What I said needed slight correction and clarification - its what
spiritually HONEST people do. Following this post is a solid article,
with SCRIPTURES that you can look up. It is the HOLY SCRIPTURES
THEMSELVES (the Holy Bible) that form the belief system of TRUE
Jehovah's Witnesses. As Jesus prayed to his Father Jehovah in the
heavens, regarding his followers, "SANCTIFY THEM BY MEANS OF THE TRUTH;
YOUR WORD IS TRUTH." (John 17:17)
The closed Bible canon itself is the word of God itself. Nothing more
is to be added to that closed canon - to be considered as the word of
God itself. Jehovah will open new scrolls, of His own words, for His
people, after Armageddon. Until then, the words found in the Holy Bible
are the only words of God we have. The Holy Scriptures themselves are
the Authority and touchstone for spiritual truth - and all spiritual
teachings MUST prove to be true according to Jehovah's own scriptural
words. In contrast, words of men - any men - are only that - words of
men (unless Scriptures are being quoted). Any words and teachings of
men, any commentaries on the Scriptures, any reasonings upon them, and
any applications of them are subject to correction and adjustment
according to the spirit-backed words of God. UNLIKE THE FALSE RELIGIONS
of the world, Jehovah's people are HONEST USERS/students of the Bible,
and admit and correct words, reasonings, and best-guesses of men, as
further and deeper study of the word of God proceeds; as Jehovah's
spirit reveals deeper and/or more correct understanding of His
already-given words and/or moves people to correct things or be guided
by His spirit; and as vital unfolding and fulfilled prophecies occur and
shed more light upon what words of God meant and mean.
It is true:
"But the path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is
getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established."
(Proverbs 4:18)
"Light itself has flashed up for the righteous one, And rejoicing even for the ones upright in heart." (Psalm 97:11)
"For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any
two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and
of joints and [their] marrow, and [is] able to discern thoughts and
intentions of [the] heart. And there is not a creation that is not
manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to
the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting." (Hebrews 4:12,13)
As it is that true Jehovah's Witnesses VALUE and CORRECTLY USE the Bible
FAR, FAR MORE (by a landslide) than any other religion on earth; we
are always concerned about what it itself teaches - so that we can obey
and uphold what God says in it; and so that we can USE IT, in our
commissioned-by-Jehovah preaching to others. To us, it is, "THE SWORD OF
THE SPIRIT, that is, GOD'S WORD." (Ephesians 6:17)
So, you can be sure that all true Jehovah's Witnesses keep that
SPIRITUAL "weapon" from Jehovah sharp and ready, honing/sharpening the
spiritual "sword" they carry as needed.
For instance, the word of God/ the "sword of the spirit" - the truth
from Jehovah's words - if you bother to honestly read them; can slice
through every piece of feces, prophesied-in-type apostate, ignorant,
whiney, piggish, 2nd-generation apostate Israelite-type, NARCISSISTIC,
spoiled-brat-to-God, self-godded, dishonest, false-fronted,
ulterior-motived/ FALSE-agenda-ed, demonically-driven, antichrist,
know-nothing, UNRIGHTEOUS, UNJUST, CONSCIENCELESS SLANDER-FILLED,
LIE-FILLED, EXPLOITED FALSE-STORY/PARTIAL TRUTH (resulting in slander),
socially irresponsible, BLASPHEMOUS, INSOLENT TOWARDS JEHOVAH, EXTREME
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION-and-UNJUST
PERSECUTION-PROMOTING/condoning/defending,
HATE-CRIME-and-HARRASSMENT-PROMOTING, TERRORISM-PROMOTING,
ANTI-WHOLE-SCRIPTURAL SPIRITUAL LIE-PROMOTING, "BABYLON THE
GREAT"-promoting, DEMONISM-promoting, BROAD AND SPACIOUS ROAD LEADING
OFF INTO DEATH (by Armageddon)-promoting, wicked/evil trash videos and
channels you have "liked" and are promoting on your "channel" - ALONG
WITH MANY THE SAME-NATURED COMMENTS YOU ARE WILLFULLY MASS-MEDIA HOSTING
and promoting HERE UNDER THIS VIDEO. God's words expose them for being
what they are: Spiritual TRASH, of the spirit of Satan - shamelessly
fighting against Jehovah and HIS spirit. These people DO NOT CARE AT ALL
about how much they slander Jehovah, Christ, God's words and God's
people - nor how much they divert people, with their slander and FALSE
teachings, into eternal death, come Armageddon Day, which is soon. Like
the wicked/evil and narcissistic, insolent-to-Jehovah, and reckless and
harmful to others persons that they prove to be, "IT'S ALL ABOUT THEM"
(themselves).
I would suggest removing the spiritual trash videos from your channel
(and the slander trash comments from under your video here) and to cease
supporting the lies and evil work of such. They DON'T make Jehovah
happy - and with Him, each person will soon reap what they have sown.
Soon.
Following this post is the article I would suggest. It turns out that
the usage of "Mediator" in the Scripture of concern is one of a legal
term. It refers to Christ being the mediator of the covenant - "for a
kingdom" - between the "little flock"/ the 144,000 (who will go to
heaven, to then help Christ rule over the "great crowd", resurrected
people, and new people [children, descendants] who will be on earth,
after Armageddon).
However, that in no way lessens the fact that BENEFITS of Jesus Christ
being the "one Mediator" in this way APPLY TO ALL TRUE WORSHIPERS OF
JEHOVAH - whether they will be in heaven or EARTH. Additionally, AND
THIS IS VITALLY KEY - IT REMAINS, FOR ALL PERSONS, THAT JESUS CHRIST
ALONE IS "THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE..." (John 14:6) - THE ONLY
MEANS BY WHICH ANY HUMAN CAN ATTAIN TO HAVING A VIABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH
JEHOVAH; and can access the value of the Ransom sacrifice of Jesus
human life, to cover for sins, and to have the way opened for them for
ETERNAL LIFE. "NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER, EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (Continues
Christ, at John 14:6) People must not only believe what the Scriptures
say about Jehovah and His Son and the role Jesus has played (John 17:3);
but they MUST ALSO OBEY what Jesus has taught, in God's words (John 3:16 AND 3:36)
- and what Jesus teaches is that "Man must LIVE, not on bread alone,
but ON EVERY UTTERANCE COMING FORTH THROUGH JEHOVAH'S MOUTH." (Matthew
4:4), So, it is required that people obey everything both Jehovah and
His Son have taught - sum total - in the whole of the scriptural words
of God, to the best of their ability, and with help, from God; which He
can give, along with forgiveness - on the basis of Christ's propitiatory
sacrifice. (This sacrifice IS NOT TO BE ABUSED though, which is the
COMMON WAY of apostate, FALSE "Christianity", with its LIE-teachings of
"grace"; "all you have to do is believe in the Lord and you are
saved/your sins are forgiven [so go sin all you want to], etc. Hebrews 10:26-31].)
Further, prayers to Jehovah are to include acknowledgment of God's Son,
Jesus Christ, and the vital role he personally plays, in the basis of
each individual's relationship with Jehovah - so, prayers are said, for
example, "in the name of" Jesus Christ.
Additionally, Jesus Christ, at the right hand of God, can INTERCEDE for
His true followers: "Consequently he is able also to save completely
those who are approaching God through him, because he is always alive to
plead for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
The benefits of Christ's successfully being a "legal" (by Divine Law)
"Mediator" of a new covenant, - which has continued to provide life, a
relationship with one's Maker (even for sinful and imperfect humans),
help, understanding of God's words, comfort, strength, endurance, and
the hope of eternal life for God-obedient and loyal humans, etc. - are
so many and so good, for ALL OF JEHOVAH'S FAITHFUL and TRUE PEOPLE; that
there really is nothing wanting; NOTHING LACKING. Read: Who will
separate us from the love of the Christ? Will tribulation or distress or
persecution or hunger or nakedness or danger or sword? Just as it is
written: “For your sake we are being put to death all day long, we have
been accounted as sheep for slaughtering.” To the contrary, in all these
things we are coming off completely victorious through him that loved
us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor
governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powers nor
height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from
God’s love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39)
And that's how it IS, for all HONEST-hearted, TRUE and loyal disciples
of Jesus Christ, TRUE Christian Witnesses of Jehovah.
Again, a helpful article follows, complete with SCRIPTURES, to check
out. I hope it helps make things clearer. However, I feel I have given
you enough information of truth, for you to find your own way to
learning more. I have no interest in endless debates with anyone who is
not actually sincerely interested in learning scriptural truth - as
opposed to the common and convenient (to the support of wickedness and
illicit sinful desire), anti-whole-scriptural teachings/doctrines/ of
men/false religionists (and demons) Each person is responsible to
Jehovah for their own spirituality as regards Him - and the need for
people to "get right with God", Jehovah (through His Son, Jesus Christ)
is the most urgent thing there is - for their lives now, and for their
whole eternal future. (Article to follow in the "reply" I will tag on.)
Done.
[That Article]
(From The Watchtower, 8/15/89, page 31)
Questions From Readers
□ Is Jesus the Mediator only for spirit-anointed Christians or for all mankind, since 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 speaks of him as the “mediator” who “gave himself a corresponding ransom for all”?
The Bible contains both basic teachings and deep truths, which are solid food for study. One such study involves Jesus Christ’s role as Mediator. The apostle Paul wrote: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all—this is what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times.”—1 Timothy 2:5, 6.
To grasp what Paul is saying, we must first appreciate that the Bible sets out two destinies for faithful humans: (1) perfect life on a restored earthly paradise and (2) life in heaven for Christ’s “little flock,” numbering 144,000. (Luke 12:32; Revelation 5:10; 14:1-3) Christendom teaches that all good people go to heaven, which unscriptural position has colored the general view, so that Jesus is considered a go-between for all such people. What, though, does the Bible indicate?
The Greek word me·si′tes, used for “mediator,” means ‘one who finds himself between two bodies or parties.’ It was a ‘many-sided technical term of Hellenistic legal language.’ Professor Albrecht Oepke (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament) says that me·si′tes was “one of the most varied technical terms in the vocabulary of Hellen[istic] law.”
But why does the Bible use a legal term for Jesus’ mediatory role? As background, consider what Paul wrote about God’s Law given to Israel assembled before Mount Sinai: “It was transmitted through angels by the hand of a mediator.” (Galatians 3:19, 20) That mediator was Moses. He was the intermediary agent between Jehovah and the fleshly nation of Israel. An agent for what? For establishing a covenant, or legal contract, between God and the nation.
Does this mean that there is a specific legal sense involved in Jesus’ role as Mediator? Yes. Note Paul’s comment at Hebrews 8:6. After speaking about the tabernacle and other typical representations under the Law covenant, he wrote: “Jesus has obtained a more excellent public service, so that he is also the mediator of a correspondingly better covenant, which has been legally established upon better promises.” The “better covenant” was the new covenant, which replaced the covenant mediated by Moses. (Hebrews 8:7-13) The new covenant was “legally established.” It laid the basis for some of Christ’s followers, beginning with the apostles, to gain “entry into the holy place,” heaven itself.—Hebrews 9:24; 10:16-19.
There are other indications too of the legal nature of Jesus’ role as Mediator of the “new covenant.” Commenting on God’s promise at Psalm 110:4, Paul wrote: “To that extent also Jesus has become the one given in pledge [en′gy·os] of a better covenant.” (Hebrews 7:22) This is the only Biblical use of the word en′gy·os. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology says: “The engyos guaranteed that a legal obligation would be carried out.” So Jesus as Mediator of the new covenant serves as a legal pledge that “a better hope” would be realized.—Hebrews 7:19.
Elsewhere Paul uses yet another word having a legal sense, ar·ra·bon′, translated “token.” The same dictionary says: “The Gk. word arrabōn . . . is a legal concept from the language of business and trade.” Note how Paul used this legal term: “He who has anointed us is God. He has also put his seal upon us and has given us the token of what is to come, that is, the spirit, in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21, 22) Both other occurrences of ar·ra·bon′ also deal with God’s anointing of Christians with spirit, bringing them an ‘everlasting reward or inheritance in the heavens’ as spirit sons of God.—2 Corinthians 5:1, 5; Ephesians 1:13, 14; see Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures.
Clearly, then, the new covenant is not a loose arrangement open to all mankind. It is a carefully arranged legal provision involving God and anointed Christians.
This should help us to understand 1 Timothy 2:5, 6. Here the reference to “mediator” was made after the five other occurrences of the word in letters written earlier. Hence, Timothy would have understood Jesus’ mediatorship to be His legal role connected with the new covenant. The Pastoral Epistles, by Dibelius and Conzelmann, acknowledges that at 1 Timothy 2:5 ‘the term “mediator” has a legal significance,’ and “although in this passage, in contrast to Heb 8:6, the [covenant] is not mentioned, one must nevertheless presuppose the meaning ‘mediator of the covenant,’ as the context shows.” Professor Oepke observes that 1 Timothy 2:5 presents Jesus as “the attorney and negotiator.”
A modern-day illustration may help to clarify this, especially if you are not a spirit-anointed Christian. Think of a legal case in which an attorney is involved. His role may be not so much that of a lawyer arguing for justice as that of one who is mediating or bringing about a legal contract acceptable to and beneficial to two parties. Of course, you are not in that legal case, so in that sense he is not serving as your attorney. Yet he may be your very close friend who in other ways gives you valuable help.
Sometimes an attorney’s work produces results that benefit many others. So it is with Jesus’ legal accomplishments as Mediator of the new covenant. It produces what the Law covenant did not, a heavenly “kingdom of priests.” (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9) Thereafter anointed Christians in the Kingdom will work with Jesus from heaven to bring a blessing to “all nations of the earth.”—Genesis 22:18.
The people of all nations who have the hope of everlasting life on earth benefit even now from Jesus’ services. Though he is not their legal Mediator, for they are not in the new covenant, he is their means of approaching Jehovah. Christ said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) All who will gain life on earth must direct their prayers to Jehovah through Jesus. (John 14:13, 23, 24) Jesus also serves as a compassionate High Priest who is able to apply in their behalf the benefits of his sacrifice, allowing them to gain forgiveness and eventual salvation.—Acts 4:12; Hebrews 4:15.
Consequently, 1 Timothy 2:5, 6 is not using “mediator” in the broad sense common in many languages. It is not saying that Jesus is a mediator between God and all mankind. Rather, it refers to Christ as legal Mediator (or, “attorney”) of the new covenant, this being the restricted way in which the Bible uses the term. Jesus is also a corresponding ransom for all in that covenant, both Jews and Gentiles, who will receive immortal life in heaven. The apostle John referred to these at 1 John 2:2. But he indicated that others too will receive the benefit of Christ’s sacrifice: “He is a propitiatory sacrifice for our sins, yet not for ours only but also for the whole world’s.”
Those of ‘the whole world’ are all who will gain eternal life in a restored earthly paradise. Millions of such approved servants of God now have that earthly hope. They view Jesus as their High Priest and King through whom they can daily gain approach to Jehovah. They rely on Jesus’ ransom, which is available to them, just as it will be to men such as Abraham, David, and John the Baptizer when these are resurrected. (Matthew 20:28) Thus, Christ’s sacrifice will lead to everlasting life for all obedient mankind.
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