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What does the Bible really teach? PDF

225 Pages·2005·5.031 MB·English
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B I B L E T E A C H WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH? b h -E WHAT DOES THE BIBLE Really TEACH? THIS BOOK IS THE PROPERTYOF PhotoCredits:˛Page7:CourtesyAmericanBibleSociety ˛Page19:Earth:NASAphoto˛Pages24-5:WHOphotobyEdouardBoubat ˛Pages88-9:Explosion:BasedonUSAFphoto; child:BasedonWHOphotobyW.Cutting (cid:2)2005 WatchTowerBibleandTractSocietyofPennsylvania AllRightsReserved PUBLISHERS WatchtowerBibleandTractSocietyofNewYork,Inc. Brooklyn,NewYork,U.S.A. 2009Printing Thispublicationisnotforsale.ItisprovidedaspartofaworldwideBible educationalworksupportedbyvoluntarydonations. Unlessotherwiseindicated,Scripturequotations arefromthemodern-language NewWorldTranslationoftheHolyScriptures—WithReferences WhatDoestheBibleReallyTeach? English(bh-E) MadeintheUnitedStatesofAmerica CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE IsThisWhatGodPurposed?(cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 3 1. WhatIstheTruthAboutGod?(cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 8 2. TheBible—ABookFromGod (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 18 3. WhatIsGod’sPurposefortheEarth? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 27 4. WhoIsJesusChrist? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 37 5. TheRansom—God’sGreatestGift (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 47 6. WhereAretheDead? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 57 7. RealHopeforYourLovedOnesWhoHaveDied (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 66 8. WhatIsGod’sKingdom? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 76 9. AreWeLivingin“theLastDays”? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 86 10. SpiritCreatures—HowTheyAffectUs(cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 96 11. WhyDoesGodAllowSuffering? (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 106 12. LivinginaWayThatPleasesGod (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 115 13. AGodlyViewofLife(cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 125 14. HowtoMakeYourFamilyLifeHappy (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 134 15. WorshipThatGodApproves (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 144 16. TakeYourStandforTrueWorship (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 154 17. DrawClosetoGodinPrayer (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 164 18. BaptismandYourRelationshipWithGod (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 174 19. RemaininGod’sLove (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 184 Appendix (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) (cid:2) 194 Is This What God Purposed? READ any newspaper. Look at televi- sion, or listen to the radio. There are so many stories of crime, war, andterrorism!Thinkaboutyourown troubles.Perhaps illness or the death ofalovedoneiscausingyougreatdis- tress.Youmayfeellikethegoodman Job, who said that he was “drenched withmisery.”—Job10:15,TheHolyBi- bleintheLanguageofToday. Askyourself: ˇ IsthiswhatGodpurposedforme andfortherestofmankind? ˇ WherecanIfindhelptocopewith myproblems? ˇ Isthereanyhopethatwewillever seepeaceontheearth? The Bible provides satisfying an- swerstothesequestions. 4 THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT GOD WILL BRING ABOUT THESE CHANGES ON THE EARTH. “Hewillwipeouteverytear fromtheireyes,anddeathwillbenomore, neitherwillmourningnoroutcrynorpain beanymore.”—Revelation21:4 “Thelameonewill climbupjustasastag does.”—Isaiah35:6 “Theeyesofthe blindoneswillbe opened.” —Isaiah35:5 “Allthoseinthememorial tombswill...comeout.” —John5:28,29 “Noresidentwillsay: ‘Iamsick.’” —Isaiah33:24 “Therewillcometobe plentyofgrainontheearth.” —Psalm72:16 6 WhatDoestheBibleReallyTeach? BENEFIT FROM WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES Do not quickly dismiss what is presented on the preceding pag- es as mere wishful thinking. God haspromisedtobringthesethings about, and the Bible explains how hewilldoso. But the Bible does more than that. It provides the key to your enjoying a truly satisfying life even now. Think for a mo- ment about your own anxieties and trou- bles.Theymayinclude money matters, family problems,lossofhealth,or thedeathofalovedone.The Biblecanhelpyoutodealwith problemstoday,anditcanprovide reliefbyansweringsuchquestionsasthese: ˇ Whydowesuffer? ˇ Howcanwecopewithlife’sanxieties? ˇ Howcanwemakeourfamilylifehappier? ˇ Whathappenstouswhenwedie? ˇ Willweeverseeourdeadlovedonesagain? ˇ HowcanwebesurethatGodwillfulfillhis promisesforthefuture? IsThisWhatGodPurposed? 7 The fact that you are reading this book shows that you would like to find out what the Bible teaches. This bookwillhelpyou.Noticethattheparagraphshavecor- respondingquestionsatthebottomofthepage.Millions have enjoyed using the question-and-answer method when discussing the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. We hope you will too. May you have God’s blessing as younowenjoythethrillingandsatisfyingexperienceof learningwhattheBiblereallyteaches! GET TO KNOW YOUR BIBLE THERE are 66 books and letters that make up the Bible. These are divided into chapters and verses for easy refer- ence.Whenscripturesarecitedinthispublication,thefirst number after the nameindicatesthe chapterof the Bible bookorletter,andthenextreferstotheverse.Forexample, the citation “2 Timothy 3:16” means the second letter to Timothy,chapter3,verse16. YouwillquicklybecomefamiliarwiththeBiblebylook- ingupthescripturescitedinthispublication.Also,whynot startaprogramofdailyBiblereading?Byreadingthreeto fivechaptersaday,youcanreadtheentireBibleinayear. CHAPTER ONE What Is the Truth About God? Does God really care about you? What is God like? Does he have a name? Is it possible to get close to God? HAVEyou ever noticed thewaychildrenask questions? Many start asking as soon as they learn to speak. With wide,eagereyes,theylookupatyouandasksuchthings as:Whyistheskyblue?Whatarethestarsmadeof?Who taughtthebirdstosing?Youmaytryhardtoanswer,but itisnot alwayseasy.Evenyourbest answer mayleadto yetanotherquestion:Why? 2Childrenarenottheonlyoneswho askquestions.Aswegrowup,wekeep asking.Wedothisinordertofindour way,tolearnofdangersthatweneed to avoid, or to satisfy our curiosity. Butmanypeopleseemtostopasking questions, especially the most impor- tant ones. At least, they stop searching fortheanswers. 3Thinkaboutthequestion onthecoverofthisbook,the questionsraisedinthepreface, 1, 2. Whyisitoftengoodtoaskquestions? 3. Whydomanystoptryingtofindanswersto thequestionsthatmattermost? WhatIstheTruthAboutGod? 9 or those at the beginning of this chapter. These are someof themostimportantquestionsyoucanask.Yet, many people have given up trying to find the answers. Why? Does the Bible have the answers? Some feel that itsanswersaretoohardtounderstand.Othersworrythat askingquestionscouldleadtoshameorembarrassment. Andsomedecidethatsuchquestionsarebestlefttoreli- giousleadersandteachers.Whataboutyou? 4Very likely you are interested in getting answers to life’s big questions. No doubt you sometimes wonder: ‘Whatisthepurposeoflife?Isthislifeallthereis?What isGodreallylike?’Itisgoodtoasksuchquestions,andit isimportantthatyoudonotgiveupuntilyoufindsatis- fying, reliable answers.The famousteacher Jesus Christ said:“Keeponasking,andit willbegivenyou;keepon seeking,andyouwillfind;keeponknocking,anditwill beopenedtoyou.”—Matthew7:7. 5Ifyou“keeponseeking”foranswerstotheimportant questions, you will find that the search can be very re- warding.(Proverbs2:1-5)Despitewhatotherpeoplemay havetoldyou,thereareanswers,andyoucanfindthem —in the Bible. The answers are not too hard to under- stand.Better yet,theybringhopeandjoy.Andtheycan helpyoutoliveasatisfyingliferightnow.Tobegin,letus consideraquestionthathastroubledmanypeople. IS GOD UNCARING AND HARDHEARTED? 6Manypeoplethinkthattheanswer tothatquestion isyes.‘IfGodcared,’theyreason,‘wouldnottheworldbe 4, 5. Whataresomeofthemostimportantquestionswecanaskin life,andwhyshouldweseektheanswers? 6. WhydomanypeoplethinkthatGodisuncaringwhenitcomes tohumansuffering?

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