The Watchtower Study, «Article 10», Week May 2-8, 2022, You Can Shed “The Old Personality”, Answers.

The Watchtower Study, «Article 10», May 2-8, 2022, You can put off “the old personality”, Answers.

1. What was our life like before we started studying the Bible?

Our attitude and our way of being were bad before studying the Bible. We had no hope and we were without God in our hearts. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Many of us don't even like to think about it. Perhaps our attitude and way of being reflected what the world says about what is right and what is wrong. If that was our case, we had no hope and were "without God in the world."

Perhaps our attitude and way of being reflected what the world says about what is right and what is wrong. As Ephesians 2:12 says, we had no hope and we were without God in the world.

It may be that our attitude and manner indicated the way of thinking to do what you want. We had no hope and were "without God in the world."

2. What things did you learn as you studied the Bible?

We learn that we have a Father who is God and loves us very much. To please God we needed to make changes in our lives, like learning to respect God's standards.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

As you studied the Bible, you learned that you have a heavenly Father who loves you very much. She understood that if she wanted to please Jehovah and be part of his family of servants, she would have to make important changes in her way of living and thinking.

We learned many truths about God, such as that God has a name, Jehovah, and that he loves us very much. And we also understood that certain changes had to be made in our lives to please him and to respect his high standards.

That we have a heavenly Father who loves us very much. That changes were needed to be part of Jehovah's family. And learn to respect Jehovah's rules.

3. (a) According to Colossians 3:9, 10, what does Jehovah want us to do? 

He wants that before we are baptized, we remove the old personality and we can put on the new personality.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah is our Creator and our heavenly Father, he has the right to say how the members of his family should behave. And to those who want to be baptized he says, "Put off the old personality and its practices."

As we have read, Jehovah wants us to put off the old personality and its practices. And he, as he is our heavenly Father, has every right to tell us how to behave.

He asks us to leave the old personality and its practices to be part of his spiritual family.

b) What will this article help us with?

It will help us answer these questions: What is “the old personality”? Why does Jehovah want us to remove it? and how can we do it?.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This article will help you answer three questions: What is “the old personality”? Why does Jehovah want us to remove it? and how can we do it?

If we are thinking of getting baptized, it will help us to know what the old personality is, why Jehovah wants us to remove it, and how we can do it. And if we already are, he will help us not to fall back into attitudes that we had already left behind.

For those who are not baptized, it will help answer three questions: What is “the old personality”? Why does Jehovah want us to remove it? and how can we do it? And those of us who are baptized will help us so that the old personality does not reappear in us.

WHAT IS “THE OLD PERSONALITY”?

4. How does someone act who allows himself to be dominated by the old personality?

Someone who allows himself to be dominated by the old personality  acts according to the flesh, that is, according to his sinful nature. Most likely, he is easily angered, selfish and very proud.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

He generally thinks and acts according to the flesh, that is, according to his sinful nature. He may be easily angered and selfish, ungrateful and proud. Perhaps he likes to entertain himself with pornography and immoral or violent movies.

He normally thinks and acts according to the flesh, that is, according to his sinful nature. You may be easily angered and selfish, ungrateful, and proud. You may even like to be entertained by immoral or violent content.

And this does not mean that he is a bad person. Surely you have good qualities and even feel bad about what you have done, but you lack motivation or willpower to change your way of thinking and acting.

May be easily angered, ungrateful, proud, selfish. You may like to watch pornography, immoral or violent movies.

5. What balanced view should we have of what it means to put off the old personality? (Acts 3:19).

When we shed the old personality, sinful attitudes and practices no longer dominate or define us as a person.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Because we are imperfect, none of us can completely eliminate bad thoughts and desires from our minds and hearts.

But when we shed the old personality, sinful attitudes and practices no longer dominate or define us as a person.

We must think that we are imperfect and, therefore, we cannot completely eliminate bad thoughts and desires from our minds and hearts. But, as we have read in Acts 3:19, if we repent and make an effort to change these attitudes, they will no longer dominate us, they will not define our personality.

Because we are imperfect, we cannot completely eliminate bad thoughts from our minds and hearts. We may do or say something that is not correct. But sinful attitudes and practices do not rule us.

ILLUSTRATION:

A Bible student is walking down a path and leaves behind an old article of clothing. Behind him are cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, casino chips, a flag representing the gay movement, and violent video games.

When we shed "the old personality," we are no longer dominated by sinful attitudes and practices. (See paragraph 5). *

6. Why does Jehovah tell us to get rid of the bad thoughts and habits of the old personality?

Because he loves us very much and just wants us to do well in life. Jehovah does not want us to give in to bad desires because we will hurt ourselves a lot. 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah tells us to get rid of bad thoughts and habits because he loves us very much and wants us to do well in life.

He knows that if we give in to bad desires, we harm ourselves and others.

Jehovah knows us better than anyone and knows that those bad attitudes will harm us. Therefore, since he loves us, he wants us to get rid of those bad thoughts and attitudes so that we do well and do not suffer. As Isaiah 48:17 says, "he teaches us for our own good."

Because of the love he has for us, he wants us to do well in life. If we don't, we will hurt ourselves and hurt others.

7. According to Romans 12:1, 2, what decision must we make?

We have a choice to make: we can stay with the old personality, which is the product of sin, or let Jehovah help us to be the best version of ourselves.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

We all have a decision to make: either we stay with the old personality, which is a product of sin and Satan's world, or we let Jehovah transform us to be the best version of us that there can be for now.

We must choose whether we are going to continue with the old personality molded by this world of Satan or let Jehovah transform us to be the best version of us.

If we stay with the old personality or let Jehovah transform us to do his will. We must do this despite the ridicule of family or friends. We want to be free from the way of thinking of this world.

HOW TO GET RID OF THE OLD PERSONALITY?

8. What help do we have to leave bad thoughts and habits?

We count on Jehovah's help, he gives us the wisdom, strength and support we need to change through his Word.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah knows that it takes time and effort to give up bad thoughts and habits.

But he gives us the wisdom, strength, and support we need to change through his Word, his spirit, and his organization.

We have 3 essential aids. His word the Bible, his spirit and his organization. These aids will give us the wisdom, strength and support we need to leave bad thoughts and habits behind.

Jehovah helps us through his Word, his spirit, and his Organization.

9. What can God's Word help you do?

God's Word can help you examine the way you think, speak, and act.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

God's Word is like a mirror, so it can help you examine the way you think, speak, and act.

Also identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and teaching you to seek biblical information to help you overcome bad habits. And Jehovah is always ready to lend a helping hand. No one better than him to help him, because he knows what is in his heart. Therefore, he adopts the habit of praying to him and studying his Word every day.

As the Bible is like a mirror, it will help us to observe ourselves and examine our way of thinking, speaking and acting. And to achieve this, as James 1:22-25 says, we must not limit ourselves to reading it, but put it into practice.

As James 1:22, 25 says, the Bible is like a mirror that helps us examine our way of thinking, speaking and acting. With the help of experienced brothers we can identify our strengths and weaknesses. If we have the habit of praying and studying the Bible, Jehovah will be able to help us.

10. What do you learn from Elie's experience?

As Elie's case shows, those who reject Jehovah's standards harm themselves. But he is willing to help them change.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Although his parents loved Jehovah, as a teenager he ran off with bad friends. He started using drugs, leading an immoral life and stealing. He says that his temper worsened and he became more and more violent. He confesses: "In short, he did everything I had been taught that a Christian should not do." But he did not forget what his parents had taught him as a child. So in time he went back to studying the Bible. He worked hard to give up his vices and was baptized in the year 2000. As Elie's case shows, those who reject Jehovah's standards harm themselves. But he is willing to help them change.

Elie comments on how he started hanging out with bad friends and that led him to lead an immoral life and steal. She did what her parents told her as a child not to do. Fortunately, she went back to school and was baptized. He now comments that she has inner peace and a clear conscience. This teaches us that following Jehovah's standards protects us and makes our lives meaningful.

We can also draw another lesson. Despite the bad things this brother did, he now says that he has a clear conscience. That is, he is convinced that Jehovah forgives us if we repent. So we learn that anyone who repents can return to Jehovah knowing that he loves him and helps him change.

His parents loved Jehovah, but he left with bad friends. He started using drugs, leading an immoral life and stealing, he did everything he had been taught not to do as a Christian. Over time he reacted and returned to study and was baptized in the year 2000. He says, "I have inner peace and a clear conscience."

11. What things does Jehovah hate?

Jehovah hates “proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood”.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The Bible says that Jehovah hates “proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.” He also "hates violent and deceitful people."

Jehovah is so disgusted by these attitudes and actions that he wiped out all the wicked of Noah's day because they had filled the Earth with violence.

God rejects the worship of those who do this and will hold them accountable.

Some of the things Jehovah hates are pride, lies, or violence. Moreover, he killed all the wicked of Noah's day because they had filled the earth with violence, as we read in Genesis 6:13.

He also hates when someone betrays their innocent spouse so that the marriage ends in divorce. In fact, in Hebrews 13:4, he says that "God will judge those who are sexually immoral and adulterers."

“Proud eyes, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood”, “He hates violent and deceiving people”. He hates when someone betrays their innocent spouse so that the marriage ends in divorce.

12. What does it mean to hate what is bad?

The word detest implies feeling aversion, disgust or rejection of something.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The word loathe suggests a strong emotional reaction. It implies feeling aversion, disgust or rejection for something. Imagine how we would react if we were asked to eat a plate of rotten food. Just thinking about it would turn our stomachs.

Hate implies feeling disgust or rejection of something. Just as the thought of having to eat something rotten makes us sick to our stomachs, in the same way, the thought of doing something that displeases Jehovah must make us sick.

It means disgust or rejection of something. As an example, if we were offered a plate of rotten food, we would feel disgusted by it. That is the idea of ​​thinking about things that Jehovah hates.

ILLUSTRATION:

A woman looks with disgust at some rotten food in the fridge.

Doing something that Jehovah says is wrong should be just as disgusting to us as eating rotten food. (See paragraphs 11 and 12).

13. Why should we be careful what we think?

We must be careful what we think because it influences what we do.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

What we think influences what we do. This is why Jesus taught that we should reject any thought that might lead us to commit serious sin.

Because our thoughts influence our actions. That is, if we think about doing something, we are more likely to end up doing it. That is why Jesus told us to reject any thought that could lead us to commit a serious sin.

Because what we think influences what we do. Jesus mentioned that thoughts sometimes lead us to commit serious sin.

14. What do our words say about us, and what questions should we ask ourselves?

Our words say what we are inside. Ask yourself, “Do I always tell the truth, even if it hurts me to do so? If I am married, am I careful not to flirt with other people? Do I completely avoid immoral conversations? Do I respond calmly when someone gets on my nerves?

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Control your words. Jesus said, "Things that come out of the mouth come from the heart." That's how it is. Our words say a lot about who we are inside. Ask yourself, “Do I always tell the truth, even if it hurts me to do so? If I am married, am I careful not to flirt with other people? Do I completely avoid immoral conversations? Do I respond calmly when someone gets on my nerves?

In Matthew 15:18 it says that "Things that come out of the mouth come from the heart." Our conversation topics say a lot about us. So to control our words we can ask ourselves a series of questions, but he left the comment to another brother.

We might ask ourselves if we always tell the truth, if I flirt with other people when married, if I avoid immoral conversations, or if I respond calmly when I am upset. By analyzing these questions we will see if there is any trace of the old personality in us.

Our words say a lot about who we are inside. Ask yourself, “Do I always tell the truth, even if it hurts me to do so? If I am married, am I careful not to flirt with other people? Do I completely avoid immoral conversations? Do I respond calmly when someone gets on my nerves?

15. What must we do to nail our old personality to the tree?

We must act decisively, we want to please God, so we must be willing to put an end to attitudes and customs that he hates.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The apostle Paul used a very powerful image to help us understand that making the necessary changes is a very serious matter. He said that we must nail the old personality to the tree. Jesus was willing to be nailed to the tree because he wanted to please Jehovah. Similarly, if we want to please God, we must be willing to put an end to attitudes and customs that he hates.

We must act decisively and put an end to attitudes and customs that Jehovah hates. Jesus was willing to die to please Jehovah and we must also make the necessary changes to please him and thus have a clear conscience and the hope of living forever.

If we want to please God, we must be willing to put an end to attitudes and customs that he hates. This is necessary to have a clear conscience and the hope of living forever.

16. Why must you be determined to continue fighting with your weaknesses?

Because even though we are baptized we will have to fight against bad desires more than once.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Even after you are baptized, you will still have to struggle with evil desires. Think of the experience of Mauricio, who from a young age became homosexual.

Although he has served Jehovah for many years, he says: “I admit that I have had to fight against bad desires more than once.” But he does not let this discourage him, for he adds: “It comforts me to know that if I do not carry them out, Jehovah is pleased with me.”

Because being imperfect, bad desires will always be there. Brother Mauricio comments that, although he has been serving Jehovah for many years, he has had to fight against evil desires more than once. Likewise, instead of getting discouraged, we must be determined to continue fighting against our weaknesses.

Mauricio, from a young age became homosexual. Over time, he met Jehovah's Witnesses and studied the Bible. He made changes in his life and was baptized in 2002. Although he has been serving Jehovah for many years, he says: “I admit that I have had to fight against bad desires more than once.” But he does not let this discourage him, for he adds: “It comforts me to know that if I do not carry them out, Jehovah is pleased with me.”

17. What encourages you about the Nabiha experience?

It encourages us to pray to Jehovah, because he will help us and thus we will be able to leave bad habits, thus we will be able to please Jehovah.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Ask Jehovah for help and lean on the holy spirit, not on your own strength. To take off the old personality and not put it back on, you have to work very hard.

For more than a year he struggled to give up the vice, and in the end he succeeded. How? He says: “It was thanks to constant prayers to Jehovah that I finally got it.” And she concludes by saying: “I am sure that if I could change in order to please Jehovah, anyone can.”

Nabiha says that her father abandoned her when she was only 6 years old. As she got older she became more aggressive and irritable. She even ended up getting into drug dealing and spent several years in jail. She tells how some Witnesses visiting the prison started giving her Bible classes and she made big changes. But one that you resist was tobacco. She says that the key to change was constant prayer to Jehovah. This encourages us not to give ourselves as lost cases. If we trust in Jehovah and not in our strength, we will be able to get rid of any bad habit, no matter how difficult it may seem.

Nabiha was abandoned by her father when she was 6 years old. As she got older she became irritable and aggressive. She got involved in drug dealing and was in jail. In prison she was visited by Jehovah's Witnesses and began to make changes. Giving up tobacco was difficult, but thanks to constant prayers to Jehovah, she was able to overcome this habit.

YOU CAN FILL THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET BAPTIZED

18. According to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, what have many servants of God accomplished?

Many servants of God have succeeded in leaving behind deep-seated customs and abandoning bad habits.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They had done bad things in the past. For example, they had been adulterers, homosexuals, and thieves. But with the help of the holy spirit they managed to change their personality.

Today, the Bible has also helped millions of people to change. * They have left behind deep-rooted customs.

As we have read, they have managed to change bad attitudes and be "declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." They have left behind deeply rooted customs thanks to the Bible and they are a great example for other people who want to abandon some bad habit.

With the help of the holy spirit they managed to change their personality despite committing serious sins.

The Bible changed their lives

In 2008, a section titled “The Bible Changed Their Lives” was published in The Watchtower. These articles tell the story of people who made great changes to get to baptism. On jw.org, you can find many similar articles and video interviews. These experiences can cheer you up if you're struggling to break a bad habit or change a personality trait. Chances are, you'll find a story of someone who passed trials similar to yours. You will find these articles in the Jehovah's Witnesses Study Guide under the topic “The Bible,” then “Practical Value,” and then “The Bible Changed Their Lives (Watchtower Section).” Or you can go to jw.org and type in the search box “The Bible changed their lives.”

19. What will the next article analyze?

We will discuss how we can put on the new personality and how others can help us.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The following article will look at how we can do that and how others can help us.

In the next article we will see how those who are thinking about baptism can put on the new personality and how others can help them.

That those who wish to reach baptism must not only put off the old personality but also put on the new one.

HE REMEMBERS?

What is "the old personality"?

He is the one who generally thinks and acts according to the flesh, that is, with his sinful nature. He may be easily angered and selfish, ungrateful and proud. Perhaps he likes to entertain himself with pornography and immoral or violent movies.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

They refer to sinful attitudes and practices.

Those who allow themselves to be dominated by “the old personality” usually think and act according to the flesh, that is, according to their sinful nature. He may be easily angered and selfish, ungrateful and proud. Perhaps he likes to entertain himself with pornography and immoral or violent movies. Most likely, he has good qualities and may even feel bad about what he says or does, but he lacks the motivation to change his way of thinking and acting.

The old personality is that way of thinking and acting according to the flesh. This personality can make us selfish, ungrateful, or proud.

Why should we throw off “the old personality”?

Because by stripping away the old personality, we can convince ourselves that Jehovah's standards are the best. Everything Jehovah tells us is for our good. Those who respect his rules improve their self-esteem and achieve a meaningful life and true happiness. Instead, those who ignore them suffer the consequences of being carried away by the works of the flesh.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Jehovah tells us to get rid of bad thoughts and habits because he loves us very much and wants us to do well in life. He knows that if we give in to evil desires, we harm ourselves and others. And it hurts him to see that happen.

We all have a decision to make: either we stay with the old personality, which is a product of sin and Satan's world, or we let Jehovah transform us to be the best version of us that there can be for now.

We must do it because it is Jehovah who tells us to get rid of bad thoughts and habits. He loves us very much and wants us to do well in life and he knows that if we give in to bad desires, we harm ourselves and others.

Because on that decision depends whether we continue to belong to Satan's world or whether we support Jehovah's standards and have his approval.

What can we do to take off the old personality and not put it back on?

Let us ask Jehovah for help and lean on the holy spirit, not on our own strength. To take off the old personality and not put it back on, you have to work very hard.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Do a self-examination with the Bible. Be sure that Jehovah's standards are the best. Hate the things that Jehovah hates. Reject any thought that leads us to commit a serious sin. Control what we say. Make firm decisions to avoid attitudes and customs that Jehovah detests. And continue to fight with our weaknesses.

There are many things we can do. One of them is to study the Bible in depth to know what aspects we must change. We also learn from the Bible to hate what he hates.

We must also be careful what we think and control our words, both so as not to harm ourselves and others.

And in order not to fall into traits of the old personality, we must continue to fight with our weaknesses. Therefore, it is essential to ask Jehovah for help and rely on the holy spirit, not on our own strength.

Use the Bible to do a good self-examination.

Convince yourself that Jehovah's standards are the best.

Learn to hate what Jehovah hates.

Be careful what you think.

Control your words.

Act decisively.

Keep fighting your weaknesses.

Ask Jehovah for help and lean on the holy spirit, not on your own strength.