7/11/2021 Being In Very Nature God ~Rev. Bernie Chung

In the United States and around the world, Jehovah’s Witnesses appear to be more enthusiastic and fervent in their missionary work to spread their religious belief than mainstream Christian preachers and missionaries. Jehovah’s Witnesses are known for their active door-to-door witnessing enterprise. Copies of their semi-monthly publication “Awake”, in 80 languages, are widely distributed. This publication helps to equip their believers and to attract non-believers to become members. The other semi-monthly publication is "The Watchtower" in 128 languages. “The Watchtower” guides the members of the Watchtower Bible Society and discerns the doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Both their knock-on-door mission work and printed publications are misguided. The so-called New World Translation version of the Bible they have used has misinterpreted the Bible,

and its adaption is their preconceived strategy is to justify their fundamentally flawed theology.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to accept the opinions of the Watchtower Headquarters. They are discouraged to form their own interpretation of the Bible and are reminded not to question the teaching and advice provided by the Watchtower Organization. Their New World Translation of the Bible of John 1:1 says: “In the beginning there was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” The correct translation “The Word was God” becomes “The Word was a god.” This misleads the Jehovah's Witnesses to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ was created. When referenced to the original text, Greek scholars can point out that the New World Translation Bible translation contains serious mistakes both grammatically and contextually.

To support their heresy, one example is the New World Translation translated Philippians 2:6 as: "although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God.” Even though Christ Jesus has the image of God, he does not force himself to be equal to God. The correct translation of the original text should be: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage” (Philippians 2:6 NIV). Our Lord Jesus did not emphasize that he was equal to the Father. The Lord Jesus definitely did not force Himself to be God’s equal. Brothers and Sisters, Christ chose to obey the Father's redemption plan, humbly "not to consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage,” and fulfilled God's will. In the same manner, we should simply heed the call of our Redeemer, humbly confess our sins and repent, and accept the salvation grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us. We thank the "Word", Jesus Christ, who is God. This is the revelation of John 1:1, because Jesus Christ was the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Our Lord Jesus, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Jesus’ submission to God should be our valuable lesson learned. We should also be weary of false teachings. Amen!