I have a Russellite (a.k.a JW = Jehovah Witness) friend and over a period of time I have been witnessing to him via email about who is Jesus Christ. Then, one day, a letter from his wife comes in the mail explaining the following:
THE RUSSELLITES (JW) SAY:
Jesus is the archangel Michael
Jesus is a created being and therefore not God (Colossians 1:15)
Friends, the bible says that we perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6)
If we do not study the Word of God and allow the Spirit of God to illuminate the Word and our minds, we will be deceived by not only Russellites but many wolves in sheep's clothing.
I plead with you, study the Word so you will be able to recognize the voice of God when you hear it because:
Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow me" John 10:27
Jesus says: "And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
Jesus says: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed" John 8:36
Jesus says: "I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE: No man comes to the Father but by Me" John 14:6 Please notice, Jesus is the way, not a way.
NOW LET US GO TO WHERE THE RUSSELLITE POINTED ME:
Colossians Chapter 1
Colossians 1 (King James Version)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The Russellite explained to me that in Colossians 1:15, the word translated as firstborn is the Greek word protokos, which literally means "first taken" as in birth. And YES, she is correct.
But, let us allow Scripture to interpret itself and not lean to our own understanding.
BUT FIRST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
We see in the bible that the word "firstborn" can also mean the place of preeminence. In the bible we see many who were not literally the firstborn of their families, but because of their faithfulness, were given the right of the firstborn by God. An example of this was Joseph, for his family line was given a double portion of tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. For, the birthright being forfeited by Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, it was given to Joseph, who had the double portion, the privilege of the firstborn. And later, David, who was the last-born of Jesse, was actually elected by God to be His firstborn when God said in Psalm 89:27: "Then I'll appoint him (David) to be my firstborn, and put him above the kings of the earth" (the preeminent position).
NOW BACK TO COLOSSIANS 1
VERSE 13: Speaks of the Son of God. Now friends, you need to understand why the First Century Jews wanted to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. HERE IS WHY:
"Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him (Jesus), because He said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" John 5:18 (the Jews understood that the Son of God was God Himself)
"The Jews answered him (Pilate), We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God" John 19:7 (the Jews understood that the Son of God was God Himself)
VERSE 14: There is no forgiveness of sin apart from God, the Son. If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour, you are still in your sins and we know that ONLY GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS.
Before I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour, I was raised in the Roman Catholic church. I used to confess my sins to the priest. Then, on July 18, 1978, I accepted that Christ died for my sin and rose again on the third day from the dead. I understood then that because He died in my place, I have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ out Lord (Romans 6:23). And do you have to work for a gift? No, all you need to do is receive it. So, I received God's free gift, Jesus, into my heart and life. Later I read in my bible that neither the priest nor Mary could help me, only Jesus alone because:
"There is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5
VERSE 15: (We already covered the "firstborn" in the background information above) Now verse 15 also says what? The Son is what? ... AN EXACT COPY OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. It is like when you look at your own image in the mirror. The person you are looking at in the mirror is an exact copy of yourself. Now hear the Word of the Lord:
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" Deuteronomy 6:4 OR "Jehovah (singular) our Elohim (plural) is one God." Three persons in ONE GOD, the Trinity. Jesus is God, an exact copy/image of the invisible God. God had to take the form of a man before any one could look upon Him and not die.
VERSE 16: Now pay close attention to this verse. It says what? THE SON CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. Which person of the Trinity created the heaven and the earth? THE SON. Now what does Genesis, the book of beginnings in the Bible tell us about the one who created the heaven and the earth? It says this: "IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH" Genesis 1:1.
Who created the heaven and the earth according to Colossians 1:16?
THE SON
Who is the Creator of the heaven and earth according to Genesis 1:1?
GOD
CONCLUSION: Jesus, the Son, IS GOD. Word of the Lord.
Bountiful Blessings,
PsalmsChild
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
The Russellite explained to me that in Colossians 1:15, the word translated as firstborn is the Greek word protokos, which literally means "first taken" as in birth. And YES, she is correct.
But, let us allow Scripture to interpret itself and not lean to our own understanding.
BUT FIRST SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION
We see in the bible that the word "firstborn" can also mean the place of preeminence. In the bible we see many who were not literally the firstborn of their families, but because of their faithfulness, were given the right of the firstborn by God. An example of this was Joseph, for his family line was given a double portion of tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh. For, the birthright being forfeited by Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, it was given to Joseph, who had the double portion, the privilege of the firstborn. And later, David, who was the last-born of Jesse, was actually elected by God to be His firstborn when God said in Psalm 89:27: "Then I'll appoint him (David) to be my firstborn, and put him above the kings of the earth" (the preeminent position).
NOW BACK TO COLOSSIANS 1
VERSE 13: Speaks of the Son of God. Now friends, you need to understand why the First Century Jews wanted to kill the Lord Jesus Christ. HERE IS WHY:
"Therefore the Jews sought to kill Him (Jesus), because He said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" John 5:18 (the Jews understood that the Son of God was God Himself)
"The Jews answered him (Pilate), We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God" John 19:7 (the Jews understood that the Son of God was God Himself)
VERSE 14: There is no forgiveness of sin apart from God, the Son. If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour, you are still in your sins and we know that ONLY GOD ALONE CAN FORGIVE SINS.
Before I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my own personal Saviour, I was raised in the Roman Catholic church. I used to confess my sins to the priest. Then, on July 18, 1978, I accepted that Christ died for my sin and rose again on the third day from the dead. I understood then that because He died in my place, I have eternal life (John 3:16). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ out Lord (Romans 6:23). And do you have to work for a gift? No, all you need to do is receive it. So, I received God's free gift, Jesus, into my heart and life. Later I read in my bible that neither the priest nor Mary could help me, only Jesus alone because:
"There is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN, the man Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 2:5
VERSE 15: (We already covered the "firstborn" in the background information above) Now verse 15 also says what? The Son is what? ... AN EXACT COPY OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. It is like when you look at your own image in the mirror. The person you are looking at in the mirror is an exact copy of yourself. Now hear the Word of the Lord:
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" Deuteronomy 6:4 OR "Jehovah (singular) our Elohim (plural) is one God." Three persons in ONE GOD, the Trinity. Jesus is God, an exact copy/image of the invisible God. God had to take the form of a man before any one could look upon Him and not die.
VERSE 16: Now pay close attention to this verse. It says what? THE SON CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH. Which person of the Trinity created the heaven and the earth? THE SON. Now what does Genesis, the book of beginnings in the Bible tell us about the one who created the heaven and the earth? It says this: "IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH" Genesis 1:1.
Who created the heaven and the earth according to Colossians 1:16?
THE SON
Who is the Creator of the heaven and earth according to Genesis 1:1?
GOD
CONCLUSION: Jesus, the Son, IS GOD. Word of the Lord.
Bountiful Blessings,
PsalmsChild
wonderful explanation
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