BLONDIE’S COMMENTS YOU WILL NOT HEAR AT THE APRIL 16, 2017 WT Study (FEBRUARY 2017) (RANSOM)
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The Ransom—A “Perfect Present” From the Father
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The Ransom—A “Perfect Present” From the Father
“Every good gift and every perfect present is from . . . the Father.”—JAS. 1:17.
WHAT ROLE DOES THE RANSOM PLAY IN . . .
the sanctification of Jehovah’s name?
the rule of God’s Kingdom?
the accomplishment of God’s purpose?
1. The ransom arrangement makes possible what blessings?
MANY are the blessings made possible by the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The ransom arrangement opens the door for all those of Adam’s children who love righteousness eventually to become part of God’s family. The ransom also makes it possible for us to have the opportunity to live forever in happiness. Still, Christ’s ransom does more than provide a blessed future for obedient mankind. Jesus’ willingness to die while upholding Jehovah’s righteousness addresses matters of universal importance.—Heb. 1:8, 9.
COMMENTS
First, how many of you knew that the WTS teaches that only anointed jws are currently and officially part of God’s family? That for the rest of humans still alive on earth at the end of the 1,000 Year Reign of Christ, and who pass the final test from Satan, will at that time be adopted as sons of God?
Second, the next most important point is the “opportunity” to live forever (heaven or earth)—the proverbial carrot that brings people into the WTS and keeps them there.
And third, lastly, that the final most important point is “matters of universal importance” a euphemisim for upholding God’s sovereignty.
2. (a) What matters of universal importance are found in Jesus’ prayer? (See opening image.) (b) What will we consider in this article?
2 Some two years before Jesus died and provided the ransom sacrifice, he taught his disciples to pray: “Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth.” (Matt. 6:9, 10) To heighten our appreciation for the ransom, let us consider how it relates to the sanctification of God’s name, the rule of God’s Kingdom, and the accomplishment of God’s purpose.
COMMENTS
Notice that nowhere in Jesus’ words to his followers did he use “Jehovah” but referred to god by the more intimate term “father.”
How many jws knew that the WTS initially said vindicating god’s name was the key? That was during the time Rutherford wanted to really emphasize the importance of using the term “Jehovah” when he changed the name of WTS followers to Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1931 trying to separate the WTS from several Bible Student groups that starting in 1909 had broken away. Did they not read what Jesus said above, “let your name be sanctified”?
- The issue of sovereignty...God's name be sanctified--did you know that the WTS for years taught that God's name was to be vindicated?
*** w75 9/1 p. 525 Christian Love Based on Jehovah's Love ***
Jehovah God lovingly sent his Son from heaven to vindicate God's name and His confidence in those who do love Him. His Son Jesus proved that his Father's confidence in him was not misplaced.
*** w95 5/15 p. 25 Flashes of Light-Great and Small (Part 2) ***
Similarly, for a long time, Witnesses spoke of the vindication of Jehovah's name. But had Satan called Jehovah's name into question? For that matter, had any of Satan's agents done so, as if Jehovah did not have a right to that name? No, not at all. It was not the name of Jehovah that was challenged and that needed to be vindicated. That is why the Watch Tower Society's recent publications do not speak of Jehovah's name as being vindicated. They speak of Jehovah's sovereignty as being vindicated and of his name as being sanctified. This is in keeping with what Jesus told us to pray: "Let your name be sanctified." (Matthew 6:9) Time and again, Jehovah said that he was going to sanctify his name, which the Israelites had not challenged but had profaned.-Ezekiel 20:9, 14, 22; 36:23.
“LET YOUR NAME BE SANCTIFIED”
3. What does Jehovah’s name embrace, and how did Satan slander that sacred name?
3 Jesus mentioned the sanctification of God’s name as the first request in his model prayer. Jehovah’s name embraces the full scope of His excellence, majesty, and holiness. In another prayer, Jesus addressed Jehovah as “Holy Father.” (John 17:11) Since Jehovah is holy, all principles and laws that originate with him are holy. In spite of this, in the garden of Eden, Satan slyly questioned God’s right to set standards for humans. By lying about Jehovah, Satan slandered God’s sacred name.—Gen. 3:1-5.
COMMENTS
While Jesus mentioned the sanctification of God’s name, he did not use God’s name in the prayer and later as Holy Father, not Jehovah.
Besides the fact that no mention is made of Satan in Genesis and not until the book of Job, why has it taken over 6,000 years for god to prove that someone told a lie then?
4. How did Jesus contribute to the sanctification of God’s name?
4 Jesus, on the other hand, truly loved the name of Jehovah. (John 17:25, 26) Jesus contributed to the sanctification of the divine name. (Read Psalm 40:8-10.) By his perfect life course on earth, Jesus proved that it is reasonable and righteous for Jehovah to set standards for his intelligent creatures. Even when Satan subjected Jesus to an agonizing death, Jesus remained completely loyal to his heavenly Father. By being loyal, Jesus proved that a perfect human could maintain perfect obedience to God’s righteous standards.
COMMENTS
Jesus may have shown he loved “god” through his actions, even at John 17:25,16 he refers to him as Father not Jehovah.
Where is the WTS really going with this, that loyalty and obedience to god and his standards (as explained and set by the WTS as ever changing) means obedience and loyalty to the WTS. Was Jesus loyal to the Jewish religious leaders of his time? Didn’t Jesus point out to these leaders that they were teaching what were human standards not god’s?
5. How can we share in sanctifying God’s name?
5 How can we show that we love Jehovah’s name? By our conduct. Jehovah requires that we be holy. (Read 1 Peter 1:15, 16.) This means that we worship only Jehovah and that we obey him with our whole heart. Even when we are persecuted, we do our best to live according to his righteous principles and laws. By performing righteous deeds, we let our light shine and thus bring glory to Jehovah’s name. (Matt. 5:14-16) As holy people, we prove by the way we live our lives that Jehovah’s laws are good and that Satan’s accusations are false. When we make mistakes, as we all do, we genuinely repent and turn away from practices that dishonor Jehovah.—Ps. 79:9.
COMMENTS
Why is loving god not enough? Why do jws have to follow WT rules that these jws can see don’t conform to the bible? Why are righteous deeds defined by the WTS as obeying the organization, and ignoring those in practical need within and outside their organization? Where in the first century did Christians define their lives by distributing human words, instead of god’s, (try to get a bible at their public carts). Who decides what a mistake is, where has the WTS admitted a mistake but rather make is god’s problem? How can imperfect human men determine what is in the minds and hearts of people to judge genuine repentance?
What about the concealing of pedophiles in the midst? Doesn’t that dishonor god?
6. Why can Jehovah view us as righteous, even though we are imperfect?
6 On the basis of Christ’s sacrifice, Jehovah forgives the sins of those who exercise faith. He accepts as his worshippers those who dedicate themselves to him. Jehovah declares anointed Christians righteous as his sons and those of the “other sheep” righteous as his friends. (John 10:16; Rom. 5:1, 2; Jas. 2:21-25) So even now, the ransom enables us to have a righteous standing with our Father and to share in the sanctification of his name.
COMMENTS
So the WTS admits only God can forgive sins, not humans.
Here the WTS is deceptive, accepts as his worshippers those who dedicate themselves to him.
Only those who worship JEHOVAH, are acceptable, only Jehovah’s Witnesses.
*** w89 9/1 p. 19 Remaining Organized for Survival Into the Millennium ***7 Only Jehovah’s Witnesses, those of the anointed remnant and the “great crowd,” as a united organization under the protection of the Supreme Organizer, have any Scriptural hope of surviving the impending end of this doomed system dominated by Satan the Devil.
Only anointed jws are sons of god, the “other sheep” are only friends right now.
“LET YOUR KINGDOM COME”
7. What blessings under Kingdom rule does the ransom make possible?
7 In the model prayer, Jesus next petitioned God: “Let your Kingdom come.” How does the ransom relate to the Kingdom of God? The ransom makes possible the gathering of 144,000 to serve as kings and priests with Christ in heaven. (Rev. 5:9, 10; 14:1) Jesus and his corulers, who together make up God’s Kingdom, will administer the benefits of the ransom to obedient mankind over a period of a thousand years. The earth will be transformed into a paradise, and all faithful humans will be lifted to perfection, fully uniting the heavenly and earthly parts of God’s family. (Rev. 5:13; 20:6) Jesus will crush the serpent’s head and erase from the universe all traces of Satan’s rebellion.—Gen. 3:15
COMMENTS
How many times have you found the word “Kingdom” in the previous suggested presentations in the Kingdom Ministry, out of the 48 every year, twice maybe.
The WTS makes the bold statement connection the ransom with the 144,000 citing 2 scriptures without any proof of their application.
There you have it, the bible condensed into one paragraph from Genesis to Revelation.
8. (a) How did Jesus help his disciples to see the importance of God’s Kingdom? (b) How do we show our support for the Kingdom today?
8 While on earth, Jesus helped his disciples to see the importance of God’s Kingdom. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus proclaimed “the good news of the Kingdom of God” far and wide. (Luke 4:43) In his last words to his disciples before he returned to heaven, Jesus instructed them to be witnesses of him “to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8) By means of the Kingdom-preaching work, people throughout the earth would have an opportunity to learn about the ransom and become subjects of God’s Kingdom. Today, we show our support for the Kingdom by assisting Christ’s brothers on earth in carrying out the commission to preach the good news of the Kingdom worldwide.—Matt. 24:14; 25:40.
COMMENTS
Have you heard anything from the platform about immediately proclaiming the good news “of the Kingdom of God”? Are jws make headway with reaching people with their message of everlasting life on a paradise earth (any mention of “kingdom”?)
- Remember when the WTS said this:
*** w00 1/15 p. 13 par. 17 “Keep on the Watch” ***
Nevertheless, the Bible does not state that Jehovah will wait until every individual on earth has received a personal witness. Rather, the good news must be preached to Jehovah’s satisfaction. Then the end will come.—Compare Matthew 10:23.
And
*** w10 9/15 p. 10 par. 12 Earnestly Seek Jehovah’s Blessing ***We recognize that the end could come at any time; Jehovah’s timing is not contingent on our giving a personal witness to every individual on the planet. (Matt. 10:23)
BUT 11/15/2011
P. 18 par. 9
"Out of love for fellow humans, we go from house to house, making every effort to contact each occupant with the "good news of [God's] kingdom.""
“Christ’s brothers” remember only the anointed are in the family of god, the rest have to wait until the end of the 1,000 Year Reign.
“LET YOUR WILL TAKE PLACE”
9. Why can we be confident that Jehovah will fulfill his purpose for mankind?
9 What did Jesus mean when he next said: “Let your will take place”? Jehovah is the Creator. Once he gives the word for something to happen, it is as good as done. (Isa. 55:11) He will not allow Satan’s rebellion to derail His purpose for mankind. From the beginning, it was Jehovah’s will for the earth to be filled with the perfect children of Adam and Eve. (Gen. 1:28) Had Adam and Eve died childless, God’s purpose to fill the earth with their offspring would have come to nothing. Thus, after Adam and Eve sinned, Jehovah allowed them to have children. Through the ransom, God gives all who exercise faith the opportunity to reach perfection and live forever. Jehovah loves people, and it is his will that obedient humans live the way he intended.
COMMENTS
So was god concerned about humans, allowing them to suffer on earth for over 6,000 years per WTS chronology?
Who decides who is obedient, the WTS or god?
10. How does the ransom benefit humans who have died?
10 What about the billions of people who died without ever having an opportunity to know and serve Jehovah? The ransom makes possible the resurrection of the dead. Our loving heavenly Father will bring them back to life and give them an opportunity to learn about his purpose and to gain everlasting life. (Acts 24:15) Jehovah wants people to live, not die. As the Source of life, he becomes the Father of everyone who is resurrected. (Ps. 36:9) How appropriate, therefore, that Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father in the heavens.” (Matt. 6:9) Jehovah has given Jesus an important share in resurrecting the dead. (John 6:40, 44) In Paradise, Jesus will fulfill his role as “the resurrection and the life.”—John 11:25.
COMMENTS
What about the millions of young children and babies who died forever at the flood and Sodom and Gomorrah and “soon” Armageddon….did they have an opportunity to serve god; shouldn’t someone kill these children so they can be resurrected?
11. What is God’s will for the “great crowd”?
11 Jehovah’s generosity is not limited to a few privileged people, for Jesus said: “Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35) It is God’s will that a numberless “great crowd” from all nations and tribes and tongues become his worshippers. Those who exercise faith in Christ’s ransom and who do the will of God can be among those who shout: “Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.”—Rev. 7:9, 10.
COMMENTS
Few privileged, anointed jws? Are the “great crowd” Jesus’ family yet?
12. How is Jehovah’s purpose for obedient mankind reflected in the model prayer?
12 Jehovah’s purpose for obedient mankind is reflected in the petitions found in Jesus’ model prayer. In harmony with this prayer, we want to do our utmost to sanctify, or treat as holy, Jehovah’s name. (Isa. 8:13) Jesus’ own name means “Jehovah Is Salvation,” and our salvation by means of the ransom brings honor and glory to Jehovah’s name. God’s Kingdom will be used to apply the benefits of the ransom to obedient mankind. Indeed, the model prayer assures us that nothing can stop the will of God from taking place.—Ps. 135:6; Isa. 46:9, 10.
COMMENTS
So if sanctifying god’s name, mean using it in print, sound, and speech, why did Jesus not use in in his speech to his followers and other listeners?
Who decides who is obedient in the WTS, god or humans?
SHOW YOUR GRATITUDE FOR THE RANSOM
13. What do we show by our baptism?
13 One important way in which we show gratitude for the ransom is by dedicating ourselves to Jehovah on the basis of our faith in the ransom and getting baptized. Our baptism shows that “we belong to Jehovah.” (Rom. 14:8) It represents our request to God for a good conscience. (1 Pet. 3:21) Jehovah responds to that request by applying the cleansing blood of Christ’s sacrifice to us. We are fully confident that he will give us all that he has promised.—Rom. 8:32.
COMMENTS
So again hidden in this
paragraph, is the assertion that god only accepts people worshipping “
Jehovah” and baptized in the name of the WTS organization. What happened to the
holy spirit in the WTS baptism questions asked just before jws are baptized?
Go therefore and make disciples..., baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit."--MATT. 28:19
- QUOTES
*** w06 4/1 p. 22 ‘Go and Make Disciples, Baptizing Them’ ***
The Two Baptismal Questions
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
In what ways do we show our gratitude for the ransom? (See paragraphs 13, 14)
14. Why are we commanded to love our neighbor?
14 What is yet another way to show our gratitude for the ransom? Since everything Jehovah does is influenced by love, it is his will that all his worshippers display love as their dominant quality. (1 John 4:8-11) We prove that we desire to be “sons of [our] Father who is in the heavens” by loving our neighbor. (Matt. 5:43-48) The command to love our neighbor is second only to the command to love Jehovah. (Matt. 22:37-40) One important way that we show such love for neighbor is by obeying the command to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. As we show love for fellow humans, we reflect God’s glory. In fact, love for God is “made perfect in us” when we obey the command to love others, especially our brothers.—1 John 4:12, 20.
COMMENTS
Do jws love their neighbors other than promoting WT ideas and publications? Or studying from their publications, not directly from the bible itself?
46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have?+ Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?
Do jws even love their fellow believers, or judge them without mercy? And how effective are jws in your current and past congregations? Did they preach to save those they preached to or to guarantee their everlasting life on a paradise earth?
THE RANSOM BRINGS “SEASONS OF REFRESHING” FROM JEHOVAH
15. (a) What blessings do we now receive from Jehovah? (b) What blessings await us?
15 The door to complete forgiveness opens to us when we exercise faith in the ransom. God’s Word assures us that our sins can be “blotted out.” (Read Acts 3:19-21.) As we considered earlier, on the basis of the ransom, Jehovah adopts his spirit-anointed servants as his children. (Rom. 8:15-17) As to those of us who are of the “other sheep,” it is as though Jehovah has drawn up an adoption certificate with our name on it. After we have reached perfection and have passed the final test, Jehovah will be delighted to sign the certificate, as it were, and adopt us as his beloved earthly children. (Rom. 8:20, 21; Rev. 20:7-9) Jehovah’s love for his precious children is everlasting. The benefits of the ransom last forever. (Heb. 9:12) This gift will never lose its value. No person or power can take it away from us.
COMMENTS
Sins could be blotted out but not by jws who remember your “sins” years later. Have you every wondered why on anointed jws are already part of God’s family? Well, when the die and go to heaven right away, they instantly perfect, no 1,000 years for them. How is that possible for them and not the other sheep? Can you find this in a scripture or only in WTS publications?
16. How does the ransom enable us to be truly free?
16 There is nothing that the Devil can do to prevent all who genuinely repent from eventually becoming part of Jehovah’s family. Jesus came to earth and died “once for all time.” Thus the ransom has been paid permanently. (Heb. 9:24-26) It completely cancels the condemnation inherited from Adam. Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, we are free from enslavement to this world under Satan’s control, and we no longer live in fear of death.—Heb. 2:14, 15.
COMMENTS
Today only jw elders can decide who on earth have genuinely repented in the WT organization, imperfect men!
Yes, how many non-jws realize that the WTS and its members teach that the non-jw world is controlled by the devil and everyone who is not a jw, is worshipping him directly or indirectly?
17. What does Jehovah’s love mean to you?
17 God’s promises are absolutely reliable. Just as his laws of creation never fail, Jehovah will never fail us. He does not change. (Mal. 3:6) Jehovah gives us far more than just the gift of life. He gives us his love. “We have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” (1 John 4:16) The whole earth will be made a paradise of exquisite delight, and everyone on earth will reflect God’s love. May we join our voices with those of God’s faithful heavenly creatures in saying: “Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”—Rev. 7:12.
COMMENTS
God’s promises may be “absolutely reliable” but the WTS interpretations of them have not proved to be so. God does not change, but the WTS is always on the verge of adapting or clarifying the things they say god has said.
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200277174 Beliefs of jws clarified
Next week, Jehovah Leads his People
Love, Blondie