Is there anything recent in the publications about Jesus only being the ransom for annointed?

by NikL 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  NikL

  Wow.

  I am confused.

  I guess Jah wanted it really complicated to keep out the uneducated schmucks such as myself.

  I mean, seriously, none of this makes any sense to me.

  I guess that's why the rank and file JW doesn't even know it's part of the dogma of their beloved Org.

  Those silly churches of Christendom. They just believe in Jesus.

  Jesus this and Jesus that.
  

  Jesus Jesus Jesus!

  Jesus and his grace in forgiving their sins and trying to be better people because of it. They even believe that Jesus died for all of us. (GASP)
  

  Won't they be surprised when God smites them?
  
• 

  waton

  of partakers ... it basically blames Paul for lack of foresight that the number 144000... AM:

  very insightful comment. The sealing of the 144 000 goes on since Pentecost. The hope of a "New Earth" was part and parcel of the first century hope, there must have always been non-sealed Christians among the billions of partakers that ever lived. or?

  Jesus served the emblems (symbols of forgiveness of sin) to non-sealed / un-anointed disciples, negating the idea that all partakers have to have an assured heavenly destiny.
  
  
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  EverApostate

  Trying to make sense out of non sense would always end up as non sense.
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  Listener

  NikL the teaching is still current as it has not been withdrawn so any old mag that makes the claim is proof unless a JW can show you that there is 'new light' on this teaching and there is none to date.
  
  Still, they do have a problem with reading their own old literature. Therefore you can direct them to the Insight Book under mediator.
  
  In part it states this

  "Those for Whom Christ Is Mediator. The apostle Paul declares that there is “one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all”—for both Jews and Gentiles. (1Ti 2:5, 6) He mediates the new covenant between God and those taken into the new covenant, the congregation of spiritual Israel. (Heb 8:10-13; 12:24; Eph 5:25-27) Christ became Mediator in order that the ones called “might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance” (Heb 9:15)"

  
  Most JWs will argue that since they pray through the name of Jesus, he is therefore, without doubt, their mediator. However, the Insight book clarifies their position on this. Jesus has two roles, that of the mediator and also as High Priest. Basically, they say that Jesus acts as mediator through the New Covenant with spiritual Israelites (the anointed). When praying through him in prayer, he is acting in his role as High Priest and therefore both anointed and non anointed are able to do this.
  
  The same Insight Book information under mediator states this
  
  

  "There are, thus, others not of the 144,000 “sealed” ones who also pray to Jehovah God in the name of Christ, putting faith in the merit of his ransom sacrifice. This sacrifice is not only for those for whom Jesus mediates the new covenant but also for all mankind expressing faith in Christ. (1Jo 2:2) These not in the new covenant also appreciate that “there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.” (Ac 4:12) They, too, look to Jesus Christ as their great heavenly High Priest, through whom they can approach God and through whose ministration they can get forgiveness of sin. (Heb 4:14-16)"

  There's a Youtuber, Bridget Azaz that called Bethel to confirm that this is still their current teaching and she was told that it is. There are some Elders who do understand their concept.
  
  
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  jwfacts

  See http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/mediator.php

  The 2010 book God's Word For Us Through Jeremiah continues to present this teaching, though subtly so few JW's would even notice.

  "... the new covenant is between Jehovah God and spiritual Israel, with Jesus as its Mediator." God's Word For Us Through Jeremiah p.173
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  2+2=5

  Won't they be surprised when God smites them?

  Believe me, I'll be as shocked as anyone.
• 

  darkspilver

  Another, simple way to present it is by simply showing them the WT Publication Index.

  Very black and white.

  Use the 1986 to 2000 Edition

  Look up 'Mediator' as the main heading - then look down to 'Jesus Christ', then 'for anointed only:'
  

  
  
• 

  waton

  so, it comes down to the WT's definition of "Spiritual Israel" or [Israel of God]

  wt: The "12 tribes of Israel" of Math.19, & Rev.7 are the Earthly Subjects of the kingdom, but they are not The "anointed" Israel of God. so we have:

  a) Spiritual Israel without it's full 12 tribes, and b) 12 other Tribes of Israel, that are not part of the Israel of God, --well, that is wt weirdness for you.

  Jesus' "ransom" , "mediation" is effective immediately for the small wt Israel of God, but only in 1000+ years for the 12 tribes. -- wt trivia,

  not endorsing, just reporting.
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  steve2

  The origins of JW organization's "two classes of Christians" can be traced back to Chuck Russell's successor, "Judge" Rutherford. He discarded many of Russell's ordinary, non-elitist doctrines (e.g., all the faithful will rule in heaven with Christ) and wittingly or otherwise introduced spiritual elitism embarrassingly also found in many older Christian religions such as Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox churches.

  Rutherford asserted he was moving the organization forward to newer light - but with the mediator versus random division, he took his ragbag followers back in time to earlier centuries, catering to the human craving for hierarchical structures of worthiness and rewards.
• 

  vienne

  Steve2,

  No, that's historically inaccurate. Russel taught a '2 class' doctrine that he derived from writers such as William Trotter [Plain Papers on Prophetic and other Subjects.] and M.P. Baxter [Louis Napoleon: The Destined Monarch of the World]. Russellites really had a three class system. 1. The Little Flock, anointed and limited to 144K. 2. The Great Crowd, somehow less faithful than the Little Flock but destined to heavenly life. 3. Vast majority of humans destined to live in a paradise earth.