2. Ready To Give a Defense (1 Pet. 3:15) Answering the Error of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

3. History of the Jehovah’s Witness Began in the 1870s in Allegheny, Pennsylvania by Charles Taze Russell. The Watch Tower Tract Society was formed in 1881 with Charles Russell being named president in 1884. They had spread internationally by 1909. Currently over 700,000 members who go door to door internationally. www.watchtower.org

4. Be Ready to Give a Defense on the Deity of Christ! John 1:1 (New World Translation) - In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. (New World Translation) John 1:1 (NAS) - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Which one stands with the rest of the scriptures? (Ex. 20:3, 34:14, Duet. 4:24, Matt. 4:10)

5. What do the Jehovah’s Witness teach about Christ? “The apostle John too described Jesus as subordinate to God. John said that he had written his Gospel so that readers might come to believe that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of God”—not that he was God. (John 20:31)” “When Paul was in Athens, Greece, he spoke of “the God that made the world and all the things in it.” He said that this God, the “only true God,” will “judge the inhabited earth in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and he has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected him from the dead.” (Acts 17:24, 31) Here the apostle Paul described Jesus as “a man”—yes, lesser than God—whom God had restored to life in heaven.” “Rather than proclaim himself to be God’s Son, Jesus allowed others to reach that conclusion. And even people besides his apostles did so, including John the Baptist and Jesus’ friend Martha. (John 1:29-34; 11:27) These believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah. They learned that he had lived in heaven as a mighty spirit person and that his life had been miraculously transferred by God to the womb of the virgin Mary.—Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23.” “Is Jesus Christ God?”, April 22 2005, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org

6. What do the scriptures teach? Jesus is from everlasting. (John 1:1,14-15) Jesus was made lower than the angels for a time. (Heb. 2:4-8) Jesus is called Immanuel (God with us) (Matt. 1:23) Jesus was worshipped as God. (Matt. 2:11, 14:33, John 5:18, 28:8-10, Acts 10:25-26, 14:11-15)

7. What do the scriptures teach? Jesus recognized himself as deity. (John 8:58, Ex. 3:14, John 14:8-11, 2 Thess. 2:3-4) His disciples recognized Him as deity. (John 20:28, Col. 2:7-9, 1 John 5:20)

8. Be Ready to Give a Defense on the Kingdom of God! “”Is there any realistic hope that the angelic proclamation on the night of Jesus’ birth will ever be fulfilled?” The answer is an emphatic yes! Peace is an essential condition in the outworking of the divine purpose for the earth, which includes the restoration of paradisaic conditions.” “Jesus’ Birth How It Brings Peace”, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org “Praying for God’s Kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth is an expression of faith that will not lead to disappointment.” “What Does the Lord’s Prayer Mean To You”, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org

9. What do the scriptures teach? John the Baptist preached that the Kingdom of God was at hand (Matt. 3:1-3) Jesus said that some of those standing before him would see the Kingdom after it came with power. (Mark 9:1, Acts. 1:8, Acts 2) Must be born of water and the spirit to enter the Kingdom. (John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38-41)

10. Be Ready to Give a Defense on the Immortality of the Soul and Hell! “Jesus is not the only one to receive such a gift. Spirit-anointed Christians chosen to rule as kings in heavenly glory receive the same kind of resurrection that Jesus did. (Romans 6:5) The apostle John shows that this privilege is granted to 144,000 individuals. (Revelation 14:1) They too receive immortality.” “The Bible book of Revelation presents the beautiful scene of an innumerable crowd of people who are granted everlasting life on a paradise earth. Along with them are those who died but who are resurrected and restored to youthful health and vigor.” “Scripturally, death is a state of nonexistence. The dead have no awareness, no feelings, no thoughts.” “Could it be that the fire of hell is symbolic of all-consuming, or thorough, destruction? Separating fire from Hades, or hell, the Scriptures say: "Death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire." "The lake" mentioned here is symbolic, since death and hell (Hades) that are thrown into it cannot literally be burned. "This [lake of fire] means the second death"—death from which there is no hope of coming back to life.—Revelation 20:14.” “Living Forever – Is it possible?”, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org “What has happened to hellfire?”, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org

11. What do the scriptures teach? The earth will be destroyed. (2 Pet. 3:10) All of mankind will be judged. (John 5:28-29) There is life after death. (Luke 16:19-25, 23:42-43, 20:37-38) The wicked will face an eternal punishment in hell. (Matt. 25:41, Mark 9:43-44, Matt. 13:41- 42)

12. Be Ready to Give a Defense on the Plan of Salvation! “It is the baptism itself that publicly identifies you as a person who has made a dedication to God and is now one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Baptism candidates are fully immersed in water to show publicly that they have made a dedication to Jehovah.” “Baptism and Your Relationship With God”, 2005, www.watchtower.orgwww.watchtower.org

13. What do the scriptures teach? Baptism is necessary for salvation! (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Rom. 6:1-6, Col. 2:12-13, 1 Pet. 3:21)

14. Are You Ready For Salvation? Hear the Word of God (Romans 10:17) Believe in Christ (John 8:24) Confess Jesus as Lord and Christ (Romans 10:9) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30) Be baptized for the remission of sins (1 Pet 3:21)