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How Will Jehovah Forgive Us

 

The June 2022 Watchtower Article 24 titled “Jehovah—The Greatest Forgiver” attempts to paint a picture of Jehovah as a wise, just, and knowledgeable judge – which, of course He is.  However, it also shows Him as a judge who has a number of requirements before He will forgive. 

The article quotes numerous Old Testament scriptures showing that Jehovah will forgive our transgressions and agrees that this forgiveness is made possible through Jesus dying for our sins, though it doesn’t mention the covenant this sacrifice generated. As Christians we would understand that Jesus’ sacrifice, the shedding of His blood, pays for our sins so that a just God can be merciful and forgive them; the price for those sins has already been paid (1 Cor 6 v 20, Heb 9 v 22).

In contrast, the Watchtower article talks of there being other requirements for Jehovah’s forgiveness.  It states that, before Jehovah will decide to offer forgiveness, “He needs to be able to consider all the relevant facts" (Emphasis mine).  Such 'relevant facts' include "... his [the sinner's] genetic makeup, upbringing, and environment as well as by his emotional and mental condition" (Emphasis mine)

It also says this “He [Jehovah] fully perceives the motivations, intentions, and desires of each person. Nothing can be hidden from Jehovah. (Heb 4 v 13) Thus, Jehovah’s forgiveness is always based on his complete knowledge of a situation.” (Emphasis mine)

And “…we have learned that Jehovah uses his knowledge as our Creator, Lawgiver, and Judge when deciding whether he will extend forgiveness” (Emphasis mine)

These requirements, that Jehovah considers, would seem to nullify the sacrifice that Jesus made to pay for our sins.  If Jehovah needs to take in to account other aspects before granting us forgiveness this downgrades the sacrifice.  The Bible is filled with scriptures that talk of how Jesus’ sacrifice cleanses us from all sins (1 John 1 v 9), that His sacrifice justifies and redeems us (Titus 2 v 14, Rom 5 v 9), and, in Christ, there is no longer any condemnation (Rom 8 v 1).  Yet the Watchtower would have us believe that this is not the whole story.

Even if Jehovah’s judgements are always fair and just this leaves the Jehovah’s Witness in constant fear that they are not worthy of His forgiveness.  Maybe He will decide that they do not deserve forgiveness despite their best efforts.  The freedom a Christian has is in stark contrast to this – we are not condemned and Jesus’ blood is sufficient to cover all our sins. 

We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standards (Rom 3 v 23), but, through Jesus’ sacrifice and the covenant this ushered in, our sins are forgiven (yes, we need to repent, but that would be a part of our ‘belief’ in Jesus as our saviour).  

The article doesn’t really say what Jehovah’s forgiveness actually achieves except that we can be ‘joyful’ in that we don’t need to be in a ‘constant state of remorse’.  Yet being forgiven puts us back in to the wonderful relationship with our Father that was lost in Eden, and this relationship will last forever as we will be with Him and His Son for all eternity.

From another angle; the Watchtower elsewhere teaches that the unrighteous (who have done ‘vile’ things in this life John 5 v 28,29) will still be resurrected to their paradise earth.  But, from this article, it would appear that only those who meet Jehovah’s requirements are forgiven – and, of course, true repentance is one of those requirements, something a person who is practising 'vile' things will not be doing. 

The article states: “Of course, it is our faith in the sacrifice of Christ that provides the real basis for Jehovah to forgive us and cleanse us from sin. Jehovah will extend the value of that sacrifice to us when he sees that we are making a sincere effort to change our course of conduct” (Emphasis mine).  

As the ‘unrighteous’ would not have repented of their sins and be making a ‘sincere effort’ to change we have to ask how are their sins forgiven?  If those people with unforgiven sins are able to enter paradise, why do we need our sins forgiven in the first place? This is a common paradox in Watchtower theology as they seem to have pre-requisites for salvation, but then allow the 'unrighteous' to bypass them all!

Can Jehovah still forgive the sins of the unrighteous due to His knowledge of their ‘situation’ and ‘mental condition’? Does Jehovah apply Jesus’ sacrifice even to those who do not believe or repent?  Any research of the scriptures would show that this is not the case; what must we do to be saved – believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16 v 31).  There are requirements, but we know exactly what they are.

In a way it is not up to Jehovah to decide whether to forgive us or not, He made the covenant and His integrity will not allow Him to break it.  This is the assurance we have in the sacrifice – it doesn’t rely on us but on Christ.  In this we can know that we have eternal life (1 John 5 v 13) and not be scared that God will find some fault in us that would prevent Him forgiving us.  

In fact, as Christians we have already passed from death to life and will not be judged at all (John 5 v 24), the judge has already made His decision and we are not condemned. When talking with Jehovah’s Witnesses it is this freedom from worry and doubt that we can offer them, they can rest in God’s grace and His mercy, even if they do not deserve it; that is grace. 

 


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