Page 3: NO MATTER what your beliefs, you probably agree that there must be lovers of truth in nearly all religions. People who deeply appreciate what is true and who are willing to search for it can be found among Hindus, Catholics, Jews, and others.
Correction: People who love Jesus Christ will be identified as Christians.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Page 5: ALTHOUGH religion in general tends to divide mankind, the worship of the only true God has the power to unite people.
Note: Have you worshipped Jesus Christ yet? Have you given glory to God the Father?
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Jehovah), to the glory of God (who?) the Father.
Page 5: Later when Jesus' apostles began traveling to distant places with the good news, other sincere people were united in the worship of the true God. "You turned to God from your idols to slave for a living and true God," wrote the apostle Paul. (1 Thessalonians 1:9) Does worship of the true God have such uniting power today?
Answer: Only if that worship is focused on Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Page 5: But seekers of truth from many backgrounds have realized that worship is not a matter of preference. The only one worthy of our worship is the Creator of all things - Jehovah God. (Revelation 4:11) He is the true God, and he has the right to decide how he is to be worshiped.
Note: True worship of the Creator is centered upon 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 5: To help us discern his requirements, Jehovah has communicated with us through his Word, the Bible. Nearly everyone on earth today has access to the entire Bible or portions of it. Moreover, God's Son said: "If you remain in my word, ... you will know the truth." (John 8:31, 32) The truth, therefore, can be known.
Note: Do you know Jesus Christ?
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
Note: Have you been freed from Watch Tower interpretations of Scripture?
Page 5: A remarkable prophecy in the Bible book of Zephaniah speaks of the coming together of people of diverse backgrounds. It states: "Then I (Jehovah God) shall give to peoples the change to a pure language, in order for them all to call upon the name of Jehovah, in order to serve him shoulder to shoulder." (Zephaniah 3:9) What a beautiful picture this is of changed peoples serving God in unity!
Note: This future prophecy does not tell of the current spiritual unity that Christians have now.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Page 5: When was this to happen? Zephaniah 3:8 says: "'Keep yourselves in expectation of me,' is the utterance of Jehovah, 'till the day of my rising up to the booty, for my judicial decision is to gather nations, for me to collect together kingdoms, in order to pour our upon them my denunciation, all my burning anger; for by the fire of my zeal all the earth will be devoured.'" Yes, during the time that Jehovah is gathering the nations but before he pours out upon them his burning anger, he gives to the meek ones of the earth the change to a pure language. That time is now, for the gathering of all nations to the war of the great day of God the Almighty at Armageddon is already under way. - Revelation 16:14, 16.
Correction: There is still green grace on the earth.
Revelation 8:7 The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up.
Page 5: To unify his people, Jehovah gives them a pure language. This new language includes a proper understanding of Bible truth about God and his purposes. Speaking the pure language involves believing the truth, teaching it to others, and living in harmony with God's laws and principles.
Note: Have believed the truth of Jesus Christ? Are you telling others about Jesus Christ?
John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."
Page 6: When Fidelia, the devout Roman Catholic, bought a Bible for her daughter's school work, she asked her priest to explain from it what had happened to her five dead children. "What a disappointment!" She says. So when Jehovah's Witnesses called on her, she asked them a similar question. Upon reading in her own Bible the truth about the condition of the dead, she realized how the church had deceived her. She learned that the dead are conscious of nothing and therefore are not suffering in Limbo or anywhere else. (Psalm 146:4; Ecclesiastes 9:5) Fidelia discarded all her religious images, left the church, and started studying the Bible. (1 John 5:21) For the last ten years, she has enjoyed teaching Scriptural truth to others.
Note: Fidelia missed Jesus Christ thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses.
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
Page 6: Tara from Kathmandu moved to a country where there are few Hindu temples. She therefore visited a Methodist church in hopes of satisfying her spiritual needs. But she found no answer to her question about human suffering. Then Jehovah's Witnesses contacted her and offered to study the Bible with her. Tara says: "I came to realize that a God of love could not be responsible for all the suffering in the world ... I was delighted with the prospect of a new world of peace and harmony." (Revelation 21:3, 4)
Note: Tara missed Jesus Christ thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses.
Revelation 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Page 6: Panya, the Buddhist, was a fortune-teller when Jehovah's Witnesses first called on him in Bangkok, so the prophecies in the Bible fascinated him. Panya related: "When I learned why present conditions are different from what the Creator originally purposed and how he has arranged to undo the damage caused by those who reject him and his sovereignty, it was as if a veil had been removed from my eyes. Everything about the Bible's message was so harmonious. I came to love Jehovah as a person; this gave me the motivation to practice what I knew was right. I was eager to help others to see the difference between human wisdom and godly wisdom. True wisdom has really changed my life."
Note: Panya missed Jesus Christ thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses.
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 6: In time, Virgil began to have serious doubts about his religious beliefs. Rather than praying to God for a way to help black people and for what he considered was a racist organization that seemed to produce hatred for whites, he prayed for the truth, whatever it was, wherever it was. "When I awakened the next day after my fervently praying to God," recalls Virgil, "I found a Watchtower magazine in the house .... It must have slipped under the door." Soon he was intensely studying the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. He continues: "For the first time in my life, I felt satisfied .... A ray of hope began to dawn inside me." Virgil was soon united with those who offer people the only true hope as set out in God's Word, the Bible.
Note: Virgil missed Jesus Christ thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses.
Ephesians 4:20-21 But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Page 7: Charo from Latin America was impressed when a Witness named Gladys saw that she was having difficulties with her small children and began helping her by taking her to market. In time, Charo accepted an offer made by Gladys - a free home Bible study. When Charo learned from her own Bible that not all good people go to heaven but that Jehovah will also bless humans on earth with everlasting life, she was amazed. (Psalm 37:11, 29) Charo herself has been sharing this hope with others for the past 15 years.
Note: Charo missed Jesus Christ thanks to Jehovah's Witnesses.
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
Page 7: Imagine the whole earth populated by sincere people united in the worship of Jehovah, the only true God! This is not a fantasy. It is what Jehovah has promised.
Note: By inference, the Watch Tower proclaims that Jesus Christ is a false god.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Page 8: The year is 1919, and the Bible Students (known today as Jehovah's Witnesses) are recovering from a period of vicious persecution. To reinvigorate their ranks, they are holding a convention in Cedar Point, Ohio, U.S.A., from September 1 to 8, 1919. On the last day of the convention, an electrified throng of 7,000 listen intently as Brother Rutherford encourages each of the conventioneers with the words: "You are an ambassador of the King of kings and Lord of lords, announcing to the people ... the glorious kingdom of our Lord."
Note: True ambassadors for Christ are known as Jesus Witnesses.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
Page 8: Among Jehovah's people, conventions date back to the time of ancient Israel. (Exodus 23:14-17; Luke 2:41-43) Such gatherings were joyful occasions, helping all those present to keep their minds on the Word of God. Similarly, the conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses in modern times center on spiritual interests. To sincere observers such joyful gatherings give undeniable evidence that the Witnesses are united by strong ties of Christian brotherhood.
Correction: Ancient gatherings were for animal sacrifices before the Lamb of God was killed.
Exodus 24:6-8 And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words."
Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Page 8: Modern-day Christians realize that their conventions are periods of spiritual refreshment and instruction in God's Word. They consider these large meetings as an indispensable means of helping them to "stand complete and with firm conviction in all the will of God." (Colossians 4:12) Thus, the Witnesses wholeheartedly support these gatherings, making great efforts to attend them.
Note: Are you a slave of Jesus Christ? Are you in the will of God?
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Page 11: Solomon's wealth became legendary, though he had not asked God for material riches. Instead, while still young and inexperienced, he had prayed for an obedient heart - a request that Jehovah granted by blessing him with wisdom and understanding. This enabled Solomon to judge the people properly, discerning between good and bad.
Note: Have you received wisdom from Jesus Christ?
Luke 21:14-15 "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist."
Page 13: Today, Jesus' "other sheep," Christians with an earthly hope, have the privilege of doing good to Jehovah's anointed, the remnant of the 144,000, who will be granted immortality in heaven. (John 10:16; 1 Corinthians 15:50-53; Revelation 14:1, 4)
Correction: All Christians will be in heaven.
Revelation 19:1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!"
Note: All Christian Jews and Gentiles will be united to form one flock in faith.
John 10:16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
Romans 3:29-30 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.
Page 14: As Jehovah's present-day servants, we do not worship at a tabernacle. Nevertheless, we can demonstrate our appreciation for spiritual things, even as Hannah did. For instance, we can show our deep appreciation for spiritual riches by our regular presence at Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Let us use these occasions to encourage one another in the true worship of Jehovah, who has granted us "the privilege of fearlessly rendering sacred service to him with loyalty and righteousness." - Luke 1:74, 75; Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Note: Are you doing sacred service to God in faith through sincere belief?
Romans 10:8-12 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
Page 15: Many blessings will be bestowed upon God's people in the future. For obediently listening to Jehovah, "a great crowd" will be preserved through "the great tribulation" and will experience the joys of life in God's new world. (Revelation 7:9-14; 2 Peter 3:13)
Note: The "great crowd" will be preserved 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!"
Note: The "great crowd" will return to earth with Jesus Christ after "the great tribulation."
Revelation 19:11-14 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
Jude 1:14-15 Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
Page 16: Yet, some may ask, 'If no pain is added to Jehovah's blessing, why do many of God's servants suffer?' The Bible reveals that our trials are permitted by God but actually originate with Satan, his wicked system, and our own imperfect nature. (Genesis 6:5; Deuteronomy 32:4, 5; John 15:19; James 1:14, 15)
Note: True Christians will suffer for the name of Jesus Christ.
John 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me."
Page 16: Regarding "the time of the end," Daniel's prophecy states: "The true knowledge will become abundant." However, this was qualified by the words: "No wicked ones at all will understand; but the ones having insight will understand." (Daniel 12:4, 10) Imagine that!
Note: The wicked Watch Tower does not understand Biblical truth.
2 Peter 3:17-18 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Page 16: God's Word - prophecy in particular - is expressed with such divine wisdom that the wicked cannot get the real sense of it, though Jehovah's people do. "I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth," prayed God's Son, "because you have carefully hidden these things from wise and intellectual ones, and have revealed them to babes." (Luke 10:21)
Note: The wicked Watch Tower does not understand Biblical truth.
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 16: What a blessing it is to have the priceless gift of God's written Word, the Bible, and to be among those to whom Jehovah has granted spiritual insight! - 1 Corinthians 1:21, 27, 28
Note: The wicked Watch Tower does not understand Biblical truth.
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 16: We would have no spiritual insight at all were it not for "the wisdom from above." (James 3:17) Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge and understanding to solve problems, avoid or avert dangers, achieve goals, or provide sound counsel. How do we obtain godly wisdom?
Answer: Leave the Watch Tower and set your mind on Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Page 16: Proverbs 2:6 states: "Jehovah himself gives wisdom out of his mouth there are knowledge and discernment." Yes, Jehovah will bless us with wisdom if we persist in praying for it, even as he gave King Solomon "a wise and understanding heart." (1 Kings 3:11, 12)
Correction: Have you asked or received Jesus Christ into you life?
John 1:12-13 But as many as received Him (the Son), to them He (the Father) gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (Jesus Christ): who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
Note: Have you opened the door of your life to Jesus Christ?
Page 17: However, those who love God's Word and apply it will be overtaken with rich blessings now and in the future. They rightly feel liberated by God's law, are truly happy, and keenly await the time when they will be set free from sin and its deadly effects. (Romans 8:20, 21; James 1:25)
Correction: True Christians have been liberated from the law through faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:20-22 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 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 17: This hope is sure because it rests on God's most loving gift to mankind - the ransom sacrifice of his only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. (Matthew 20:28; John 3:16; Romans 6:23) Such a superlative gift confirms the depth of God's love for humankind and guarantees endless blessings for all who keep on listening to Jehovah. - Romans 8:32.
Note: Have you been blessed by the love of God in Jesus Christ? Is Jesus Christ your Lord?
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Page 17: Another loving gift of God for which we should be grateful is his holy spirit. On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., the apostle Peter urged the multitude present in Jerusalem: "Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit." (Acts 2:38) Today, Jehovah gives holy spirit to his dedicated servants who pray for it and who want to do his will. (Luke 11:9-13) In ancient times, this most potent force in the universe - God's holy spirit, or active force - empowered men and women of faith, including the early Christians. (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 4:31) It can do the same for us, even though we may face formidable obstacles or challenges as Jehovah's people.
Note: True Christians who have received the Holy Spirit are Jesus Witnesses.
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 18: Yes, any success we might have in preaching the good news stems, not from our own ability and power, but from God's help by holy spirit, which he gives to those who keep on listening to his voice. - Isaiah 40:29-31.
Note: True Christians who have received the Holy Spirit are Jesus Witnesses.
John 15:26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me."
Page 18: If we obediently listen to God, his spirit produces in us the qualities of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22, 23) This "fruitage of the spirit" is part of "the new personality" that Christians put on in place of any rapacious, beast-like traits they may formerly have displayed. (Ephesians 4:20-24; Isaiah 11:6-9) Of great importance in this fruitage is love, "a perfect bond of union." - Colossians 3:14.
Note: True Christians who have received the Holy Spirit are Jesus Witnesses.
Colossians 1:27-28 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Page 18: Christian love is another blessed gift from Jehovah - one that we rightly cherish. It is governed by principle, but it is so rich in affection that it draws believers closer together than even fleshly ties can. (John 15:12, 13; 1 Peter 1:22)
Note: Christian love is grounded in Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:22-24 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Pages 18-19: Do you cherish the love manifested in the Christian congregation? Are you grateful for our spiritual brotherhood, which circles the globe? These too are blessed and enriching gifts from above. How can we show that we value them? By rendering sacred service to God, by sharing in Christian meetings, and by displaying love and the other fruits of God's spirit. - Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 10:24, 25.
Note: True Christians who have received the Holy Spirit are Jesus Witnesses.
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 19: Christian men who desire to serve their fellow worshipers as elders or ministerial servants have a fine goal. (1 Timothy 3:1, 8) To qualify for these privileges, a brother must be a spiritual man, well-versed in the Scriptures and zealous in the field ministry.
Note: Christian leadership must be grounded in Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 3:13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Page 19: When those serving as elders in the congregation exert themselves as evangelizers, shepherds, and teachers, they give us sound reasons to appreciate such "gifts in men." (Ephesians 4:8, 11) Those who benefit from their loving service may not always express their appreciation, but Jehovah sees all that faithful elders do. He will not forget the love they show for his name by ministering to his people. - 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 6:10.
Note: Christian leadership must be grounded in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
Page 20: No greater honor could be bestowed on any human than that of serving Jehovah, the Most High. (Isaiah 43:10; 2 Corinthians 4:7; 1 Peter 2:9) Nevertheless, the privilege of sharing in the public ministry is open to all - young and old, male and female - who have a genuine desire to serve God.
Note: True Christians are servants of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
Page 20: Jehovah has entrusted the Kingdom-preaching work to his humble servants, not to individuals who tend to be proud and to rely on their own abilities. (1 Corinthians 1:20, 26-29)
Note: Kingdom-preaching is the message of the cross for true Christians.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Page 20: Satan, "the father of the lie," wants us to toil for material wealth and to lose out on both happiness and life. (John 8:44; Luke 12:15)
Note: Satan using the Watch Tower does not want you to fall in love with Jesus Christ.
John 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me."
Page 22: Then a man came to Hitoshi's door and asked him if he knew that Jesus Christ had died for him. This question made Hitoshi curious because he felt that no one would die for a person like him. He attended a public Bible talk and was shocked to hear the admonition to 'keep the eye simple.'
Note: Cult members will use Jesus Christ to introduce their real message.
Page 23: Since nothing has any meaning or value without life, what can we acquire that will guarantee that we keep living? All life originates with Jehovah God. (Psalm 36:9) Indeed, "by him we have life and move and exist." (Acts 17:28)
Note: True Christians know that Jesus Christ is God.
Colossians 1:17 And He (Christ) is before all things, and in Him (Christ) all things consist.
Page 23: He bestows everlasting life as a gift on those he loves. (Romans 6:23) What must we do to qualify for this gift?
Answer: True Christians have place their love, faith, and sincere belief in Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Page 23: Receiving the gift of everlasting life depends on our having a close relationship with Jehovah. His favor, therefore, has greater value than anything else we could possibly possess. When we have it, we have the prospect of genuine and everlasting happiness. Without God's favor, however, we face eternal extinction. Clearly, then, anything that will help us to achieve a good relationship with Jehovah is of immense value.
Note: True Christians will have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
John 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;"
Page 23: Our success depends on our gaining knowledge. The source of accurate knowledge is Jehovah's Word, the Bible. It alone tells us what we must do to please God. We therefore need to study the Scriptures carefully. A diligent effort to learn all we can about Jehovah God and Jesus Christ results in 'knowledge that means everlasting life.' (John 17:3) Such knowledge is a treasure to be cherished! - Proverbs 2:1-5.
Note: True Christians will cherish the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:4-8 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Page 23: The knowledge we gain from God's Word equips us to take the next step - exercising faith in Jesus Christ. Jehovah has decreed that all who come to him must do so through Jesus. (John 14:6) Actually, "there is no salvation in anyone else." (Acts 4:12) Our ultimate survival depends, not on 'silver or gold ... but on the precious blood of Christ.' (1 Peter 1:18, 19)
Note: True Christians will cherish the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Page 23: We must demonstrate our faith by believing Jesus' teachings and following his example. (Hebrews 12:1-3; 1 Peter 2:21)
Note: A core teaching is that Christians will suffer for the name and person of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake."
Page 23: And how valuable his sacrifice is! The application of its benefits determines the everlasting future of all mankind. When it is fully applied in our behalf, we are given the truly valuable gift of everlasting life. - John 3:16.
Note: True Christians will place their sincere belief in the name and person of Jesus Christ.
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 23: Jesus said: "You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind." (Matthew 22:37) Loving Jehovah means that "we observe his commandments." (1 John 5:3)
Note: True Christians will love Jesus Christ and others.
John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
John 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
Page 23: His commandments require that we keep separate from the world, maintain upright conduct, and loyally support his Kingdom. That is the way we "choose life" instead of death. (Deuteronomy 30:19) If we 'draw close to God, he will draw close to us.' - James 4:8.
Note: Have you drawn close to God? Are you abiding in Jesus Christ?
John 15:4-6 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."
Page 23: An assurance of God's favor is worth far more than all the world's treasures. Those who have it are the wealthiest people on earth! May we, then, strive to acquire the treasure of real value - Jehovah's approval. By all means, let us take to heart the apostle Paul's admonition: "Pursue righteousness, godly devotion, faith, love, endurance, mildness of temper. Fight the fine fight of the faith, get a firm hold on the everlasting life." - 1 Timothy 6:11, 12.
Note: Have you confessed your faith in Jesus Christ to others?
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Hebrews 3:1-2 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.
Page 24: "IT WILL be well with the righteous one," declared the prophet Isaiah, "for they will eat the very fruitage of their dealings." Isaiah also said: "The path of the righteous one is uprightness." (Isaiah 3:10; 26:7) Clearly, if our dealings are to produce good fruitage, we must do what is right in God's eyes.
Note: Are you righteous in God's eyes according to faith in Jesus Christ?
Romans 3:22-26 For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Page 25: On the other hand, whether a righteous person has much or little materially, his upright activity leads to life. How? Well, he is content with what he has. He does not allow his financial situation to interfere with his good standing with God. Whether rich or poor, a righteous man's course of life brings him happiness now and hope of everlasting life in the future. (Job 42:10-13)
Correction: The New Testament explains the righteousness of faith apart from works.
Romans 4:1-3 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
Note: Are you working your way to a better beyond? Good luck.
Page 26: What the righteous say is pure - like choice, refined silver, free of dross. This certainly is true of Jehovah's servants as they dispense the life-saving knowledge of God's Word to others. Their Grand Instructor, Jehovah God, has educated them and 'given them the tongue of the taught ones, that they may know how to answer the tired one with a word.' (Isaiah 30:20; 50:4)
Note: The Holy Spirit sent by the Father in the name of the Son teaches true Christians.
John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you."
Page 26: Indeed, their tongue is like choice silver as it speaks forth Bible truth. How infinitely more valuable their utterances are to the honesthearted ones than are the intentions of the wicked one! Let us be eager to speak about God's Kingdom and the wonderful works of God.
Correction: Bible truth centers on Jesus Christ.
Acts 28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Note: Paul did not go "door to door."
Page 27: The wicked one may cause much fright to others. In the end, however, what he dreads comes upon him. Lacking a foundation in righteous principles, he is like an unstable building that collapses in a violet storm. He caves in under pressure. On the other hand, the righteous one is like the man who acts in harmony with Jesus' sayings. He is "a discreet man, who built his house upon the rock-mass." "And," said Jesus, "the rain poured down and the floods came and the winds blew and lashed against that house, but it did not cave in, for it had been founded upon the rock-mass." (Matthew 7:24, 25) Such a person is stable - his thinking and actions are solidly founded upon godly principles.
Note: True Christians have built their faith upon the "rock-mass" of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
Page 28: In addition to being rendered with truth, acceptable worship would also have to be guided by the holy spirit - God's invisible active force. "The (holy) spirit searches into all things," wrote the apostle Paul, "even the deep things of God." He added: "We received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God." (1 Corinthians 2:8-12) To worship God acceptably, we must have his spirit and be guided by it. Moreover, it is essential that our spirit, or mental disposition, be attuned to his through study and application of his Word.
Note: True Spirit-filled Christians will be focused on Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Page 29: In the days of Enosh, almost four centuries before Enoch's time, "a start was made of calling on the name of Jehovah." (Genesis 4:26)
Note: True Christians call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Page 29: Walking with Jehovah implied a familiarity and an intimacy with God possible only because Enoch lived in harmony with the divine will. Jehovah approved of Enoch's devotion.
Note: Have you placed your sincere faith, trust, and belief in Jesus Christ?
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 29: Fundamental to Enoch's good relationship with Jehovah was his faith. He must have exercised faith in the promised "seed" of God's "woman." If he was personally acquainted with Adam, Enoch could have obtained some information about God's dealings with the first human couple in Eden. The knowledge he had of God made Enoch the sort of person who was "earnestly seeking him." - Genesis 3:15; Hebrews 11:6, 13.
Note: True Christians have exercised faith in Jesus Christ through sincere belief.
Romans 4:4-8 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 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 30: The desire to maintain a close relationship with God likewise has a bearing on what we do. A prerequisite is accurate knowledge of what he approves and disapproves. Then we need to be guided by that knowledge, striving to please him in thought and action.
Correction: A close relationship with God is centered upon 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 31: Directed by God's spirit, Enoch prophetically declared: "Look! Jehovah came with his holy myriads, to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they did in an ungodly way, and concerning all the shocking things that ungodly sinners spoke against him." - Jude 14, 15.
Note: It is Jesus Christ who returns to execute judgment.
Matthew 24:30 "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."
Revelation 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Note: Do you want the grace of God or the wrath of God? It's your sincere choice.