1. Salvation is by Grace Plus Works- Jehovah’s Witnesses believe they must work to get saved and to stay saved. They believe that salvation comes through Jesus’ ransom sacrifice, requiring faith, a changed life, baptism, and obedience to God’s will. This is the main reason they are so zealous to be out knocking on doors and sharing their material with others. (“To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it” The Watchtower, February 15, 1983: 12).

2. The Human Soul Ceases to Exist at Death- Ezekiel 18:4 “the soul that sinneth it shall die”. Numbers 19:22 “the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean”. The soul and the body were connected in the Old Testament however, in the New Testament, they are separated. They believe the human soul ceases to exist at death (Jehovah’s Witness in the Twentieth Century, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1979, 13). This they believe, not be held accountable however, the Bible says that there is an ultimate judge who will judge righteously- Jesus Christ.

• All must be judged at:

• The Judgment seat of Christ- II Corinthians 5:10 which is for the believer.

• The Great White Throne Judgment- Revelation 20:11-15 which is for the unbelievers.

3. Hell is Mankind’s Common Grave- They believe that Hell, a place of fiery torment, where sinners remain after death until the resurrection, does not exist. To them, hell is soul sleep, no torment, no knowledge, no suffering, it’s a place of rest in hope. They say that every place you find the word Hell in the Bible, it means “everlasting destruction”.

4. Annihilation- They believe: Eternal punishment is a punishment or penalty of which there is no end. It does not mean “eternal torment” of living souls. Annihilation, the second death, is the lot of all those who reject Jehovah God, and it is eternal, they cannot suffer torment. A person who rejects the free gift of salvation must pay for his own sins, instead of taking God’s righteousness.

5. Jesus was the First of God’s Creation- They claim this about Jesus Christ: “The Bible show that there is only one God…greater than His Son… and that the Son, as the Firstborn, Only-begotten, and the creation by God, had a beginning. The Father is greater and older that the Son is reasonable, easy to understand, and is what the Bible teaches” From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1958, 164).

6. The Holy Spirit is Not a Person- “As for the Holy Spirit, the so-called third Person of the Trinity, we have already seen that it is not a person, but God’s active force” (The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1968, 24).

7. The Holy Spirit is Not part of the Trinity- They say: “The Holy Spirit is not a person; it is God’s active force ‘What Does God Require of Us’?, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1997). Genesis 1:2 “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”.

These are the things every Christian must put off:

I. Lying-Vs 25 anything that is false, untruthful, deceptive, a misrepresentation, an exaggeration. Lying deceives a person to: get what he wants, to seduce someone else, to cover up or hide something, or is used to cause harm or hurt. Lying destroys confidence, assurance, security, love, trust, hope. Solution- “Speak the truth”. Be who you are and don’t be ashamed or worried about what others might think or say of you. Take the consequences of a particular thing and don’t lie about it.

II. Anger-Vs 26 “be ye angry, and sin not”. The believer needs to put off anger. Anger may be justified at times, however, we need to avoid sinning when we get angry. Too often hurt feelings exist between those that are the closest: husband and wife, parent and child, neighbors, co-workers, brethren. Solution- Get angry about the things that get God angry. With people that sin, do wrong, who are unjust and selfish in their behavior, John 2:13-16. Justified anger is never selfish, where unjustified anger is always selfish.

III. Stealing-Vs 28 “Let him that stole steal no more”. This is taking something that doesn’t belong to you. It can be something as small as a pencil from the office, or embezzling money. You can be stealing physically, time, spiritual gifts, blessings, material things from others. I Peter 4:15 If we suffer, we should suffer for doing good not for stealing, that would be wrong and unwise. Malachi 3:8.

Solution- “Steal no more”. “Work”. “Give to him that needeth”. Work hard, to have enough for your family and to help others in need. I John 3:17 “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”.

IV. Corrupt Communication- Vs 29 this is filthy or foul language. This includes cursing, unholy talk, double meaning/jesting, off-colored humor, dirty jokes, immoral suggestions. James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and settleth on fire the course of nature”. Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. I Corinthians 15:33 “be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners”.

Solution- “speak that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”. Speak to share good things, build up people, strengthen people, minister blessings helping each other. Proverbs 16:24.

V. Grieving the Holy Spirit- Vs 30 to pain, offend, or sadden the Holy Spirit. The Holy Sprit of God is in you and you don’t want to grieve Him. When a person acts contrary to the counsel of God, it greaves the Holy Spirit of God. Just like a child that acts contrary to the counsel of His parents.

Solution: Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God- do those things that God says to do. Don’t do those things that God says not to do. We know what is right and was is wrong.

VI. Unkindness- Vs 31 Be kind- To have gentleness and goodness. Bitterness in a person that is holding resentment, usually will be cold, harsh, unpleasant, etc. Cut someone off, talk about someone behind their back, when your hard to get along. Wrath- violent anger * Anger- mentioned above *Clamor- arguing, brawling, loud talking, boisterous behaviour. * Malice- hurtful, injurious speech.

Solution: Do the things in Vs 32, “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.

1. New Revelation- They don’t have traditional doctrine, God only gave it to them and to no one else, it’s a special secret. An angel appeared in a dream or vision to a person and told them to write certain things. Or God will speak through a man and that becomes church doctrine. Colossians 2:2-3 “In whom are hid all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge”. All the hidden treasure of wisdom and knowledge are hid in God and God doesn’t share it with anyone. Hebrews 1:1-2

2. New Interpretation- They have a new look at old scripture. They don’t righty divide the Bible. This is where most religions trip up and come up with their own false doctrine. II Timothy 2:15. II Peter 1:19-21 “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation”. It’s not private.

3. Non-Biblical Source of Authority- Sacred writing in additional or replacement to the Bible. These are thing they themselves or wrote into their own Bible. (New World Translation/Ancient Writings/ Watch Tower Society, etc.)

4. Salvation by Works- They work to get saved and they work to stay saved. We work because we are saved. They believe in getting saved the way they say to get saved and not the way the Bible says to do.

5. They Have an Earthly Leader- They believe God sent an earthly man or woman to them and they have power of God and represent God on this earth.

6. They Have another GOD- They don’t believe that God is part of the trinity.

· They believe he was a god or a created being but not God manifested in the flesh- John 1:1; 1:14. I Timothy 3:16 “and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”.

7. They have a Changing Theology- They change their beliefs along with society. As societies change, religions change.