Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Eph.2:1 You were made alive when you were dead in transgressions and sins, 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience; 2:3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Many have and still do after reading the apostles Paul's words here think by good effort, and knowledge of the scriptures they can put away the filth of their flesh. Specifically, sin, sins of the world by a knowledge of God's word the bible.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:17 For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}

However, lets be pointed here, whom exactly was this letter written to, and for, and for what purpose? It was written to a new creation, created new from what? The answer qualifies our understanding. If you are a sinner, your are not a new creation; are those words shocking to you? These brothers and sister were birthed into a sinless spirit being Christ Jesus as his body members. Such birthing was not done through their will or efforts, it was done by God whom worked mightily towards them and in them.

1 John 3:9 Whoever is born of God doesn't commit sin, because his
seed remains in him; and he can't sin, because he is born of God.

This one point changes our entire understanding of Paul's words here, putting us under grace so we may walk in love. Paul was not punishing these brothers and sisters with works of law. He was not telling them you must work harder in putting away the filth of your own flesh. No! He was informing them of the truth of how they became a sinless person in Christ, and for them to stop living in works of laws thinking they had made themselves righteous before God, and man!

2 Timothy 3:16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and{or, Every writing inspired by God is} profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.

They were not better, or superior to others, they were blessed by God's kindness through unmerited favor. They should humbly accept this kindness while offering it to others. They should not want to be like the world they had been deliver from, or think like the world calling God's ways its ways. They above all had received God's love, why would they boast as though they earned a righteousness by their own good efforts in keeping the law? This is the discipline Paul is giving them, not do more works of law, and become more righteous by your good efforts, not at all!

Romans 3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.

Romans 5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous.

1Cor.1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

They were a new creation not made with human hands, washed clean by the blood of Christ and regenerated by God's holy Spirit they could not put away the works of the flesh by any laws on earth, God must do that for them. They were once children of wrath just as the rest are, they could not deliver themselves out of sin, why were they preaching to others they had, or must?

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Romans 3:28 We maintain therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God.

Romans 4:4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as debt.

The light was given them as a gift of God's love, they had been re-birthed into a new mother, who is the Jerusalem above, declared sinless, yes, which means “righteous”, for Christ is indeed righteous and they were now reborn into his righteous life. This truth should caused them to honor all men, for they too were once ignorant and foolish walking just as the world does in darkness.

Titus 3:1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
3:2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
3:3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
3:4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
3:5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
3:6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; 3:7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Although. they sinned, just as we all do, their sins were not being accounted against them, not because God is weak and condones sin, but because God paid a great price in delivering them from death in their the flesh, and its judgment of sin, by re-birthing them into a spirit being, that is, into Christ Jesus.

Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"} 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.
8:3 For what the law couldn't do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; 8:4 that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace;
8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.
8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.
8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn't have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his.

If they remained in God's love, Christ Jesus life, above, and walked as they were being treated in Christ they would remain in God's love forever. But should they hate their brother as Cain did Abel, by judging him worthy of death, a cutting him off from the unmerited kindness of our Lord and Savor they were not in Christ, but death promoting false religion.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Revelation 12:11 They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death.

1 John 4:21 This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

1 John 4:16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not being a hearer who forgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.

James 4:11 Don't speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

See also: www.nu-truth.com