Repentance And Works In Cultic Theology: Part One

By Ron Rhodes

Ron Rhodes earned Th.M. and Th.D. degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is President of Reasoning from the Scriptures Ministries—a discipleship ministry helping Christians become biblically literate. His address is P.O. Box 80087, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688. His email address is RonRhodes@earthlink.net

Introduction

The evangelical community tends to debate gospel issues without referring to the theology of well-known cults. Reviewing the theologies of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ offers a sharp contrast to the true gospel, the gospel of grace. Part 1 examines the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in relation to salvation, repentance, and good works. Part 2 will consider the Latter-day Saints’ gospel.

Salvation according to the Watchtower

Although saying, “Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned,” [1] the February 1, 1996 issue of The Watchtower magazine criticizes a grace-alone, faith-alone view of salvation. Throughout that article interesting details emerge regarding the relationship between salvation and the necessity of good works. According to the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses:

1. salvation is not simple,
2. salvation requires repentance and works,
3. putting up a hard fight for the faith is essential,
4. faith without endurance will not secure eternal life,
5. the gospel includes works,
6. the gospel originally included works,
7. Watchtower Society affiliation is needed for salvation, and
8. salvation is a free gift requiring deep appreciation. [2]

Salvation Is Not Simple

The following dialogue occurs between a ten year-old boy named Johnny and a stranger: [3] Stranger: “Young man, do you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?” Johnny: “Of course I do.” Stranger: “Praise the Lord! … Another soul saved for Christ!” [4] The question is then posed: “Is salvation really that simple? Was Johnny ‘saved’ from the moment he said those words regardless of what he would do for the rest of his life?” [5] To those who understand grace alone by faith alone the answer is obvious: Saying words, even repeating prayers will not save a person, but faith alone in Christ alone for eternal life does save. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not recognize that even a lifetime of good works will not save a person: “So what does ‘accepting Jesus really mean? Is it a one-time act of faith, or is it a continuing way of life? … Can we really accept the benefits of Jesus’ sacrifice without the responsibility of following him?” [6] The article cites Luke 18:18–23; 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 9; and Matthew 10:38 and 16:24, in arguing for its view that salvation is not simple, but requires a lifetime of obeying Jesus.

Salvation Requires Repentance and Works

Watchtower literature continually emphasizes the need to do works for salvation: “Are we following Jesus if we do not at least try to live in harmony with his example? Do we not have to work on making our lives more Christlike? That vital question is rarely, if ever, considered by people who say, as one religious tract does: ‘Come to Christ now—just as you are.’” [7] Perusing other Watchtower writings yields many examples of this kind of works-oriented theology. The April 1, 1947 issue of The Watchtower states, “to get one’s name written in that Book of Life will depend upon one’s works.” [8] Another issue of this magazine speaks of “working hard for the reward of eternal life.” [9] This view of salvation has implications for child-training: “Parents who love their children and who want to see them alive in God’s new world will encourage and guide them toward goals of increased service and responsibility.” [10] The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ plan of salvation perceives repentance and works as primary requirements. The February 1, 1996 issue cites 1 Corinthians 5:11–13 and Ephesians 4:17–5:5 in support of this theory. [11]

Putting Up a Hard Fight for the Faith Is Essential

The same issue of The Watchtower explains its view that a person must “put up a hard fight for the faith” to gain salvation. It suggests: “Yes, even believers ‘preserved for Jesus Christ’ have to exercise care not to fall away from the true faith.—Jude 1–7.” [12] The same article says, “Surely we would not want to agree with one of America’s best-known evangelists, who said that you do not have to ‘clean up, give up, or turn around.’—Contrast Acts 17:30; Romans 3:25; James 5:19, 20.” [13] It asserts that “a hard fight for the faith” is required to attain eternal life.

Faith without Endurance Will Not Secure Eternal Life

It would seem obvious from the foregoing context that The Watchtower asserts that faith alone is not sufficient to save a person. To quote the February 1, 1996 issue: “Many people have been told that ‘believing on Jesus’ is a single act and that our faith does not have to be strong enough to prompt obedience…. Jesus did not say that people who begin the Christian course are saved. Instead, he said: ‘He that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved’ (Matthew 10:22).” [14] It cites other passages in an effort to prove the insufficiency of faith alone: 1 Corinthians 9:24; 1 Peter 4:17; and James 1:22. [15]

The Gospel Includes Good Works

The Watchtower magazine declares that Jesus’ concept of the gospel included works. Citing Revelation 1:1, 4 and 2:2–23 as evidence: “Did Jesus say that since the people in these congregations had already ‘accepted’ him, that was sufficient? No. He praised their deeds, their labor and their endurance and spoke of their love, faith, and ministry … and that they would be rewarded ‘individually according to [their] deeds.’” [16] As further evidence suggesting that the gospel according to Christ included works, the author cites Matthew 16:24–25 and Acts 6:8–12; 7:57–60. [17] They provide this example of an approved work: “And such faith had been demonstrated in our time by the hundreds of Jehovah’s Witnesses who died in Nazi concentration camps rather than violate their Bible-trained consciences.” [18]

The Gospel Originally Included Good Works

According to the February 1, 1996 issue of The Watchtower, first-century Christians understood the gospel to include the necessity of good works. “We thus need to ‘keep working out our own salvation with fear and trembling.’—Philippians 2:12; 2 Peter 2:20.” [19] Regarding the apostle Paul, “[T]his hardworking apostle wrote: ‘I pummel my body and lead it as a slave, that, after I have preached to others, I myself should not become disapproved somehow.’—1 Corinthians 9:27; Acts 9:5, 6, 15.” [20]

Watchtower Society Affiliation Is Needed for Salvation

Salvation requires maintaining union with Christ (through Watchtower Society affiliation): “However, we can fail, for Jesus said: ‘If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is cast out as a branch and is dried up.’—John 15:6.” [21] According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, affiliation with the Watchtower Society is essential. The Watchtower magazine urges readers to “come to Jehovah’s organization [the Watchtower Society] for salvation.” [22] According to the December 1, 1981 issue, “unless we are in touch with this channel of communication [the Watchtower Society] that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” [23] Moreover, “to receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization [the Watchtower Society] and serve God as a part of it.” [24]

Salvation Is a “Free Gift” Requiring Deep Appreciation

In light of the preceding points, how can the Watchtower Society claim that salvation is a free gift? The February 1, 1996 issue says, “Salvation is a free gift from God. It cannot be earned. Yet it does require effort on our part. If someone offered you a very valuable gift and you did not show enough appreciation to pick it up and take it with you, your lack of gratitude might prompt the giver to present it to someone else. It is a free gift, but we must demonstrate deep appreciation for it.” [25]

Grace Is an Opportunity to Earn Salvation

Jehovah’s Witnesses speak of the need for grace and faith in Christ to be saved. And they speak of salvation as a “free gift.” However, according to Watchtower literature, grace and faith are not enough for a person to have eternal life. Moreover, within the framework of Watchtower theology, salvation is a “free gift” in name only. As former Jehovah’s Witness Duane Magnani explains: “What the Watchtower means by ‘free gift’ is that Christ’s death only wiped away the sin inherited from Adam. They teach that without this work of atonement, men could not work their way toward salvation.” [26] The prospect of working toward salvation ultimately resolves itself theologically for the Jehovah’s Witness in the insufficiency of the cross: “But the ‘gift’ of Christ’s ransom sacrifice is freely made available to all who desire it. In other words, without Christ’s sacrifice, the individual wouldn’t have a chance to get saved. But in view of His work, the free gift, which removed the sin inherited from Adam, the individual now has a chance.” [27]

In reading Watchtower literature, it becomes evident that grace is more or less the opportunity for human beings to “work out” or earn their salvation. It does not involve a free gift of salvation. The Society teaches that obeying “God’s commandments… can mean an eternal future.” [28] Indeed, “in all areas of life, we should be prepared to give our very best. We should not be half-hearted about such vital matters. What is at stake is Jehovah’s approval and our being granted life.” [29] We are told: “To become a friend of God, you must obtain a good knowledge of Bible truth (1 Timothy 2:3, 4), put faith in the things you have learned (Hebrews 11:6), repent of your sins (Acts 17:30, 31), and turn around in your course of life (Acts 3:19).” [30] “[W]orking out” salvation requires faithfulness in distributing Watchtower Society literature door to door. The Watchtower magazine says, “God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others.” [31] The Watchtower magazine asks: “Will you meet this requirement by telling others about God’s Kingdom?” [32]

A Gratuitous Misinterpretation of Philippians 2:12

Although The Watchtower gratuitously misinterprets many Scriptures in order to maintain a theology of works, Philippians 2:12 is exemplary in rationalizing the mistaken notion that grace is merely an opportunity to earn salvation. The New World Translation renders Philippians 2:12, “Consequently, my beloved ones, in the way that you have always obeyed, not during my presence only, but now much more readily during my absence, keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” [33] Commenting on this verse, the Watchtower book, Reasoning from the Scriptures says: “This [book of Philippians] was addressed to ‘the saints,’ or holy ones, at Philippi, as stated in Philippians 1:1. Paul urged them not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured.” [34] No security of salvation exists in Watchtower literature. The book, Let God Be True, says that before members of Christ’s body can receive their heavenly inheritance, “they must be set apart more and more from this world and to the holy service of Jehovah God, demonstrating their dependability by carrying out their dedication faithfully until death.” [35] Each Jehovah’s Witness must diligently study God’s Word (and Watchtower literature), apply all that they learn to daily life, and seek at all times to be led by God’s holy spirit. [36] They must be holy even as God is holy. They must be entirely devoted to God and his righteousness. It is in keeping with all this that Jehovah’s Witnesses are admonished to keep working out their salvation with fear and trembling. [37]

Lorri MacGregor, a former Jehovah’s Witness, offers a revealing comment: “I was told [that ‘working out your salvation’] consisted of ‘publishing the good news of God’s kingdom’ by selling their publications door-to-door, attending five meetings a week, and meeting numerous other quotas.” [38] Salvation is works-oriented from beginning to end. Likewise the Watchtower Society teaches that Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot know for sure if they have salvation during this life. [39] Indeed, only a constant, unbending stance against sin and total obedience to God (through obedience to the Watchtower Society) gives the Jehovah’s Witness any hope of salvation. Even then, the Jehovah’s Witness is told that if he or she should fail during the future millennium, he or she will be annihilated. However, if he or she faithfully serves God throughout this 1000- year period, eternal life may finally be granted. [40]

Understanding Philippians 2:12

Because Philippians 2:12 is such a pivotal verse in Jehovah’s Witness theology, the question ought to be asked: What does Philippians 2:12 mean when it says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling? Did Paul really urge the Philippians “not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured”? [41] Not at all! This verse has nothing to do with assurance of final salvation for individual believers. As a backdrop to Paul’s epistle, the church in Philippi was plagued by: (1) rivalries and individuals with personal ambition (Philippians 2:3–4; 4:2), (2) the teaching of Judaizers who said that circumcision was necessary for salvation (3:1–3), (3) perfectionism: the view that one could attain sinless perfection in this life (3:12–14), and (4) the influence of antinomian libertines, who took excessive liberty in how they lived their lives, ignoring or going against God’s law (3:18–19). [42] Because of such problems, this church as a whole was in need of salvation in the temporal, experiential sense, not in the eternal sense. They already possessed eternal life. Therefore, the apostle Paul called upon the Philippians to keep on working out (continuously) the “deliverance of the church into a state of Christian maturity.” [43]

The Greek word for work out is the compound verb katergazomai, meaning achievement or bringing to a conclusion. Paul called the Philippians to solve all the church’s problems, thus bringing corporate salvation (or deliverance) to a state of fruition. Paul determined not to permit things to continue as they were. The Philippians were to “work it out to the finish.” [44] In the phrase work out your own salvation, the words your own are emphatic in the Greek. As Bible scholar H. C. G. Moule notes, “the Apostle is in fact bidding them ‘learn to walk alone,’ instead of leaning too much on his presence and personal influence. ‘Do not make me your proxy in spiritual duties which must be your own.’” [45] This was all the more necessary, since the apostle Paul was absent from the church (Philippians 2:12a).

The Philippians were to accomplish their appointed task with an attitude of fear and trembling. This does not mean Paul wanted the Philippians to have terror in their hearts as a motivation. Rather, fear and trembling is an idiomatic expression pointing to great reverence for God and a humble frame of mind. Given the pride and irreverence of many in Philippi, a renewed sense of humility and reverence for God would help them overcome the problems they were experiencing in the church (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5).

Lastly, the apostle Paul boldly sets forth what theologians call eternal security: a truth also revealed in his other epistles.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son… and whom He predestined, these He also called, and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified (Romans 8:29–30).

The progression from predestination to glorification is clearly unbroken. In the original Greek, the tense of the word glorified indicates that the believer’s future glorification is so certain that it can be said to be already accomplished. In Ephesians 4:30, Paul writes that believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption. A seal indicates possession and security. “The presence of the Holy Spirit, the seal, is the believer’s guarantee of the security of his salvation.” [46] Thus, Paul assures all Christians that they will, in fact, be with God in heaven for all eternity.

Conclusion

As seen time and time again in The Watchtower magazine, the theology of the Jehovah’s Witnesses systematically includes repentance and works as essential elements in salvation. The mistaken notion of grace as a mere opportunity to earn salvation is often propagated through a wholly gratuitous misinterpretation of Philippians 2:12. Teaching that Paul urged the Philippians “not to be overly confident but to realize that their final salvation was not yet assured” [47] is wrong. This misinterpretation not only goes against the whole of the book of Philippians, but runs contrary to the rest of Scripture as well (Psalm 37:23; 138:8; John 5:24; 6:37–40; 10:27–30; 17:8–11; Romans 5:1–5; 1 Corinthians 1:8–9; 2 Corinthians 1:21–22; Ephesians 1:4–5; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Timothy 1:12; 4:18; 1 Peter 1:3–5; 5:10; 1 John 2:1–2; 5:10–18; Jude 1). Part 2 of this article will examine the Latterday Saints’s theology of salvation, repentance and good works.

—To Be Continued—

Notes

1. The Watchtower, 1 February 1996, 7.
2. All scripture references within quotations from The Watchtower magazine come from the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ translation of the Bible, The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1961, 1981, 1984).
3. The Watchtower, 1 February 1996, 3. Page 7 of the same article indicates that Johnny remained a Jehovah’s Witness for more than sixty years.
4. Ibid., 3.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid., 5.
8. Idem, 1 April, 1947, 204.
9. Idem, 15 August 1972, 491.
10. Idem, 15 March 1962, 179.
11. Idem, 1 February 1996, 4.
12. Ibid., 7.
13. Ibid., 5.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid., 6.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid., 7.
22. Idem, 15 November 1981, 21.
23. Idem, 1 December 1981, 27.
24. Idem, 15 February 1983, 12–13.
25. Idem, 1 February 1996, 7.
26. Duane Magnani, The Watchtower Files (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1985), 232.
27. Ibid.
28. Making Your Family Life Happy (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1978), 182–83.
29. The Watchtower, 1 May 1979, 20; cf. idem, 1 May 1980, 13.
30. Your Decision to Serve God, Watchtower Society: www.watchtower.org .
31. The Watchtower, 15 February 1983, 12–13.
32. Ibid.
33. The New World Translation.
34. Reasoning from the Scriptures (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1989), 358.
35. Let God Be True (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1946), 200; Reasoning from the Scriptures, 301.
36. The Watchtower Society does not capitalize Holy Spirit.
37. Ibid., 302.
38. Lorri MacGregor, Coping with the Cults (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1992), 19–20.
39. Life Everlasting—In Freedom of the Sons of God (Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1966), 398.
40. John Ankerberg and John Weldon, The Facts on Jehovah’s Witnesses (Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 1988), 18.
41. Reasoning from the Scriptures, 358.
42. The Ryrie Study Bible (Chicago: Moody, 1986), 1622.
43. Robert H. Mounce, “Philippians,” in The New Testament and Wycliffe Bible Commentary, 4th ed. by E. F. Harrison (Chicago: Moody, 1971), 766.
44. The NIV Study Bible, ed. Kenneth Barker (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1985), 1806.
45. H. C. G. Moule, Studies in Philippians, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1893; reprint, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1977), 72.
46. The Ryrie Study Bible, 1614.
47. Reasoning from the Scriptures, 308.