able to meet with traveling elders and become better acquainted with Cuban public officials.
Note: Thanks to the Pope's visit to Cuba, the communists allowed some religious freedoms.
Page 10: Jesus Christ, the greatest man who ever lived, accepted direction. He said: "The son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing. For whatever things that One does, these things the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19)
Correction: The Father and Son together do the work of God.
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God ('elohim) created the heavens and the earth.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Page 10: How wise, then, to imitate Jesus and look to Jehovah for help in directing our steps! King David sang: "As for the true God, perfect is his way; the saying of Jehovah is a refined one. A shield he is to all those taking refuge in him." (2 Samuel 22:31)
Note: Have you taken refuge in Jesus Christ by faith?
Galatians 3:22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Page 10: Further, while Adam and Eve were faithfully walking in Jehovah's way, they would have communication with him. (Compare Genesis 3:8) What a marvelous privilege - to have an ongoing, personal relationship with the Creator!
Note: The personal relationship occurs only through Jesus Christ.
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."
Page 11: And he has never failed to give perfect guidance to those who walk in his way and hope to see the fulfillment of that promise. For those of us with ears to hear, Jehovah's voice is behind us, saying: "This is the way. Walk in it, you people." - Isaiah 30:21.
Note: Jesus Christ is the way!
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."
Page 11: As the pre-Flood world sank deeper into wickedness, obedience to Jehovah became more and more a test of loyalty.
Correction: The pre-Flood world lacked faith in God.
Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Page 12: Unhappily, many in Israel failed to do this. Of those who did walk in Jehovah's way, many suffered for their loyalty. Some were even tortured, mocked, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, and killed by fellow Israelites. (Acts 7:51, 52; Hebrews 11:35-38)
Correction: They suffered for their faith in God.
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Page 12: However, when Jehovah offered support and invited Ahaz to put him to the test, Ahaz flatly refused! (Isaiah 7:10-12)
Note: God still gave the promise of the Deliverer named "God with us."
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
Page 13: Jehovah alone, "the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the God great, mighty and fear-inspiring," can give real security. (Deuteronomy 10:17)
Note: Jesus Christ is the Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Page 13: Because of the extreme disloyalty of his people, in 607 B.C.E., Jehovah allowed the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem and its temple.
Correction: Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed in 586 B.C.E.
In 588 BC Zedekiah led a revolt against Chaldea, and two years later Nebuchadnezzar's army destroyed Judah and razed Jerusalem. Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia, Vol. 15, page 57.
Page 14: Before 607 B.C.E., Jehovah had urged the people of Judah: "Obey my voice, and I will become your God, and you yourselves will become my people; and you must walk in all the way that I shall command you, in order that it may go well with you." (Jeremiah 7:23)
Note: 1914 is based on the bogus date of 607 B.C.E. for the destruction of Jerusalem.
Page 14: Today, as in the past, walking in Jehovah's way demands loyalty - a determination to serve him alone.
Correction: Today, as in the past, walking in Jehovah's way is sincere trust resulting in faith.
Galatians 3:7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Page 14: It demands trust - complete faith that Jehovah's promises are reliable and will come true.
Correction: Have you placed your trust in Jesus Christ?
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Page 14: Walking in Jehovah's way demands obedience - following his laws without deviation and keeping his high standards.
Correction: Obedience is sincere belief.
Hebrews 3:18-19 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Page 15: For one thing, walking in Jehovah's way today means exercising faith in Jesus Christ's ransom sacrifice, acknowledging him as "the way and the truth and the life." (John 3:16)
Note: Have you placed your faith into the name of Jesus?
John 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
Page 15: It means, too, fulfilling "the law of the Christ," which includes showing love to one another, especially to Jesus' anointed brothers. (Galatians 6:2; Matthew 25:34-40)
Note: Are you in love with Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Page 15: And they 'keep strict watch that how they walk is not as unwise but as wise persons.'
Note: Is the Holy Spirit residing in you?
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Pages 15-16: Moreover, loyalty to Jehovah and trust in him are vital. (2 Corinthians 1:9; 10:5; Ephesians 4:24) Why? Because our situation is quite similar to that of ancient Israel.
Note: Have you placed your trust into Jesus Christ?
Matthew 12:20-21 "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench, till He sends forth justice to victory; And in His name Gentiles will trust."
Correction: Our situation is different than ancient Israel since they had to sacrifice animals.
Page 16: If we are among those few million, we must be on guard against being influenced in a wrong way. How? Loyalty to Jehovah God, faith in him, and a firm trust that he will fulfill his promises will help. (Hebrews 11:6) This will keep us from putting our trust in the things the world hopes in. - Proverbs 20:22; 1 Timothy 6:17.
Note: Have you placed your faith into Jesus Christ?
Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Page 16: Jesus is "the true light." (John 1:9) Any who reject him or who claim to believe in him but do not obey "the law of the Christ" are "in darkness mentally." Far from walking in Jehovah's way, they are "alienated from the life that belongs to God."
Note: Is Jesus Christ dwelling within you?
Luke 11:35 "Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness."
Page 16: However wise they may think they are in a worldly way, they have 'ignorance in them' as to the only knowledge that leads to life, that of Jehovah God and Jesus Christ.
Correction: True Christians will preach Jesus Christ in power and have the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Page 17: The 'word behind us' also comes by means of "the faithful and discreet slave," who supplies "food at the proper time." (Matthew 24:45-47)
Note: The Watchtower is not the faithful and discreet slave since it is not watching for Jesus.
Matthew 24:44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."
Page 17: One way this food is supplied is in printed Bible-based publications, and in recent years this food supply has been abundant. For example, through the Watchtower magazine, our understanding of prophecy has been refined.
Correction: The Watchtower prophetic vision never has centered on Jesus Christ.
Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Page 19: We view ourselves as belonging to Jehovah God, having individually dedicated ourselves to him unconditionally, and we shall maintain unshakable faith in Jehovah's provision of the ransom through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Note: Do you belong to Jesus Christ?
Mark 9:41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward."
Page 19: We are determined to walk in God's way of life, serving as his Witnesses and submitting to his sovereignty as expressed through the rulership of Jesus Christ.
Note: Are you a Jesus witness?
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Page 19: It is our resolve to remain clean before Jehovah and without spot from this world.
Correction: One can only be "clean" before Jehovah through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom 3:27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Page 19: All of us will strive to cultivate the godly qualities that our Creator exemplifies, and we will endeavor to imitate his personality and his ways, as Jesus did.
Note: Paul was imitating Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Page 20: Without letup we will continue preaching the good news of God's Kingdom, making disciples, and we will instruct them in God's way of life and encourage them to receive further training at congregation meetings. - Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20; Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Correction: The good news is about Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the good news which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Note: If you preach any other good news, you are under a curse of God.
Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other good news to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other good news to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Page 20: As individuals and as a religious organization, we will continue to put God's will first in our lives. Using his Word, the Bible, as our guide, we will not deviate to the right or to the left, thus confirming that God's way is far superior to the ways of the world.
Correction: The Watchtower never proclaims Jesus as being central to God's will.
John 6:40 "And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."
Page 20: Above all, we make this resolution because we love Jehovah God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength!
Note: Do you love Jesus Christ?
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
Page 20: With Jehovah at our side, let us be determined to stay there and to endure to the end, fully confident that in his due time, we will see him fulfill every last one of his promises.
Note: True Christians will have Jesus at their side.
Matthew 28:20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Page 21: Desiring to praise Jehovah with a heart full of love and appreciation, David exhorts his own soul - himself - to "bless Jehovah."
Note: Pure worship gives blessings to the Father and the Son.
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!"
Page 21: Feeling grateful to Jehovah is evidently connected with meditating appreciatively on "his doings." Exactly what doings of Jehovah does David have in mind? Looking at Jehovah God's creation, such as a star-studded sky on a clear night, can indeed fill the heart with gratitude for the Creator.
Note: David recognized the blessedness of a person who has been forgiven of their sins by God.
Romans 4:5-8 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin."
Page 22: Are we not also sinful? (Romans 5:12) Even the apostle Paul lamented: "I really delight in the law of God according to the man I am within, but I behold in my members another law warring against the law of my mind and leading me captive to sin's law that is in my members. Miserable man that I am! Who will rescue me from the body undergoing this death?" (Romans 7:22-24) How grateful we can be that Jehovah does not keep account of our transgressions! He gladly erases them when we repent and seek forgiveness.
Note: The forgiveness of sins from God is found in Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Page 22: Since healing is an act of restoration, it entails more than forgiveness of wrongdoing. It involves the removal of "maladies" - the bad consequences of the error of our ways. In the new world of his making, Jehovah will indeed eradicate the physical consequences of sin, such as sickness and death. (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:1-4)
Note: We must first be "healed" spiritually before being in the "new world."
Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.
Page 22: "(Jehovah) is reclaiming your life from the very pit," sings David. (Psalm 103:4) "The very pit" is the common grave of mankind - Sheol, or Hades.
Note: Righteous souls have been taken to heaven by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:8-10 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." (Now this, "He ascended"; what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
Note: True Christians will have their souls in heaven at the death of their bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Page 22: In our hour of need, Jehovah does not abandon us but comes to our aid through his visible organization and the appointed elders, or shepherds, in the congregation.
Correction: True Christians are helped through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Page 23: While persisting in the work of proclaiming of God's Kingdom, who does not become tired or grow weary?
Correction: The power of God comes from proclaiming Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Page 23: But Jehovah keeps renewing the strength of his servants, making them 'like eagles' that have powerful wings and soar to great heights in the sky. How grateful we can be that our loving heavenly Father provides such "dynamic energy" so that we can faithfully carry out our ministry day after day! - Isaiah 40:29-31.
Note: True Christians powerfully proclaim Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
Page 23: May you be moved to day, as did David in the opening words of this psalm: "Bless Jehovah, O my soul, even everything within me, his holy name."
Note: True Christians call on the name of Jesus.
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Page 24: Meditating on Jehovah's loving care can certainly move us to glorify him and magnify his holy name.
Note: True Christians know that salvation is found only in the name of Jesus.
Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Page 24: Jehovah does not forget those who fear him. In due time, he will give them everlasting life. - John 3:16; 17:3.
Correction: Everlasting life is only through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
John 3:14-15 "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
Page 24: Expressing his appreciation for Jehovah's kingship, David says: "Jehovah himself has firmly established his throne in the very heavens; and over everything his own kingship has held domination." (Psalm 103:19)
Note: Jesus Christ is in the middle of the throne of God in heaven.
Revelation 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain,
Page 24: David even exhorts the heavenly angelic creatures. He sings: "Bless Jehovah, O you angels of his, mighty in power, carrying out his word, by listening to the voice of his word. Bless Jehovah, all you armies of his, you ministers of his, doing his will. Bless Jehovah, all you his works, in all places of his domination. Bless Jehovah, O my soul." (Psalm 103:20-22)
Note: The angelic creatures worship Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."
Hebrews 1:13-14 But to which of the angels has He ever said: "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
Page 25: In the Christian Greek Scriptures, the word "congregation" is translated from the Greek term ekklesi'a, which means a group of people called together.
Correction: The Greek word ekklesi'a means "a calling out."
John 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."
Page 25: The Christian congregation upholds the truth of God's Word and declares the good news of the Kingdom. (1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Peter 2:9)
Correction: True Christians will declare Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.
Page 25: Worshipers of Jehovah have always found safety and security in his congregation.
Correction: Have you found eternal security through faith in Jesus Christ?
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Page 28: Many have found another source of help and strength in the Christian congregation. What is that? Publications that are prepared by "the faithful and discreet slave." Prominent among these are the journals The Watchtower and Awake!
Correction: True Christians are Awake! to the Bible!
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Page 29: Saul's life as "an insolent man" was changed completely when he was shown mercy and became the "chosen vessel" of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Timothy 1:12, 13)
Correction: Paul was chosen through grace with faith and love in Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:12-14 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.