Jehovah's Witnesses -- A Study In Fanaticism
The modern cult of "Jehovah's Witnesses" not only denies that the Holy Ghost is God, it also denies that he is a person. "Pastor" Russell said, "But nothing in connection with this narrative in any sense of the word necessitates the thought of a personal Holy Spirit, separate from the Father and the Son ... The Holy Spirit is not a person, but an influence of God exerted by a person." (Studies in the Scriptures, Series 5, p. 210) And "Judge" Rutherford said, "It (the Spirit) does not mean a person or a creature or being, but means the power of Jehovah God, which power is invisible to human eyes. The Holy Spirit otherwise translated "Holy Ghost," therefore means the invisible power of Jehovah, which is entirely devoted to righteousness or holiness." (Riches,. p. 188)
The Bible teaches that the Holy Ghost is a personality, equal in divinity and everlastingness with the Father and the Son. He is always referred to with the personal pronoun, masculine gender, singular number. The Holy Ghost is spoken of by Christ as a person. (John 14:26; 15:26) In John 16:13-15, Christ refers to Him as the "Spirit of Truth" nine times; nine times he uses the personal pronoun, masculine gender, singular number. This can properly be used only of a person. The divine work attributed to the Holy Ghost could be attributed only to God: (1) He reproves, (John 16:18); (2) teaches (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 16:13-15); (3) makes intercession (Rom. 8:26); (4) speaks (Acts 10:19; 20:23; 21:11; I Tim. 4:1); (5) leads (Rom. 8:14); (6) commands (Acts 16:7); (7) has a mind (Rom. 8:28); (8) has power of knowing (I Cor. 2:10, 11); (9) possesses individuality (John 16:7- 11); (10) and has a will (I Cor. 10:11).
As to the divinity of the Holy Ghost, he is equal with the Father and the Son. Whatever is said of the Father and the Son is said also of the Holy Ghost: (1) the Father and Son are life; so is the Holy Spirit (Job 33:4; John 3:5, 6); (2) God and Christ are light; so is the Spirit (I Cor. 2:9-12); (3) God and the Son are love; so is the Spirit (Rom. 5:3-5); (4) God and Christ possess influence; so does the Spirit (Luke 24:46; Acts 6:3; II Cor. 13:14); (5) God and Christ are eternal; so is the Spirit (Heb. 9:14).
The three members of the Godhead God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all mentioned together in Matt. 28:19; Rom. 15:30; and I John 5:7. Throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we see God—the Word— and the Holy Ghost, presented as divine beings, living, speaking, acting, influencing, blessing, reconciling, transforming, loving, and glorifying. There are three divine persons, but one God. The Holy Ghost is not a thing, an influence; he is a glorious person—The Holy Ghost.
Atonement
The "Witnesses" cult teaches that Christ died only for Adam. They teach that Adam sinned and was sentenced to death, and that through him all men are born sinners and thus guilty before God. Hence, they say Christ died for Adam, as a substitute for him to redeem him; and that when Adam is ransomed, then the curse is removed from all men. Thus they teach two false doctrines with reference to the atonement: (1) original sin, and (2) that Christ died only for Adam.
Concerning this "Pastor" Russell said, "One Redeemer was quite sufficient in the plan which God had adopted, because only one had sinned, and only one had been condemned . . . One unforfeited life could redeem one forfeited life, but no more. The one perfect man, "the man Christ Jesus," who redeems the fallen Adam (and our losses through him), could not have been a "ransom" (corresponding to price) for all under any circumstances than those of the plan which God chose. If we should suppose the total number of human beings since Adam to be one hundred billions, and that only one-half of these had sinned, it would require all of the fifty billions of obedient, perfect men to die in order to give a ransom (a corresponding price) for all the fifty billions of transgressors." Studies in the Scriptures, Series 1, p. 133) And "Judge" Rutherford said, "A perfect man Adam had been sentenced to death. The law therefore required a perfect human life. The price for redemption, the satisfaction of the judgment by substitution looking for the release of Adam, must be a life exactly equal to that life which Adam lost by reason of the judgment." (Deliverance p. 161)
In contrast to this, the Bible teaches that each man is responsible for his own soul. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezek. 18:4) If all men are born sinners, and condemned in Adam, this would not be true. That fact that the soul that sinneth shall die also establishes the fact that the soul who would live absolutely sinless would live. Isaiah said, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear." (Isa. 59:2) Man id separated from God not by Adam's sin and iniquity, but by his own. Again Isaiah said, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa. 53:6) Now notice: (1) Each soul dies because of sin. (2) We are separated from God because of our own sin. (3) Christ bears the iniquity for us all. Nothing could be plainer than that.
Paul said that Christ died for him, "The Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20) So Christ died for Paul as well as for Adam. And Paul said that Christ died for the weak brother; "And through thy knowledge shall weak brother perish, for whom Christ died." (I Cor. 8:11) And John declared that Christ had redeemed by his own blood, men "Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Rev. 5:9) So Christ died for Adam, for Paul, for the weak brother, and for men out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. And Paul said Christ died for every man, "That he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (Heb. 2:9) That settles it; Christ died to atone for every man. He died to provide a ransom, an escape, for all who are willing to accept it.