Many of us probably have faced this question in the field ministry when we were Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you were like me you probably denied being born again. Now that we realize that the Society hasn’t been correct on many things, what does the bible teach on who is born again? Are only a few born again? What does being born again mean?

A re-birth or being born again is mentioned several time in the Greek Scriptures. Notice what the most well-known mention of being born again says. John 3:3-8 “In answer Jesus said to him: “Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born again (or born anew, born from above), he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nic·o·de´mus said to him: “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter into the womb of his mother a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered: “Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 What has been born from the flesh is flesh, and what has been born from the spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel because I told you, YOU people must be born again. 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone that has been born from the spirit.”

Here Jesus contrasts being born from the flesh and being born in the spirit. Jesus lets us know that to enter into the kingdom of God it is a necessity to be born again. Is this only for an elite Christian group of 144000?

In a recent article we considered the question Are All Christians Sons of God? The answer we arrived at was yes, all Christians are indeed sons of God. Now let’s read John 1:12,13 – “However, as many as did receive him, to them he gave authority to become God’s children, because they were exercising faith in his name; 13 and they were born, not from blood or from a fleshly will or from man’s will, but from God.”

As this text indicates those who receive Jesus and believe in his name are sons or children of God. They were not born this way, as sons of God. They became His sons and daughters when they  accepted Jesus as their Lord and began a discipleship. Thus they are born again or re-born as God’s children. This rebirth would not be the result of “fleshly will” or carnal desire as is the case with our physical birth as humans. It is by water (perhaps baptism) and the action of God’s holy spirit. So we are not automatically born as God’s sons. But all who become God’s sons become such by being re-born.

The apostle John talks about this re-birth as God’s sons on a number of occasions in his first letter. 1 John 2:29-3:1  “If YOU know that he is righteous, YOU gain the knowledge that everyone who practices righteousness has been born from him1 See what sort of love the Father has given us, so that we should be called children of God; and such we are.”

Here it says that “everyone who practices righteousness has been born (re-born, born again, born from above) from him.” Therefore all who experience this re-birth as sons of God practice righteousness.

1 John 3:9,10 – “9 Everyone who has been born from God does not carry on sin, because His [reproductive] seed remains in such one, and he cannot practice sin, because he has been born from God10 The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother.”

Again we see that those who have been born again as sons of God do not practice sin. They remain imperfect so they do sin but do not continue unrepentantly in sin. They also love their brother.

1 John 4:7 – “Beloved ones, let us continue loving one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born from God and gains the knowledge of God.”

Those born from God (born again) love one another. Love would be a dominating quality of one who has been re-born.

1 John 5:1,4 – “Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God4 because everything that has been born from God conquers the world. And this is the conquest that has conquered the world, our faith.

Everyone who believes Jesus is the Christ and conquers the world with their faith is born again.

1 John 5:18 – “We know that every [person] that has been born from God does not practice sin, but the One born from God watches him, and the wicked one does not fasten his hold on him.”

Those who are born again are watched over by Jesus. This reminds us of the text in John 10:28 where Jesus says of his sheep “no one will snatch them out of my hand”.

1 Peter 1:3, 23-25 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for according to his great mercy he gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,…23 For YOU have been given a new birth, not by corruptible, but by incorruptible [reproductive] seed, through the word of [the] living and enduring God. 24 For “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like a blossom of grass; the grass becomes withered, and the flower falls off, 25 but the saying of Jehovah endures forever.” Well, this is the “saying,” this which has been declared to YOU as good news.”

Those who have a new birth or in other words are born again have hope because of the resurrection of Jesus. They received this hope through the message of the good news or gospel. When we put faith in the good news that Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected, God’s spirit become the dominant force in our lives. It produces changes in us. The fruitage of God’s spirit is “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, 23 mildness, self-control.” (Gal. 5:22,23)

Summing up let’s ask the following questions:

Have you by means of your study of God’s word accepted Jesus as the Christ?

Do you practice righteousness?

Do you avoid practicing sin?

Is love a dominant quality in your life?

Are you determined to conquer by your faith all that this world has to throw at you?

Does God’s son, Jesus, watch over you?

If you answered yes to these questions, then by the bible’s definition you are born again.

 

 

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25 Comments on Are You Born Again?

  1. LonelySheep says:

    Nice post Andrew, but on some points I have to dis-agree with you. For example, there is a distinction made in the scripture between those ‘Born Again’ and the ‘New Birth’. It is very subtle, but it is there (ie the distinction).

    However I did not arrive at my current understanding of what it means to be Born Again by my own understanding. Rather it was from this very topic discussed over at Perimo’s website. Here is the link….http://perimeno.ca/BornAgain.htm

    So, rather than me trying to re-hash what he says, check out his article and let us know what you think.

    As a final thought I will say that you are right about the Society getting it completely wrong (again..) and you are must nearer to what I believe is the Truth.

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    • andrew says:

      Thanks for your comment LS
      I have read perimeno’s article on this topic. Although he could be right, I do disagree with his opinion on it. But really we can’t tell for sure. Our viewpoint is much more similar than it is different.

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  2. greybeard says:

    Thank you Andrew for the article, good job. I have a question. Would you say that one must partake of the Lords Evening Meal Memorial to be born again?

    Your brother in Christ,
    Greybeard

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    • andrew says:

      All these issues are somewhat related. If somebody doesn’t believe they’re born again, they won’t believe that they’re God’s son. If they don’t believe they’re God’s son they won’t believe that they’re part of the New Covenant. If they don’t think they are part of the NC they won’t partake of the emblems.
      That having been said there are legitimate reasons to not partake if a Christian realizes he is sinning. 1 Corinthians 11:28,29 – ” 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

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      • greybeard says:

        I’m a little confused sorry… Where is sin mentioned in this scripture? I thought we all sinned. Doesn’t this say we should recognize the body of the lord? That Christ is our head and those believing are our brothers? 2 Timothy 2:13

        Your brother in Christ,
        Greybeard

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        • andrew says:

          There seemed to be a division in the cong. perhaps the rich Christians were scorning poor Christians, however all were one body in Christ. My understanding is a Christian should make a self examination before partaking.
          Of course we are all sinners, but Paul seems to be talking about a more serious sin. Perhaps because of a person’s conscience he may decide not to partake at a certain occasion. That would be between him and God. Anyway, this is how I presently understand the text.

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  3. Amos says:

    An excellent article Andrew.
    I do like & agree with your summary questions at the end.

    I also believe that as was the case at the last supper, & again at Pentecost, the only ones present were the true disciples of Christ, therefore I also see that it is only these ones, partakers, who should be present at the memorial. It is not a spectator sport.

    Amos

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  4. Serene says:

    so are you saying that only the ones going to heaven should be present thats it?also i felt that everyone who puts faith in jesus christ should partake as i think jesusd was changing how the pass over should be observed and he dint mean for just the apostles to do this new memorial and everyone else still do the pass over he ment for all to do it this way and forget about teh pass over thats the past this is the new and remember dont forget what hes come for why and remember for always till he returns im sory i hope im not wrong but i did it this year cos in my mind at the mo its the right thing to do i prayeed that if i was wrong that hed forgive and i know he will as he knows im still finding my way with all this.i think being born again means if ur going to enter the kingdom of god in heaven ur born again a new body and he ment that,ur born a new body a new life else were not of this earth,also i think being born again in a spiritual way means being reborn from ur old life into a new way of life,or u being born not knowing god to learning about him then choosing to direct ur life not just as a human being as u were born but as a folower and child of god whos unlike the world who dont know him or dont want to know him,we become a child of god and not just the child of our parents

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    • Amos says:

      That’s a difficult one to give a simple answer to. The simplest answer that I can give is to use the example as laid out by the Lord himself at the “last supper”. Who was present? Jesus & the twelve disciples who later became the twelve apostles. These were all part of the spirit anointed ones who were chosen by the Lord Himself. All but Judas Iscariot went on to receive the out pouring of the HS at Pentecost.

      So I guess the short answer is only the “Called, chosen & anointed” are the ones to be present & partake. You will however notice that I did not say those who will be going to heaven, this is the subject of another study.

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  5. Bill says:

    Can you explain why Paul never mentioned the need to be Born Again to the Gentiles? Also when Jesus told nicodemus he needed to be Born Again and nicodemus mentioned a second time what was his first birth?

    Bill

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    • andrew says:

      Hi Bill,

      I’m not sure what point you are trying to make with your first question. John who wrote at the end of the first century probably from Ephesus so the majority of the readers of his letters would have been Gentiles.
      Paul while not using the exact words makes the same point at:

      Titus 3:5 (NRS)- “he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”

      2 Cor. 5:17 (NRS)- “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!”

      By restarting our life as followers of Christ we are no longer dead in sin (Eph. 2:1) we become reborn as sons and daughters of God.

      Nicodemus’ first birth as was all our births was a physical birth as opposed to a spiritual one. This physical birth was the only birth the Nicodemus understood. John 3:4 (NRS)- “Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?”

      Nicodemus although he was a respected teacher at the time did not understand many spiritual things.

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  6. John Stoutenburg says:

    As one of J.W.s I received the anointing over 5 years ago,but when I was treated with animosity by elders,brothers and family members I was extremely upset. Due to the KNOWLEDGE I had acquired from a more careful reading of scripture I began to talk about what I felt was a serious crime against us witnesses;a concerted,purposeful and successful elimination of the Christian teaching of becoming born again or spirit-begotten followers of Christ.This is and was the ONLY course set out by him and the Apostles.So once I fully researched this truth I was “born of the water”,”For you have been given a new birth,not by corruptible,but by incorruptible reproductive seed,thru the WORD of the living and enduring God”.Only then after getting the truth that all followers of Christ must receive the spirit ,did Jehovah then anointed me with the Holy Spirit and I came to have the hope as described in Romans 8,and John 3.(notice also Jesus words to the Samaritan woman at John 4,and the statement at 4:24,”..the true worshipers will worship the Father with SPIRIT and TRUTH, for indeed the Father is looking for such kind to worship Him”.Clearly the rebirth involves being reborn in these two ways.Since I have had this birth I have continued to learn many new things about the purpose for the Bride of Christ and I firmly believe the 144,000 in the Revelation is assuredly a symbolic number which I’m sure would have been reached very early in the explosion of growth of Christianity in the 1st century.By the 4th century Christianity was so widespread that it became the religion of the Roman empire.Literally millions have been called to heaven thru the 20 centuries of the ” Harvest”of wheat-like Christians.Sadly this truth has been covered over by ambitious men seeking their own aggrandizement and as a way to manipulate people like mice.But a day of reckoning seems to be upon us about that and like John the Baptist said of the Pharisees;I can see the axe at the root of the tree.Jehovah will take care to free His people and clear his name of the reproach these ones are heaping upon it.

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    • Picardo371 says:

      Hi John S.

      You said,
      “But a day of reckoning seems to be upon us about that and like John the Baptist said of the Pharisees;I can see the axe at the root of the tree.Jehovah will take care to free His people and clear his name of the reproach these ones are heaping upon it.”

      How do you see that happening?

      Dennis

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  7. faithisthekey says:

    Hi all,
    Just read this artical & the comments and thought you all may be interested in this article re the New Covenant. It is the simplest explanation i have seen on this topic. (By the way, has anyone found the scrip where it speaks about “observers” at this event?)

    The New Covenant is far superior to the Law Covenant – it does not simply replace the Old Covenant.
    The Law Covenant was just a shadow of the New one. In other words, by analyzing the pictures of the Old Covenant, we can grasp the New. (Hebrews 8:5) “but which [men] are rendering sacred service in a typical representation and a shadow of the heavenly things; just as Moses, when about to make the tent in completion, was given the divine command: For says he: “See that you make all things after [their] pattern that was shown to you in the mountain.”
    The Law Covenant was between Jehovah and the NATION of Israel – with the LEVITICAL PREISTHOOD as a FEATURE of it. (Hebrews 7:11) “If, then, perfection were really through the Levitical priesthood, (for with it as a feature the people were given the Law,) what further need would there be for another priest to arise according to the manner of Mel·chiz′e·dek and not said to be according to the manner of Aaron?”
    The New Covenant is between Jehovah and ALL MANKIND – with the MELCHIZEDEC PREISTHOOD OF CHRIST and the 144,000 (literal or symbolic) as its FEATURE.
    Moses represented ALL ISRAEL and went up to Mount Sinai to receive the Law Covenant.
    Jesus, as Son of Man, represented ALL MANKIND before Jehovah in the New Covenant.
    If there was no Law Covenant, the Levitical priesthood could never have existed.
    If there was no New Covenant, there is no question that the priesthood of the 144,000 could not exist.
    For Israel, ALL OF THE PEOPLE HAD TO COME INTO THE LAW COVENANT FIRST. Then, OUT OF THEM, SOME were chosen (Levites) to be priests.
    For mankind today, ALL OF THEM HAVE TO COME INTO THE NEW COVENANT FIRST, then OUT OF THEM, SOME (first-fruits) are chosen to serve as priests, when they are anointed with God’s spirit.
    This is the reason Jesus FIRST made the NEW COVENANT with his disciples, then LATER made the KINGDOM COVENANT – because the disciples wouldn’t be able to be in the Kingdom Covenant if they weren’t in the New Covenant first.
    Why? Because of what the New Covenant actually accomplishes. IT BRINGS ALL MANKIND INTO CHRIST, and thus into an acceptable condition before the Holy God.
    The New Covenant is not the same as the Ransom Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, though it is closely linked. The Ransom Sacrifice was the act that enabled or facilitated the operation of the New Covenant following its inception. Without the New Covenant, Jehovah God will have no dealings with a person. Notice in Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for he has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places [in] (union with) Christ”,
    In Adam, all mankind have sin, guilt, and are cursed to die. We have no other inheritance. Therefore to qualify to receive any “spiritual blessing”, we must first LEAVE ADAM, and come “INTO CHRIST.” This is accomplished by the ransom, bringing us into the New Covenant, by our baptism. Once in this condition, some of us will be chosen by Jehovah to enter the “royal priesthood.”
    So the New Covenant is not just with the 144,000. It is with ALL mankind. ANYONE can come into it if they exercise faith and get baptized, identifying themselves with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Then, from those who have come into the New Covenant, some are chosen to be part of the 144,000, kings and priests of God.
    Just as the Levitical priests were ministers or servants of the Old Covenant, the 144,000 are ministers or servants of the New Covenant. (2 Corinthians 3:6)”who has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of a written code, but of spirit; for the written code condemns to death, but the spirit makes alive”.
    Where the Old Covenant failed to produce the kingdom of priests, the Law being written on stone tablets and therefore the Israelites being UNABLE TO LIVE UP TO IT IN THEIR POWER, the New Covenant does produce a kingdom of priests, because NOW THE LAW IS WRITTEN IN OUR VERY HEARTS, with the resurrection power of Christ operating in us. (Jeremiah 31: 33, “For this is the covenant that I shall conclude with the house of Israel after those days,” is the utterance of Jehovah. “I will put my law within them, and in their heart I shall write it. And I will become their God, and they themselves will become my people.”
    2 Corinthians 3:3-6.”For YOU are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers, inscribed not with ink but with spirit of a living God, not on stone tablets, but on fleshly tablets, on hearts. 4 Now through the Christ we have this sort of confidence toward God. 5 Not that we of ourselves are adequately qualified to reckon anything as issuing from ourselves, but our being adequately qualified issues from God, 6 who has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of a written code, but of spirit; for the written code condemns to death, but the spirit makes alive”.
    ____________________________

    So Christ is responsible for ALL mankind, we are already in the New Covenant, we just have to recognize it and put faith in Christ and the ransom, recognize that we have “died” with Christ (2Cor 5: 14,15) (the old man/personallity/our fleshly nature, we have been cleansed from sin by Christs blood (even though we are of course still sinners) Christs blood covers our sins. Also, very important! We have been raised up a new man/new personality,new creation with Christ, This is where we recognize the “body” of Christ and its ressurection power, this (in addition to the “blood” which gives Forgiveness of sins)- this “body” of Christ or our recognition of it, gives us “power” over sin!
    If we are now in union with christ, Christ is “IN our life looking after us (not molly-coddling us)(hope that’s a term you understand in USA)we still have to learn from our mistakes and have our fleshly nature “crushed”, but gradually he is putting our lives in order, in effect “becoming the new us”.
    Though of course we still sin, sin begins to lose its power over us as spirit takes over. This is what “putting on Christ” is.

    Hope this is helpful, it certainly helped me.

    Your brother in Christ,
    fitk

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  8. Amos says:

    Hi FITK,

    It is a well written article that I think is fairly close to the truth, but I do dissagree with a couple of points.

    I’ll ask the following questions to begin with;

    1. What was the “Law covenant” that was fulfilled at the cross?
    2. What is the “New covenant”?
    3. Who did Jesus make the “New covenant with”?

    I think that we need to establish these points before we can understand some of the finer details on this subject. Perhaps it would be better to start a new thread to discuss this in.

    Your fellow brother in Christ,
    Amos

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  9. faithisthekey says:

    Hi Amos,
    It’s the first time I’ve posted here, (only yesterday looked at the site) so not sure about starting a new thread.
    As an off the cuff reply to your 3 questions, this is how I understand it;
    The law covenant in question is the one originally given to the Israelites through Moses at Sinai. It certainly kept Israel separate from the nations around and gave them many advantages over other nations. However taken as a whole it seems that the covenant had the greater purpose of establishing that mankind could not live up to Gods standards, no mater how hard he tried. Remember the big issue all along is man’s attempt at independence from God, or even worshipping God under his own steam as it were. I don’t believe it was a case of God choosing Israel, giving the law, and allowing them the chance to prove themselves worthy of God. God knew it was impossible, it was part of his purpose to prove that man cannot serve him satisfactorily in his own effort. Hence the references to the law being a “tutor” leading to Christ and at the same time a “curse”.
    As regards its fulfilment, well there are several ways of looking at this. Yes Christ did fulfil the law in that he, as a perfect loyal man in total subjection to God, walking by spirit not flesh, was able due to that, to keep the law perfectly. However the law was not scrapped. How can God’s LAW be scrapped (unlike human law). “True law” is fact, permanent, – It is reality. No, – what changed at the cross, was that man was no longer to prove himself by trying to keep the law, (or trying to worship God in his own effort or independence) the “new way” was by Grace/undeserved kindness, the gift of righteousness by faith. Faith was the new way. (Not that faith was new, many had shown faith previously) but now it replaced Human Effort, it was the way to union with Christ & God, – that union being now responsible for Forgiveness of sin, (Christ’s Blood), Power over sin, (Christ’s body), and the “law” being written on our hearts. Living by spirit in union with Christ is living according to God’s original blueprint for man, – his original design.
    The New Covenant was brought in by Christ in fulfilment of Jer 31:31 referring not to literal Israel but to the future “Israel of God” (not I believe a special anointed class but mankind who accept the ransom in its entirety and have faith in God and Christ, submitting to them and allowing themselves to be crushed as regards the flesh and made new in the spirit, with a view to being counted ultimately as “conquerors” (though I believe it is Christ “in” us who actually does the conquering, ours is to submit). A good description of the New Covenant is at 2Cor 3:6 speaking about Christ – “who has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of a written code, but of spirit; for the written code condemns to death, but the spirit makes alive”,
    showing the difference between the law covenant and the New Covenant, – written code against Spirit.
    Who was the New covenant given to?
    Certainly the words about the New Covenant were spoken to Jesus disciples in the upper room at the time of “the last supper” as is known. (Mat 26:28/Mr 14:24 Lu 22:20) It could be construed by this, that this covenant was only for these disciples (and a certain “class” that followed them) However Jesus had to tell someone about this first, who else but the ones who had faithfully followed him. He revealed it to his DISCIPLES of whom many more followed (1Cor chap 11 shows that others would be partaking in remembrance, warning them that they had to understand what was involved) If we read the whole of Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, in fact in particular all of Paul’s letters we see “all” who have faith mentioned in so many ways being included in the aim to be in “union” with Christ, Jews, Gentiles, and of course us now.
    If we just believe that these verses are only for a select few, why were they preserved for all of us today.
    Regarding actually sitting with Christ in the kingdom, note the separate covenant mentioned by Jesus after speaking about the New Covenant in Lu 22:20. Continuing in verse 29, 30 he says: “and I make a covenant with YOU, just as my Father has made a covenant with me, for a kingdom, 30 that YOU may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel.

    This is extra to what was said regarding the New Covenant and more specific it’s what is referred to in the article as the Kingdom Covenant.

    “This is the reason Jesus FIRST made the NEW COVENANT with his disciples, then LATER made the KINGDOM COVENANT – because the disciples wouldn’t be able to be in the Kingdom Covenant if they weren’t in the New Covenant first.
    Why? Because of what the New Covenant actually accomplishes. IT BRINGS ALL MANKIND INTO CHRIST, and thus into an acceptable condition before the Holy God.”
    From mankind that is now acceptable to God, some are chosen to be part of that Kingdom Covenant, Kings & Priests of God.

    That is why we should all be partakers of the emblems because the Ransom made the New Way – the New Covenant possible, all of us come under it. There is no mention of “observers” no mention of a second “class” who do not come into this covenant. From among us some are chosen to be a “Royal Priesthood”
    Incidentally, as I’m sure you know, there are many among JWs who partake privately, and in some way that may even be quite appropriate considering the content of Memorial Talks today.

    Anyhow, I’m quite tired after that, but that’s how I see things, – of course there is always much much more to be said. Maybe later.

    Your brother in Christ,
    fitk

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    • Amos says:

      Hi FITK, & welcome to the site,

      Thanks for your reply. It seems that we’re generally on the same page. Perhaps I should have worded Q1 a little differently.

      Regarding the Law Covenant, I believe that it’s a common misunderstanding that this is the complete law, that is the Ten commandments + all the other 600+ laws given to Moses. I believe that this is erronious. As I’m not at home at present, I don’t have my study material at hand, so I’ll try to briefly explain from memory.

      There were actually two sets of Laws;
      1) the Ten Commandments given at Sinai, God’s Laws.
      2) 600+ laws, commonly called the Law of Moses.

      Firstly, it must be remembered that our Lord was the sacrificial Lamb. This provided the necessary BLOOD SACRIFICE that fulfilled the needed redemption for firstly Adam, then ALL his descendants.
      It will be noted that GOD’S LAW, the Ten Commandments, required no sacrifices, blood or otherwise, just perfect obedience. I’ve been studying this topic recently & have come across several new thoughts (for me) that have actually changed my view concerning exactly what it was that Jesus did fulfill.

      If we go back to the account of Cain & Abel, we all know that Abel offered a BLOOD SACRIFICE, why? Because it pleased GOD! We can then ask WHY did it please GOD? On reflection, I came to the conclusion, after checking many scriptures, prayer & meditation, that this was a forerunner for what eventually became the SACRICIAL LAW that was part of the Mosaic Law….NOT GOD’S LAW, the TEN COMMANDMENTS. I believe that it’s this law (SACRIFICIAL) that was fulfilled at the cross not God’s Law, the Ten Commandments.

      Jn.1:29, is one of the clearest verses to show the point concerning the Lamb of God.
      v29; “The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!””

      Rev.5:6-10; 6 “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
      10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

      Please also note verse 10 where it says “a kingdom & priests”. I have done substantial investigation into this point, & have come to the conclusion that there is only ONE king, our Lord Jesus, but we become a kingdom of priests under HIS kingship. I have checked this thought in the Grk to English renderings & cannot find any support for the “saints” to be kings, only priests.

      A common view is that we receive a crown as kings, but I believe that the crown we receive is not to become kings, but the crown is a victory crown for successfully completeing our life course faithfull to our calling & anointing.

      I believe that the NEW COVENANT is only with the anointed during the Gospel Age, but will be extended to ALL mankind during the millenial age. The KINGDOM COVENANT however, I believe is only with the priestly class. I believe that this is ALL who are true followers of Christ during the Gospel Age, & is not limited to 144,000. This is another subject also.

      I certainly agree with you concerning the “emblems”, that there are no observers, only partakers, we only need to think of who were present at the “last supper”, only the disciples, & these ALL (except Judas) received the anointing at Pentecost. I believe also that there is only one class, & they are ALL part of “Christ’s Brothers”. More on this later.

      I’ll will continue with more on this after my return home in a few days time.

      Christian Love to all,

      Amos

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      • faithisthekey says:

        Hi Amos,
        I think we basically think along the same lines, sometimes it’s just how each explains it.
        I personally don’t like the term “Anointed” as, for me it evokes WTS dogma (I’m not saying it’s incorrect). Many many Christians (particularly witnesses) are put off even considering that they could be led by spirit, have HS working in them, be in union with Christ, unless they receive some stunning or weird experience to become “anointed”. Undoubtedly some do have an intense specific experience, and are enabled and led to specific work. However that is not absolutely necessary. The Holy Spirit “bearing witness” can be a much less striking experience, even just a realization of the truth and that the spirit has led them to a fuller understanding, and that it is active in their lives. Really the spirit has been and is far more active in our lives than we have probably realized, even when we haven’t necessarily been following Christ.
        Regarding the New Covenant, maybe the different slants we put on it are down to semantics?
        When I say that the New Covenant is with all mankind, yes I do mean that, but obviously not all mankind respond or even know that it is so. Just think, Anyone of mankind can be called/drawn to Christ. How do we know how many that will be? Most of mankind do not even realize the potential they are sitting on.
        So of course just as individual Israelites (at certain times even most of them) didn’t sign up or live their live in harmony with the specific Law covenant or the rest of the Mosaic law, they were still covered by it. So I believe All mankind are covered by the New Covenant even if they don’t even realize it yet, (I believe that the time will come when all Will be made aware of it).
        Basically from the time of Jesus death, (or at least when the value of his sacrifice was presented to his Father) down to the time when Christ stands up in judgement (would you call that the Gospel age?) ALL true Christians are part of Spiritual Israel, and there is only “one hope” for them though many don’t understand that yet. Any from before that era and after it will live “on earth” as it were. When “all things” have been reconciled to God, there will be an even greater outpouring of spirit on these ones too.
        What a fantastic awesome undeserved opportunity we all have!

        Something just flashed through my mind. Jehovah always had as his purpose that men (a significant number) would prove true to him and rather than wishing to be independent, would ache to live subject to him and in union with him in spirit. This proving true (as it is guaranteed to do,, – Jehovah doesn’t make mistakes) would be the death knell for Satan. (If it were not to prove true, Jehovah could not destroy Satan) So we, now have the opportunity to be involved in crushing Satan as per Gen 3:15 Christ being the seed and us alongside him. Thinking particularly about the WTS, if you were Satan what would your main effort be? Surely if you could convince most Christians that they could not be part of this “Spiritual Israel” you are halfway there. Over the years the emphasis on Christ has been rapidly diminishing in the org. the org itself gradually taking more prominence. Even to the point of everything being “Jehovah” when he himself has put his “Son” in the prominent position for us until all is reconciled. God has put Christ as responsible for all mankind, our relationship with God can only be through Christ. Though Jehovah/Yahweh/ God is of course the ultimate sovereign, our thoughts are toward our relationship with Christ, (which rather than being a slight to Jehovah is what he requires. (One of the kingdom songs used to say “Kiss the Son lest God be angry) from Psalms, those words have been replaced with something like- praise our god Jehovah (same tune) Now that may seem to be no problem, Jehovah is the most high. However I believe it’s just one small example of how Christ is being sidelined by the WTS.
        Sorry that just had to come out.

        Going back to your post Amos, there was one thing I was puzzled by; when you say only Christ is king and that the saints are only priests. I just looked at Rev 20:4,6 , in the NWT it speaks of thrones and those that sit in them, and actually says they will rule as kings with him. I looked up other translations, some say kings, many just say they “reigned” with him. To me Thrones and reigning signifies kings?
        I asked a friend who has done an open uni course in Greek and is studying original Greek that would have been used to write the Greek scrips, and he reckons that kings is certainly implied in this portion of text. What led you to your understanding?

        Anyhow, I could say it’s nice to talk to you, but it’s more like “its nice to ramble on” LoL

        Sorry if the spelling & or grammar is poor, my typing and most other things seem to decline as I get older. (I’m not that old) ha.

        Christian love,
        fitk

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        • Amos says:

          Hi FITK,

          I’m enjoying our dialogue greatly.

          Like yourself, I have some reservations regarding what we should call those who are of the anointed due to the wrong understandings that some can come to. Some use the word “elect”, but this can give the thought of eliteist opinions of oneself.

          I completely agree with your summation regarding how the HS works with us. I like how you described the “bearing witness” of the HS with our spirit. Some do have a remarkable experience, but what I had was a wonderful peace that came over me & this has remained with me ever since. I know that most of my thoughts & actions are now being guided by the HS. One of my requests of the Spirit, was to be led into a fuller, deeper understanding of the scriptures, & believe this has been the case ever since.

          The New Covenant…..my understanding is that this was instituted at Pentecost, with the church (each individual saint) & continues with these ones exclusively for the duration of the Gospel Age. (the age/epoch between the first & second advents of Christ) Following the abbys-ing of Satan, the NC will then be extended to ALL mankind during the millennium, including those who pass through Armageddon alive, & ALL those who are part of the second resurrection.

          I also believe that during the GA, our Father calls ALL whom HE chooses, from all nations etc. I have mixed views concerning the #144K. This may or may not be a literal number, or may apply to a specific class or group only, or time period of calling, but I do also believe that these ones, the 144K, are not the only ones who are being called & chosen by God. One of my thoughts are that they may be chosen from a specific time period, but will share the same destiny as ALL those called by God up until the Parousia of our Lord. One hope, one destiny.

          I absolutely agree with your thoughts on Gen.3:15, & your remarks concerning the understanding of the WTS’s actions in pushing the now reigning King, Jesus, to the background, & promoting Jehovah to the forefront. As you have said, Jesus is in His position, because He was put there by THE Father….this is the Fathers plan of salvation for ALL mankind.

          Regarding the “kings & priests”, like yourself & many others, I too once believed that this was right, but a careful study of the interlinear transliteration show that this is not the case at all. I don’t have my NWT-KI with me, but I’d encourage you to check the actual transliterated words from GRK to ENG, then check their normal Eng verse wording. In most translations, you’ll find that some verses have been worded to suit that religions doctrines, the WTS is no different, the NWT is fundamentally flawed in this area.

          I’ll provide a link to Biblos, this website provides a huge resource for bible students, including an excellent interlinear on the complete bible. This link will take you straight to Rev.20.

          The Biblos interlinear also includes Strongs numbers to every text & has a direct clickable link to that word in Strong’s. I’d encourage you to do the excercise yourself with the texts in Revelation that you’ve quoted. Also please check Rev.5:9,10, which is a favourite in proving the “King” view. Much more can be said concerning this, but these are the key verses.

          http://interlinearbible.org/revelation/20.htm

          I know that this will generate further discussion

          BTW, my understanding is always under review & this makes me open to free discussions without becoming offended at anothers views if they differ from my own.

          Don’t worry, we’re all getting older & I make many mistakes in spelling & grammar.

          Christian love,
          Amos

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  10. Bro. Ed says:

    The organization of Jehovah’s Witness is truly made up of of many God fearing people. They have made a stance which often puts them at odds with “the world”. Most people do not understand their fervent desire to please God. Many of them try to live moral and upright lives, dedicated to preaching, study and worship. Why my parents are still Jehovah’s Witnesses after 50 years of service, and they truly believe in the organisations direction, making significant allowances for the issues many here have raised. So here is my plea to all Jehovah’s Witnesses.

    ——————-PLEA TO JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES——————–

    Brothers and Sisters, your genuine love of God and your steadfast desire to please Him has been sabotaged. From the very outset, Satan, who disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), entered alongside you. He worked hard to ensure that the “truth” would be mixed with false doctrines of men, just as the Apostle Peter warned in 2 Peter 2:1-2. Satan knew that it was time for yet another division of the Body of Christ to spring forth; this time he did not focus on the traditional trap of denying God’s Supreme Oneness through the false doctrine of the trinity, rather he decided to snare people by denying the Master, Jesus Christ, who redeems us and is a savior to all mankind.

    “What rubbish,” you may say. “I’m a Jehovah’s Witness and I don’t deny Jesus Christ.” True, you don’t deny he exists, that he is the Son of God, that he died for our sins, and that he sat down at the right hand of God. But you deny him by refusing to obey his commands.

    To deny the Master means to “deny or refuse” (see Strong’s Concordance #720 “arnoumenoi”). The fact is you refuse to obey the Master who has bought you. As slaves, your Master has specific conditions for your redemption, salvation and ultimately your everlasting life. False doctrine, from false teachers, has deliberately denied you of precisely that which you are seeking; salvation and everlasting life.

    Let me highlight the only teaching that Christ set out for those seeking everlasting life. In John 6:27-40, 44-58 Jesus clearly provides the doctrine in which we, who are believers, must accept if we are to abide in him and him abide in us and for us to be granted everlasting life:

    “27 Work, not for the food that perishes, but for the food that remains for life everlasting, which the Son of man will give YOU; for upon this one the Father, even God, has put his seal [of approval].”

    28 Therefore they said to him: “What shall we do to work the works of God?” 29 In answer Jesus said to them: “This is the work of God, that YOU exercise faith in him whom that One sent forth.” 30 Therefore they said to him: “What, then, are you performing as a sign, in order for us to see [it] and believe you? What work are you doing? 31 Our forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Hence Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Moses did not give YOU the bread from heaven, but my Father does give YOU the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Therefore they said to him: “Lord, always give us this bread.”

    35 Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. He that comes to me will not get hungry at all, and he that exercises faith in me will never get thirsty at all. 36 But I have said to YOU, YOU have even seen me and yet do not believe. 37 Everything the Father gives me will come to me, and the one that comes to me I will by no means drive away; 38 because I have come down from heaven to do, not my will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 This is the will of him that sent me, that I should lose nothing out of all that he has given me but that I should resurrect it at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him at the last day.”

    44 No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by Jehovah.’ Everyone that has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except he who is from God; this one has seen the Father. 47 Most truly I say to YOU, He that believes has everlasting life.

    48 “I am the bread of life. 49 YOUR forefathers ate the manna in the wilderness and yet died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever; and, for a fact, the bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the world.”

    52 Therefore the Jews began contending with one another, saying: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Accordingly Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, YOU have no life in yourselves. 54 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I shall resurrect him at the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me forth and I live because of the Father, he also that feeds on me, even that one will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not as when YOUR forefathers ate and yet died. He that feeds on this bread will live forever.” NWT

    Notice how Jesus uses the words “anyone” in verses 51. This is not a conditional statement that precludes certain people; rather it is an open invitation to anyone who believes. Jesus further reinforced this doctrine by instructing his disciples at the Last Supper to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Of course there are many things we Christians must do to maintain our unity in Christ, but going into this now is not the purpose of this plea.

    May I ask, what doctrine are you following when each of you courteously refuses the cup and bread of Christ’s Body as they are passed along? What scriptures have you based this doctrine on? What scripture tells you that only a special group (class) of individuals are permitted to obey Jesus’ command? There are none. However, let me explain to you where this false doctrine originated. In your very own publication ”Jehovah’s Witnesses – Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom”, page 83 reads:

    “In 1932 it was explained that Jehonadab (Jonadab), King Jehu’s associate, prefigured a class of persons who would enjoy everlasting life on earth. (2 Kings 10:15-28) The Jonadabs, as they came to be known, counted it a privilege to be associated with Jehovah’s anointed servants and to have some share with them in advertising the Kingdom. But at that time, there was no special effort to gather these individuals with an earthly hope.

    However, real encouragement was given to the Jonadabs in the Watchtower of August 15, 1934. The article “His Kindness” stated: “Should a Jonadab consecrate himself to the Lord and be baptized? Answer: Most assuredly it is proper for a Jonadab to consecrate himself to do the will of God. No one will ever get life without doing that. Water immersion is merely a symbol of having made a consecration [or, as we would now say, dedication] to do God’s will, and that would not be out of order.” The Jonadabs were thrilled!”

    Brothers and sisters, what you have read above is a different Gospel to the one preached by our brothers and sisters of the first century, and our brother Paul condemns those that preach a different Gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Who gave the Jehovah’s Witnesses this new Gospel? This Gospel is repulsive to God and Christ, for God gave His only Son as a sacrifice for all of mankinds sins, so that all who believe in him would be saved (Romans 5:8-11; John 3:16). Ephesians 4:5 says “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”. And to suggest that “water immersion is merely a symbol of… dedication…to do God’s will” is undermining the power of Christ’s death and resurrection. 1 Peter 3:18-21 is clear on the symbolism of baptism.

    The false doctrine that denies you of the Master comes directly from the ‘wisdom of men’ and is based on the numerous false prophecies of Charles Taze Russell and Co. Investigate for yourself the origination of the false doctrine of the two classes of ”Sheep”, and the teachings from the “Governing body” that the “other sheep” should not partake of the “emblems”. However, I’m not going to spend time justifying the “truth” of Christ’s own words by disputing lies; it is you who must “test all things”.

    Brothers and sisters, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. is another division of the Body of Christ. It was established by men, named by men, and claimed to be God’s organisation on earth, by men. The reality is it is a false religion that has trapped almost 7 million individuals into believing many false doctrines, some of them that directly deny you the power of Christ’s death, resurrection and promised everlasting life.

    I cannot plead with you enough, my brothers and sisters, to please, please examine the history of false prophecies and Satanic lies that have snared so many of you. I know it is extremely hard, when you are so deeply devoted, to properly “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). My deep concern for you is based on love. I gain nothing from asking you to wake up before it is too late.

    May you accept the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which he offers on behalf of our Father.

    Your brother in Christ

    —————————————————————–

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    • greybeard says:

      Thank you Bro Ed!

      This was a very heartfelt and powerful article. John 8:32 tells us the truth will set us free. The sad thing is JW’s are forced to not look at the real truth as you know. For them to view the history of the JW/org outside of their own publications is “apostasy”. They try their best to hide the truth to keep the JW enslaved to men. 1 Corinthians 6:20

      Your brother in Christ,
      Greybeard

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  11. John S. says:

    BroEd—Right on-the-t’rget—-John6;56–Jesus-thru-his-words-n-spirit-dwell-in-us;;not-‘in-union’–NWT–we-r-new-beings-when-this-h’ppens;born-of-w’ter-n-spirit—-w’ter=truth—n-ofholyspirit—God-n-Jesus-now-in-us—WT-took-out-truth-of-rebirth-in-tr’nsl’ting’in-union-with’–insted-of-‘in’—-this-is-wikked-intent;hiding-gospel-fro’-Witnesses—Ienjoy-your-posts-you-r-spirit-begotten-too—-wonderful–5-yrs-now-4-this-one—-Witness4-36yrs-when-it-h’ppened—erything-st’rted-‘gin-4-this-one-then—-be-blessed—-keep-tolkin;good-stuf-n-th’nks-brother-‘NDREW-4-the-post

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