The God of the Watchtower: An Imperfect Savior

Transcribed from a talk I gave on the topic. Edited by Chatgpt.

My name is Elias Ayala. I am the founder of Revealed Apologetics, a Christian apologetics ministry that exists to help equip Christians to defend the faith. My work typically focuses on issues of apologetic methodology, Reformed theology, and broader questions in Christian philosophy. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to engage a wide range of topics and to interview a variety of guests and experts in their respective fields, covering issues that I believe are especially useful for those interested in apologetics and serious theological reflection.

I have been invited to address the topic titled “The God of the Watchtower and an Imperfect Savior.” I believe this title is intentionally revealing. The “god of the Watchtower” must be distinguished from the God of the Bible. Any god who is not the God of Scripture is, by definition, an imperfect savior. A god who is not truly God cannot save, because salvation requires divine sufficiency, authority, and power—attributes that belong only to the true and living God.

This distinction becomes especially important when dealing with religious systems that piggyback off the Bible. We see this with Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormonism, and Islam. Each borrows biblical language and categories while redefining them at a foundational level. Because of this, it is absolutely necessary that we clearly disambiguate what we mean by “the God of Scripture” as opposed to the false gods of these competing religious systems.

Consider Islam. There has long been debate about whether Christians, Jews, and Muslims worship the same God. The answer is no. While all three draw from certain biblical categories, there is not a one-to-one correspondence between the triune God of Scripture and the strictly Unitarian god of Islam. The same is true of Christ-denying Judaism and Jehovah’s Witness theology. A Unitarian conception of God is ontologically different from the God revealed in Scripture, who exists eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For that reason, the god of the Watchtower is a false god. He is an idol.

As Christians, we labor—humbly and prayerfully—for the deliverance of those who are deceived, knowing that salvation is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit. Yet we are privileged to participate as means God uses alongside His Word and Spirit to bring about the salvation of His elect. We enter these discussions with hope, confident that God is sovereign and able to save even those deeply entrenched in false doctrine. As Scripture reminds us, “the arm of the Lord is not too short to save” (Isaiah 59:1).

Whenever I address cults or false religious systems that misuse Scripture, I often turn to Galatians 1:8, where the apostle Paul issues a sobering warning about false gospels. Paul writes, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). This passage sets the seriousness of the conversation. Competing gospels are not harmless alternatives; they are damnable distortions.

If Paul’s warning is taken seriously, it immediately disqualifies the alleged revelation given to Muhammad, the appearances claimed by Joseph Smith, and the gospel proclaimed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Scripture plays for keeps when it comes to the nature of the gospel.

Because of this seriousness, we must define the gospel carefully. While the word “gospel” can generically mean “good news,” Scripture gives it specific content. 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 provides the foundational definition: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

This is not merely historical information; it is theological proclamation. Groups like Jehovah’s Witnesses may verbally affirm this passage, but they radically redefine its meaning. When Christians say “Christ,” we are not referring merely to a created being named Jesus, but to God incarnate. As Scripture teaches, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

The gospel hinges not only on the events of Christ’s death and resurrection, but on who Christ is and what His death accomplished. That brings us directly to the issue of salvation in Watchtower theology.

In Watchtower teaching, salvation involves several elements. Eternal life is defined as “taking in knowledge” of Jehovah and Jesus Christ (cf. John 17:3, as understood within Watchtower theology). Salvation also requires obedience to God’s law, loyalty to Jehovah’s organization, and faithful participation in proclaiming the Kingdom. This makes Jehovah’s Witness theology fundamentally works-based.

From a biblical perspective, obedience matters—but obedience is the fruit of salvation, not the root of it. Scripture never presents obedience as the ground of our justification before God. False religious systems consistently reverse this order.

This works-based framework is made explicit in Watchtower literature. For example, the Watchtower (August 15, 1972) states that individuals are “working hard now for the reward of eternal life,” making themselves eligible to receive it. That language strikes at the very heart of the biblical gospel.

First Argument: A Biblical and Logical Refutation

Consider the following deductive argument:

1. If a message adds works or organizational loyalty as a condition of justification, then it is a different gospel than the one Paul preached (cf. Galatians 1:6–9).

2. The Watchtower gospel adds works and organizational loyalty as conditions of justification.

3. Therefore, the Watchtower gospel is a different gospel than the one Paul preached.

In Jehovah’s Witness theology, justification is not a once-for-all forensic declaration grounded in Christ’s imputed righteousness. It is conditional, ongoing, and can be lost through disobedience or separation from the organization. Final justification is only confirmed at Armageddon.

Contrast this with Scripture. Paul writes, “But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Faith and works are explicitly contrasted. This is justification by faith alone.

The consequences of works-based salvation are devastating. Even the New World Translation affirms this point: “All those who depend on works of the law are under a curse… cursed is everyone who does not continue in all the things written in the scroll of the law to do them” (Galatians 3:10–11, NWT). Perfect obedience is required. “Trying” to obey is not obedience.

Why Christology Matters Here

At this point, it becomes clear why the identity of Christ is so crucial. If salvation depends on works, and if the one who dies for us is less than fully God, then salvation is doubly undermined. The sufficiency of the sacrifice is inseparably tied to the nature of the one who offers it.

This is why Jehovah’s Witnesses consistently emphasize that Jesus is a created being, often appealing to the claim that He is the “firstborn of creation” (cf. Colossians 1:15, NWT). Rather than responding defensively, I prefer to ask clarifying questions that expose how Scripture actually uses this language.

Was David the oldest son of Jesse or the youngest? He was the youngest (1 Samuel 16:11). Yet Scripture says, “I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” (Psalm 89:27). The title “firstborn” is not about chronology, but preeminence. It is a rank, not a timestamp.

The same applies to Christ. When Scripture calls Jesus the “firstborn of all creation,” it is

declaring His supremacy over creation, not His inclusion within it (Colossians 1:15–18). Understanding this biblical category dissolves the objection and reinforces the Christian confession that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh.

Second Argument: Assurance and Human Performance

The issue of Christ’s identity brings us naturally to the question of assurance. If Christ is less than God, and if salvation depends even partly on human effort, then assurance of salvation becomes impossible.

Consider the following argument:

1. If salvation depends partly on human performance, then assurance of salvation is impossible (cf. Galatians 3:10; James 2:10).

2. The Watchtower teaches that salvation depends partly on human performance.

3. Therefore, the Watchtower system cannot offer assurance of salvation.

This conclusion follows directly from Watchtower theology. Justification can be lost through disobedience, failure to remain in good standing with the organization, or lack of endurance until the end. Final acceptance is not secured until Armageddon.

Why should I trade the assurance offered in the biblical gospel for a system where assurance is impossible?

Scripture teaches that Christ “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25). Paul declares, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). I am saved by works—but not my works. By His works. And because of that, I can have true peace with God.

That is why the god of the Watchtower is an imperfect savior. And that is why the gospel of grace stands alone as the power of God unto salvation.

Thank you for your time.