| By now you have learned many good things from the Bible. This knowledge should lead to your cultivating a Christian personality. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Such knowledge is essential in order for you to gain eternal life. (John 17:3) However, others also need to hear the good news so that they too can be saved. All true Christians must witness to others. It is God's command. (Romans 10:10; 1 Corinthians 9:16; 1 Timothy 4:16) |
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. |
By now you have learned many good things from the Bible. I would like to point out that scripture passages are given as references and no Bible was provided to me when the tract was given. To state that the reader has learned from the Bible is quite misleading, as the person may not yet have even opened a Bible. Also, given the scriptural inconsistencies and lack of contextual analysis, any learning the person has done to this point is only "what the Jehovah’s Witnesses preach," not "what the Bible says." This knowledge should lead to your cultivating a Christian personality. First, the knowledge of instructions in the Bible does not lead to a personality change. Second, a Christian personality, by this definition, is a set of actions and an outward show of activity, not an actual inward change of heart. Such knowledge is essential in order for you to gain eternal life. By this point in the tract, the reader has been given 3 different ways to gain eternal life: through good deeds, through faith in Christ, or through knowledge of the Bible. No attempt has been made to tie these actions to each other - each was stated as the way to salvation. Which is it? Or is there some fourth option which combines the other 3 into a complete picture of what is necessary for salvation? Now this is eternal life: that they may know you... The scripture used to support the statement that knowledge of the Bible is essential for salvation actually says that knowing God is the key to eternal life. Note the difference between "knowing about God" and "knowing God". The first is factual, the second is personal. Also notice the difference between "knowing what the Bible teaches" and "knowing God". Again, the first is factual and the second is personal. This scripture passage is speaking to a personal relationship with God, not a factual study of the Bible, a list of rules about behavior or a list of attributes of God. |
| You can start by sharing with those near you the good things you are learning. Tell them to your family, friends, schoolmates, and workmates. Be kind and patient as you do so. (2 Timothy 2:24, 25) Remember that people often look at someone's conduct more than they listen to what he says. So your good conduct may draw others to listen to the message you tell them. (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 16) |
2 Timothy 2:24, 25 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth... Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. 1 Peter 3:1, 2, 16 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. ... keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. |
Remember that people often look at someone’s conduct more than they listen to what he says. So your good conduct may draw others to listen to the message you tell them. I think that this statement sums up the entirety of this tract. In essence, it says, "Look good in other people’s eyes." While this is certainly important for holding up the integrity of the church, it is more important to be in a relationship with God and to love others. Furthermore, as sinners, we cannot perfectly hold up a public image. As Christians, we are called to repent - we need to repent because we sin. Trying to make others think that we do not sin will conflict with our actions and our message. Acknowledging our own fallen state, however, will show our neighbors that we are not so different from them - we just have the joy that comes from forgiveness for our short-comings. This is a valuable witnessing tool - if my friends know that I sin and that I am a Christian, they are forced to question my beliefs. In this questioning, I am given the opportunity to explain God’s forgiveness for the likes of myself, and they may then feel that they are able to claim this forgiveness as well. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not saying that Christians ought to try to sin in order to show the world what forgiveness means. What I am trying to say is that we should not try to give people false images of ourselves or make people think that there is a standard of behavior that is required of them before they can be saved or become Christians. |
| In time, you may qualify to begin preaching with the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. This is an important step in your progress. (Matthew 24:14) What a joy it would be if you were able to help someone else to become a servant of Jehovah and gain eternal life! (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20) |
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy. |
This is an important step in your progress. Progress toward what? And, as pointed out in 1 Corinthians 12:4-31, not everyone should aspire to "preach". Each person has a unique set of spiritual gifts. Each person should communicate with God and ask Him for guidance as to what sort of work He has in mind for them. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached... The text of the tract implies that this statement is a command rather than a passive observation. |
