This is an observation about how "hiding" the name of God causes confusion of beliefs and appears to reduce God's role in our salvation.
In Romans 10:13, Paul says "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," He was actually quoting a portion of the Hebrew scriptures, or Old Testament. Joel 2:32 says "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered."
These quotations are taken from the King James version. In this translation, the Hebrew name for God (the Tetragrammaton YHWH) is shown as LORD in capital letters.
So, if someone reads Romans 10:13 in this translation, they will think that the Lord referred to is Jesus Christ. "Call on the name of Jesus and you will be saved" say many road-side pulpit signs. Er, no, actually. Paul meant for people to call upon the name of Jesus' father, Almighty God. That is why he quoted Joel 2:32. Jews knew that scripture meant the name of God, and Paul was a well-educated Jew and former Pharisee.
So, true Christians must call upon the name of Almighty God to be saved. Jesus Christ is vital for our salvation, but it is calling on the name of Almighty God that saves.
Notice how the New World Translation makes this clear:
Joel 2:32 "And it must occur that everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will get away safe."
Romans 10:13 "For 'everyone who calls on the name of Jehovah will be saved.'"
The name of Almighty God is JEHOVAH. The name of the son of God is JESUS. These two must never be confused in our understanding of the scriptures.
If you have to call upon the name of God to be saved, you have to use his name, not substitute the word God or Lord for his name.
Jesus said we should pray "Our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9 King James version). He expected us to acknowledge his father's name in our prayers.
Jesus prayed (John 17:26) "I have made your name known to them and will make it known." If he publicised Jehovah God's name, SO SHOULD WE.
Compare the above with this:
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=60153
Showing posts with label Jehovah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jehovah. Show all posts
13 February 2011
30 January 2011
The circle of the earth
In our public talk today, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, the speaker read out Job 26:7-10 while holding up a photograph of the earth taken from space by Apollo astronauts. The scripture describes the earth as seen by Jehovah God.
"7 He [Jehovah] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing; 8 wrapping up the waters in his clouds, so that the cloud mass is not split under them; 9 enclosing the face of the throne, spreading out over it his cloud. 10 He has described a circle upon the face of the waters, to where light ends in darkness."
From space:
o- The earth hangs upon nothing.
o- Clouds envelope the earth like white blankets covering the blue seas.
o- The earth is a circle, or globe, of light surrounded by the darkness of space.
The only way Moses could have written these words is under inspiration by God. There was no concept amongst most of mankind 3,500 years ago of any of these ideas.
Although the Bible does not set out to be a scientific textbook, when it touches upon science what is says IS accurate.
"7 He [Jehovah] is stretching out the north over the empty place, hanging the earth upon nothing; 8 wrapping up the waters in his clouds, so that the cloud mass is not split under them; 9 enclosing the face of the throne, spreading out over it his cloud. 10 He has described a circle upon the face of the waters, to where light ends in darkness."
From space:
o- The earth hangs upon nothing.
o- Clouds envelope the earth like white blankets covering the blue seas.
o- The earth is a circle, or globe, of light surrounded by the darkness of space.
The only way Moses could have written these words is under inspiration by God. There was no concept amongst most of mankind 3,500 years ago of any of these ideas.
Although the Bible does not set out to be a scientific textbook, when it touches upon science what is says IS accurate.
09 August 2009
Fantasy or Reality
Our congregation today had a public lecture given by a traveling overseer, Brother Anibaba, standing in for our normal Circuit Overseer. His theme was to do with comparing fantasies with realities.
He made several points about the danger of relying upon fantasies to cope with daily life, but one thing he said really stood out to me. About whether our hope is a fantasy or a reality.
If you read Matthew 24:14, Jesus Christ stated that the Good News would be preached in every nation before the end comes. Now, in 33CE, how realistic would it have been to expect that everyone in the world WOULD hear the message? If you had a copy of the Yearbook of 33CE, what would have been the worldwide report?
Number of countries preached in? One
Number of publishers? 12
Number of memorial partakers? 12
Ratio of publishers to population? Too hard to calculate!
So was it a fantasy to think that the message would be preached worldwide? NO.
Look at the success of those following this preaching commission nowadays. JESUS PROPHECY HAS BECOME A REALITY. The Good News is preached in hundreds of countries, in hundreds of languages by millions of people. Far from being a fantasy, Jesus was simply stating what WOULD happen!
How many other prophecies of his are coming true and will come true? The Kingdom hope is a reality, something we can depend upon.
What an incredibly upbuilding thought from a scripture that I have read dozens of times. I am so grateful to Jehovah for this encouragement!
He made several points about the danger of relying upon fantasies to cope with daily life, but one thing he said really stood out to me. About whether our hope is a fantasy or a reality.
If you read Matthew 24:14, Jesus Christ stated that the Good News would be preached in every nation before the end comes. Now, in 33CE, how realistic would it have been to expect that everyone in the world WOULD hear the message? If you had a copy of the Yearbook of 33CE, what would have been the worldwide report?
Number of countries preached in? One
Number of publishers? 12
Number of memorial partakers? 12
Ratio of publishers to population? Too hard to calculate!
So was it a fantasy to think that the message would be preached worldwide? NO.
Look at the success of those following this preaching commission nowadays. JESUS PROPHECY HAS BECOME A REALITY. The Good News is preached in hundreds of countries, in hundreds of languages by millions of people. Far from being a fantasy, Jesus was simply stating what WOULD happen!
How many other prophecies of his are coming true and will come true? The Kingdom hope is a reality, something we can depend upon.
What an incredibly upbuilding thought from a scripture that I have read dozens of times. I am so grateful to Jehovah for this encouragement!
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