World Religion / Mormonism/Jehovah Witness
Notes
Transcript
Good Lies and Great Truth - Review from last week
Good Lies and Great Truth - Review from last week
Turn to Galatians 1:6-9
We will get there in a moment
1 John 4:1-3
1 John 4:1-3
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Last Wednesday
Islam
A good lie contains some truth
A lie about God
A lie about a prophet
A lie about eternity
Why bring this up, why are we talking about this, well it is because we want you to be able to see the other religions / denominations / cults that are trying to sweep up people from Bible believing churches who are not grounded in the truth. I know of many who were raised and have gone to this church that have switched to Catholicism, Mormonism. People I went to school with at Baptist Bible college that have switched because they were not grounded in the truth.
This week I will be discussing about Mormonism and Jehovah Witnesses
Stand as we read
Galatians 1:6-9
Galatians 1:6-9
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
Have a seat / Lets pray
It is disheartening today that we must even address false religions or cults that directly contradict God’s Word.
That’s why we teach from the Bible week after week and urge you to study it daily—it reveals what to believe, why to believe it, and how it transforms lives.
Just as we saw last week with Islam, where a lie twists some truth, Mormonism and Jehovah’s Witnesses do the same.
Why It Matters Focus on truth:
Why It Matters Focus on truth:
Know Scripture to test everything
Protect and Defend your faith:
The New Testament constantly warns about “another gospel” and false teaching
Galatians 1:6-9
Paul marveled that believers abandoned God's grace in Christ for a counterfeit "gospel—which is really no gospel at all" (vv. 6-7).
Paul is shocked at the Galatians' quick turn to a false message, stressing there's no other real gospel—even if preached by an angel.
False teachers twisted it by adding works by undermining salvation by faith alone.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
He doubles down: Anyone—even us apostles or a heavenly angel—preaching a contrary gospel is accursed (v. 8-9).
This echoes the prior talk on cults like Mormonism, which add extra revelations beyond Scripture.
How to respond
Daily Bible time builds discernment.
Reach others: Share grace lovingly, not argumentatively.
Stay grounded in God’s unchanging Word—it’s your anchor.
Partial truths results in false teaching
Partial truths results in false teaching
Mormonism began in the 1820s with Joseph Smith
As a teenager, Smith said he was confused by the competing Protestant denominations and prayed to know which church was right.
Smith later reported that as a boy he saw a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ, who told him that existing churches were in error and that he should not join any of them.
In 1823 he said an angel named Moroni appeared to him and told him about a set of golden plates buried in a nearby hill, containing the record of ancient peoples in the Americas.
The plates were only seen by two other people and then were returned to the angel Moroni after finishing the book of Mormon.
The preaching of another gospel
The Bible explicitly warns against adding to or subtracting from God's Word, Mormonism introduces extra scriptures.
Book of Mormon - equal to the Bible
Doctrine and Covenants - first edition 1835 / updates 1844,1876,1981
Adding new revelation as the church grew. issues grew
Blacks - revelation in 1978
Pearl of Great Price
Officially they say all four are the word of God
Joseph Smith said the Book of Mormon is “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion
Deuteronomy 4:2: "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you".
Revelation 22:18-19: "If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life...".
This means that there is a high price to pay for tampering with the Book of Revelation specifically, and the Scriptures in general. Which Mormons will say it refers to just the book of Revelation
Use this with Galatians 1:6-9 to show how groups adding "new revelations" (e.g., Book of Mormon) violate Scripture's sufficiency. God's Word is complete—no extras needed.
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses originated in the late 19th century from a Bible study group in Pennsylvania led by Charles Taze Russell, emerging from the Adventist movement.
Russell, a former Presbyterian doubting mainstream doctrines, formed Bible Students in the 1870s to analyze scripture independently.
In 1879, Russell launched Zion's Watch Tower magazine to spread teachings rejecting hellfire, the Trinity, and soul immortality.
After Russell's 1916 death, Joseph Rutherford took over, centralizing the Watch Tower Society and adopting the name Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931 from Isaiah 43:10 ““You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
Key doctrinal differences from the New World Translation
Key doctrinal differences from the New World Translation
The NWT denies the Trinity and hellfire
John 1:1: NWT says "the Word was a god," implying Jesus as a created divine being, while others read "the Word was God."
Colossians 1:16-17: Adds "other" ("all other things") to suggest Jesus created everything except himself, absent in Greek originals.
Torture stake vs. cross: Replaces "cross" with "torture stake" throughout, rejecting crucifixion imagery.
Identifies Jesus as Michael - the first created being
Birthdays and Holidays
Birthdays are avoided due to only two Bible mentions involving pagan rulers with negative outcomes (Genesis 40:20-22;( Pharaoh's birthday // the baker, Matthew 14:6-11; (King Herod’s birthday // John the Baptist), implying disapproval, plus pagan origins.
Many holidays are rejected for roots in false worship; lack of biblical command, and focus on Jesus' death only (Luke 22:19); Communion.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do have a communion‑type observance (The Lord’s Evening Meal), They teach that the bread and wine are only for the small group of “anointed” Christians who are in the new covenant and have the hope of going to heaven as part of the 144,000.
They celebrate only what scripture explicitly supports
Anti - Military // Saluting the Flag
Blood Transfusions
Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions because they view blood as sacred, representing life that belongs to God
“When any person eats an animal which dies or is torn by beasts, whether he is a native or an alien, he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and remain unclean until evening; then he will become clean.
Who is God?
LDS: Father was once a man on another world, progressed to godhood,
God the Father (Elohim) was once a man on another world who progressed to godhood by obedience to the laws and ordinances of his God.
He is now an exalted man with a body of flesh and bones, He is married to a Heavenly Mother; together they beget spirit children in a pre‑mortal realm
JW: One God, Jehovah, a single person; Trinity rejected; God is spirit but not Triune.
Biblical: God is eternal, uncreated, and has always been God (Psalm 90:2); one Being in three Persons—Father, Son, Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19); no other gods before or after Him (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6–8); God is spirit (John 4:24).
Jesus Christ
LDS: First‑born spirit child of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother; spirit‑brother of Lucifer and all humans; some early leaders taught the Father physically fathered Jesus with Mary; atonement emphasized in Gethsemane as well as cross. Jesus is the first‑born spirit Son; Lucifer is his younger spirit brother; the rest of humanity are their spirit siblings
JW: Jehovah’s first creation; the archangel Michael who became the man Jesus; not Almighty God; died on a stake and was raised as a spirit creature, not bodily. Out of context from Bible
Biblical: Eternal Son of God, second Person of the Trinity, uncreated and fully God (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16–17; Hebrews 1:8–12); conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary (Luke 1:35); fully God and fully man (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5–11); died on the cross for our sins and rose bodily in a glorified body (1 Peter 2:24; Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15).
Humanity, Sin, and Pre‑existence
LDS: since All humans are literal spirit children of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, no classic inherited guilt, Adam’s fall mainly a step in God’s plan.
JW: No human pre‑existence; we begin at conception; Adam’s sin brought death but they reject classic original sin and spiritual death.
Biblical: Humans are created by God; no spirit‑child existence before conception (Genesis 1–2; Psalm 139:13–16); Jesus is eternal God, Satan a created fallen angel (Colossians 1:16; Revelation 12); in Adam all sinned and died (Romans 5:12–19; Ephesians 2:1–3); we are born sinners needing new birth.
Salvation and Grace
LDS: Problem is imperfection and need for cleansing/preparation for exaltation; “saved by grace, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23); salvation by grace alone through faith alone is rejected; exaltation requires obedience to laws, ordinances, temple rites, covenants, and faithfulness. In a heavenly council, the Father presented a plan of salvation; Jesus endorsed it, Lucifer opposed it, and a spirit‑world conflict ensued
JW: Must obey Jehovah, follow the organization, and prove loyal to survive Armageddon; salvation is by faith plus works and loyalty; good works and endurance are necessary.
Biblical: We are dead in sin, under God’s wrath, unable to save ourselves (Ephesians 2:1–3); saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:21–26); Christ’s once‑for‑all substitutionary death fully pays for sin—nothing can be added (Hebrews 9:12, 26–28; 10:14; John 19:30; Galatians 2:21).
Heaven, Hell, and the Future
LDS: Three degrees of glory—celestial, terrestrial, telestial; faithful LDS can be exalted to godhood, have spirit children, and rule their own worlds.
Salvation in LDS usage often means resurrection and a degree of glory for all, but exaltation (becoming a god) is only for worthy Latter‑day Saints who:
Join the LDS Church and remain faithful.
Pay full tithing and keep church laws and ordinances.
Receive a temple recommend and participate in temple rituals (baptism for the dead, endowment, celestial marriage)
JW: Only 144,000 go to heaven; most faithful JWs live forever on a restored paradise earth; the lost are annihilated.
Biblical: Believers will be with Christ forever (Philippians 1:23; Revelation 21–22); the lost face eternal conscious judgment (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 20:11–15);
How to present the Truth
How to present the Truth
To communicate the gospel clearly
Good communication requires knowing what the other person hears when you use certain words (God, sin, grace, Jesus, salvation, heaven, etc.).
To defend the faith and protect the church
The New Testament constantly warns about “another gospel” and false teaching (Galatians 1:6–9; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1).
Understanding error actually sharpens our grasp of truth—like learning counterfeit bills helps you recognize real currency more quickly.
To grow deeper in our own faith
Seeing how other religions answer big questions (God, sin, salvation, destiny) forces us to think more clearly about what the Bible actually teaches..
This kind of study, done with an open Bible, often strengthens confidence that Christianity best explains reality and human need.
To model truth with grace
Peter tells us to give a reason for our hope “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15); careful study keeps us from shallow, harsh, or dismissive responses.
When we know what others really believe, we can affirm whatever partial truths align with general revelation, then gently show where those beliefs fall short of the gospel..
Application
Respond with a gracious heart posture
Pray for them
Be patient
Be consistent
Share scripture to give truth to shed doubt on what they believe
God’s eternal, unchanging deity (Psalm 90:2).
God’s uniqueness and the impossibility of other gods (Isaiah 43:10; 44:6–8).
Salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5).
The full deity of Christ (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1).
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Response
When they come knocking - be ready to share truth with them
Ask God to give you boldness
Pray for those you know who are Mormon and Jehovah Witness, Islamic
May you need to know who Christ is - may you need a relationship with Him
