What is the difference between Jehovah's Witnesses and born again Christians?

Answer 1

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES-BORN AGAIN?

I will start the discussion by giving the perspective of Jehovah's Witnesses on the subject of being born again:

Jesus said at John 3:3 "Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Here is a quote from the Awake magazine, published by Jehovah's Witnesses, February 8,1988, page 26, from the article "Who Are 'Born Again'?"

"Clearing Up thePuzzle"

" What did Jesus have in mind when he spoke about being "born from water and spirit"? Birth means beginning. A new birth means a new beginning. In the case of Jesus' disciples, their first step toward being born again began once they repented of their sins, turned away from a wrong course, and were baptized in water. Starting at Pentecost 33 C.E., in response to such action, Jehovah gave them what Peter referred to as "a new birth to a living hope . . . reserved in the heavens." (1 Peter 1:3, 4; 3:21) Jehovah's holy spirit implanted in them a conviction that they would eventually live with Jesus Christ in heaven. This gave them a whole new outlook on life-a new beginning.

" Was this simply an emotional religious experience? No. God's holy spirit made them into something entirely new, "a new creation." (2 Corinthians 5:17) When they were first born as humans, they were sinful children of Adam, inheriting all the imperfection that he passed on to his descendants. Now, upon being "born again," these disciples obtained a clean standing before God. How? The merits of Jesus' sacrifice were applied in their behalf. Thereby, God viewed them as righteous even while they were still imperfect humans. (Romans 3:25, 26; 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 6:11) More than that, Jehovah now recognized them as his sons. The apostle Paul shows how: "For all who are led by God's spirit, these are God's sons . . . God's children." (Romans 8:14, 16) They were now accepted as part of God's heavenly family.

" And there was more. Paul explains again: "If, then, we are children, we are also heirs: heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:17) These spiritual sons of God now had the prospect of inheriting what Christ Jesus was going to inherit-kingly power in heaven. Jesus revealed to the apostle John the number of persons who would be corulers with him over the earth-144,000. (Revelation 7:4; 14:1-3) Then he went on to show John that these favored disciples "will be priests of God and of the Christ, and will rule as kings with him for the thousand years."-Revelation 20:6."

They are two separate religions,each with different interpretations of The Bible.

For more information on Jehovah's Witnesses,visit http://www.watchtower.org

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah\'s_Witnesses

For more information on born again Christianity,visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_again_Christianity

ANSWERThe belief of Jehovah's Witnesses is that all those who will be in heaven with Jesus are, of neccessity, "born again."

To see what they do in heaven, Jehovah's Witnesses refer to scriptures such as Revelation 20:6 where it says that those who go to heaven have the job of serving as kings and priests. Kings and priests over what? Revelation 5:10 answers that they will "rule over the earth."

Scriptures such as Psalms 37:9-11,29 and Matthew 5:5 indicate that there will be people living forever in peace on earth. That was God's original purpose when he created mankind and placed him in the Garden of Eden in the first place. It was only because of the rebellion of two humans and a spirit creature later known as Satan the Devil, "the original serpent," that mankind is not living forever in perfection on a paradise earth right now.(Genesis chapters 1-3; Revelation 12:9) Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God's purposes never change as Isaiah 55:11 says that anything God purposes will always eventually come true. We believe that soon those who are "born again" will be with Jesus in heaven, ruling as kings and priests over earthly subjects of God's Kingdom (Matthew 6:9,10), who will be living forever in the paradise that God originally intended the earth to be. So then, two hopes, one heavenly, one earthly. Jesus called these two groups a "little flock" and "other sheep."(Luke 12:32 ;John 10:16) Those of the "little flock" are born again, since their hope is to be in heaven ruling with Christ. Those of the "other sheep" are not "born again" since their hope is to stay right here on earth and live forever in paradise under God's Kingdom rule.

Everything- they are completely different. Born Again Christianity is an umbrella term for individuals professing a certain spiritual condition rather than a distinct christian denomination. They usually associate with various fundamental evangelical groups so the differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and Born Again Christians would therefore be the same as those between Jehovah's Witnesses and most most other charismatic evangelical church movements:

Both JW and BAC are Christian groups that hold the bible to be the cornerstone of their faith (inerrancy of scripture) but they vary in their specific interpretation of biblical dogma.

** Born Again Christians believe the expression need to be born again applies to all Christians

Jehovah's Witnesses believe this term applies only to those potential members of the Kingdom which they believe to be a heavenly government of 144,000 members

**BAC believe in "speaking in tongues" as a manifestation of Holy Spirit

Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in present day miraculous speaking in tonges and hold that what is practiced in such charasmatic churches is far removed from the first century model (1 Cor 13: 8).

**Born Again Christians believe in a visible return of Christ to reign on earth

Jehovah's Witnesses believe in an invisible return of Christ to reign from heaven (Act 1: 4, 5).

** BAC believe their salvation is assured and that "once saved" they are "always saved"

JW believe that salvation is dependent on continuous faith in Jesus (Mat 24:13)

**Born Again Christians are Trinitarian;

JWs are non trinitarians (Deut 6:4)

**Born Again Christians believe in eternal hellfire

Jehovah's Witnesses believe "hell" to be the common grave the "fire" connected to it to be symbolic of total destruction (Math 10:28)

** BAC generally see no objection to involvement in politics and some of their prominent members are deeply involved in political movements

Jehovah's Witnesses remain completely neutral as to politics (John 17:16)

Answer 2

The term "born again" when applied to a person typically refers to someone who recognizes and accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior, one who has suffered and paid the price for that individual's sins and transgressions. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as Mormons) make the same profession of belief in Jesus Christ through the ordinance of baptism by immersion, wherein they also make a earnest promise to obey God's commandments and serve others. Thus, the term "born again" can also rightly be applied to Mormons, although that term is not commonly used by Mormons themselves.