Witnessing to Jehovah Witnesses Cheat Sheet To Prove Christ Is God.
Introduction
I have thought for a very long time on this subject that is up for debate. I have seen many instances online whether in comment sections or in videos or forums this debate on "whether or not Jesus is God and how to prove it." I have spent a long time thinking over various Scriptural Connections and all the passages and I believe I have a short argument that one can use to testify BIBLICALLY that Christ our Lord is God. If you have been wondering why there has been such a long break, I have been working on a passion project of mine and I began a second blog which I believe is linked to on this Blog, if not go check it out → Scriptural Apologetics. This Article (Cheat Sheet) is for Ex-Jehovah witnesses who are trying to bring friends and family members to the truth, and for Apologists, and Christians who want to know this information. If you are reading this on Scriptural Apologetics, check out my other blog → Answering Arianism.
Section 1. The Build Up
This is the build up of passages that you will use before you bring up the passages that shows us that Christ is truly God. Remember a Jehovah witness only uses a handful of Bible Translations that their organization trusts. I will quote from two of them throughout this sheet for you so that depending on who you speak to and which translation they trust more.
4 Who has acted and done this, Summoning the generations from the beginning? I, Jehovah, am the First One; And with the last ones I am the same.”
4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
6 This is what Jehovah says, The King of Israel and his Repurchaser, Jehovah of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but me.
6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
12 Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called. I am the same One. I am the first; I am also the last.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
From the book of Isaiah we see that God, whether called LORD and Jehovah says: "I am the first and the last and there is no God but Me." Clearly this is something that God alone can claim.
Section 2. Why Christ is God (short answer)
A common argument I hear and read is: "If Christ is God why didn't He say 'I am God.'" The problem with this thinking and argument is they assume that for Christ to be God, it must come directly out of His mouth claiming it. Which is hypocritical, because God has not come directly down to each Jehovah witness and claimed to be God, yet they believe words that men wrote on behalf of God. So we will read words written by men on behalf of Christ, and even the Father that show that Christ is God.
6 For a child has been born to us, A son has been given to us; And the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
2 And you, O Bethʹle·hem Ephʹra·thah, The one too little to be among the thousands of Judah, From you will come out for me the one to be ruler in Israel, Whose origin is from ancient times, from the days of long ago.
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah here gives another Messianic prophecy in which he says that the Messiah is from before the beginning of creation from eternity. No angel and beings in Heaven besides God can claim such, yet Christ is said to be eternal from before time and creation.
5 Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although he was existing in God’s form, did not even consider the idea of trying to be equal to God. 7 No, but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form and became human. 8 More than that, when he came as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, yes, death on a torture stake.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Realize the time period that verses 6-7 are speaking of. Saint Paul begins by speaking about Jesus Christ pre-incarnate before the flesh. Saint Paul FILLED WITH GOD's HOLY SPIRIT said that Jesus before He was in the flesh, was existing in God's form. Now, Yes some blasphemers will say that "well Christ said that God is spirit, so that is what Paul meant." But if it was just simply spirit form, why not say that Jesus was in the form of angels, who are also spirits? Because He was above angels before becoming flesh. God's form is beyond understanding and is not created, so Jesus' form before flesh is beyond understanding and was not created? Wow Saint Paul is wrecking it so far. Verse 6 says that when Christ was about to come into flesh, He decided to not remain in equality with God while in the flesh. Meaning He was in equal standing with God before He was incarnate. This explains John 14:28, where Christ WHILE ON EARTH, IN THE FLESH says that the Father is greater then Him. Now to verse 7, notice Christ's authority. He decided what form He would take. He decided to take the form of a servant, a human. A servant to who? To God, His Father while He was on earth. This does not mean that He was not God while on earth, but He was not making it the focus while on earth, His focus and mission was to take our place and face the wrath of God meant for us.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist,
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Here Saint Paul starts off very strong once again. He says that Christ is the image of the INVISIBLE GOD. Again, how can anyone claim that about themselves? That means if you look at Jesus your seeing God who is invisible. And I know that many people will point to the second half of verse 15, where Christ is called the firstborn of creation. They will claim that this proves that Christ is created. Yet that is not even close to what it means. Because verse 16 tells us what it means that Christ is the Firstborn. Verse 16 tells us that being the Firstborn of Creation means that all things were created through Christ, not God the Father alone. But then the end of verse 16 says that all things were created by Christ and for Christ. How can any creature be spoken of like this? And verse 17, Saint Pail really nails the coffin shut, Saint Paul says that Christ existed before ALL THINGS. That means all things created. Meaning Christ has been in eternal existence. And again, By Christ all things exist, not by God the Father alone.
6 But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all of God’s angels do obeisance to him.”
6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
In the hierarchy of the entire creation, there are the animals, humans, angels and God. Notice where Christ is, He is above angels because Angels worship Him. Who can be worshipped but God alone? Apparently Christ can, so how is He not God still?
8 But about the Son, he says: “God is your throne forever and ever, and the scepter of your Kingdom is the scepter of uprightness.
8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Notice that the Father here in Hebrews 1, calls the Son, HIS SON, GOD. Why does the Father call the Son, God.
10 And: “At the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of your hands.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
And here notice, that the Father calls the Son, Lord and says that the Son created the heavens and the earth. I remember Genesis saying that God created the heavens and the earth.
7 You made him a little lower than angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, and appointed him over the works of your hands. 8 All things you subjected under his feet.” By subjecting all things to him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Now, though, we do not yet see all things in subjection to him. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than angels, now crowned with glory and honor for having suffered death, so that by God’s undeserved kindness he might taste death for everyone.
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
And here the writer of Hebrews says that while Jesus was on the earth, He was lower then the angels as a servant. But then we see that EVERYTHING is in subjection to Christ, that is similar to God no? God is above all things, and here Christ is raised to a similar to level.
Now for the longest verse that will show Christ claims to be God directly post ascension.
12 I turned to see who was speaking with me, and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed in a garment that reached down to the feet and wearing a golden sash around his chest. 14 Moreover, his head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame, 15 and his feet were like fine copper when glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth a sharp, long, two-edged sword was protruding, and his countenance was like the sun when it shines at its brightest. 17 When I saw him, I fell as dead at his feet. And he laid his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, 18 and the living one, and I became dead, but look! I am living forever and ever, and I have the keys of death and of the Grave.
12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Saint John appears to be describing God then the One speaks and calls Himself the First the Last, which is a title of God. Then the First and the Last says that He died and became alive. Notice the NWT 2013, the First and the Last says that He is the living one. This is also a claim to being God, [1. Deuteronomy 5:26; 2. Joshua 3:10; 3. 1 Samuel 17:26; 4. 1 Samuel 17:36; 5. 2 Kings 19:4; 6. 2 Kings 19:16; 7. Esther 8(16):16; 8. Psalm 42:2; 9. Psalm 84:2; 10. Isaiah 37:4; 11. Isaiah 37:12; 12. Jeremiah 10:10; 13. Jeremiah 23:36; 14. Daniel 6:20; 15. Daniel 6:26; 16. Daniel 14:5; 17. Daniel 14:6; 18. Daniel 14:24; 19. Daniel 14:25; 20. Hosea 1:10; 21. Matthew 16:16; 22. Matthew 26:63; 23. Acts 14:15; 24. Romans 9:26; 25. 2 Corinthians 3:3 ; 26. 2 Corinthians 6:16; 27. 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 28. 1 Timothy 3:15; 29. 1 Timothy 4:10; 30. Hebrews 3:12; 31. Hebrews 4:12; 32. Hebrews 9:14; 33. Hebrews 10:31; 34. Hebrews 12:22]
“To the angel of the congregation in Ephʹe·sus write: These are the things that he says who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands:
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
8 “And to the angel of the congregation in Smyrʹna write: These are the things that he says, ‘the First and the Last,’ who became dead and came to life again:
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
12 “To the angel of the congregation in Perʹga·mum write: These are the things that he says who has the sharp, long, two-edged sword:
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
18 “To the angel of the congregation in Thy·a·tiʹra write: These are the things that the Son of God says, the one who has eyes like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine copper:
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
We see the One here speaking is the One whom Saint John saw in chapter 1, and verse 18 says that this One is the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
My Final Thoughts
This has been the quick worksheet that I have put together for quick witnessing to Christ being God if you speak to a Jehovah Witnesses who is interested in the topic, or you give the verses to them without explaining the verses to them because they do not accept anyone explaining Scripture to them.
"The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you
and give you peace." ☦
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