Jehovah’s Witnesses… A Counterfeit Kingdom … or Not?(Corrections for Their Claims) part 4

Corrections for Their Claims

1) Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is not God.

Biblical Correction:

The apostle Thomas (known as “doubting Thomas”) called Jesus “God.”

“The other disciples told him [Thomas], ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’ … He [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ ” (John 20:25–28)

2) Witnesses Claim:

The Holy Spirit is not God.

Biblical Correction:

The apostle Peter called the Holy Spirit “God.”

“Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.’ ” (Acts 5:3–4)

3) Witnesses Claim:

The word Trinity isn’t found in the Bible.

Biblical Correction:

That is correct … neither are words such as discipleship, missions, rapture, and the Old and New Testaments. Likewise, important Jehovah’s Witness terms like Theocratic, Pioneer, Governing Body, and Disfellowship are not found in the Bible—including the New World Translation. The lack of these specific words in the Bible doesn’t necessarily mean that they are unbiblical. For example, the Trinity is presumed in Matthew 28:19.

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

4) Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is less than the Father according to the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:3, “The head of Christ is God.”

Biblical Correction:

When on earth, Jesus submitted to the Father. When in heaven, Jesus was equal to the Father. Jesus is equal to God the Father in nature, glory, and honor. The apostle Paul also said,

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.” (Philippians 2:5–6)

5) Witnesses Claim:

Jesus did not rise bodily from the grave; instead He was a vapor.

Biblical Correction:

Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the grave.

“Look at my hands and my feet. It is I [Jesus] myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:39)

6) Witnesses Claim:

For the unrighteous who reject Jehovah, no eternal torment in hell exists, only physical annihilation.

Biblical Correction:

The doctrine of eternal punishment in hell is clearly taught in numerous places throughout the Bible. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, Jesus clearly states,

“In hell, where he [the rich man] was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ ” (Luke 16:23–24)

7) Witnesses Claim:

Jesus is not to be worshiped.

Biblical Correction:

Jesus was worshiped and is to be worshiped.

“On coming to the house, they [the Magi] saw the child [Jesus] with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

Having just seen Jesus empower Peter to walk on water, the disciples who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying,

“Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33)