2Cor:13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know your selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?"
How do we determine if we are actually in the true faith if all we look at is the material produced by our own religions?
Plus, for the Witnesses...If Jesus is the Angel Michael, how is he in you?
Cont'd ..."unless you are indeed disqualified," very important!
2007-09-06 08:42:23 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The question is: How do we
make sure that we are in the TRUE faith,if all we do is read the materials that our printed by those who dictate to us what they want us to believe?
Jesus says that we can be Disqualified...that is mportant. dontyathink?
2007-09-06 08:54:48 · update #1
trk...I agree with your comment to a point...but I am asking you not only to examine yourself, but we all should examine our faith and what we are taught...How else are we to be sure of all things, and Worship in spirit and truth? If I buy everything my pastor teaches, then I am neglecting my oblegation to God to keep examining myself as to whether i am being deceived by the very minister that I alow to guide me.
2007-09-06 09:07:11 · update #2
Thank you all for your answers..I appreciate a good christian discussion..this is nice.
2007-09-06 16:10:28 · update #3
Thanks for pointing out a sobering Scripture. It's one of my many favorites.
The book of 1 John tells us how to test ourselves. We can't trust our own hearts because they are wicked. (Jer. 17:9)
Do like fellowshipping?
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10
Do we know Jesus?
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4
Do we love our Christian brothers and sisters?
He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 1 John 2:9
Do we love the world?
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4
Do we abide in God's truth?
Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 1 John 2:24
Do we keep His Commandments?
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. 1 John 3:24
Do we love God and hate fellow brothers and sisters?
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 1 John 4:20
How did everyone do? I know I got some things to work on but I didn't fail.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 1 John 5:13
***
Jesus isn't aka Michael. That's like saying Jim Carrey is Oprah. They are two completely different people. If I told anyone that they'd think I'm off my rocker!
Jesus is divine and Michael is a created Archangel.
2007-09-06 15:23:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 6⤋
>"How do we determine if we are actually in the true faith if all we look at is the material produced by our own religions?"<
All who come to God in The Way He prescribes will receive His free gift of Salvation. Those become part of The Body of The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head. Those are the ones of The True Christian Faith. Only those of The Church will enter Heaven
If you have not gotten your Free Gift DIRECTLY from God... and only base you "faith" on what you have been told, or read in some book, Then you are not of The True Christian Faith.
Jesus is not The Angel Michael...nor is Jesus the brother of satan... nor is he mearly a prophet or wise man...
2007-09-06 08:56:14 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I've done my research without the material of the Watchtower, and still found out its the truth. I also know the word of God as the main source of my beliefs. I don't believe something just because someone tells me, I search deep and hard to see if I have the accurate knowledge.
"If Jesus is the Angel Michael, how is he in you?"
Jesus left a example for us to follow, and if we follow that example, then he will be in us. Sure you do believe hes God almighty but thats not what the Bible says.
Please don't ignore the scripture where it clearly states the Father being the only true God.
--So I have a question for you. How do you know you're true in the Faith if you don't bother reasoning and don't even bother listening to anyone else?
2007-09-06 08:56:35 · answer #3 · answered by VMO 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Now considering that even our own literature encourages that we do our own independent research and see whether or not we believe what they tell us (all of which is supported by scripture of course), what exactly are you getting at?
Jehovah's Witnesses only seem brainwashed because the Society keeps us on one accord by means of the literature, meetings and conventions (but hey, our God likes unity and organization, what can we say?).
BTW, the Michael/Jesus statement doesn't do much... If Jesus is Michael, how is he in you? Jesus and Satan aren't the same, but Satan was "in" Judas and the religious leaders, wasn't he? We know he's less powerful than Jesus and Michael (assuming the 2 are separate ppl).
Compare every scripture that talks about Michael with every scripture that talks about Jesus commanding the army of angels... ah nevermind, you don't wanna see it.
2007-09-07 04:04:51 · answer #4 · answered by DwayneWayne 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
These scriptures seperate the Christian from the rest of these mentioned.
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. [This is a deceiver and an antichrist].
Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath [both] the Father and the Son.
If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." 2 John 1:7-11
2007-09-06 16:03:02 · answer #5 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
To determine if we are actually in the truth is the ?
Examining the Scriptures closely, after reading from a lil hand-held Bible (in part) the O.T. or Christian Greek Scriptures.
I came to the realization on my own...
Not w/out God, but not with any earthly organized religion.
Hours of earnest research & studying out the truth....
where ever it took me.
Lead me to where I am now.
Serving Jehovah God to the best of my ability.
All this without God's earthly organization, teaching me.
I wasn't always in the truth.
I wasn't raised in this path.
I have more than enough knowledge of Satan's world,
including the polluting of all false religious faiths.
i.e. I have never liked the lies told & perpetuated by man about what happens to us @ death; the immortality of the soul.
None of it sounds(ed) reasonable in any way shape or form.
As to your 2nd ?
"If Jesus is the angel Micheal, how is he in you?"
I saw other answers, that gave the Scriptual answer.
I'd like to add.....
Whether Jesus aka Micheal
is a mighty god, a son of God,
a wonderful counselor, Lord of lords,
King of kings or just simply Jesus
-----How is he (a god) in us?
(I know you believe he is God, YHWH)
Regardless of what name he is known by, or called?
"How Is He In Us?"
2007-09-06 10:35:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Do what Jesus wants you to do. Jesus said "Accept your righteousness, exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, (the Jews) for by no means ye shall enter the gardens"
The above means observe all the commandments and believe in the Laws of the Torah, if you don't, no heaven for you if you are not better than the Jews in worship of God.
2007-09-06 08:53:40 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it's a question of what you mean by "in you". Do I believe in Jesus that he is the Messiah and that by means of him we have the chance for everlasting life. That I try to live my life in harmony with his teachings and example. Then yes, I am in union with Jesus Christ. We need to continually examine ourselves to make sure we do not become disapproved somehow.
We have the help of the holy spirit that we can pray for to help us keep our lives in harmony with Jesus teachings.
Jesus is not just an angel, but he is God's Son and the one and only Arch-Angel who is above all other of God's creations. He is at the right hand of God, second only to Jehovah.
Acts 7: 55 & 56 "But he, being full of holy spirit, gazed into heaven and caught sight of God's glory and of Jesus standing at God's right hand, and he said: "Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God's right hand."
2007-09-06 09:03:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
You are so right in what you are saying. Salvation does not come through a denomination or a pastor. That does not mean they are not useful to God's work but the bible tells us that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Thanks for a great question.
2007-09-06 17:35:13 · answer #9 · answered by Mr. E 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have done research into material from a variety of sources apart from those published by Jehovah's Witnesses. I am still convinced that we have the truth.
The true religion can be verified by it's adherence to the Bible. In my search, Jehovah's Witnesses are the only religion to strictly follow the Scriptures and the example of the early Christians. We don't believe in non-Biblical teachings as fact simply because they have been believed for centuries. We don't accept doctrines that were accepted into the Church for political reasons. We don't allow pagan customs and celebrations to contaminate our worship of Jehovah. We don't permit allegiance to earthly governments to make us traitors to God's Kingdom. We don't put our own lives above obedience to God.
2007-09-06 11:08:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Believe Jesus Christ here: (very important)
John 16:7-16 He the Spirit of Truth is Jesus fully here in Spirit ! He is still leading us into ALL Truth of God ! Amen !
In Jesus, personal God-consciousness will soon be the one True world Jesusonian Christian religion; human over-organized and spiritually shackling churches that require belief in their contrived creeds of their spiritual hierarchy will die out if they do not fast reform. Truth-lovers abide in the True Spirit Liberty Light of Jesus here and in none other.
Peace and progress,
Brother Dave, a Jesusonian Christian Truthist
http://www.PureChristians.org/ Gospel enlarging website,
proclaiming worldwide the True Religion
OF JESUS and ABOUT JESUS and IN JESUS
Come and share !
2007-09-06 09:04:56 · answer #11 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋