If you ask a Jehovah’s Witness, how can I be saved, chances are you’ll be met with a puzzled look, rather like a deer caught in the headlights. That’s because Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe in salvation.

According to the Watchtower, a person must:

1. Study with Jehovah’s Witnesses, usually at least 6 months.
2. Attend all meetings
3. Go out door to door with Watchtower magazines
4. Associate with the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
5. Study for baptism
6. Answer 100+ baptism questions
7. Get baptized
8. Continue attending all meetings, conventions and going out door to door until Armageddon
9. Continue faithful during the 1,000-year reign of Christ
10. Continue faithful while Satan is let loose “for a little while”

Only then is a Jehovah’s Witness saved. Until then, it’s a perpetual state of probation, always working hard of the organization, never assured of eternal life. How different that is than the promises found in God’s word!!

So, the question is, is salvation found by means of faith, or by means of an organization? What does the bible say?

1. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NOT of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8, 9 NKJV
2. So, they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,you and your household.” Acts 16:31 NKJV
3. Salvation is found in no one else,for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
4. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3 NKJV
5. if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,you will be saved. 10:9
6. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30, 31.
7. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Does the Watchtower Organization teach the same thing? While on the surface they may say these things to the public, what is actually printed is something quite different. Note below, what their organization declare is necessary for salvation:

According to the Watchtower Organization, Feb. 15, 1983, p. 12, there are four requirements for salvation as taught by the Watchtower magazine. Please check out the list.

1. Jesus Christ identified a first requirement when he said in prayer to his Father: “This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) Knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ includes knowledge of God’s purposes regarding the earth and of Christ’s role as earth’s new King. Will you take in such knowledge by studying the Bible?
2. Many have found the second requirement more difficult. It is to obey God’s laws, yes, to conform one’s life to the moral requirements set out in the Bible. This includes refraining from a debauched, immoral way of life. 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10; 1 Peter 4:3, 4.
3. A third requirement is that we be associated with God’s channel, his organization. God has always used an organization. For example, only those in the ark in Noah’s day survived the Flood, and only those associated with the Christian congregation in the first century had God’s favor. (Acts 4:12) Similarly, Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it.
4. The fourth requirement is connected with loyalty. God requires that prospective subjects of his Kingdom support his government by loyally advocating his Kingdom rule to others. Jesus Christ explained: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth.” (Matthew 24:14) Will you meet this requirement by telling others about God’s Kingdom?

You may notice the first two qualifications are in accord with God’s word, and such they are. Notice however points 3 and 4. Did you notice that the watchtower points to itself as necessary for salvation? Where do we find this in Scripture? Simple answer is we don’t!  Have you ever come across a scripture saying we must be members of a certain church in order to attain salvation?

Now the watchtower is well aware that to point to any man or organization for salvation is idolatry. Notice the following quotes, made in the same month and same year: 

1. “We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry-be it worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol or the imputing of salvation to a person or an organization.   Watchtower Nov. 1, 1990 page 26

2.  “They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation.” Kingdom Ministry 1990 Nov p.1

Here the watchtower has broken its own rule. For the public, the watchtower has what appears to be a very Christian teaching, but the Kingdom Ministry, which is only for those Jehovah’s witnesses who engage in the door-to-door activity, the Watchtower says the organization is necessary for salvation. Didn’t the watchtower just say this was idolatry?  Why then are they leading eight million people straight into idolatry, making them guilty of  breaking God’s law ? This was not a new teaching as can be seen by the following quotes?

1. Come to Jehovah’s organization for salvation. Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1981 page 21

2. “Where should your faith be placed-in a religious organization or in God?” Wt. Jan               15, 1970 pg. 37

As you can see from their quotes, the watchtower says both we must place our faith in God, and we must belong to the Watchtower Organization, even though the statements contradict each other.  So who will you believe and put faith in? God’s inspired word?? Or the words of an uninspired, imperfect organization?

Take heed therefore, to pay attention to, and obey the word of God. Here is what God’s word says:

1. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3 NIV

2. This is what the Lord says:

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who draws strength from mere flesh
and whose heart turns away from the Lord. Jer. 17:5 NIV

So do not put your trust in man, for they cannot save you, regardless of their claims! Even if they should say, Salvation is by means of following me! There is only one path that leads to salvation, that is by means of Faith in the Son of God, our Messiah, our Redeemer, our Savior. There is no other!

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12