AGUEST SAID
Quote:
Just as the anointed “branches” of the “true vine” must remain in union with Christ, the “other sheep” must remain in close union with “the faithful and discreet slave,” Christ’s anointed “brothers.” Only thus can they hope to ‘inherit the Kingdom prepared for them from the founding of the world.
And they are LIARS in this, dear Crim (peace to you!). My apologies for my... mmmmm... "zeal" here, but this a critical issue. Because their teaching is a GROSS misuse of Christ's words recorded at Matthew 25:31-40. First, one must remain in "close" union with "the FDS" (as they use that term) but only "union" with Christ? Sure, right. Second, they only receive the kingdom by remaining in union with "the FDS" (as they understand that term?). NOTHING in those verses speak to remaining in union, close or otherwise, with Christ's anointed brothers. It speaks of how one must TREAT Christ's brothers.
The UNION... must be with Christ:
“
I am the true vine, and my Father is the cultivator. Every branch in me not bearing fruit he takes away, and every one bearing fruit he cleans, that it may bear more fruit. YOU are already clean because of the word that I have spoken to YOU. Remain in union with me, and I in union with YOU. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, in the same way neither can YOU, unless YOU remain in union with me. I am the vine, YOU are the branches. [color=#0040FF]He that remains in union with me, and I in union with him, this one bears much fruit; because apart from me YOU can do nothing at all.
If anyone does not remain in union with me, he is cast out as a branch and is dried up; and men gather those branches up and pitch them into the fire and they are burned. If YOU remain in union with me and my sayings remain in YOU, ask whatever YOU wish and it will take place for. My Father is glorified in this, that YOU keep bearing much fruit and prove yourselves my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me and I have loved YOU, remain in my love.
If YOU observe my commandments, YOU will remain in my love, just as I have observed the commandments of the Father and remain in his love."[/color] John 15:1-10
What commandments? Well, one is:
"
Keep doing this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
Doing what? The "thing" they lyingly keep telling those "other sheep" they should NOT be doing:
"He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me, and I in union with him." [b]John 6:56
Oh, but that only applies to the "144,000", right? The "little flock" and not the "other sheep"? That's NOT what Christ is recorded to have said:
“And
I have other sheep,
which are not of this fold; those also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock,
one shepherd." John 10:16
"
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them,
and they follow me. And I give them everlasting life..." John 10:27
The OTHER sheep belong to Christ, too - hence, his words, "I HAVE other sheep." Not, "Someone else has some other sheep." Or "They have other sheep." He said HE had other sheep... and that HIS sheep (i.e., ALL of them - the little flock AND other sheep):
1. Listen to HIM
2. Follow HIM
3. Are ONE flock... with ONE shepherd
4. Must be and stay in union with him
5. By eating his flesh and drinking his blood
Because he is the Fine Shepherd who gave his life... on behalf of ALL of his sheep.
The "hired man"... the WTBTS and those like them... can't and don't give their lives on behalf of the sheep, whether of the little flock (Jews, which constitute only TWO tribes of the "sons of Israel" - Revelation 7:5, 8) OR other sheep (which includes those from the "nations" the REST of the tribes "from among the sons of Israel", AS WELL AS "a great crowd from EVERY nation, tribe, tongue, and people" - Revelation 7:4-9; 5:9, 10
By teaching this lie, however, that those other sheep, the Samaritans (Israel) and the non-Israelite nations... should NOT eat from the Tree of Life (Christ, the TRUE Vine)... they are, in essence, "shutting up the kingdom of the heavens before men." Because they are not going in themselves. Matthew 23:13
For those who need it, I hope this helps, truly!
Again, peace to you, all!
A slave of Christ, the Tree [of Life] whose "leaves" (flesh) are FOR the the CURING... OF THE NATIONS... and NOT just the little flock,
SA