Jesus Christ in the Theology of Jehovah's Witnesses: His Person, Work, and What That Means for the Salvation of Mankind

Abstract

“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he” (Matthew 22:42)? This work directs that question toward Jehovah’s Witnesses. Its main considerations are: 1) Who is Jesus Christ? 2) What did Christ do for us during his time on earth? 3) What does Christ’s work mean for us and our salvation?

First, Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ was Jehovah’s first creation and the instrument through whom he created the rest of existence. As a created being, Christ is not true God; he is merely the Son of God, otherwise known as Michael the Archangel. When Christ came to earth, he became nothing more than a perfect man, the equivalent of Adam before the fall. After his death, Christ once again was raised to heavenly existence as Michael the Archangel, who will reign over all creation as millennial king.

Second, Christ came to earth to demonstrate how to be a faithful Witness of Jehovah, and he died an innocent sacrificial death to cancel out Adam’s sin for humanity.

Third and finally, Christ’s cancelling Adam’s sin means that during his millennial reign the vast majority of humanity will receive one full and fair opportunity to prove to Jehovah their worthiness for everlasting life – the same opportunity Adam had in Eden.