![]() It’s not as if a Christian with a heavenly calling has to hit a longer tee shot than a fellow Christian with an earthly hope.īoth are called upon to maintain a course of integrity during their lives. If an anointed person turns aside from a faithful course they don’t then qualify for a “runner up”reward of earthly eternal life. We do have to concern ourselves with maintaining our standing with Him in such a way that we don’t void the guarantee. 2:10.Īs with all promises from Jehovah we don’t have to worry about Him holding up His end of the deal. Otherwise his heavenly calling, or invitation, will be of no value to him. ![]() 1:10, 11)Īn anointed Christian must continue to remain faithful. In fact, in this way you will be richly granted entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure for yourselves, for if you keep on doing these things, you will by no means ever fail. While sure of their invitation, whether they finally receive their reward in heaven will depend on their proving faithful to this calling. Paragraph 7 of the Watchtower you cite asks:ĭoes the individual who is thus anointed have a guaranteed future in heaven? As your question makes clear the individual who is spirit anointed has been given a token as it were, a special operation of the Holy Spirit, that serves as a pledge or guarantee of what is to come.Īfter you believed, you were sealed by means of him with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance.” (Eph. Most of your question focuses on an anointed Christian brother or sister. The Christian must continue that walk until the end to gain the reward. It is only those who believe that will be saved but belief is the first step in our walk with God. So John’s words that those who believe can know they have eternal life should be juxtaposed with those who do not believe. He will never fickly renege on his promise when a faithful anointed one endures to their death. Instead powerful promises like the words in John assure us that God will surely reward those who endure to the end. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe ‘Once Saved Always Saved’ is taught in the Bible. How do Jehovah's Witnesses understand the complimentary purpose statements of John's Gospel and his first letter regarding belief in the name of God's Son and knowing eternal life is possessed?Ĭan a Jehovah's Witness ever know that they have eternal life as John intended? Does this mean that an "anointed" can at least know that they have secured a place of eternal life on earth? In other words, a Jehovah's Witness can know that they have been anointed by the holy spirit and still not know that they have secured a spot in heaven. It appears though that this inner conviction, gained by the reception of this down payment, is still not enough to be assured of a place in heaven. An anointed Christian gains an inner conviction because of this token that he or she has received. - Ephesians 1:13-14 This special operation of holy spirit becomes like a down payment, a guarantee (or, a pledge) of what is to come. The article goes on to explain that the "anointing" is, in fact, the gift of the holy spirit and that it is a deposit: But whether he finally receives his reward in heaven or not depends on his proving faithful to his calling. In order to make use of the invitation faithful living must be undertaken:ĭoes the Christian who receives this token have a guaranteed future in heaven? No. I have read some material indicating that JW may be certain that they have been "anointed" but that this anointing amounts to the equivalent of an invitation. ![]() I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. Whoever has the Son has life whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.Īnd this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. The purpose statement of John's 1st epistle is that the believer (that Jesus is the Son of God) may know that they have eternal life: Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, whichĪre not written in this book but these are written so that you mayīelieve that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that byīelieving you may have life in his name. - John 20:30-31 John's Gospel is written so that the reader may believe that Jesus is the Son of God and may have life in that name" ![]()
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