Jehovah Witnesses: Do you believe there is no guarantees for salvation?

Question

Judging by the answers I've read, it seems that Jehovah Witnesses believe that you must be saved and do good works for salvation, BUT this may not be enough (that God still may not remember you). Is there no way to know for sure?

If this is how you believe, please give Biblical references for why you believe this way. Thanks.

To non-Witnesses: Please be kind in your responses.

Answer 1

Not exactly, we believe that of course God remembers all our good works, but that once saved is not always saved.
See we are taught that you cannot sit back on your laurels...so to speak...
We believe that we must continue to show our faith through our acts.
Jude 5: I desire to remind you , though you were once fully informed, that He who saved a people out of Egypt, after destroyed those who did not believe.
Matthew:24:13 He who endures to the END will be saved.
(This showes it is not the START of FAITH IN JESUS, but enduring faith to our death)

Phillipians.2:12 As you have obeyed, so now, not only as in My presents, but much more in My absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Paul addresses this to the early Holy Christians not to be over confident but to realize their final salvation was not yet assured.

See if I claimed to have faith in Jesus, and the ransome sacrifice, but did not try to share this with the world, THIS HOPE of redemption, and life. Then I am not full filling what Jesus asked of his followers.
If I clain to have faith in Jesus, and follow those commands, but I think my faithful service will cover the sins of fornication,hate, lying etc. Than I am fooling myself. Truly, it is each ones attemp at all or nothing.
And Jehovah realizes our imperfections, so if we mess up on occassions we are not damned for all time either. If only we keep trying and progressing towards doing His will we are O.K.

Answer 2

As a former "Unbaptized Publisher" (a near JW), I would say they believe that there are no guarantees one will be "saved". One has to remain faithful to the end to get into Paradise, and even after Paradise they still might possibly fall into sin and lose out on eternal life. Unfortunately, the "cult" I am currently in (Church of Christ) makes salvation seem about equally uncertain, and THEY believe in eternal Hellfire! The JW's at least teach the unrepentant sinner will just be snuffed out, as the Bible puts it "be as though they had never been".

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses have been accused of "salvation by works" by people who don't know the real reason we are so active in their door-to-door ministry. At Matt. 28:19, 20: Jesus said: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” This is the work Jesus assigned to his early followers. Jehovah's Witnesses are doing the same work today. Those who accuse us of "salvation by works" have no intention of doing what we are doing. But they deceive themselves into thinking they are still good Christians. They prefer to occasionally go to church and pay a professional clergyman to preach for them.

Mar 13:13 say: "He that endures to the end is the one that will be saved."

Answer 4

My brothers and sisters have been very thorough in explaining our beliefs from the scriptures so I will only add an illustration that may help you to get the point.
A wealthy man's relatives may assume that they will be his heirs. This may or may not be the case. Some of the relatives feel entitled to the inheritance and are certain they will receive it. Again this may or may not be true. Other relatives love the man so much that they would do anything he asked of them, whether they received the wealth or not.

Answer 5

Luk 1:77 You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us,

JWs reject the doctrine of universal salvation and teach that salvation requires faith in Jesus Christ. They believe that salvation is a free gift from God and that Christian works are evidence of their genuine faith; indeed, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:24).

JWs reject the concept "once saved, always saved," believing that salvation will be granted to those who endure faithfully until the end. - (Matthew 10:22)

We must do more than simply hear and believe. The Bible says that we must "become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving [ourselves] with false reasoning."—James 1:22.

Paul never said "Accept Jesus right now, and you will forever be saved." Rather, More than 20 years after Jesus personally chose Paul to carry the Christian message to people of the nations, this hardworking apostle wrote:

"I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow."—1 Corinthians 9:27; Acts 9:5, 6, 15.

Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned.

True Christians are in a saved condition in that they are in an approved position before God. As a group, their salvation is sure. Individually, they must meet God's requirements. However, we can fail, for Jesus said: "If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is cast out as a branch and is dried up."—John 15:6.

Answer 6

We can not guarantee anything... Jehovah God is our final judge. He can read heart and motive. He can also see exactly how we live our lives even when we think no one else sees. We serve God out of love. If we follow what is taught in the bible, give God our heartfelt best and live our lives according to his standards, we are giving ourselves the best chance of salvation... there is nothing to say that you are 100% fool proof if you do this or that... as i said, God is our judge and it is him that we trust. Why wouldnt a god of love reward those serving him properly...of course he will.

Answer 7

In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus Christ addresses spirit-begotten, anointed Christians who were "saved" before God.

Nevertheless, despite their being "saved" he told some of them:

"I know your deeds, and your labor and endurance...and you have borne up for my name's sake and have not grown weary. Nevertheless, I hold this against you, that you have left the love you had at first. Therefore, remember from what you have fallen, and repent and do the former deeds. If you do not, I am coming to you, and I will remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent."

Jesus gives similar messages to other Christians in Revelation. The thought is similar: Unless Christians continue faithful, they can lose out on life. And yes, works or "deeds" are important as byproducts of faith. Works do not save us, but works demonstrate our living faith in the Lord, who himself set the example of both faith and works.

Paul and other New Testament writers also mention the possiblility of losing salvation if we do not continue faithful.

Draw your own conclusion from that.

Answer 8

Side point

Acts 17:. 31 Because he has set a day in which he purposes to 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.”

The only guarantee that Jehovah has provided is that he thru Jesus will resurrect all the faithful.

James said without works faith is dead.

Paul said without Love faith is worthless.

Answer 9

Jehovah shows to us an undeserved kindness. He is offering the gift of life to those who have been faithful to him.

"For GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND LOVE THAT YOU SHOWED FOR HIS NAME, in that you have ministered to the holy ones and continue ministering." -- Hebrews 6:10

"By this undeserved kindness, indeed, you have been saved through faith; and this not owing to you, it is God’s gift." -- Ephesians 2:8

"For “everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.”" -- Romans 10:13

"And you will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved." -- Matthew 10:22

"Indeed, as the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." -- James 2:26


For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1996/2/1/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1996/2/1/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/11/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/11/15/article_02.htm

Answer 10

(Acts 17:31) [Jehovah] has furnished a guarantee to all men in that he has resurrected [Jesus] from the dead.


The Scriptures quite plainly explain that humans can disqualify themselves from receiving everlasting life; it is only the faithful COMPLETION of a life course that assures salvation.

(Zephaniah 2:3) Seek Jehovah, all you meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. PROBABLY you may be concealed in the day of Jehovah's anger. [emphasis added]

(Amos 5:15) Hate what is bad, and love what is good, and give justice a place in the gate. It MAY be that Jehovah the God of armies will show favor [emphasis added]

(Matthew 7:13-14) Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and many are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and few are the ones finding it.

(Matthew 24:13) But he that has endured TO THE END is the one that will be saved. [emphasis added]

(Philippians 2:12) Keep WORKING OUT your own salvation with fear and trembling [emphasis added]

(Hebrews 10:26-27) For if we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment

(Hebrews 5:9) [Jesus] became responsible for everlasting salvation to all those OBEYING him [emphasis added]

(James 2:14,17) Of what benefit is it, my brothers, if a certain one says he has faith but he does not have works? That faith cannot save him, can it? ...17 Thus, too, faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/1996021/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_09.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/dg/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_15.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/index.htm?article=article_04.htm