.: FIVE QUESTIONS LEADING JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES TO JESUS
- Presenting the Gospel
Listen Online to Hoffman's Effective Methods in Witnessing to JWs that presents how to use these questions most effectively:
Use Key Jehovah’s Witness Terms When Sharing the Gospel:
- “Tree” or “Stake” = Method of Jesus’ death
- Do not use “Cross” as JWs view it as a pagan symbol
- “Ransom Sacrifice/Provision” = Christ’s Death
- “Adamic Sin” = Sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden
- JWs view the “Sin Nature” as merely human imperfection
- “Condemnation of death” = Reason for physical death on earth
- JWs view that Christ’s ransom provision merely restored the right to perfect life on earth that Adam lost in the garden.
- “Complying” with “Jehovah’s Arrangement” = Process of gaining Eternal life – Salvation
1. What did Jesus Christ Do for you on the tree?
- 1 PETER 2:24: “And He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross [tree].”
- What did Jesus bear “in” His own body?
- “Our sins”? What sins are those?
- What does the word “bore” mean? To carry?
- Where did Jesus carry “our sins”? – In His Body
- ILLUSTRATION: Our Personal Sins transferred to Jesus’ Body on the Tree
2. What caused the death of Jesus on the tree?
- EZEKIEL 18:4: “The soul who sins will die.”
- My personal sins caused Jesus’ death
- There is a Double condemnation of death due to:
- Adamic Sin Nature
- Personal Sins
- ILLUSTRATION: Traffic Ticket - Penalty must be paid. Judge cannot release you because you've "been good" most of the time.
3. What did Jesus say we must do in order to have our sins forgiven and to receive eternal life?
- JOHN 5:39-40: “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life.”
- Who did Jesus say we much “come to” in order to have life?
- Have you done this? Have you come to Jesus by asking Him to forgive your sins and to give you everlasting life?
4. Have you “prayed” to Jesus for salvation?
- JW Argument: Jesus’ prayer - “Our Father” (Matthew 6:9) - prayer was not to Himself
- Christian Response: Jesus’ disciples were already “clean” (John 13:10) so they could call God “Father.”
- Christian Response: Change in Jehovah’s Arrangement
- Before Jesus came to earth, people prayed to “Jehovah.”
- After Jesus left earth, people pray to Jesus (John 14:14).
- JW Argument: We go “through” Jesus (John 14:6).
- Christian Response: We go “through” Jesus because we must deal directly with Him to get to Jehovah.
- JOHN 14:14: “…ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (All except KJV and WT's NWT versions say "Ask Me." It's in the oldest manuscripts.)
- Jesus receives and answers prayers. (See also 1 Corinthians 1:2, 9; Acts 7:59; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
- JOHN 10:28: “…I give eternal life to them….”
- Jesus gives eternal life— Not the Father gives eternal life “through” Me.
- JOHN 6:45: “…Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
- We obey Jehovah by coming “to” Jesus.
5. Why do we go “to” Jesus?
- Jesus has the “authority” to forgive sins.
- MARK 2:7, 10-11: “ …Who can forgive sins but God alone?’…the Son of Man has authority….to forgive sins.…’ ”
- Jesus has the authority to “give” eternal life. One cannot give what He does not own or possess.
- JOHN 10:27-28: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them….”
- Jehovah’s Arrangement for life requires that we obey Jesus by going to Him.
- JOHN 6:45: “…Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.”
- Matthew 17:5: “…This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
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