Sermon Tone Analysis

"What is the definition of a cult?"

When we hear the word cult, we often think of a group that worships Satan, sacrifices animals, or takes part in evil, bizarre, and pagan rituals.

However, in reality, a cult can be those things but there is more to it that just that.

In fact, a cult, in the broadest sense of the word, is simply a religious system with particular rites and customs.

In a Christian context, the definition of a cult is, specifically, “a religious group that denies one or more of the fundamentals of biblical truth.”

A cult is a group that teaches doctrines that, if believed, will cause a person to remain unsaved.

A Christian cult will deny one or more of the fundamental truths of Christianity while still claiming to be Christian.

The two most common teachings of Christian cults are that Jesus was not God and that salvation is not by faith alone.

A denial of the deity of Christ results in the view that Jesus’ death was insufficient to pay for our sins.

A denial of salvation by faith alone results in the teaching that salvation is achieved by our own works.

The apostles dealt with cults in the early years of the church: for example, John addresses the teaching of Gnosticism in .

John’s way of testing for godly doctrine was “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (verse 2)—a direct contradiction of the Gnostic heresy (cf.

).

John’s litmus test for godly doctrine was “Jesus Christ has come in the flesh” (verse 2)—a direct contradiction of the Gnostic heresy (cf.

).

2 Jo

The two most well-known examples of cults today are the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

Both groups claim to be Christian, yet both deny the deity of Christ and salvation by faith alone.

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons believe many things that are in agreement with or similar to what the Bible teaches.

However, the fact that they deny the deity of Christ and preach a salvation by works qualifies them as cults.

Many Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and members of other cults are moral people who genuinely believe they hold the truth.

As Christians, our hope and prayer must be that many people involved in cults will see through the lies and will be drawn to the truth of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

"Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses and what are their beliefs?"

The Origins

The sect known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell.

Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study,” and those who followed him were called “Bible students.”

Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called “The Millennial Dawn,” which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah’s Witnesses now hold.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the “Millennial Dawn” movement began distributing their views.

Group members were sometimes disparagingly called “Russellites.”

After Russell’s death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell’s friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the “Millennial Dawn” series, “The Finished Mystery,” in 1917.

That was also the year that the organization split.

Those who followed Rutherford began calling themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The sect known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell.

Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study,” and those who followed him were called “Bible students.”

Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called “The Millennial Dawn,” which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah’s Witnesses now hold.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the “Millennial Dawn” movement began distributing their views.

Group members were sometimes disparagingly called “Russellites.”

After Russell’s death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell’s friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the “Millennial Dawn” series, “The Finished Mystery,” in 1917.

That was also the year that the organization split.

Those who followed Rutherford began calling themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

The sect known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses started out in Pennsylvania in 1870 as a Bible class led by Charles Taze Russell.

PICTURE OF CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL

Russell named his group the “Millennial Dawn Bible Study,” and those who followed him were called “Bible students.”

Charles T. Russell began writing a series of books he called “The Millennial Dawn,” which stretched to six volumes before his death and contained much of the theology Jehovah’s Witnesses now hold.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society was founded in 1886 and quickly became the vehicle through which the “Millennial Dawn” movement began distributing their views.

Group members were sometimes critically called “Russellites.”

After Russell’s death in 1916, Judge J. F. Rutherford, Russell’s friend and successor, wrote the seventh and final volume of the “Millennial Dawn” series, “The Finished Mystery,” in 1917.

That was also the year that the organization split.

Those who followed Rutherford began calling themselves “Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?

Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being.

This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (,, , ).

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience.

This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (; ; ).

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.

What do Jehovah’s Witnesses believe?

The Beliefs

Close scrutiny of their doctrinal position on such subjects as the deity of Christ, salvation, the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, and the atonement shows beyond a doubt that they do not hold to orthodox Christian positions on these subjects.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being.

This contradicts many Scriptures which clearly declare Jesus to be God (,, , ).

we can also see Jesus clearly declared as God in other passages

John

John

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience.

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience.

This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (; ; ).

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.

This contradicts countless scriptures which declare salvation to be received by grace through faith (; ; ).

Titus

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the Trinity, believing Jesus to be a created being and the Holy Spirit to essentially be the inanimate power of God.

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.

Jehovah’s Witnesses reject the concept of Christ’s substitutionary atonement and instead hold to a ransom theory, that Jesus’ death was a ransom payment for Adam’s sin.

How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines?

First, they claim that the church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible into what they call the New World Translation.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine, rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible actually teaches.

The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.

How do the Jehovah’s Witnesses justify these unbiblical doctrines?

First, they claim that the church has corrupted the Bible over the centuries; thus, they have re-translated the Bible into what they call the New World Translation.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society altered the text of the Bible to make it fit their false doctrine, rather than basing their doctrine on what the Bible actually teaches.

The New World Translation has gone through numerous editions, as the Jehovah’s Witnesses discover more and more Scriptures that contradict their doctrines.

The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors.

The governing body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture.

In other words, what the governing body says concerning any scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged.

This is in direct opposition to Paul's admonition to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to be approved by God, so that we need not be ashamed as we correctly handle the Word of God.

This admonition, found in , is a clear instruction from God to each of His children to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught lined up with the Word.

The Watchtower bases its beliefs and doctrines on the original and expanded teachings of Charles Taze Russell, Judge Joseph Franklin Rutherford, and their successors.

The governing body of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is the only body in the cult that claims authority to interpret Scripture.

In other words, what the governing body says concerning any scriptural passage is viewed as the last word, and independent thinking is strongly discouraged.

This is in direct opposition to Paul's warning to Timothy (and to us as well) to study to be approved by God, so that we need not be ashamed as we correctly handle the Word of God.

This warning, found in , is a clear instruction from God to each of His children to be like the Berean Christians, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught lined up with the Word.

There is probably no religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah’s Witnesses at getting their message out.

There is probably no religious group that is more faithful than the Jehovah’s Witnesses at getting their message out.

Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine.

May God open the eyes of the Jehovah’s Witnesses to the truth of the gospel and the true teaching of God’s Word.

Unfortunately, the message is full of distortions, deceptions, and false doctrine.

Again what we are dealing with is TRUTH!

How one perceives truth determines their religious and world view.

Jesus said that the TRUTH shall set you free.