What do Jehovah's Witnesses have to do to be saved?

Question

In Acts 10:34-43, we read the Apostles Peter’s sermon that brought instant salvation to people who “received the word of God” (Acts 11:1). How much “accurate knowledge” did Cornelius and others have to take in to become Christians? .

. Did they have to submit to a 6 month book study, then join an organization before they were “saved” (Acts 11:14)?

Silenced Lamb: AMEN!!

To the JW's that responded, nobody addressed Cornelius' situation. he didn't have your books. Is he okay by your standards?

Pucho, sorry but you're wrong. Ask any ex-JW, like SilencedLamb down below.

Abdiijah: Actually the text says baptize, then teach. Doesn't it? And who among the JW's, since the "light gets brighter" can be sure that what they are learning today is even accurate???!!!!

LineDancer: I guess you don't read all my questions. Anyway, I'm Southern Baptist. That should give you plenty of ammo. Why don't you confer with JR, he already tried that. Although he did say he was going to ignore my questions from now on?
However, the question remains this..if the FIRST christians didn't need your JW program to have eternal life, then why do you need it today. The Lord doesn't change. Only man-made doctrines do.

UMMM, it's online. Are you going to chastise me again? I can handle it.

Thankyou,Bambi...you made my point for me. Jehovah's Witness doctrine is not needed. You can have a relationship with God through his son Jesus. God didn't tear the temple curtain in two just to move the Jewish priests out of the way and insert the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society!

DwayneWayne: funny you should mention de-programming. Do your own study on the characteristics of a cult, and then apply it to the Jehovah Witness leadership and organization. Might be eye-opening for you.

To TeeM: How about the thief on the cross? He was most suredly saved without instruction.

LineDancer, did you e-mail me? I've been checking.

To Keiichi: I spent some time a while back questioning Roman catholics about SOME of their doctrines, and they have the belief that THEY are the one true church. However, while I disagree with MANY catholic doctrines, they do still acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God. You however, completely change the gospel.

To hannah j paul: i answered your question in an e-mail. yahoo states that it was successfully sent. if you want to refute, either reply to the e-mail, or post it in here somewhere.

Answer 1

God brought me out of that oppressive and dangerous cult after being indoctrinated for 22 years.

It took me 18 years to de-program, and I was terrified to walk into a Real Church. If you are a Witness and yo even question what you believe, you can be disfellowshipped for apostasy, and that is the unforgivable sin.....

I put my soul on the line and came out blessed for doing so...I am now re-baptized in the Cristian faith and delivered form an oppressive and mind controlling cult...Can I get an Amen from you Christians?

I now worship at a great little Baptist Church that has its sermons out of the Bible and the Bible only...No scripture hopping.. Just 1 chapter at a time..and I love it....No outside literature...Just the very word of God, and wonderful communion every week....


Pucho..they will not baptize you without the 6 month study...and then you have to openly promise to obey what the Society tells you to do first.


I didn't begin to have a relationship with God until I left the witnesses....Witnesses do not know what a relationship with God really is....they are too buisy with Works.

Amen to Christmas!


Dwayne Wayne..it would be so good if you were an actual follower of Christ..you are one of my favorite Witnesses...you are always so kind.

Answer 2

Same thing everybody else has to do: Exercise faith in the value of Jesus' ransom sacrifice, reject the world (which is under Satan's control), turn away from sinful practices, and preach the good news of the Kingdom until the end comes.


Back in the 1st Century, that was pretty simple. If you were a practicing Jew, leave behind all things Jewish (which shouldn't have been hard seeing as how you should have been prepared for the Messiah). If you were pagan or of some other faith, the turnaround, although drastic, probably didn't take as much unlearning.


Part of the reason for the bible study (which doesn't necessarily have to be 6 months) is for deprogramming purposes. Most ppl, especially those who grew up in certain denominations, have falsehoods deeply ingrained within them. The bible study is a method of educating right-hearted ones so that they understand what the Bible really teaches about God.

Answer 3

When a priest says "saved", they mean to be saved from Hell. But in reality, when the bible refers to being saved it means to be saved from SIN and the effects sin has (i.e. Death). Hell is a man made doctrine.

In order to be "saved" you first need to put faith in Jesus. Without doing this first, salvation isn't possible. Jesus disciples were emphasizing the importance of believing in Gods son Jesus because the Jews were "iffy" about this apparently new "cult" spreading news about a prophet called Jesus. However, putting faith in Jesus is only the START.

If people were immediately "saved" permanently by believing in Jesus, then what happens if that person later on turns away? Wouldn't there be loads of wicked people in heaven?

Only when a person continually serves God (while acknowledging Jesus' role) is he considered saved.

The only reason why people nowadays have to study for some period is because there are so many false doctrines out there brainwashing them. Since Jesus died there has been many false doctrines infiltrating the Christian church (think of the Spanish Inquisition). The student needs to know the TRUTH before they can properly serve God.

Answer 4

God decides salvation. Jehovah Witnesses do not believe that Jesus WAS God on earth, as many other religions such as Islam and Jewish do not. Personally, I have met many JWs who were shining examples of patience and perseverance. Good character may not be enough to "save" however, since we all fall short at some time or another. I believe we need to ask God what God wants from us.

Answer 5

There is no such thing as "instant salvation." Just as Jesus said at Mark 13:13: "He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved."

This is another one of your questions to make fun of Jehovah's Witnesses. You know there is no record in the early days of Christianity that people studied for six months in order to be saved. What you fail to realize is not everyone who heard the speech of Peter and the apostles got baptized. Many could have needed further study before making a commitment to become followers of Christ.

Why don't you tell us what religion you are so we can ask you questions about it if we want to?

"Amen" to Unsilenced Lamb? Are you aware that she now associates with an organization that celebrates pagan holidays and teaches doctrines like the trinity? So how believable do you think she is?

And isn't it interesting how much your questions attract anti- and ex-witnesses? How credible do you think their answers are? If I wanted to learn the truth about God, do you think I would go to Satan to get reliable answers?

One last thing? Why did you take your email offline?

Don't play games. Earlier today, your email was offline.

Answer 6

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, 20 that disciples had to be taught "all the things" that Jesus had commanded his immediate disciples.

Early in the first century most of these had not yey been taught the 1,700 or 1,800 years worth of lies that people have to unlearn before they can become Christians. So it takes time because we not only have to teach them the truth, we have to explain where all the false things have learned over the years come from, and why they are, in fact, lies.

EDITED FOR GREG M:
Yes it does say Baptize, then teach. BUT FIRST it says "Make disciples." I find it rather difficult to make disciples for Christ without teaching them how to follow him.
They have to be taught the basics first, before they can become baptized believers who are then taught the more complicated, "deeper things of God."

Answer 7

Like the rest of mankind.....
......endure to the end....

I read the texts u provided.
Cornelius converted, gets spirit, baptized.
What's ur point?
The time frame?
Each individual person takes however long it takes,
for him or her.

The Bible study you so aptly referred to as a book study,
takes as long as it takes.
There is no set time frame.
And just cuz a person studies the Bible w/ Witnesses,
does not mean he / she will get Baptized
or join the rest of the world's Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 8

I will also ask you a question. If you tell it to me, I also will answer you concerning what you referred to as instant salvation: At Philippians 2:12, the apostle Paul said "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - CONTINUE TO WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION with fear and trembling." At Matthew 24:13, Christ said: "But he who stands firm to the end WILL BE saved." Therefore, your idea of INSTANT salvation: is it from God and in harmony with the above inspired scriptures, or is it from man?

Hannah J Paul

Answer 9

The entire Christian Greek Bible testifies to the fact that Jesus has a congregation of believers that will exist during the judgment. Christ's congregation consists of all those who are anointed at any given period. These chosen ones are referred to in Scripture as Christ's brothers.

Being one of Christ's brothers is a much honored privilege. Jehovah's chosen ones are very special to him. That is why one aspect of the basis for Christ's judgment of non-anointed persons is how they treat Christ's spiritual brothers. That is explained in Matthew 25:31-46, in the so-called illustration of the sheep and goats.

Since the Scriptures indicate that Christ gathers all of his chosen brothers into one congregation, that means that there is only one organized religion that Christ recognizes as belonging to himself.

It is not a matter of "joining" some religion, but if you believe in Jehovah and his Messiah, then at some point, in order to gain salvation you will also have to recognize who Jesus' brothers are and demonstrate your support for the 144,000.

New Topic: Son of God?

Jehovah's Witnesses always have and will answer Yes to the John 9:35 question. Jesus is the Son of God.

Answer 10

While Jehovah's Witnesses understand faith to be the primary thing for a Christian, they also understand that professed "faith" is not a license for a sinner to continue to indulge his sin.

(Matthew 7:20-23) Really, then, by their fruits you will recognize... “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.


One's faith must have SOME effect on the individual's personality and lifecourse. 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. [Emphasis added to citations below.]

(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.

(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

(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.

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

(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

(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.

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