Page 5: When you think about perfect life, the life of Jesus Christ may come to your mind. Jesus was not the only perfect human ever to live on earth. Adam and Eve, created in God's image, enjoyed perfect life in a paradise.
Note: Jesus Christ created Adam and Eve.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him 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 6: Jesus Christ considered the matter of perfection to be so important that he told a large audience: "You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
Note: The righteousness of God can only be achieved through sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.
Page 6: Cultivating such qualities as joy and moderation will help us in getting along with others at work, with our marriage mate, and with our parents or children. The apostle Paul admonished Christians: "Always rejoice in the Lord. Once more I will say, Rejoice! Let your reasonableness become known to all men." - Philippians 4:4, 5.
Note: True Christians will rejoice when Jesus Christ is preached.
Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
Page 6: If you have been too demanding of yourself, why not turn to Jehovah in prayer? Obtaining God's favor will bring you great relief. Jehovah knows our makeup and imperfect state, so he is not unreasonable or hard to please.
Note: Have you come to Jesus Christ in prayer?
Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Page 7: One of the requirements for surviving the great tribulation is heartfelt appreciation for the ransom sacrifice, as expressed by the international great crowd that the apostle John described: "Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb."
Note: The international great crowd of believers will be in heaven during the great tribulation.
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great crowd in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"
Page 7: All survivors of the approaching great tribulation will be grateful that Christ willingly died for them and all those exercising faith in him.
Correction: True Christians will be killed during the great tribulation.
Daniel 7:21-22 "I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom."
Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.
Page 7: His loving sacrifice lays the basis for bringing lasting relief from their imperfections and weaknesses. - John 3:16; Romans 8:21, 22.
Note: Have you placed your sincere belief in 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 7: You and your family can be among those who will be raised to human perfection and live forever in God's new world. The Bible foretells: "The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it." - Psalm 37:29.
Note: Have you placed your sincere belief in God?
Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Page 12: We are faced with a steady flow of news about corrupt government officials, greedy employers, incompetent teachers, and abusive parents. Happily, few Christians view those in authority in the congregation in that same light. - Matthew 24:45-47.
Correction: True Christians should never show respect to the false WT teachers.
Galatians 2:4-5 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Page 12: As Christians, we have "compelling reason" for respecting those exercising secular authority. The apostle Paul admonished Christians to "be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God." (Romans 13:1, 2, 5; 1 Peter 2:13-15)
Note: The secular authorities want people to vote in most countries. Will you?
Page 12: Congregation elders are worthy of our honor because 'the holy spirit has appointed them overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God.' (Acts 20:28)
Note: True Christians leaders were people willing to die for the name of Jesus.
Acts 15:25-26 it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Page 12: It is out of respect for Jehovah that we honor human authorities. Naturally, honoring Jehovah's authority always comes first in our lives. - Acts 5:29.
Note: True Christians honor Jesus Christ as Jehovah.
John 5:23 "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him."
Page 13: But was Paul's speech really contemptible? His public discourses recorded in the Bible give evidence of how convincing a speaker he was. Why, as a result of a brief discussion with Herod Agrippa II, an "expert on all ... the controversies among Jews," Paul brought the king to the point of saying: "In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian"!
Note: Paul was preaching Jesus Christ to Herod Agrippa II.
Acts 26:22-23 "Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come; that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles."
Page 14: Take, for instance, Paul. He showed respect for the decisions of the first-century governing body of the Christian congregation. During Paul's last visit to Jerusalem, the governing body counseled him to cleanse himself ceremonially to show others that he harbored no animosity toward the Mosaic Law.
Correction: Paul showed little respect for the leaders of the Jerusalem church.
Galatians 2:7-12 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
Page 14: Paul could have reasoned: 'Those brothers previously instructed me to leave Jerusalem when my life was threatened. Now they want me to demonstrate in public that I respect the Mosaic Law. I've already written a letter to the Galatians advising them to keep free from observing the Law. If I go to the temple, others may misunderstand my action, thinking that I am compromising with those of the circumcised class.' However, Paul evidently did not reason that way. Since no compromise of Christian principles was involved, he respected and complied with the counsel of the first-century governing body.
Correction: Paul was determined to be at Jerusalem for Pentecost despite warnings.
Acts 20:16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 20:22-24 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."
Page 14: The immediate result was that Paul had to be rescued from a Jewish mob, and he subsequently spent two years in prison. In the long term, God's will was done. Paul witnessed before high officials in Caesarea and then was taken at government expense to Rome to witness before Caesar himself. - Acts 9:26-30; 21:20-26; 23:11; 24:27; Galatians 2:12; 4:9, 10.
Note: It was the will of Jesus Christ that Paul be His witness at Rome.
Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Page 16: The angels, being in a superior position and having a keener sense of justice than humans, were aware of what was taking place in the congregation. Yet, "out of respect for Jehovah," they left the judgment to God. - Hebrews 2:6, 7; Jude 9.
Note: Jesus Christ is the eternal Judge.
John 5:22 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,"
Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord (kurios) rebuke you!"
Jude 1:17-18 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord (kurios) Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
Page 16: Even if something is not handled just the way it should be, should we not have faith in Jesus Christ as the living Head of the Christian congregation? Is he not aware of what is happening in his own worldwide congregation? Should we not respect his way of handling the situation and recognize his ability to control matters? Really, 'who are we to be judging our neighbor?' (James 4:12; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Colossians 1:18) Why not bring your concerns before Jehovah in your prayers?
Note: Is Jesus Christ "first place" in everything you do including prayer?
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Page 17: Those having spiritual discernment will wait on Jehovah to set things straight and administer whatever discipline may be needed in his own time and way. - 2 Timothy 3:16.
Note: Jesus Christ will set things straight in true Christian congregations.
Revelation 1:18 "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."
Rev. 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God"
Page 17: They too came from a rather class-conscious culture, that of first-century Judaism. With such a society in mind, Jesus counseled his disciples: "Do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your teacher, whereas all you are brothers." (Matthew 23:8)
Note: God will be the teacher of true Christians. Have you come to Jesus?
Matthew 23:8 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren."
Isaiah 54:13 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.
John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.
Pages 17-18: On the other hand, elders living up to the spirit of Jesus' counsel honor other members of the congregation, just as Jehovah honors loyal worshipers and Jesus Christ honors loyal followers.
Correction: Jesus Christ honors loyal worshipers.
Matthew 8:2-3 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Page: 19: Although Jehovah is the "Most High," from the very beginning he honored his creatures by involving them in his works. (Psalm 83:18)
Note: Jesus Christ is the "Most High."
Ephesians 4:9-10 (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.)
Page 19: When he created the first human, Jehovah included his only-begotten Son in the project as a "master worker." (Proverbs 8:27-30; Genesis 1:26)
Correction: God created everything all by Himself.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
Hebrews 11:9-10 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Note: The Watch Tower personifies Jesus Christ as a woman.
Proverbs 8:1-3 Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors:
Page 19: Jehovah reigns as the Supreme Sovereign of the universe. (Deuteronomy 3:24) He has no need to consult with humans.
Note: Jesus Christ is the Supreme Sovereign of the universe.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Page 19: Before annihilating Sodom and Gomorrah, Jehovah listened to Abraham's questions and satisfied his sense of justice. (Genesis 18:23-33) Although Jehovah already knew the outcome of Abraham's requests, he patiently listened to Abraham and accepted his reasoning.
Note: Jesus Christ appeared to Abraham that day.
Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
Page 19: As a result, the distraught prophet brightened up and became joyful, with full trust in the God of his salvation. This is reflected in the inspired book of Habakkuk that strengthens our trust in Jehovah today. - Habakkuk 3:18, 19.
Note: True Christians realize prophets were just the foreshadow of the majesty of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-4 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Page 19: On the night of his betrayal, however, all his disciples deserted him, and the apostle Peter disowned him three times. (Matthew 26:34, 35, 69-75) Jesus looked beyond the outward appearance and took note of Peter's innermost feelings, his profound repentance.
Correction: The disciples deserted Jesus Christ so that prophecy would be fulfilled.
Mat 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'"
Page 20: Imitate the way Jesus Christ dealt with his disciples, part of his future bride class, while he was on earth. He cherished them, taking into consideration their physical and spiritual limitations even before they voiced their needs.
Note: The Watch Tower contradicts itself by having a bride class.
Page 22: Although the distinction may not be this obvious in other countries, we all need to be aware of the human tendency to make class distinctions. - James 2:4.
Page 22: Jehovah "does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) Should we not have Jehovah's view?
Note: Should we not have Jesus Christ's view? Who is the Lord (kurios)?
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Page 22: And may we always keep in mind the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: "All you are brothers." - Matthew 23:8.
Note: Jesus Christ is not a New York corporation called the Watch Tower.
Matthew 23:8 "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren."
Page 24: A steady diet of spiritual food can help a missionary avoid spiritual depression and homesickness. It contributes to contentment and the resolve to stick to one's assignment of sacred service. - Philippians 4:13.
Note: True Christians "steady diet of spiritual food" centers on Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Page 25: Wallace Liverance, Gilead School registrar, concluded the series of talks. His theme was "Offer Thanksgiving as Your Sacrifice to God." He called attention to the account of Jesus' healing ten lepers. (Luke 17:11-19)
Note: Have you given glory to God by bowing your knee to Jesus Christ?
Luke 17:15-16 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.
Page 27: Later, however, the man agreed to investigate the Bible, assisted by one of Jehovah's Witnesses. He was amazed to learn that the Bible does not teach that the wicked are tortured in a fiery hell.
Correction: Jehovah's Witnesses proclaim Jesus Christ to be a liar.
Matthew 13:41-42 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Mark 9:47-48 "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire; where 'Their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"
Page 27: The Bible likens death to sleep. In the grave, we feel no pain; we are conscious of nothing at all. (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10)
Note: The Watch Tower has ripped two verses out of context.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun.
Note: The context of Ecclesiastes is our lifetime on this material world.
Ecclesiastes 2:17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Page 27: The man also learned that those humans whom God judges to be incorrigibly wicked will remain in the grave forever. (Matthew 12:31, 32)
Correction: All the dead will be resurrected for judgment before Jesus Christ.
Matthew 25:31-32 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats."
Revelation 20:11-12 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Page 27: This explanation made sense. It harmonized with the Bible's statement that "God is love." (1 John 4:8) This sincere man continued his study of God's Word and, in time, came to love the God of the Bible.
Note: God is love to those who love Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Page 28: We cannot see God because he does not have a human form. Yet, God wants us to get to know him.
Note: True Christians know God by knowing Jesus Christ.
John 8:19 Then they said to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also."
Page 29: The fundamental answer is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood. We firmly believe that God's law on blood is not open to reform to fit shifting opinions.
Note: True Christians are not under the Old Testament Law.
Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Page 29: What would "abstaining" have meant back then? Christians did not consume blood, whether fresh or coagulated; nor did they eat meat from an unbled animal. Also ruled out would be foods to which blood was added, such as blood sausage. Taking in blood in any of those ways would violate God's law. - 1 Samuel 14:32, 33.
Note: Blood transfusions does not involve digestion.
Page 29: Today, few people would think that the laws of Almighty God are at issue if a physician suggested their taking blood. While Jehovah's Witnesses certainly want to keep living, we are committed to obey Jehovah's law on blood.
Note: Blood transfusions does not involve digestion.
Page 29: As transfusions of whole blood became common after World War II, Jehovah's Witnesses saw that this was contrary to God's law - and we still believe that.
Note: Blood transfusions does not involve digestion.
Page 29: Transfusing these major components allows a single unit of blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah's Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God's law.
Note: Blood transfusions does not involve digestion.
Page 30: Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.
Note: Blood transfusions does not involve digestion.
Page 31: The above material shows that Jehovah's Witnesses refuse transfusions of both whole blood and its primary blood components. The Bible directs Christians to 'abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from fornication.' (Acts 15:29)
Note: The above material demonstrates JW ignorance of transfusion versus digestion.
Page 31: Jehovah's Witnesses appreciate efforts to provide quality medical care, and they weigh the risk/benefit ratio of any treatment. However, when it comes to products derived from blood, they carefully weigh what God says and their personal relationship with our Life-Giver.
Note: Jesus is life! John 5:40 "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life."