[Evangelist]

ii-If Jesus is a god, then doesn't that mean there are two gods? They often answer, “Yes. But Jesus is not the Almighty God, He is only the mighty god. And besides, there are those in the Bible who are called gods but really aren't.”
But, in Isaiah 10:21, God is called the Mighty God. So if Jesus is not the Almighty God and only the mighty God, then that makes Jesus God since GOD is called the mighty God.

iii-The problem with this is that every God besides Jehovah is a false God. God says to have no other God before Him (Exodus 20:3) because they are not by nature gods (Gal. 4:8).
But, there are those who are called gods such as Exodus 7:1 where God says to Moses, “See, I make you as God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet,” (NASB). God is not, of course, making Moses a god, but He is saying that Moses will exhibit the power of God. But Jesus is not said to be God in the same sense as Moses was said to be “as” God.

B-Col. 1:15: Is used by the Jehovah's Witnesses to say that Jesus is the first created thing. This verse says, “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

i-The Jehovah's Witnesses maintain that “firsttborn” means first created. This cannot be the case because…

a-There is a Greek word for “first created” and it is not used here.

b-“First born” is proto, “first,” with tikto “to bring forth, bear, produce.”

c-There is no word used in the New Testament for “first created.” However, if there were, the construction would be proto, “first,” with ktizo “to create.” And this is not the construction used in Col. 1:1

ii-Firstborn can certainly mean the first one born in a family. However, it can also mean preeminence. For example:

a-In Jeremiah 31:9, the firstborn title is attributed to one of the tribes of northern Israel. “They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.”

iii-Understanding biblical culture is important when interpreting Scripture. Firstborn was a title, not only of the first born male, but also of preeminence which is precisely what is occurring when it is said that Jesus is the firstborn.

3-Col. 1:15-17 in the Jehovah's Witness Bible has an addition of four words. Their version reads, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,” (Their word “[other]” is in their Bible with the brackets. They maintain that they know it isn't in the original Greek Scriptures but the word is implied and should be there.)

A- Instead of refuting the bad translation, simply ask them if this means that Jesus created everything. They will say yes. Review this and be very clear and get them to admit that it was Jesus who created everything. Then turn to…

i-Isaiah 44:24 “This is what the LORD says -your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.”

ii-If Jesus created everything, then why does it say that the Lord (Jehovah in the Hebrew) did it by Himself?

iii-The only answer is that Jehovah is not simply the name of the Father, but that it is the name of God the Trinity. Therefore, since Jesus is God in flesh, it could be said that Jesus created all things and that Jehovah did it alone.

B-You can also ask them to try to read the section of verses and omit the word “other”. You will find it to be an interesting experience.

4-John 8:58 in the Jehovah's Witness Bible says, “…Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.”

A-They have translated the present tense ego eimi, in the Greek, into the perfect tense, I have been. Though this can be done rarely in the New Testament, it is not correct here because Jesus was quoting the O.T. verse of Exodus 3:14 where God was telling Moses who He was: “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.”'” Jesus was purposely using the divine title: I AM.

B-The Jehovah's Witness won't agree. So ask him if Jesus was saying that He “had been” before Abraham, then why does it say in the next verse that the Jews pick up stones to kill him?

C-Additionally, about 250 years the Jews translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. It is called the Septuagint, also known as LXX. In the Septuagint Exodus 3:14 is translated in the Greek in a present tense, i.e., I AM… The correct translation is, therefore, “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

D-If this verse should really be translated as “I have been” then why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? The answer is simple: They knew He was claiming to be God, see the next example.

5-John 10:30-34 is a section of verses where the Pharisees say that Jesus is making Himself out to be God (v. 33).

A-“I and the Father are one.” Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

B-You can say, “See, even the Jews knew He was claiming to be God. The Jehovah's Witness (if he's quick enough) will say something like, “Jesus wasn't God, the Jew's only thought that Jesus was claiming to be God.” Then you can say, “Oh, I see. Then let me get this right. You agree with the Pharisees, Jesus wasn't God? Is that correct? The Jehovah's Witness will not like it that he agrees with a Pharisee.

6-Plurality in the Godhead

A-The following group of scriptures strongly suggests a plurality within the Godhead. These verses are translated correctly in the Jehovah's Witness Bible so you can encourage them to use it. The NIV is not as literal in its translation in the Amos verses, so I recommend using either the King James or the New American Standard Bible when doing your own.

i-Gen. 1:26, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . . “

a-They will say that angels are the ones who helped God make man. However, there is no scriptural evidence for that. God is the only creator.

b-You can also take him to Col. 1:15-17 where it says that Jesus is the creator of all things–including man.

ii- Gen. 19:24, “Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.”

a-Is this saying there are two Lords, two Jehovah's?

iii-Amos 4:10-11, “‘I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, and I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; yet you have not returned to Me,' declares the LORD. ‘I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah . . . '”
a-Jehovah is the one talking and He says, “I overthrew you as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah…” Very interesting.

iv-Isaiah 44:6, “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides me . . . ‘” See also, Isaiah 48:1

v-If you are reading these verses to a Jehovah's Witness he might say something like, “Are you trying to show the Trinity from these verses?” You can then say, “You got the Trinity out of these? That's very interesting.”

vi-These verses and others are more fully developed in The Plurality Study, which is a powerful tool for witnessing to the Witnesses.

7- John 20:25 says, “The other disciples therefore were saying to him, ‘We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, ‘Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe'” (NASB).

A-The Jehovah's Witnesses deny that Jesus was crucified on a cross. They say it happened on a torture stake where His wrists were put together over His head and a single nail was put through both. If that is true, then why does Thomas say “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails…” In the Greek the word used here for “nails”, helos, is in the plural. Therefore, there was more than one nail used in the hands of the crucifixion of Christ.

8-First and Last

A-How many firsts and lasts are there? In the Bible God is called the first and last and so is Jesus. Since God says there is no God apart from Him and Jesus and God are both addressed by the same title, then that poses a problem for the Jehovah's Witness.

i-Isaiah 44:6, “This is what the LORD says -Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.”

ii-Revelation 1:8, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

iii-Revelation 1:17-18, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

a-Obviously, Rev. 1:17-18 can only refer to Jesus.

iv-Revelation 22:12-13, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

a-Here, both the “Alpha and the Omega” and the “First and the Last” are said to be one and the same.

b-Also, at this point go to Titus 2:13 where it says that Jesus is the one who is coming soon, therefore, Jesus and Jehovah are the same.

9-The Holy Spirit

A-Jehovah's Witnesses teach that the Holy Spirit is an active force like radar. They deny that He is alive, that He is a person. This is, of course, because they deny the Trinity. Yet, if the Holy Spirit is simply a force then…

i-Why is He called God (Acts 5:3-5)?

ii-How is it that He can teach (John 14:26)?

iii-How can He be blasphemed (Matt. 12:31,32)?

iv-How can be the one who comforts (Acts 9:31)?

v-How is it possible for Him to speak (Acts 28:25)?

vi-How then can He be resisted (Acts 7:51)?

vii-How can He be grieved (Eph. 4:30)?

viii-How can He help us in our weaknesses (Rom. 8:26)?

B-If the Holy Spirit is a force, then how is it possible that the above mentioned phenomena are attributed to Him? A force doesn't speak, teach, comfort, etc.

C-Nor can you blaspheme against a force.

10-The Resurrection of Jesus

A-The Jehovah's Witnesses deny the physical resurrection of Jesus. They say that if the sacrifice of Jesus were real then the body had to stay in the grave. They say that He rose in a spirit body. This body was a manifestation similar to the way angels manifested themselves in the Old Testament.

i-The problem with their view is that the angels were not incarnated. Jesus became a man by birth, therefore, He had a real, physical body, a permanent body. In fact, right now, Jesus is in heaven in the form of a man. He still has two natures, God and man, and will eternally be that.

B-For scriptural proof of Jesus being raised in the same body He died in, consider the following verses.

i-In John 2:19-22 before the crucifixion Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up…He was speaking of the temple of His body.” Since Jesus said He would raise the same body He died in, then it must be true.

a-This last verse is worth focusing on. Remember, Jesus said He would be the one to raise His body. So, it must be true.

ii-John 20:27 -(to Thomas) “reach your finger…and put it into My side…”

a-If Jesus were not raised from the dead, then why did He have a physical body.

b-They will reply that it was a temporary body materialized so the apostles would believe that He was raised. Yet, this is not what Jesus said in John 2:19-22. He said He would raise His very body.

iii-Luke 24:39 – “a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

a-Jesus said that He had “flesh and bones” not “flesh and blood.” This is important because flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 15:50). The blood of Jesus was the sacrifice for sin (Rom. 5:9). It is the blood that cleanses us of our sin (Heb. 9:22).

b-The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross and so, most probably, Jesus doesn't have any functioning blood in His body.

11-Similarities between the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Pharisees:

A-Both deny the Trinity and the Deity of Christ

B-Both deny the physical resurrection of Christ and salvation by grace alone.

The True Jesus

There is a simple way to see if someone has the true Jesus or not. By true Jesus, I mean the one of the Bible, not the one of Mormonism who is the brother of the devil, nor the Jehovah's Witness Jesus who is Michael the Archangel, and certainly not the one of the New Age Movement who is simply a man in tune with the divine consciousness.

The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to (Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 116:4 and Zech. 13:9 with 1 Cor. 1:1-2).
The Jesus of the Bible is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6)
The Jesus of the Bible called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8).
In cult theologies, Jesus is a creation in one form or another (this is why the Jehovah's Witnesses add the word ‘other' four times to Col. 1:16- 17). Therefore, He is not to be prayed to, worshiped, or called God.
If you are a Christian then you will be able to pray to Jesus, not just through. You will be able to worship Jesus equally with the Father. And you will be able to call Jesus your Lord and God. A cultist cannot do this. A cultist has a false Jesus, and, therefore, a false hope of salvation.

The following is an expansion of the above points

If you put your faith in a Jesus that is not true, then your faith is useless. The power of faith does not rest in the act of believing, but in its object; the greatest faith in someone false is the same as no faith at all. Sincerity and false messiahs do not bridge the chasm of sin between God and man, only the Jesus of the Bible does that. Who then, is the true Jesus?
Jesus said that He was the only One who reveals the Father (Matt. 11:27 and Luke 10:22): “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (NIV).
So, to know the true Father you must first know the true Jesus. The question is, how do you recognize the true Jesus? Simple, look in the Bible.
If you were to say, “Father receive my spirit,” who would you be praying to? The Father, right?
If you were to say, “Jesus receive my spirit,” who would you be praying to? Jesus.
In Acts 7:59, Stephen, while full of the Holy Spirit (v. 55), prayed to Jesus:

And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (See also Acts 9:14; Rom. 10:13.)

(In Mormonism, in 3 Nephi 19:18 Jesus is prayed to and called Lord and God. This is useful to mention to a Mormon when necessary.)

Stephen prayed to Jesus, not just through Him. If it is acceptable for him then it should be alright for you. The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to. I pray to Jesus. Do you? If yes, good. If not, why?
But you might say, “Jesus said to pray to the Father.” I do. But I also pray to Jesus as Stephen did. If the church is only to pray to the Father then why did Stephen, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, address Jesus in His prayer? Was he wrong? See also 1 Cor. 1:1-2 with Psalm 116:4 where calling upon the name of the Lord is prayer and prayer is addressed to Jesus by the Corinthian church.

Jesus was also worshipped. The verses are:

And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God's son! (Matt. 14:33).
And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him (Matt. 28:9).
See also Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6.

The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to and worshiped. Do you do what Jesus' disciples did? Do you pray to and worship the true Jesus?
Since it is against Mormon and Jehovah's Witness theologies to pray to Jesus but only through if you do worship Jesus, how can you do that without praying to Him? And, do you honor Him equally with the Father as Jesus said to do in John 5:23? If you do not, then why not?
There is just one more issue to address. Do you call Jesus your Lord and God?
After Jesus' resurrection He showed Himself to many people. One of them was Thomas. John 20:28:

Thomas answered and said to Him [Jesus], “My Lord and my God!” The literal Greek says, “The Lord of me and the God of me.”

(In Mormonism, in 3 Nephi 19:18 Jesus is prayed to and called Lord and God. This is useful to mention to a Mormon when necessary.)

“My God!” is a pagan expression used today. Two points can be made from this. First, do you agree that Thomas a devout Jew was swearing, like a pagan of today? Second, there is no biblical account of swear words. Peter did swear in Mark 14:71 by swearing he did not know Jesus. To say Thomas was swearing, or merely exclaiming profound surprise has no evidence.

God calls Jesus God in Heb. 1:8:

But of the Son He [the Father] says, “Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever…”

Unfortunately, in the Jehovah's Witness Bible in Heb. 1:8 you'll see that it says, “God is your throne, forever and ever.” This, technically speaking, is a legitimate translation. The reason this is so lies in the nature of the Greek language and the fact that the form of the word “God” and “Throne” both end in a noun construction that is interchangeable, therefore making the NWT translation legitimate. It is unfortunate that the Watchtower has chosen to do this. Nevertheless, if you'd like to read more about this, then go to The Jehovah's Witnesses and Heb. 1:8 and Psalm 45:6.

Conclusion:

The Jesus of the Bible is prayed to (Acts 7:55-60; Psalm 116:4 and Zech. 13:9 with 1 Cor. 1:1-2), worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33; 28:9; John 9:35-38; Heb. 1:6), and called Lord and God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8). If I have the wrong Jesus, and therefore I serve the wrong God, then why do I pray to Jesus, worship Him, and call Him my Lord and God as the Scriptures teach? But, if you have the true Jesus, why is it you don't do those things? Why does JW theology not agree with the scriptures?
I think the answer is simple. The Jesus of the cults is not the true Jesus. Therefore, they are wrong.

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