WELCOME

     This article was written in responds to a visit that Bro. Jon. Leslie had with a Jehovah Witness.

 

     For the next few minutes I would ask that you would keep an open mind to the ideas or views that I bring.  I have taken what your brochures had to say, and by them I put my beliefs and understanding of the Bible to the test.  In the following pages you see where I had some disagreements with your beliefs.  I agree that you can not find trinity in the Bible.  I myself do not believe that Jesus Christ and Jehovah and the Holy Spirit are co-equal Gods, but in fact I find all of them in one superpower or God.  So, the biggest thing that I see that we disagree on is "who is the Almighty God?"  I know by talking with those that believe that Jehovah is God Almighty.  And that Jesus Christ was nothing more than a helper to Jehovah.  Much like a prophet or an angel is to God, or some will say that he is God the son, and not the Almighty.  I hope that the following pages can give some understanding on how I believe.

 

Key

• Words written in RED are taken out of a publication called: (You can live forever in Paradise on Earth)

• Anytime I speak of God I refer to the only true God of the universe.

• All scriptures that I give are from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Jesus Never Claimed to Be God

(From the book "You can live forever in Paradise on Earth" page 39 paragraph 15)

 "Well, did Jesus ever say that he was God? No, he never did. Rather, in the Bible he is called "God's son."

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     I would like to start off with this statement.  The reader is to understand that just because he didn't say that he was God, we are to believe that he isn't God.  I would like for you to look at the following scripture.

 

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

      

    According to your statement that would mean that this child that was born unto us was not Jesus Christ but some other that the Bible does not tell.  So, I ask the question who is this verse referring too? 

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"But isn't Jesus called a god in the Bible?" some-one may ask. This is true.  Yet satan is also called a god. (2 Cor.4:4)  (page 40, paragraph 16)

 

   I would like for you to notice the spelling of the word god.  In Isaiah 9:6 the word God is spelled with a capital "G".  In the scripture that you provided, the spelling of god is with a lower case "g".  You may say that there isn’t any deference's in the spelling.  But notice that in the scriptures that when the word "god" refers to a demon or satan or any false idol it is always spelled with a lower case "g".  So, with that said why is Isaiah 9:6 spelled with a Big "G" God?  There must be something special about him.  Would you not agree? 

         

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

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     When we look closer at this verse it brings out that this child is a mighty God.  Now, I know that when anyone brings this up to you, you will say, "See, his not the Almighty God, but just some little mighty God."  I would like for you to explain the following verse.

 

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

     The question is who is this verse referring to?  Now, you might say that it does not say Almighty God.  Look at the definitions of the two words.       

• Almighty means:  All powerful (American Heritage Dictionary)

• Mighty means:  Having great power or imposing or awesome. (A H D) 

 

     The answer to my question is found in the following verses.

Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

 

Revelation 1:17-18

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

 

     Through these verses you should be able to see that they are referring to Jesus Christ.  So, why is Jesus Christ saying that he is the Almighty?  Remember that the person that is Almighty has all power and there is none that is stronger.  So, what happened to the fathers' all-mightiness?  Here is a problem with your argument.  If you say that Jesus was only mighty but not almighty trying to show a higher level of mightiness then here is some verses that you might want to consider.

 

Isaiah 10:20-21

20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth./

21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God.

 

Psalms 50:1 The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof

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Jeremiah 32:18 Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

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"However, when this Bible translates God's name by the title "Lord" or "God," it always puts this title in capital letters, 

"LORD" and "GOD."  (page 42, paragraph 19)

 

      Although it is true that I can not find in the scripture where Jesus Christ was ever called the Almighty God.  But I can find where JEHOVAH (or LORD) is considered the mighty God.  (Genesis 49:24, Deuteronomy 7:2, Psalms 132:2, 5, Habakkuk 1:12)  So, this brings us back to the original question found in Isaiah 9:6. Who is the mighty God in this verse?  Jesus Christ or Jehovah?  Just by what we have seen there must be a problem with the Bible if your beliefs are correct.

 

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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      The next question that I had was, "Who created the heavens and the earth and everything in it?"  According to your book it says that the Almighty God did, or Jehovah.

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This universe, including the many forms of life on earth, is so much more complicated than a meat chopper.  If such a machine requires a skilled maker, we can be certain that an Almighty God was needed to create all things.  Should not the credit go to him for what he has done? 

Revelation 4:11; Acts 14:15-17; 17:24-26 (page 36, paragraph 5)

 

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

Acts 14:15-17

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

 

Acts 17:24-26

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

 

     All three passages of scripture are very good at showing that God was in fact the one who created all things.  And for this I agree.  In the scriptures that you provided it would seem that Jehovah was the only true creator.  And you use the scripture found in Revelation 4:11 to show this.  Please look at the following scriptures that prove that Jesus Christ and Jehovah are the same.  The first scripture that I want for you to look at is:

 

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

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Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

 

Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

 

Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

      By looking at these verses we see that the one that John spoke with is the Alpha and the Omega the first and the last.  We also see that this person is the which is, and which was, and which is to come.  And we find in Revelation 4:8, that the one that receives the glory and Honor is the Lord God Almighty.  This all, according to your belief would point to Jehovah.  But I ask for you to look at the following verse:

 

Revelation 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

 

      This is the question that I had, "When did Jehovah ever die and then become alive?"  The answer is, "He never did."  But I find that Jesus Christ died and rose from the grave.  The person that is speaking in Revelation 2:8 has to be Jesus Christ, the first and the last.  And we know that by Revelation 1:11 that this person is also called the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.  Looking at Revelation 1:8 we find that he is also called the which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.   And finally we find that Jesus Christ is the one that gives the Grace and Peace unto the seven churches of Asia.  So, I ask the same question, who is the one that made the heavens and the earth?  When I look thru the Bible I find that Jesus Christ is the one who created all things.

 

John 1:1-3, 9-11

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

     Out of the publication "Should you believe in the Trinity?" I found where you describe these verses:

 

So John 1:1 highlights the quality of the Word, that he was "divine," "godlike," "a god," but not the Almighty God.  This harmonizes with the rest of the Bible, which shows that Jesus, here called "the Word" in his role as God's Spokesman, was an obedient subordinate sent to earth by his Superior, Almighty God.

(page 26, article "the word was God")

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At John 1:1 there are two occurrences of the Greek noun the·os' (god). The first occurrence refers to Almighty God, with whom the Word was ("and the Word [lo'gos] was with God [a form of the·os']"). This first the·os' is preceded by the word ton (the), a form of the Greek definite article that points to a distinct identity, in this case Almighty God ("and the Word was with [the] God").  (page 27, article "the word was God")

 

      If your beliefs are correct than according to you Jesus Christ was the word and Jehovah was the Almighty God.  Then this would mean that the word made the Heavens and the earth and not Jehovah. Because Jehovah never came unto his own, or never came in this world.  Only, according to you, the son of God came down to his own, and was never received.  Also, we see that in verse 9 talks about the light.  This true light we find is Jesus Christ.  And this is the same person that is found in verse 10.  So, then it brings me back to who made the heavens and the earth? 

 

Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

According to your beliefs than Jehovah must have been telling us a lie if the son was consider a God also. 

 

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

     Notice that the verse says that in "heaven" there are three that bear record.  The Father (which you say is Jehovah), The Word (which you say is the son, Jesus Christ), and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.  This is very plain to see.  The verse does not say that they agree in one but says that they are one.  This lets me know that Jesus Christ and the Father are one and the same.    

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     When I had talked with some of your people I had asked them if they believed in baptism.  They were very proud to say that they did, and I was pleased to hear that you do.  I also, believe that a person must be baptized to wash away the past sins of our life.  By doing so we follow the example that Jesus Christ set down for us, as he was baptized.    But I wonder on what verse you base your beliefs on.  When I look in the world I find that there are many people that baptize just like we do, in water.  The only difference in baptisms is what name they baptize them in.  Most religion that I have read about follow the scripture found in Matthew 28:19.  And I would assume that this verse would be the one verse that you would use also, because the Father is found in it.

 

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen

 

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

     Looking at these verses I find that Jesus gives his disciples a commandment to go out teaching people and to baptize them.  In the past few years the question that I have asked was, "why did Peter not tell the people to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost like he was commanded?"  Did satan play a part in this deception or did peter and the other disciples know that Jesus Christ is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

     Let’s look at the commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples.  Notice that in Matt. 28:19, Jesus says, “baptizing them in the name” Why didn't he say names if Jehovah is the father and Jesus Christ is the Son.  The word "name" is singular. 

 

Singular means: Being only one; individual (American Heritage Dictionary)

         

     The reason that Peter and the other disciples preached what they preached was because their understanding had been open to the scriptures.  They knew that Jesus Christ is the Father, the son, and the Holy Ghost.  Let’s look at what Luke’s account of the same commandment that Matthew wrote about.

 

Luke 24:44-47

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

     When Jesus Christ gave the commandments found in Matthew he left out some other important information.  So, thank God for Luke.  If our understanding has not been opened to the scriptures than this is nothing more than a mystery.  You see when the disciples baptized anyone in the name of Jesus Christ they fulfilled the scripture found in Matthew 28:19.  Because the name of the Father is Jesus Christ. 

 

John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

 

     If the Father's name is Jehovah then why did the "son of Jehovah" or “God the son" come in the name of Jesus Christ?  Would you agree that he should have come in Jehovah if it wasn't God himself?  In Isaiah 9:6 said that this child that was born was going to be called the everlasting Father.  Who is this everlasting father that was spoken about in this verse?  If you agree that Jesus Christ was spoken of in this verse, than he must be also, Jehovah. 

 

Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

 

     The only way that you can disprove this is by saying that there are two everlasting fathers.  Then the question is which father is which?  Or, you will say that Jesus Christ never said that he was the everlasting God.  But the scripture tells us that this would be a mystery but was revealed unto us through Jesus Christ.

 

Romans 16:25-27

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen

 

     Another set of scriptures that proves that Jesus Christ and the father are the same is found in John 14:5-7.

 

John 14:5-7

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 

     When did Thomas ever see the Father?  The only time that Thomas had seen the father was when he looked at Jesus Christ.  By looking into brochures that I had received from you they try to explain this by saying that Jesus Christ and the Father were in agreement with each other.  But look at what Philip ask Jesus Christ.

 

John 14:8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

 

     Philip asks the very same question that we find ourselves asking today.  Show us the Father.  What was Jesus Christ’s responds to this question.  When you seen me you have seen the father.

 

John 14:9-11

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

 

     Jesus comes out very clearly and states that when you have seen him you have seen the Father.  Was he trying to say that he believed in the same things or was Jesus Christ clearly saying that he is Jehovah?   Look at the world around us, just because you have seen me and even know my personality, does this mean that you would know who my father if he was to pass you by on the street?  No.  But this is how you explain this verse. 

    We must understand the time that Jesus Christ was walking upon the earth.  If any person would have came out and said that they were Jehovah, then that person would have been taken out and stoned.  This is why God came to them in a different name.  Just like when God came to Abraham, Isaac, and unto Jacob by the name of Almighty God, and then came to the Moses as Jehovah. (Exodus 6:3)  If God would have came to Abraham, or Isaac, or even Jacob by any other name except for Almighty God they would not have received him.  In the Old Testament Jehovah came unto his servants by many different names.

 

Exodus 3:13-14

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 

Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  (or Jehovah-tsidkenu) (Smith Bible dictionary)

 

     So in conclusion I find that Jesus Christ and Jehovah is in fact the same person.  I also, see that in the Old Testament God came to his people by different names, but when He came down in the flesh He was always called Jesus Christ.  In Isaiah 7:14 it reads:

 

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

         

And the word Immanuel or Emmanuel means: God with us. And with no doubt that this person is Jesus Christ.

 

If there are any questions that you would like to ask, feel free to write. 

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The Church of Jesus Christ

2797 Bryant Street

Portage, Indiana 46368

Phone: (219) 763-1049

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