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(Cont. from Page 791). | 
    
 792. 
"DO NOT HANDLE, NOR TASTE, 
NOR TOUCH."   (COL 2:21-23). 
     
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 x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
Ministers who             
prepare converts for  everlasting death.    ► 
x 
x 
x 
x 
Self-willed.              ► 
x 
Having a specious 
appearance.          
 ►  | 
    
     
      There were during Jesus presence on earth 
      men of a certain kind that still exist among society today. Manifest by 
      their works, they are the sort that traverse land and sea to make a 
      convert like themselves, but have lost sight of true love, justice, mercy 
      and faithfulness. Once they have made a convert, they proceed to make them 
      fit only for everlasting death. 
      (Matt 
      23:15). This obviously takes time. Firstly, to persuade a new 
      convert that their apostate teachings and examples are entirely 
      acceptable, and then to induce them to implement these apostate teachings 
      and examples in their own lives to make them "a subject for 
      Ge.hen'na". This slow process of deviation from the true faith is 
      according to the operation of satan, taking great pains to achieve the 
      utmost 
      deception. (2 Thess 2:9). What evidence should we look for so that this 
      kind can be identified? In Colossians 2:21-23 it says they promote 
      the "commands and teachings of men" with an 
      "appearance of wisdom in a self-imposed form of worship and mock 
      humility". Men of this sort like to delegate responsibility to 
      others, to display mock humility by overtly greeting people publicly 
      at congregation meetings, or carry out some public duty so as to appear 
      righteous before men and exude an air of wisdom.  (See Matt 6:1 & 23:5-8).  | 
   
  
    | 
     x 
    Serving satan 
    not Jehovah.           ►  | 
    
     
      Sadly, to obey the "commands and 
      teachings of (these) men" removes from 
      congregation members the 
      opportunity to develop spiritually and show true love voluntarily. 
      Instead, they are enslaved to the ones delegating these 
      so-called 'righteous works'.  (2 Peter 2:19).  | 
   
  
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Love is shown in 
    deed and truth.       ►  | 
    
     
      True Christians must be living examples of 
      Christ-like conduct, performing helpful loving deeds voluntarily from 
      their hearts, not performing public duties with a view to acquiring 
      authority over others to "shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before 
      men". 
      (Matt 23:13). The JW 
      teaching that calling from house to house with the "good news" 
      is in itself showing love is untrue, for this is a command 
      from Jesus to his disciples for our salvation.  (Matt 28:19,20)  
      (Rom 10:10).  | 
   
  
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 x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
Lacking loving 
Christian 
unity.      ►  | 
    
     
      1 John 
      3:17,18 makes this abundantly clear, for it teaches that "love 
      must not be a matter of words or talk; it must be genuine, and show itself 
      in action" (NEB)
      "in deed and truth". (NWT). 
      We cannot love merely with the tongue (preaching). The Word of God gives 
      many examples of how we may show love, but having this knowledge and 
      merely passing it on to others is not of itself 
      showing love. Verse 17 teaches that the love of God is not in us if we see 
      a brother or sister in need but shut up our hearts against them. If you 
      say, ""Go in peace, keep warm and well fed," but you do not give 
      them the necessities for their body, of what benefit is it? Thus, too, 
      faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself."  (From James 2:15 17).  | 
   
 
(Cont. on Page 793). 
14/1/77. 
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