A Different Gospel
Is the gospel message important? Consider what the Apostle Paul said in the following passage.
Gal 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached
to you, let him be accursed.
Following is Thayer's definition of the Greek word translated as "gospel" in this passage.
2097 euaggelizo- to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
a) used in the Old Testament of any kind of good news,
of the joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings
b) in the New Testament used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained
in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation
c) glad tidings are brought to one, one has glad tidings proclaimed to him
d) to proclaim glad tidings, to instruct (people) concerning the things that pertain to salvation
As you have just seen the gospel message was very important to the Apostle Paul. The gospel is the good news of salvation
found in Jesus Christ. The question is does the Watchtower agree with the Bible view of how salvation is obtained?
I believe that the Watchtower is a little more subtle when it comes to this subject. I have read several Watchtower articles that
stress that works are merely the fruit of genuine faith and not a means of salvation. To this I would agree; however the
Watchtower is not always consistent with this view point. Let us now look at a Watchtower publication concerning this subject.
The Watchtower, Feb.15,1983, page 12-13 (JW)
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth-But How?
'LIVING forever on earth is just an impossible dream. There is no way anybody can do it.' You may have heard people say that.
Yet you may know that in the beginning it was God's purpose for obedient humans to live forever in an earthly Paradise. And
God never fails to accomplish what he purposes! (Genesis 1:28; Isaiah 55:11) His Word plainly promises: "The righteous
themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it."-Psalm 37:29.
That is the thrilling message that Jehovah's Witnesses bring to people when they call at their homes. The Kingdom, with Jesus
Christ as Ruler, will see to it that God's original purpose is accomplished. Under the Kingdom's righteous administration this
earth will be cultivated to become a beautiful Paradise. However, not everyone will be permitted to live in the Paradise earth.
Requirements must be met. That is reasonable.-Matthew 6:10. Consider: If you were the owner of a beautiful home surrounded
by well-kept gardens, would you allow just anyone to live there? No, he would have to meet with your approval, meeting your
requirements. What does God require of those who will reside forever upon his Paradise earth? Let us examine four basic
requirements.
Four Requirements
Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: "This means everlasting life, their taking in
knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3) Knowledge of God and of
Jesus Christ includes knowledge of God's purposes regarding the earth and of Christ's role as earth's new King. Will you take
in such knowledge by studying the Bible?
Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God's laws, yes, to conform one's life to the moral
requirements set out in the Bible. This includes refraining from a debauched, immoral way of life.-1 Corinthians 6:9, 10;
1 Peter 4:3, 4.
A third requirement is that we be associated with God's channel, his organization. God has always used an organization. For
example, only those in the ark in Noah's day survived the Flood, and only those associated with the Christian congregation in
the first century had God's favor. (Acts 4:12) Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To
receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.
The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his
government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others. Jesus Christ explained: "This good news of the kingdom will be
preached in all the inhabited earth." (Matthew 24:14) Will you meet this requirement by telling others about God's Kingdom?
Although the Biblical view of heaven and the Watchtower view of Paradise Earth as well as who will go there are different that
is not the area we will focus on now. The question we want to answer is; how is salvation obtained? According to the
Watchtower there are four requirements that must be met.
1. Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ includes knowledge of God's purposes regarding the earth and of Christ's role as
earth's new King.
2. We must obey God's laws.
3. We must be associated with God's channel, his organization. In other words the Watchtower organization.
4. We must tell others about God's Kingdom.
The question remains does the Bible teach these 4 requirements?
1. Knowledge of God and Jesus are important in fact the bible tells us " there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12. However God does not
expect us to be a theologian in order for us to be saved. Salvation does not include knowledge of God's purposes regarding
the earth and of Christ's role as earth's new King. Jesus told the thief on the cross "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with
Me in Paradise" Luke 23:43. The thief on the cross only knew to put his trust in Jesus and that was enough.
2. To obey God's commandments is also important. In fact Jesus said "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"
John 14:15. However we are not saved on the basis of obedience to his commandments, but rather we are saved by his grace
alone.
Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(We are to do good works, but we are saved by grace. This is a "gift". One cannot earn a gift, but rather it is given freely)
Rom 3:21-24 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the
Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ
Jesus;
We are ALL sinners and are justified as a gift by his grace. If we could keep the law we would be sinless. The Bible tells us that
we are not sinless.
I Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
3. God never indicated that we need to belong to any organization. We do need to be associated with Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by
which we must be saved."
4. Telling others about God's kingdom is also important.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first
and also to the Greek.
However as we have already shown we are not saved by any work. This includes sharing the gospel with others. Is it important?
Yes! Does it have anything to do with our salvation? NO!
If you have not already read "What does it mean to be saved?" and "Grace vs Works" on this website you may want to for more
depth to this subject.
Is the gospel message important? Consider what the Apostle Paul said in the following passage.
Gal 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached
to you, let him be accursed.
Following is Thayer's definition of the Greek word translated as "gospel" in this passage.
2097 euaggelizo- to bring good news, to announce glad tidings
a) used in the Old Testament of any kind of good news,
of the joyful tidings of God's kindness, in particular, of the Messianic blessings
b) in the New Testament used especially of the glad tidings of the coming kingdom of God, and of the salvation to be obtained
in it through Christ, and of what relates to this salvation
c) glad tidings are brought to one, one has glad tidings proclaimed to him
d) to proclaim glad tidings, to instruct (people) concerning the things that pertain to salvation
As you have just seen the gospel message was very important to the Apostle Paul. The gospel is the good news of salvation
found in Jesus Christ. The question is does the Watchtower agree with the Bible view of how salvation is obtained?
I believe that the Watchtower is a little more subtle when it comes to this subject. I have read several Watchtower articles that
stress that works are merely the fruit of genuine faith and not a means of salvation. To this I would agree; however the
Watchtower is not always consistent with this view point. Let us now look at a Watchtower publication concerning this subject.
The Watchtower, Feb.15,1983, page 12-13 (JW)
You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth-But How?
'LIVING forever on earth is just an impossible dream. There is no way anybody can do it.' You may have heard people say that.
Yet you may know that in the beginning it was God's purpose for obedient humans to live forever in an earthly Paradise. And
God never fails to accomplish what he purposes! (Genesis 1:28; Isaiah 55:11) His Word plainly promises: "The righteous
themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it."-Psalm 37:29.
That is the thrilling message that Jehovah's Witnesses bring to people when they call at their homes. The Kingdom, with Jesus
Christ as Ruler, will see to it that God's original purpose is accomplished. Under the Kingdom's righteous administration this
earth will be cultivated to become a beautiful Paradise. However, not everyone will be permitted to live in the Paradise earth.
Requirements must be met. That is reasonable.-Matthew 6:10. Consider: If you were the owner of a beautiful home surrounded
by well-kept gardens, would you allow just anyone to live there? No, he would have to meet with your approval, meeting your
requirements. What does God require of those who will reside forever upon his Paradise earth? Let us examine four basic
requirements.
Four Requirements
Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: "This means everlasting life, their taking in
knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ." (John 17:3) Knowledge of God and of
Jesus Christ includes knowledge of God's purposes regarding the earth and of Christ's role as earth's new King. Will you take
in such knowledge by studying the Bible?
Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God's laws, yes, to conform one's life to the moral
requirements set out in the Bible. This includes refraining from a debauched, immoral way of life.-1 Corinthians 6:9, 10;
1 Peter 4:3, 4.
A third requirement is that we be associated with God's channel, his organization. God has always used an organization. For
example, only those in the ark in Noah's day survived the Flood, and only those associated with the Christian congregation in
the first century had God's favor. (Acts 4:12) Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To
receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.
The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his
government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others. Jesus Christ explained: "This good news of the kingdom will be
preached in all the inhabited earth." (Matthew 24:14) Will you meet this requirement by telling others about God's Kingdom?
Although the Biblical view of heaven and the Watchtower view of Paradise Earth as well as who will go there are different that
is not the area we will focus on now. The question we want to answer is; how is salvation obtained? According to the
Watchtower there are four requirements that must be met.
1. Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ includes knowledge of God's purposes regarding the earth and of Christ's role as
earth's new King.
2. We must obey God's laws.
3. We must be associated with God's channel, his organization. In other words the Watchtower organization.
4. We must tell others about God's Kingdom.
The question remains does the Bible teach these 4 requirements?
1. Knowledge of God and Jesus are important in fact the bible tells us " there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other
name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12. However God does not
expect us to be a theologian in order for us to be saved. Salvation does not include knowledge of God's purposes regarding
the earth and of Christ's role as earth's new King. Jesus told the thief on the cross "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with
Me in Paradise" Luke 23:43. The thief on the cross only knew to put his trust in Jesus and that was enough.
2. To obey God's commandments is also important. In fact Jesus said "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments"
John 14:15. However we are not saved on the basis of obedience to his commandments, but rather we are saved by his grace
alone.
Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(We are to do good works, but we are saved by grace. This is a "gift". One cannot earn a gift, but rather it is given freely)
Rom 3:21-24 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the
Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ
Jesus;
We are ALL sinners and are justified as a gift by his grace. If we could keep the law we would be sinless. The Bible tells us that
we are not sinless.
I Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
3. God never indicated that we need to belong to any organization. We do need to be associated with Jesus.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by
which we must be saved."
4. Telling others about God's kingdom is also important.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first
and also to the Greek.
However as we have already shown we are not saved by any work. This includes sharing the gospel with others. Is it important?
Yes! Does it have anything to do with our salvation? NO!
If you have not already read "What does it mean to be saved?" and "Grace vs Works" on this website you may want to for more
depth to this subject.
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