Short answer: Jehovah’s Witness beliefs about Jesus
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was a perfect man and the first creation of God. They deny his deity, literal resurrection, and bodily return to earth. Instead, they teach he returned invisibly in 1914 and is ruling as king from heaven until Armageddon.
How do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe in Jesus? A Step-by-Step Guide
Jehovah’s Witnesses are a religious denomination that has often been associated with the denial of Jesus Christ’s divinity. This association is largely because they reject mainstream Christian beliefs about the Trinity and salvation through faith alone, among other things.
However, it is important to note that Jehovah’s Witnesses do believe in Jesus as a significant figure in God’s plan of salvation. In fact, their teachings center around him and his role in bringing humanity back into a relationship with God.
So how exactly do Jehovah’s Witnesses understand who Jesus is and what he accomplished? Here are some key points:
Step 1: Understanding the Nature of Jesus
One of the main differences between Jehovah’s Witness theology and traditional Christianity centers on how they view the nature of Jesus. According to them, Jesus was not divine but rather an appointed representative sent by God to accomplish specific tasks.
They teach that before coming to earth as a human being, Jesus existed as Michael the Archangel – one of God’s first creations. By taking on human form through Mary (his virgin mother), he submitted himself fully to God and willingly became obedient even unto death [Philippians 2:6-8].
Step 2: Acknowledging His Role in Redemption
Despite this understanding of his nature, Jehovah’s Witnesses still believe that Jesus plays a critical role in securing our redemption from sin and death [Matthew 20:28]. They believe that his sacrifice on the cross served as a ransom for humanity, making it possible for us to be reconciled with our Creator if we accept him as Savior.
This belief sets them apart from many non-Christian religions which deny both Original Sin & Atonement theories altogether such as Buddhism or Jainism while Judaism only acknowledges forgiveness outside those aforementioned debates’ parameters.
Step 3: Following His Example
In addition to acknowledging his redemptive work on our behalf, Jehovah’s Witnesses also strive to follow Christ’s example throughout their lives. They teach that Jesus’ life serves as a paradigm for how we should act in this world – putting God’s Kingdom first, treating others with compassion and mercy, and seeking to share the good news of his kingdom with those who are willing to listen [Matthew 6:33].
They believe Christ’s teachings can be best applied by following Witnesses’ own guide for human behavior sourced from their reference materials called Watchtower & Awake! (Publications often Misunderstood or Critiqued).
Step 4: Accepting His Lordship
Finally – what truly sets Jehovah’s Witnesses apart is the faith they put into practice by adherent worshipers. They believe that while Jesus may not be divine in an orthodox sense, he still deserves our complete obedience and submission.
For example- only through Him do they perceive salvation possible; according to them forgiveness should come only after committing oneself completely believing Him both externally & internally thereby disassociating themselves from worldly beliefs & practices like holidays or politics which taints it leading followers towards hellfire.
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FAQ on Jehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs about Jesus: The Most Asked Questions
As a Jehovah’s Witness, you might have experienced some questions about their beliefs about Jesus Christ, especially from those outside of the faith who may not understand. Perhaps someone has asked you if Jehovah’s Witnesses believe in Jesus or whether they view him as simply another religious figure.
To help clear up any confusion and answer some of the most commonly asked questions, we’ve put together this FAQ on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ beliefs about Jesus:
1. Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe in Jesus?
Yes, absolutely! They regard Jesus Christ as the central figure of Christianity and acknowledge that he is the Son of God. As stated on their official website: “We accept his sacrificial death as payment for our sins; we thus look to him alone for salvation.”
2. How do Jehovah’s Witnesses View Jesus Compared to Other Religious Figures?
Whereas many other religions see Jesus Christ only as a prophet or great teacher, Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize him as much more than that – He holds a very high position: According to Matthew 28:18-20 “All authority… I have been given” it is said by none other than Christ himself referring to his Authority being relative only unto ‘God’ representing Him exclusively since all things were created through His hands (John 1:3).
3. What are Some Key Beliefs That Set JW Apart From Mainstream Christians regarding Lord-Jesus?
One major point where JW differs with mainstream Christian sects comes down specifically when it pertains to the deity issue concerning our Savior with regards such terms used such as Trinity & “Three Persons united in one Godhead.” The JWs firmly deny these claims via scripture noticing “the Bible never uses words like triune or trinity”. In believing so adherents maintain that there exists no scriptural evidence which proves that our Lord was/is coequal – living forevermore alongside an omnipresent national force we have come refer to as ‘GOD’.
4. What Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Believe About Jesus’ Death and Resurrection?
As mentioned, they believe that Jesus died to pay the penalty for human sin but was resurrected on the third day by God to show his power over death itself. However, while mainstream Christians celebrate Easter as marking this event with a pagan festival name “Eostre” and symbols referring back old mythologies such as Eggs being dyed in various colours each year showing signs of fertility –Jehovah’s witnesses moreover remember the resurrection annually during their Passover celebration which occurs after sundown at Nissan 14 (the start of lunar month) once every calendar/tropical year.
In conclusion, it is clear that Jehovah’s Witnesses truly do believe in Jesus Christ, viewing him as more than just another religious figure or teacher in history. They recognize him as the Son of God who died sacrificially for our sins and rose again to conquer death itself – maintaining these tenets concerning Lord-Jesus strictly based upon scriptural references alone rather so a creed established down through years since Councils long-last forgotten about today
Dissecting the Myths and Misconceptions: Fact-Checking Jehovah’s Witnesses Beliefs About Jesus
As one of the fastest-growing religions in the world, Jehovah’s Witnesses attract a lot of attention. And with their unique beliefs about Jesus, there are plenty of myths and misconceptions out there.
So, let’s do some fact-checking and dive into the truth behind what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe about Jesus.
Myth #1: Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t think Jesus is God
This is technically true! According to their beliefs, Jesus isn’t part of the Trinity and he wasn’t “God in human form.” However, that doesn’t mean they don’t believe he was divine.
Jehovah’s Witnesses view Jesus as a powerful spirit creature who stood at God’s right hand before being sent down to Earth to die for our sins. They also believe that through his resurrection and ascension back to Heaven, he became king over all creation.
So while they may not see him as equal to God in every way, they still hold him in very high regard and consider him worthy of worship.
Myth #2: Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus rose bodily from the dead
Again, this one actually has a grain of truth to it. While most Christians think of Easter as celebrating Christ rising physically from the grave after three days (also known as “the Resurrection”), JW doctrine holds that only his spirit returned from death — leaving behind an empty physical shell.
But wait — before you start questioning their commitment or imagining them peering intently at empty tombs like Scooby-Doo detectives looking for proof crooks were inside — understand why this difference matters so much within Witness theology:
They argue that believing in a literal body-resurrection perpetuates ideas similar to ancient Greek philosophies where spirits are trapped within bodies on earth (‘prisons’ – like Plato wrote) which leads people away from loving spiritual things rather than just materialistic ones… A belief woven throughout scripture & directly quoted by Apostle Paul (Eph 2:1-3).
So, they wouldn’t say that Jesus never came back to life — just that his return was in a different form than we might typically imagine.
Myth #3: Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t think it’s necessary to believe in Jesus for salvation
This one is completely false. In fact, you could argue that JW beliefs about the importance of faith in Jesus are even stronger than many other Christian denominations.
According to Witness doctrine, it’s impossible to achieve salvation without accepting and following Christ as your savior. While they do place an emphasis on good works and “faithful endurance” rather than the idea of a single moment of repentance & acceptance – JWs view having faith in Jesus as absolutely essential for achieving eternal life.
Furthermore, given their urgent evangelism & preaching work (engaging neighbors or taking literature), bringing others into this belief marks huge part of how active Witnesses will attempt exemplify love / gratitude toward God on their own personal journeys… not least because failure or lackluster display can mean condemnation by them.
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