tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post1207003617348088652..comments2023-09-27T05:04:37.119-04:00Comments on THE APOLOGETIC FRONT: Is the Watchtower teaching universalism?Mike Felkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-3010964852061910032010-05-29T04:22:31.978-04:002010-05-29T04:22:31.978-04:00@ anonymous;
Read 2 Cor 5:21, perhaps the most aw...@ anonymous;<br /><br />Read 2 Cor 5:21, perhaps the most awesome verse in the Bible.<br /><br />God does not have to be reconciled to man, because that was accomplished by Christ on the cross. It is sinful man who must be reconciled to God. <br /><br />“Religion” is man’s feeble effort to be reconciled to God, efforts that are bound to fail. The Person who reconciles us to God is Jesus Christ, and the place where He reconciles us is His cross.<br /><br />Another key idea in this verse is imputation. This is a word borrowed from banking; it simply means “to put to one’s account.” When you deposit money in the bank, the computer (or the clerk) puts that amount to your account, or to your credit. <br /><br />When Jesus died on the cross, all of our sins were imputed to Him—put to His account. He was treated by God as though He had actually committed those sins. That includes the sins of Abraham and the thief on the cross.<br /><br />The result? All of those sins have been paid for and God no longer holds them against us, because we have trusted Christ as our Saviour. But even more: God has put to our account the very righteousness of Christ! “For He hath made Him [Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).<br /><br />The Cross epitomized the love of God (John 3:16) and of Christ (John 15:13; Rom. 5:8). The Savior was sinless: He had no sin. He was “without sin” (Heb. 4:15), and “in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). He took on Himself the sin of the world (John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:2). God made Him . . . to be sin for us (cf. Isa. 53:4-6, 10). <br /><br />The sins of the world were placed on Him so that, in turn, His righteousness could be given those who trust Him (Rom. 5:17) and are thus in Him. ***That gift of righteousness is obtainable only by faith*** (Rom. 3:22; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9; Phil. 3:9). Hence it was Abraham's faith that declared him righteous.<br /><br /><b>Can I ask, when was the last time you studied this part of Corinthians at the Kingdom Hall? In all 36 years I was a JW, I don't once remember the Governing Body feeding us on this subject.</b>Mark Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09655109309591784989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-58751769959707505792010-05-29T04:18:03.249-04:002010-05-29T04:18:03.249-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mark Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09655109309591784989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-83465380423458187092010-05-28T17:07:06.433-04:002010-05-28T17:07:06.433-04:00Abraham was declared righteous before Christ and y...Abraham was declared righteous before Christ and yet, he had no thought of who Jesus was. <br /><br />Again, being declared righteous does not mean entrance into Heaven. <br /><br />Even if Jesus did declare the man righteous, justified, he would still have to go somewhere when he died, since he didn't beat Jesus into Heaven. Three days in the grave, 40 days waiting...<br /><br />John 3:5 says he cannot go to Heaven, hence, he is not a holy one, or saint. Therefore, anyone who reasons on the subjuct will see that Acts 24:15 is the most suitable explanation. (Rom 6:7)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-14218184928978706582010-05-27T17:11:49.438-04:002010-05-27T17:11:49.438-04:00Obviously, no one is a "saint" or "...Obviously, no one is a "saint" or "holy one" until they have been declared righteous. Thus, anyone before they are justified, are ungodly and unrighteous. Hence, the reason why Romans 4:5 says that he "justifies the ungodly." The thief on the cross was obviously ungodly, just like anyone else before being born again. And since he believed and did not work, then according to Romans 4:5, he is justified.Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-41037570871566478732010-05-27T17:08:52.903-04:002010-05-27T17:08:52.903-04:00"Anonymous obviously believes that certain wo..."Anonymous obviously believes that certain works on our part are needed to in some way add to Christ's insufficient righteousness." -Mark Hunter<br /><br />Mark Hunter in again with more ignorance (lack of knowledge) with regards Jehovah's Witnesses. Good one.<br /><br />Jesus sacrifice is in no way insufficient.<br /><br />Romans 4:5 is to "the holy ones" or "saints". What point would you like me to address? And what does a verse written "the saints" have to do with the thief?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-40063957268213010702010-05-27T16:30:40.659-04:002010-05-27T16:30:40.659-04:00I brought up Romans 4:5 first. Please address tha...I brought up Romans 4:5 first. Please address that issue first (imputed righteousness, justification, etc.) and i'll gladly respond to John 3:5Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-59164931469912587172010-05-27T15:03:22.740-04:002010-05-27T15:03:22.740-04:00According to Jesus at John 3:5, could the theif ha...According to Jesus at John 3:5, could the theif have entered the Kingdom?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-37352599784366707442010-05-27T14:40:32.926-04:002010-05-27T14:40:32.926-04:00Anonymous, apparently you do not understand anythi...Anonymous, apparently you do not understand anything about imputed righteousness. What does Romans 4:5 say about those who "do not work, but believe?" Do you know what it means to be justified in the biblical sense?Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-33593131622683732192010-05-27T14:37:39.721-04:002010-05-27T14:37:39.721-04:00Actually, the man was not righteous, infact not ba...Actually, the man was not righteous, infact not baptized, therefore he could not enter into the Kingdom. (John 3:5)<br /><br />Jesus could read hearts and perhaps this man had not yet had the chance to learn of Jesus. Hence, the fair, second chance. (Acts 24:15)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-77437210848277016962010-05-27T02:26:36.697-04:002010-05-27T02:26:36.697-04:00Anonymous obviously believes that certain works on...Anonymous obviously believes that certain works on our part are needed to in some way add to Christ's insufficient righteousness. Obviously if Christ had done a good enough job in suffering and dying for the forgiveness of sins then we wouldn't need to be busting our butts making sure we "Keep Ourselves in God's Love".<br /><br />Either that or Luke 23:43 shows that Christ, as judge, can impute his righteousness to whomever he likes.Mark Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09655109309591784989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-46166177791681182692010-05-27T00:32:37.266-04:002010-05-27T00:32:37.266-04:00What makes you think that this man was unrighteous...What makes you think that this man was unrighteous <i>after</i> believing in Christ? Do not those who believe have Christ's righteousness imputed to them (Rom. 4:5)?Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-58420305102054492142010-05-26T22:40:18.166-04:002010-05-26T22:40:18.166-04:00The unrighteous in paradise.The unrighteous in paradise.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-5771524580637779722010-05-26T21:02:00.452-04:002010-05-26T21:02:00.452-04:00And this text is supposed to prove...?And this text is supposed to prove...?Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-90726213351929423922010-05-26T20:56:17.359-04:002010-05-26T20:56:17.359-04:00Luke 23:43Luke 23:43Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-82234698803653882232010-05-26T17:37:34.561-04:002010-05-26T17:37:34.561-04:00But is the the Watchtower not saying that both the...But is the the Watchtower not saying that both the unrighteous and righteous will be resurrected into paradise?Mike Felkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974482615713418707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28227207.post-77890152915944743762010-05-26T16:49:09.779-04:002010-05-26T16:49:09.779-04:00In a word, no.In a word, no.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com