About Us

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Most people are familiar with the Bible, or with some of the books in it, or at least with some of the stories and figures in books of the Bible. All of the most well-known Christian groups accept (27) New Testament books and letters. There are differences among Catholics, Protestants, and Eastern Orthodox groups where it concerns which books belong in the Old Testament Bible books. Christian Witnesses of Jah include people who have been raised in association with each view of the Old Testament. However, as a group we recognize the same (39) Old Testament books as Protestants, Catholics accept (46) while the Eastern Orthodox Church accepts the same Old Testament books as the Catholics plus an additional (6) books and one additional Psalm.  

The reason Christian Witnesses of Jah accept the same Old Testament books in the Bible as the Protestants is because we have evaluated each book, as well as those in the Catholic and Eastern Church's Old Testament Bibles. After doing so we have concluded the books of the Protestant Old Testament are the most textually credible and historically reliable writings. Therefore, while we frequently use and cite the other Old Testament books from the Catholic and Eastern Church Old Testaments, we do not accept them as authoritatively equal to the (39) books of the Protestant Old Testament. For an example of how the Old Testament books in addition to the Protestant Bible are inferior both in terms of textual support and historical accuracy, watch the video, "PROOF the Bible Does Not Teach Creation Ex Nihilo - Neither Does 2 Maccabees 7:28."

We accept all other ancient writings outside of the (39) Old Testament book and the (27) New Testament books of the Protestant Bible to be relevant, and at times extremely helpful. But we only accept them as reliable where they agree with the (66) Bible books.

Belief in God, "one God, the Father" of the Bible (1 Corinthians 8:4-6), is our primary belief. Christian Witnesses of Jah also believe reliable science and the Bible, properly understood, are in agreement. The Bible and science do not contradict each other. For example, reliable science repeatedly proves life only comes from already existing life. We observe this every day, many times per day. There are no exceptions. 

Therefore, since life is here now it must also be eternal because, scientifically, something has to have always been alive in order for life to be here now, or any other time. It's the same with matter, only we believe God is eternal life and energy, which converts into matter, consistent with the Bible's teaching all things came "out of the Father," versus created out of nothing, which is scientifically impossible. -- Isaiah 40:26; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6.

We believe this already existing, eternal life is also intelligent based on the vast amount of evidence showing cosmic and geologic systems and earth's life forms have utility, a useful function or purpose. We can see the same utility not only in existing life, but also in prehistoric life forms that have been discovered. This eternal, intelligent life that gave life to life is what Christian Witnesses of Jah call "God." 

We further identify this "God" in English as "Jah" (YH) and as "Jaho(h)" (YHW / YHWH), or as Yah and Yaho(h) in Hebrew. To learn more about the biblical God Jah's name see below under "God's Name. For additional reasons about why we identify the biblical God as the eternal, intelligent life who gave life to life, see here.

Christian Witnesses of Jah believe Jesus was a real historical person, who was born as a Jew and who was killed by the Romans because of the religious leaders in his day. We believe Jesus' life and death were foretold by God in the Genesis account where God spoke of a "seed" who would bring an end to the "serpent" who deceived Eve and, in so doing, tempted Adam to sin against God as well. This betrayal of God in Eden for no reason other than Eve's and Adam's own selfish desires brought death to them and to their children. It is the "seed" God said would "crush" the Devil that Christians believe is the foretold Messiah or Christ.

The reason Christians identify Jesus of the first century with the biblical "seed" God promised in Genesis 3:15 is because of both the historical evidence showing Jesus lived and died as the New Testament describes, and the pre-Christian Old Testament evidence which foretells of things uniquely fulfilled in Jesus. To read about the best historical, non-biblical evidence that Jesus was a real historical person like the New Testament describes, see the article, "Non-Biblical Evidence for the Historicity of Jesus Christ" (12/03/2018), and watch the video, "Non-Biblical Evidence for Jesus’ Historicity" (10/13/2019).

As for the pre-Christian evidence we believe points to Jesus as the biblical Messiah, this includes pre-Christian texts dated to a time long before Jesus was born. Christian Witnesses of Jah have an ongoing video series which presents the pre-Christian evidence that Jesus is the Biblical Messiah. Here is a list of the videos in this series and the texts analyzed which support our belief about Jesus:

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Psalm 2:2-9 & 4Q246 (10/14/2023)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Malachi 3:1-3 - Part 2 (01/23/2022)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Isaiah 7:14 (12/12/2021)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Isaiah 11:1-12 (06/27/2021)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Psalm 16:10 (06/20/2021)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Malachi 3:1-3 - Part 1 (12/20/2020)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Isaiah 6, 52 & 53 (John 12:41) (12/18/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Genesis 3:15 (11/17/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Psalm 40:6-9 (10/07/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Psalm 110:1-7 (09/02/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Isaiah 9:6-7 (07/28/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Deuteronomy 18:18-19 (06/23/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Psalm 22:16-18 (06/09/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Zechariah 12:1-3, 7-12 (06/02/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Isaiah 53 (05/19/2019)

Pre-Christian Evidence Jesus is the Biblical Messiah: Micah 5:1-3 (05/12/2019)

Finally, the Jewish temple was destroyed in 70 CE and there are no genealogical records available anymore to prove the lineage of the foretold Messiah, as there were in the days of Jesus (see Matthew 1:1-18; Luke 3:23-28). Therefore, when all of the historical, pre-Christian, and post-Christian evidence is considered we believe Jesus of Nazareth is the one whom the Bible foretold as the Messiah or Christ, the Anointed One whom God sent to save us in the name of his God Jaho(h). -- Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-12; Micah 5:1-4; John 3:16; 5:43.

There are (6) places in the New Testament where The Golden Rule is presented. Christian Witnesses of Jah follow The Golden Rule in order to remain loyal to Jesus' teaching and because it gives us a means of determining how to treat or to love others that, if followed correctly, keeps us free from hypocrisy and unfair or abusive relationships. Here are the (6) accounts containing The Golden Rule with brief comments under each one. The following translations are from Greg Stafford's forthcoming The Great Message Bible:

Matthew 22:35-40

Now the Pharisees heard that he silenced the Sadducees, so they came together around him and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question in order to test him, "Teacher, what command is the most important one in the entire Law?" Then Jesus said to him, "You must love Lord [Jaho(h)], your God, with your all of your heart, and with all of your life, and with all of your mind. This is the great and first command. But the second one is like the first, namely, 'You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.'"

Here Jesus takes the "great and first command" from Deuteronomy 6:5 and the "second" one from Leviticus 19:18. Jesus says the second command is "like" the first or the most important command "in the entire Law."

Mark 12:28-31

Then came one of the grammarians who heard them as they were arguing. Seeing that Jesus answered them well the grammarian asked him, "Which command is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The most important command is, 'You must hear, Israel, Lord [Jaho(h)] our God, Lord [Jaho(h)] is one. And you must love Lord [Jaho(h)] your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your complete mind, and from your entire strength.' The second most important command is this, 'You must love the person near you [or, 'your neighbor'] as yourself.' There is not another command greater than these two." 

Here Jesus basically answers the same question we read from Matthew's account, quoted previously. But at the end of Mark's account Jesus combines both the first and the second commands. Then he says together "these two" are "greater than" any other command.

Luke 10:25-28

Suddenly, a certain lawyer got up from where he was sitting in order to test Jesus, saying, "Teacher, by doing what will I inherit everlasting life?" Then Jesus said to him, "What has been written in the Law? How do you read openly when answering this question?" Then the lawyer answered and said, "'You must love Lord [Jaho(h)] your God from your whole heart, and with all of your soul, with all of your strength, and with all of your mind, and you must love your neighbor as yourself.'" So Jesus said to him, "You answered correctly. Do what you just said, and you will live."

In this account Jesus is asked, not about which command is "first" or "the most important," but about how to "inherit everlasting life." Jesus answers this question by asking for the questioner's position according to what is "written in the Law." The lawyer responds to Jesus with the same two greatest commands of the entire Law which Jesus gave in Matthew and Mark. Jesus affirms the lawyer's answer and adds, "Do what you just said," namely, the two greatest commands about loving God completely and your neighbor as yourself, "and you will live." 

Romans 13:8-10

You must not feel obligated to anyone for anything except love for each other. For the one who loves another has completed the Law. Indeed, note the following: "You must not commit adultery"; "you must not murder"; "you must not steal"; "you must not over-desire something." If there is some other commandment it, too, is brought together in this one saying, "You must love the one next to you [or, ‘your neighbor’] as you love yourself." Love does not bring about what is evil to a neighbor. Therefore, love is that which completes Law. 

The apostle Paul, formerly Saul, wrote the above to Christians in Rome in the first century. He cites several well-known Law commands and 'brings them together' with any "other commandment" into "one saying." That one saying is the "second" greatest command according to Jesus, "love the one next to you," or "your neighbor as you love yourself."

Galatians 5:14

For the whole Law has been fulfilled in one saying, namely, "You must love your neighbor [or, 'the one next to you'] as yourself." 

Similar to what Paul wrote to the Romans, he tells the Galatians that "the whole Law" is fulfilled "in one saying." That saying is once again the "second" greatest command according to Jesus, "You must love your neighbor," or "the one next to you as yourself."

James 2:8

If, however, you are fulfilling a royal law according to the sacred writing, namely, "You must love the one near you [or, 'your neighbor'] as yourself," then you are living the right way. 

James was a son of Joseph and Mary and so also a half-brother of Jesus. In his letter quoted above James describes the "second" greatest command according to Jesus as a "royal law." He also speaks of those who 'fulfill' it as "living the right way."

Christian Witnesses of Jah believe salvation comes to those who believe Jesus is the sent-forth Messiah, the Son of God, who gave his perfect human life as "the last Adam" to restore our relationship with God as the promised "seed" (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 11:1-12; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 John 4:14; 1 Timothy 2:5). We do not believe anyone can earn salvation, but that each person is judged according to the things he or she does. -- John 5:26-30; Romans 2:2-11; Revelation 2:23; 20:12-13.

Regardless of whether God or Jesus approve of our works, it is not our works which save us. Salvation is a gift of God through Jesus to those who show they believe by what they do (John 4:10; Acts 8:20; Ephesians 2:4-10; James 2:24). Showing faith by our works makes us "vine branches" of the "vine," which vine is Jesus, but which vine branches the "the Gardner," the Father, can and will remove if we do not "remain in [Jesus'] love," and if we stop "producing fruit" in name. -- John 15:1-10.

Those who lived before Jesus and who were not part of those who 'looked forward to the promises' made concerning Jesus since Genesis 3:15, or who live after Jesus but who never heard the message concerning him, are judged according to "the work of the Law written in their hearts" according to Romans 2:13-16 in The Great Message Bible:

For the ones who hear the Law are not righteous with God. Rather, the ones who actually carry out the Law will be considered righteous. For whenever non-Jews who do not have the Law by their nature keep the Law, though not having Law they are a law to themselves. Whoever they are they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, giving evidence of their conscience, even among each other's own thoughts, as they are either being accused or as they are defending themselves. During this time is when God will judge what is hidden among mankind, according to my Great Message about Christ Jesus.

For additional information and discussion of our belief in salvation through faith in Jesus as shown by our works, and our rejection of "once saved always saved," watch the video, “Once Saved Always Saved” & Earning Salvation—Both Lies" (07/11/2021).

The major Christian religions (Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant groups) believe the Holy Spirit is a separate "person" defined according to later Trinitarianism. These groups believe the Holy Spirit is co-equal and co-eternal with both the Father and the Son. While there are some differences about the Holy Spirit's relationship to the Son, there is basic agreement among these religions that the Holy Spirit is a consubstantial (to use the pagan Emperor Constantine's contribution to Nicaea) with the Father and the Son as "one God." By contrast, the Bible teaches the Holy Spirit is God's own spirit. It is a part of God, not a "person" of God, the same way our spirit is a part of us, not a separate person. In fact, that is exactly how the Bible compares God's Holy Spirit, namely, with our human spirit. -- 1 Corinthians 2:11.

There are biblical texts which show the Holy Spirit, in addition to being God's own personalized spirit, may be more than we understand relative to its comparison with our spirit by Paul. For example, Jesus teaches the Holy Spirit is given to him and to others by the Father and that it is sent by him and by the Father (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7; Acts 2:33). The Bible also tells us the Holy Spirit "doesn't speak of its own," and that it "hears from the Father" what it then "teaches" to us. -- John 16:13. 

Together with the "seven spirits" who send "greetings" to Christians along with God and Jesus in Revelation 1:4-5, and the fact these "seven spirits" appear to be the Holy Spirit under Jesus' control throughout the rest of Revelation, this is why Christian Witnesses of Jah believe the Holy Spirit is God's own personalized spirit, but not a separate "person" like Trinitarians believe. If it is a separate spirit person, like other angelic "spirits" who are sent by God (Hebrews 1:7, 14), then it is not a "person" of God like the Trinity teaches. It would simply be one or "seven spirits" who represent the "one Spirit" of God, making it/them individual "spirits," not "persons" of a multi-personal God like in Trinitarianism. -- 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:18; 4:4. 

For more information and some extended discussion about texts related to the Holy Spirit, see the links under "Holy Spirit" on our Subject Index Page.