Phone Line Transcript April 1-30, 2000

Memorial of Jesus' Death

Thank you for calling SOS. This presentation will run from April 1-30/2000.
Today, we will be asking the question, “Would it be appropriate for you to
partake of the Emblems this year as you attend the annual Memorial of Jesus
death?”

Quote: They were all persons who were being invited to share with Christ in
his Heavenly Kingdom. All who partake of the bread and the wine today should
also be persons whom Christ brings into that covenant for a Kingdom. End of
quote: From the book “Reasoning from the Scriptures” 1985 pg. 267

Wow! Does this mean that you as a dedicated Jehovah’s Witness are not
included in the new covenant? Is it true that what Jesus said at Luke 22:19
& 20 does not apply to you?

And I quote: “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, ‘this is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘this cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.’” End of quote:

Apparently then, according to the WT, unless you are one of the 144,000, the
new covenant does not apply to you!

Quote: There is only a remnant of such spiritual sons living, and these are
the ones who properly partake of the emblems. This, then, accounts for the
vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses being observers and not partakers.
End of quote: From the WT of Feb. 15th 1985 pg. 17.

Sadly then, according to the WT, it is only the “little flock” who are
included in the new covenant with Jesus Christ, and not the “other sheep”.

But, What does Jesus say about this? At the 10th chap. from the book of John
starting at the 1st verse

I Quote:
“Most truly I say to you, he that does not enter into the sheepfold through
the door but climbs up some other place, that one is a thief and a
plunderer.”

Then at vs. 7 Jesus adds: “Most truly I say to you, I am the door of the
sheep. All those that have come in place of me are thieves and plunderers;
but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the door, whoever enters
through me will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasturage.”

Now drop down to vs. 16: “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”
End of quote:

You see; there is only one door and ultimately one flock with one shepherd.
The “little flock” is Jesus’ own people, namely, the Jewish believers. As
for the “other sheep” or the Gentiles, Jesus will bring them also into his
fold through the very same door!

You must be asking yourself, “But how can the Jews be the “little flock” if
they were rejected or “cut-off” by Jehovah God as His people since they
denied Jesus as the Messiah?”

Well, that is a very excellent question. But I must remind you that all
Jesus’ disciples were Jews who believed that He was in fact the Messiah.
Furthermore, in the book of acts @ chap. 2 vs. 41 we can plainly see that
about 3000 Jews accepted Jesus as Messiah, and at vs. 47 the Lord added to
the number of Jewish believers daily. So, did all of Israel reject Jesus as
Messiah? Is Jehovah God really finished with Israel? These questions are
begging from you and I satisfactory answers.

Well, for our answers, why don’t we see how the most famous Jewish Pharisee,
the Apostle Paul, responded to these very questions in the book of Romans @
chap. 11. If you can, please read this entire chapter. Paul’s insight in
this chapter is truly remarkable! I will try to high-light some of Paul’s
main points starting @ Romans chap. 11 vs. 1 and I quote:

“I ask then, God did not reject his people, did he? Never may that happen!
For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of
Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he first recognized.”

Vs. 11 Paul continues, “Therefore I ask, did they stumble so that they fall
completely? Never may that happen!”

Now drop down to vs. 20 where Paul compares The Roman Gentile believers to
wild olive branches and compares the Jews to natural olive branches and

I quote:
“All right! For [their] lack of faith they were broken off...For if God did
not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.”

Vs. 24: “For if you were cut out of the olive tree that is wild by nature
and were grafted contrary to nature into the garden olive tree, how much
rather will these who are natural be grafted into their own olive tree! For
I do not want you to be ignorant of this sacred secret, in order for you not
to be discreet in your own eyes: that a dulling of sensibilities has
happened in part to Israel until the full number of people of the nations
has come in, and in this manner all Israel will be saved.” End of quote:

You see, the Jews, or the natural olive branches in Romans 11 are Jesus’
“little flock” in Luke 12:32 and in John chapter 10; whereas the Gentile
believers, or, the wild olive branches of Roman 11 are the “other sheep” in
John 10. There will be only one flock of sheep and one shepherd, just as
there is only one garden olive tree where both the wild olive branches and
the natural olive branches will be grafted into the same olive tree. That
olive tree is Jesus Christ.

So back to our original question: “would it be appropriate for you to
partake in the Lord’s Supper this month?”

Well, only you can make that decision for yourself.

But I will leave you with a few passages from the inspired word of God.
Please remember Jesus’ petition to his Father @ John chapter 17 vs. 20,
where Jesus, in prayer, made requests concerning those who believe in him
and who put faith in him through “their word”; the words of his apostles:

1. One body there is, and one spirit, even as you were called in the one
hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and
Father of all [persons], who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians Chapter 4: vs. 4-6

2. “Everyone believing that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God.” 1st
letter of John chapter 5 vs. 1

3. 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 me. I am the
vine you are the branches... John chapter 15 vs.4 & 5.

4. “(Vs. 8,9) So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.
However, you are in harmony not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’
s spirit truly dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit,
this one does not belong to him.(vs. 11) If, now, the spirit of him that
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus
from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit
that resides in you.(vs.14, 15) For all who are led by God’s Spirit, these
are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear
again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons by which spirit we cry
out: ‘Abba Father!’” Romans Chapter 8 vs. 8,9,11,14,15.

5. In answer Jesus said to him, “Most truly I say to you, Unless anyone is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John chapter 3 vs. 3

6. Jesus answered, “Unless anyone is born from water and spirit, he cannot
enter into the kingdom of God.” John chapter 3 vs. 5.

7. Accordingly Jesus said to them, “Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat
the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in
yourselves. He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting
life.”
John: chapter 6 vs. 53 & 54.

8. “For I received from the Lord that which I also passed on to you: The
Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it and said: ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in
remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in
remembrance of me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you
proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
1 Corinthians: chapter 11 vs. 23-26.

Please join us any time. Next month, SOS will be probing the question: “Did
Jesus die on a torture stake or did he really die on the cross?”

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members.tripod.com/sosoutreach.

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