Reaching Out to Jehovah’s Witnesses

Now That’s Good News… Now That’s Love!

By Frank Tyler

[Editor’s Note: The Beguelin Home Fellowship gathers for a breakfast fellowship, 10:00am on Fridays at Mariners Café in Sequim, Washington. We were studying the second volume of Come and See, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s systematic theology, specifically the doctrine of the trinity, when one of the members of the fellowship asked two really good questions: “What is the relevance of a doctrine like the trinity to evangelism?” And secondarily, “If we are living in the end times when Jesus could come back at any moment, why spend our time on something that does not lead to opportunities to share the good news?” Both of these questions are excellent!]

Introduction

Although the Scriptures nowhere say that faith in the trinity saves anyone eternally, the Lord uses brothers and sisters, who understand doctrines like the trinity, to reach out powerfully with the good news. When Jehovah’s Witnesses go door to door sharing their faith, they attack the doctrine of the trinity in order to gain an audience for their message. Christians on the receiving end of their message are often unprepared and become flustered when defending their faith. However, those of us who are prepared and well-grounded in our understanding of this doctrine have a very unique opportunity to respond with love, gentleness, and grace—born of confidence and knowledge. Let us consider two approaches.

Correcting Errant Theology

Most born again believers in Jesus will attempt to correct the error of Arianism[1] directly from the Scriptures by quoting passages that show Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God, only to find Jehovah’s Witnesses well prepared to answer with lines of evidence from Scriptures that seemingly deny the deity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Sadly, the back and forth exchange can resemble a game of one-upmanship that leaves both parties drifting away from meaningful dialogue. Although correcting errant theology is sometimes essential, very often you and I will find ourselves chasing down doctrinal rabbit trails that rarely lead to the gospel. The gentlest and most gracious correction I have found is from the book of Revelation. As a last option, I resort to it only on those occasions when Jehovah’s Witnesses insist on arguing against the trinity with unquestioned impunity.

Using The New World Translation:

Read Revelation 1:8 — I am the Alpha and the Omega says Jehovah God , the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty (underlining added).[2]

* Ask who is the Alpha and the Omega? Contextually, according to The New World Translation, the answer is Jehovah God.

Read Revelation 1:17-18 — And when I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand upon me and said: ‘Do not be fearful. I am the First and the Last, and the living one; and I became dead, but look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and Hades (under-lining added).

* Ask who became dead, but is now living forever and has the keys of death and Hades? Contextually, Jesus is the only answer.

* Ask what do the expressions the Alpha and the Omega (v. 1:8) and the First and the Last (v. 1:17) share in common? In the Greek alphabet, Alpha is the first letter and Omega the last letter; logically, to be the Alpha and Omega is to be the First and the Last.

Read Revelation 2:8 — And to the angel of the congregation in Smyrna write; These are the things that he says, “ the First and the Last” who became dead and came to life again (underlining added).

* Ask who is the First and the Last who became dead and came to life again? Again, Jesus is the only answer.

Read Isaiah 44:6-7 —“ This is what Jehovah has said, the King of Israel and the Repurchaser of him, Jehovah of armies, ‘I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God . And who is then like me? Let him call out, that he may tell it and present it to me… (underlining added).

* Ask who said, I am the first and I am the last, and besides me there is no God ? Contextually, the only answer is Jehovah of armies.

Read Isaiah 48:12-13 — Listen to me, O Jacob, and you Israel my called one, I am the same One. I am the first. Moreover, I am the last. Moreover, my own hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my own right hand extended out the heavens . I am calling to them that they may keep standing together (Underlining added).

* Ask who said, I am the first. Moreover, I am the last. Moreover, my own hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my own right hand extended out the heavens ? Contextually, Jehovah is the only answer; Hishand laid out the foundation of the earth and extended out the heavens.

According to The New World Translation, within the book of Revelation, Jehovah identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8). This name uses the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet and logically equates to what Jesus calls Himself in Revelation 1:17 and 2:8, the First and the Last. In Isaiah 44:6-7 and 48:12-13, Jehovah identifies Himself as the First and the Last. If both Jesus and Jehovah identify themselves as the First and the Last, Jehovah’s Witnesses ought to conclude that in Revelation Jesus is the same Jehovah God who calls Himself the First and the Last in Isaiah. This is precisely what Revelation 22:12-13 reveals:

Read Revelation 22:12-13— “ ‘ Look! I am coming quickly and the reward I give is with me, to render to each one as his work is. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Underlining added).

Ask who is the One coming quickly? Revelation 22:6-7 contextually indicates Jehovah, while Revelation 22:20 shows the Lord Jesus. Jehovah and Jesus are one God in two persons.

Unfortunately, while conducting visitations, most Witnesses steadfastly refuse to turn from their core theological doctrine and abruptly conclude their visit with you on that note. All too often, you and I are left feeling like Don Quixote with unrequited love vainly chasing windmills instead of sharing the good news of everlasting life. [3] Thankfully, there is another approach.

An Alternative: Sharing God’s Love Through His Promise of Life

True—The New World Translation mistranslates many passages in the Gospel of John. Even so, the overall message of John remains utterly clear: To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs also before His disciples, which are not written down in this scroll. But these have been written down that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that because of believing YOU may have life by means of his name (John 20:30-31). Though Jehovah’s Witnesses may be initially uncomfortable conversing with born again believers about the message of John, take comfort knowing the apostle purposed his account to persuade even the most reticent unbeliever of God’s love.

Reach out to them based upon John’s purpose in writing his account, the biblical truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, who as God, promises eternal life to all who believe in Him and His promise (John 3:16, 20:30-31). Avoid disputes over theological doctrines like the trinity which hopscotch through the whole of the Bible and lend themselves to cut and paste arguments; instead let the Bible speak for itself in the one book purposed explicitly for a person to have eternal or everlasting life. Pray and trust the Lord for boldness and a clear message; then, be utterly transparent and in a very loving and gracious manner communicate God’s desire for them to have everlasting life .

Using The New World Translation:

Read John 20:30-31 —To be sure, Jesus performed many other signs also before His disciples, which are not written down in this scroll. But these have been written down that YOU may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that because of believing YOU may have life by means of his name (Underlining added).

* Ask the Jehovah’s Witness, do you have life by means of Jesus Christ’s name? Most will say that they likely do not. [4]

Read John 5:24 — Most truly, I say to YOU, He that hears my word and believes him that sent me has everlasting life, and he does not come into judgment, but has passed over from death to life (underlining added).

* Ask are you and I hearing Jesus’ words? Who is the one who sent Jesus? Most Jehovah’s Witnesses will agree that Jehovah sent Jesus.

* Ask, do you believe Jehovah and His witness? Do you have everlasting life? Will you avoid coming into judgment at the Great White Throne? Have you passed over from death to life?

Read John 5:21 — For just as the Father raises the dead up and makes them alive, the Son also makes those alive whom he wants to (underlining added).

* Ask what kind of life is Jesus speaking of in John 5:21?

* Reread John 5:24; contextually, Jesus speaks of everlasting life.

* Ask, how does Jesus have the power to make the dead alive unto eternity? The power to make the dead eternally alive is an exclusive attribute of God which confirms Jesus’ eternality and deity. [5] Simply put, Jesus cannot give what He does no already possess in Himself, everlasting life. As the Son of God, Jesus is fully God.

Read John 5:26 — For just as the Father has life in Himself, so he has granted also to the Son to have life in himself (Underlining added).

* Ask what kind of life does the Father grant to the Son to give to others? Contextually, the only answer is everlasting life.

* Ask, if Jehovah grants His Son to have this life in himself and to make those alive whom he wants to, do you believe Jesus’ words in John 5:24?

* Reread John 5:24

* Ask, what do you have when you believe Jehovah’s witness and Jesus’ three-fold promise? Believe the promise and have what Jesus promises: everlasting life, freedom from judgment at the Great White Throne, and immediate passage from death to life… now that’s good news! The power to fulfill this three-fold promise confirms both Jesus’ Messiahship and deity as the Son of God. Indeed, the love of God has no finer expression than the promise of life on the lips of His Son, the crucified and resurrected Lamb of God—who, alone, has once for all, taken away the sin of the world on a brutal Roman cross (John 1:29; cf. Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27). According to the Apostle John, the moment we believe Jehovah’s witness about His Son that He is the Christ, the Son of God, we have the very thing only God, Himself, can give us, everlasting life or life by means of His name (John 20:30-31)… now that’s love!

Although a Jehovah’s Witness may believe Jesus’ promise in John 5:24 while in our presence, it is more likely that they will need to reconsider and meditate on the passage several times. Even then, they may or may not believe, but we will have lovingly sown a seed designed by our Lord to bring forth life in His name. Do not force the issue; the power to bring forth the miracle of everlasting life resides exclusively in God, His Word and His timing, not man; love them and pray for them. Do not be surprised when they return for another visit… only show them love, pray, and share another verse from John’s account like John 6:40 or 11:25-27 (see Appendix A).

Conclusion

When Jehovah’s Witnesses attack the doctrine of the trinity in order to gain our attention for their message, you and I, prepared and well-grounded in our understanding of the trinity, have a very unique opportunity to respond with love, gentleness, and grace. As born again believers, do we wish to chase windmills by correcting errant theology, or share good news and trust our Lord to bring forth everlasting life? I almost always choose the latter approach and share God’s love so clearly expressed in His promise of everlasting life.

Copyright © 2022 by Frank Tyler; you may copy, print, and give away freely, but you may not sell.

Appendix A

John 6:40

Read John 6:40— 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. (Underlining added)

* Ask—Who is my Father? Most Jehovah’s Witnesses will say Jehovah.

* Ask—What is Jehovah’s will? Contextually, that everyone that beholds the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life and be resurrected by Jesus at the last day.

* Ask—In John 6:40, The New World Translation renders the Greek present active participle, πιστεύων, as exercises faith, but in John 6:47, The New World Translation renders the same present active participle, πιστεύων, as believes. Is there a difference between exercises faith and believes? Most Jehovah Witnesses will argue that only an active continuous faith is true faith. Therefore. the translation, exercises faith merely expresses the importance of active continuous faith.

* Ask—If faith must be active and continuous, how long must a person continue exercising faith in him in order to have what Jesus promises, everlasting life? What happens if a person becomes unbelieving or ceases to act upon what he or she believes? Most Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that the person loses everlasting life.

* Ask—How can a person lose life that Jesus promises is everlasting? Can a person lose everlasting life even after he is resurrected at the last day?

* Ask—Is there another way to understand believing? To believe is to be convinced something is true. A person’s actions should follow his of her convictions, but they do not always do so. The believer who has an active, continuous faith in Jesus enjoys an abundance of life (John 10:10) both now and into eternity; he or she is a friend of Jesus, who obeys His commandments (John 14:14); on the other hand, there is no guarantee of an active, continuous faith. Believers can and do at times sin and fail in their fellowship with the Lord (1 John 1:8-10). The moment you and I are convinced a person or promise is true, we have believed in that person or promise.

Reread John 6:40

* Ask—Do you have what Jehovah desires for you, everlasting life? Will Jesus resurrect you at the last day? Believe in Jesus… be convinced Jesus’ promise is true and have what He promises, eternal life and resurrection… now that is good news… now that’s love!

John 11:25-27

Read John 11:25-27 —Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this?” She said to him: “Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world.” (Underlining added)

* Ask what is Jesus asking Martha to believe when He says, “Do you believe this”? The Greek word for this (τοῦτο) is in the neuter and therefore refers to the whole of what Jesus promises her, I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all . The expression exercises faith is a translation of the present indicative participle πιστεύων, the Greek word for believe; a better translation would be believes (see previous discussion on John 6:40).

* Ask what is Martha affirming when she says: “Yes, Lord; I have believed that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming into the world”? Martha is convinced that His promise of resurrection and everlasting life is true. To be the resurrection and the life is to be the Christ, the Son of God. The moment we believe Jehovah’s witness about His Son that He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:30-31), we know for sure we have the very thing only God, Himself, can give us, everlasting life or life by means of His name (John 20:31)… now that’s love!

* Ask—do you believe like Martha that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? What do you have? The one who believes has Jesus’ promise of a future glorified resurrection body and everlasting life that begins at the moment of believing His promise. And, like Martha, we have peace knowing that though we may die, we shall live, and living, we shall never die… now that is good news!