1. What was Martha sure would happen to her brother? (See opening picture.)

MARTHA, a close friend and disciple of Jesus, was grieving. Her brother, Lazarus, had died. Was there anything that could comfort her? Yes. Jesus promised her: “Your brother will rise.” Of course, those words could not take away all her sadness. Yet, Martha trusted Jesus’ promise, and she said: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day.” (John 11:20-24) She was sure that there would be a resurrection in the future. But then, Jesus performed a miracle. He resurrected Lazarus that very day.

2. Why would you like to have the same conviction that Martha had?

² We have no reason to expect that Jesus or his Father will resurrect our dead loved ones right now. But are you just as sure as Martha was that there will be a future resurrection for your loved ones? Perhaps you have lost your husband or wife, your mother, your father, a beloved grandparent, or even a precious child. You cannot wait to hug, speak with, and laugh with that dear one. Happily, like Martha, you have good reasons to say, ‘I know that my loved one will rise in the resurrection.’ Still, it is good for each Christian to think about the reasons why we have this conviction.

3, 4. What had Jesus recently done, and how did that strengthen Martha’s confidence?

³ Martha lived near Jerusalem, so she might not have seen Jesus resurrect the son of a widow near Nain in Galilee. However, she probably heard about it. And she probably also heard that Jesus resurrected Jairus’ daughter. Everyone at the girl’s house “knew she had died.” Still, Jesus took her hand and said: “Child, get up!” And immediately she did. (Luke 7:11-17; 8:41, 42, 49-55) Both Martha and her sister, Mary, knew that Jesus could cure the sick. So they believed that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died. Now that he was dead, though, what did Martha expect? Notice that she said that Lazarus would come back to life in the future, “on the last day.” Why was she so sure? And why can you be sure that in the future, there will be a resurrection that may include your loved ones?

⁴ There are good reasons to have faith in the resurrection. We will now discuss some of them. In fact, you might find points in God’s Word that you do not often think about but that can strengthen your faith that you will see your loved ones again.

EVENTS THAT GIVE US HOPE!

5. Why was Martha sure that Lazarus would be resurrected?

⁵ Notice that Martha did not say: ‘I hope my brother will rise.’ She said: “I know he will rise.” Why was Martha so confident? Because she knew about resurrections that had happened in the past. She probably learned about them at home and at the synagogue when she was a child. We will now examine three of those resurrections mentioned in the Scriptures.

6. What miracle had Martha certainly learned about?

⁶ The first resurrection happened during a time when God was giving the prophet Elijah the power to perform miracles. North of Israel, in a Phoenician town called Zarephath, there was a poor widow who showed hospitality to the prophet. Then, Jehovah performed a miracle. He made sure that her flour and oil did not run out so that she and her son could stay alive. (1 Kings 17:8-16) Later, her son got sick and died. But Elijah helped her. While touching the boy, Elijah prayed to Jehovah: “God, please, let this child’s life come back into him.” And it happened! God heard Elijah, and the child came back to life. That was the first resurrection recorded in the Bible. (Read 1 Kings 17:17-24.) Certainly, Martha knew about that remarkable event.

7, 8. (a) How did Elisha comfort a grieving mother? (b) What does Elisha’s miracle prove about Jehovah?

⁷ The second resurrection recorded in the Bible was performed by the prophet Elisha. In a city called Shunem, there lived an Israelite woman who did not have any children. Because she showed great hospitality to Elisha, Jehovah blessed this woman and her elderly husband with a son. A few years later, though, the boy died. Imagine how sad this mother felt. Her grief was so strong that she traveled 30 kilometers (19 miles) to find Elisha at Mount Carmel. Elisha sent his attendant Gehazi before them to Shunem to resurrect the boy. But Gehazi was not able to bring him back to life. Then the grieving mother arrived home with Elisha.​—2 Kings 4:8-31.

⁸ Elisha went into the house where the dead boy was, and he prayed. Jehovah answered Elisha’s prayer and miraculously brought the boy back to life. When the mother saw her son alive, she was overjoyed! (Read 2 Kings 4:32-37.) Maybe she remembered the words of Hannah’s prayer. Hannah was unable to have a child until Jehovah blessed her with a son, Samuel. Hannah then praised Jehovah because he “brings down to the Grave, and he raises up.” (1 Samuel 2:6) By literally raising up the boy in Shunem, God proved that he has the ability to resurrect the dead.

9. Describe the third resurrection recorded in the Bible.

⁹ Another amazing event happened after Elisha’s death. He had served as a prophet for over 50 years, and then he “became ill with the sickness from which he eventually died.” Time passed, and all that remained of Elisha were his bones. One day, some Israelites were burying a man. Suddenly, they saw some enemies coming. The Israelites tried to escape as quickly as they could, so they threw the dead man into the grave or tomb of Elisha. The Bible says: “When the man touched the bones of Elisha, he came to life and stood on his feet.” (2 Kings 13:14, 20, 21) These accounts proved to Martha that God has power over death. They should also convince you that God’s power is immense, unlimited.

EVENTS DURING THE APOSTLES’ TIME

10. How did Peter help a Christian sister who had died?

¹⁰ The Christian Greek Scriptures also contain accounts of resurrections performed by God’s faithful servants. We already mentioned the resurrections Jesus performed near the city of Nain and at the home of Jairus. Some time later, the apostle Peter resurrected Dorcas, also called Tabitha. Peter came to the room where her body was, prayed, and then said: “Tabitha, rise!” She immediately came to life, and Peter “presented her alive” to the other Christians who were there. This event was so convincing that many in that city “became believers in the Lord.” These new disciples could tell others the good news about Jesus and also tell everyone about Jehovah’s ability to raise the dead.​—Acts 9:36-42.

11. What did the doctor Luke report about a young man, and how did that event affect others?

¹¹ There were eyewitnesses to another resurrection. One time, the apostle Paul was at a meeting in an upper room in Troas, in what is now northwest Turkey. Paul spoke until midnight. A young man named Eutychus was listening, seated at a window. But he fell asleep and fell from the third story to the ground. Perhaps Luke was the first one to reach Eutychus. As a doctor, he realized that the young man was not simply injured and unconscious. He was dead! Paul also came downstairs. He embraced Eutychus and then amazed everybody, saying: “He is alive.” This miracle deeply affected all those who saw what had happened. Knowing that the young man had died and then was resurrected, they “were comforted beyond measure.”​—Acts 20:7-12.

A RELIABLE HOPE

12, 13. Based on the resurrections we have discussed, what questions might we ask?

¹² The resurrections we discussed should give you the same confidence that Martha had. We can be confident that our God, the one who has given us life, can bring a dead person back to life. It is interesting that a faithful servant of God, such as Elijah, Jesus, or Peter, was present at each one of those resurrections. And they happened during a time when Jehovah was performing miracles. So, what about those who died at other times, when such miracles were not being performed? Could faithful men and women expect that God would raise the dead in the future? Could they be as confident as Martha was when she said about her brother: “I know he will rise in the resurrection on the last day”? Why could she believe that there would be a future resurrection, and why can you?

¹³ Several accounts in God’s Word show that his loyal servants knew that there would be a resurrection in the future. Let us consider some of these.

14. What does the account about Abraham teach us about the resurrection?

¹⁴ Think about what Jehovah asked Abraham to do with Isaac, the son he had waited so long for. Jehovah said: “Take, please, your son, your only son whom you so love, Isaac, and travel to the land of Moriah and offer him up there as a burnt offering.” (Genesis 22:2) How do you think Abraham felt when he heard this command? Jehovah had promised that through Abraham’s descendants all nations would be blessed. (Genesis 13:14-16; 18:18; Romans 4:17, 18) Also, Jehovah said that the blessing would come “through Isaac.” (Genesis 21:12) But how could that happen if Abraham sacrificed his son? Paul was inspired to explain that Abraham believed that God was able to resurrect Isaac. (Read Hebrews 11:17-19.) However, the Bible does not say that Abraham thought that Isaac would come back to life right away, perhaps in a few hours, a day, or even a week. Abraham could not know when his son would be resurrected. But he trusted that Jehovah would bring Isaac back to life.

15. What hope did the faithful man Job have?

¹⁵ The faithful man Job also knew that there would be a resurrection in the future. He knew that if a tree is cut down, it can grow again and become like a new tree. But that cannot happen with a man. (Job 14:7-12; 19:25-27) If a man dies, he cannot bring himself back to life. (2 Samuel 12:23; Psalm 89:48) Of course, that did not mean that God could not resurrect a person. In fact, Job believed that Jehovah would remember him. (Read Job 14:13-15.) Job could not know when in the future this would happen. Still, Job trusted that the Creator of human life could and would remember him and resurrect him.

16. What encouragement did an angel give Daniel?

¹⁶ Think about another faithful man, Daniel. He was a loyal servant of Jehovah throughout his life, and Jehovah supported him. At one point, an angel called Daniel a “very precious man” and told him to “have peace” and to “be strong.”​—Daniel 9:22, 23; 10:11, 18, 19.

17, 18. What did Jehovah promise Daniel?

¹⁷ When Daniel was almost 100 years old and near the end of his life, he may have thought about what would happen to him. Did Daniel expect to live again? Absolutely! At the end of the book of Daniel, we read what God promised him: “As for you, go on to the end. You will rest.” (Daniel 12:13) Daniel knew that the dead are at rest and that there is no “planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the Grave,” where he would soon be. (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Yet, this would not be the end for Daniel. Jehovah gave him a wonderful promise for the future.

¹⁸ Jehovah’s angel said to him: “You will stand up for your lot at the end of the days.” Daniel did not know exactly when that would happen. He understood that he would die and then rest. But when Daniel heard the promise, “You will stand up for your lot,” he understood that he would be resurrected in the future. That would happen long after he had died, “at the end of the days.” Or, according to the Jerusalem Bible: “You will rise for your share at the end of time.”

19, 20. (a) What do the events we discussed have to do with Martha’s statement to Jesus? (b) What will we consider in the next article?

¹⁹ Clearly, Martha had good reasons to be sure that her faithful brother, Lazarus, would “rise in the resurrection on the last day.” Jehovah’s promise to Daniel, as well as Martha’s strong faith in a future resurrection, should give us confidence today. There will be a resurrection.

²⁰ We have learned about actual resurrections that were performed in the past. These prove that the dead can live again. We have also seen that men and women who served God faithfully expected a future resurrection. However, is there any evidence that a resurrection could happen long after it was promised? If so, that would give us even more reason to look forward to a resurrection in the future. But when would that time be? We will discuss these points in the next article.

1-3. (a) What should we include as one of our main beliefs? (b) Why is the resurrection so important? (See opening picture.)

IF SOMEONE asked you what the main teachings of your faith are, what would you say? Certainly you would say that you believe that Jehovah is the Creator and the one who has given us life. You would probably also mention that you believe in Jesus Christ, who died as a ransom. Surely you would talk about the future Paradise on earth, where God’s people will live forever. But would you mention the resurrection as one of your most cherished beliefs?

² We have good reasons to include the resurrection as one of our main beliefs, even if we hope to survive the great tribulation and live on earth forever. The apostle Paul showed why the resurrection is so important. He said: “If, indeed, there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised up.” If Jesus had not been resurrected, he could not be ruling as King in heaven, and our preaching would be useless. (Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.) However, we know that Jesus was resurrected. Because we believe in his resurrection, we are not like the Jewish Sadducees, who strongly denied that the dead can live again. Even when others make fun of us, our faith that God can resurrect the dead remains strong.​—Mark 12:18; Acts 4:2, 3; 17:32; 23:6-8.

³ Paul said that the teaching of “the resurrection of the dead” was part of “the primary doctrine about the Christ.” (Hebrews 6:1, 2) He emphasized the resurrection as something he had faith in. (Acts 24:10, 15, 24, 25) Even though it is a primary doctrine, one of the basic things we learn from God’s Word, we still need to study about the resurrection carefully. (Hebrews 5:12) Why?

4. What questions might we ask about the resurrection?

⁴ When people begin to study the Bible, they usually read the accounts of past resurrections, such as the resurrection of Lazarus. They also learn that Abraham, Job, and Daniel were confident that in the future the dead would live again. Still, what would you say if someone asked you to prove from the Bible why we can trust resurrection promises that were made hundreds of years ago? And does the Bible say when in the future the resurrection will happen? The answers to these questions will strengthen our faith.

A RESURRECTION FORETOLD HUNDREDS OF YEARS IN ADVANCE

5. What will we discuss first?

⁵ It may be easy for us to imagine someone being brought back to life soon after his death. (John 11:11; Acts 20:9, 10) But can we trust a promise that someone will be resurrected years, even hundreds of years, in the future? Can we believe it whether it was made about a person who died a long time ago or someone who died just recently? Actually, you already believe in a resurrection that happened hundreds of years after it was promised. Which resurrection is that? And what does it have to do with your hope of a future resurrection?

6. How was Jesus involved in the fulfillment of Psalm 118?

⁶ Using Psalm 118, which may have been written by David, let us discuss a resurrection that was foretold many years in advance. This Psalm includes the words: “Jehovah, save us, please, we beg!” and “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of Jehovah.” People quoted this prophecy about the Messiah when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Nisan 9, a few days before his death. (Psalm 118:25, 26; Matthew 21:7-9) But how did Psalm 118 refer to a resurrection that would happen many years in the future? Notice what else this psalm said: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”​—Psalm 118:22.

7. How did the Jews reject Jesus?

⁷ “The builders” who rejected the Messiah were the Jewish leaders. They did much more than simply ignore Jesus or refuse to accept him as the Christ. Many Jews rejected him by demanding that Pilate execute him. (Luke 23:18-23) Yes, they were also responsible for Jesus’ death.

8. How could Jesus become “the chief cornerstone”?

⁸ If Jesus was rejected and killed, how could he become “the chief cornerstone”? That could happen only if he was resurrected. Jesus made that clear when he told a story about a landowner who sent messengers to the farmers working for him. The farmers mistreated those messengers. Eventually, the owner sent his own son, hoping that the farmers would listen to him. But they killed the owner’s son. After telling this story, Jesus quoted the prophecy at Psalm 118:22. (Luke 20:9-17) The apostle Peter used the same verse when he spoke to Jewish “rulers, elders, and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem.” He talked about “Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you executed on a stake but whom God raised up from the dead.” Then he said: “This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the chief cornerstone.’”​—Acts 3:15; 4:5-11; 1 Peter 2:5-7.

9. What remarkable event was foretold at Psalm 118:22?

⁹ Clearly, the prophecy at Psalm 118:22 foretold a resurrection that would occur hundreds of years later. The Messiah would be rejected and killed. But he would be raised to life again and would become the chief cornerstone. Once resurrected, Jesus became the only one whose name was “given among men by which we must get saved.”​—Acts 4:12; Ephesians 1:20.

10. (a) What did Psalm 16:10 foretell? (b) Why can we be sure that Psalm 16:10 did not refer to David?

¹⁰ Let us consider another verse that told about a resurrection. It was fulfilled more than a thousand years later. This fact should give us confidence that a resurrection can happen long after it was foretold or promised. In Psalm 16, we read David’s words: “You will not leave me in the Grave. You will not allow your loyal one to see the pit.” (Psalm 16:10) David was not trying to say that he would never die and be in the Grave. God’s Word says very clearly that David grew old and died and “was laid to rest with his forefathers and was buried in the City of David.” (1 Kings 2:1, 10) So whom is this verse referring to?

11. When did Peter explain Psalm 16:10?

¹¹ More than a thousand years after David wrote those words, Peter explained whom Psalm 16:10 was referring to. A few weeks after Jesus died and was resurrected, Peter spoke to thousands of Jews and proselytes. (Read Acts 2:29-32.) He reminded them that David had died and been buried. And the Bible does not say that any of them disagreed with Peter when he added that David “foresaw and spoke about the resurrection” of the Messiah.

12. How was Psalm 16:10 fulfilled, and what does that confirm about the promise of the resurrection?

¹² Peter supported his point by quoting David’s words at Psalm 110:1. (Read Acts 2:33-36.) Peter’s reasoning from the Scriptures helped to convince the large crowd that Jesus was “both Lord and Christ.” The people recognized that Psalm 16:10 was fulfilled when Jesus was resurrected from the dead. Later, the apostle Paul used the same evidence when he spoke to Jews in the city of Antioch in Pisidia. This evidence really impressed them, and they wanted to hear more. (Read Acts 13:32-37, 42.) It should also convince us that those Bible prophecies about a future resurrection were reliable even though they were fulfilled hundreds of years later.

WHEN WILL THE RESURRECTION HAPPEN?

13. What questions might we ask about the resurrection?

¹³ It is encouraging to know that a resurrection can happen many hundreds of years after it was foretold. Still, some may ask: ‘Does that mean I will have to wait a long time to see my loved one? When will the resurrection happen?’ Well, Jesus told his apostles that there were things that they did not know and could not know. There are details about “the times or seasons that the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction.” (Acts 1:6, 7; John 16:12) However, we do have some information about when the resurrection will happen.

14. How was Jesus’ resurrection different from others before it?

¹⁴ The most important resurrection recorded in the Bible is Jesus’ resurrection. If he had not been raised from the dead, none of us would have any hope of seeing our dead loved ones again. People who were resurrected before Jesus, such as those resurrected by Elijah and Elisha, did not live on forever. They died again and became dust in the grave. But Jesus “has been raised up from the dead.” He “dies no more; death is no longer master over him.” In heaven, he lives “forever and ever.”​—Romans 6:9; Revelation 1:5, 18; Colossians 1:18; 1 Peter 3:18.

15. Why is Jesus called “the firstfruits”?

¹⁵ Jesus’ resurrection to heaven as a spirit person was the first and most important resurrection of this kind. (Acts 26:23) However, he is not the only one to be resurrected to heaven. Jesus promised that his faithful apostles would rule with him there. (Luke 22:28-30) But they would receive this reward only after they died. Then, like Jesus, they would be resurrected with a spirit body. Paul wrote that “Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death.” Paul then said that there would be others who would be resurrected and go to heaven: “Each one in his own proper order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who belong to the Christ during his presence.”​—1 Corinthians 15:20, 23.

16. What clue do we have about when the heavenly resurrection would happen?

¹⁶ Paul’s words give us a clue as to when the heavenly resurrection would happen. It would happen during Christ’s presence. For many years, Jehovah’s Witnesses have proved from the Bible that Christ’s “presence” began in 1914. We are still living during his “presence,” and the end of this wicked system is very near.

17, 18. What will happen to some anointed ones during Christ’s presence?

¹⁷ The Bible explains more about the heavenly resurrection: “We do not want you to be ignorant about those who are sleeping in death . . . For if we have faith that Jesus died and rose again, so too God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in death . . . We the living who survive to the presence of the Lord will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep in death; because the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a commanding call, . . . and those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first. Afterward we the living who are surviving will, together with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and thus we will always be with the Lord.”​—1 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

¹⁸ The first resurrection would occur sometime after Christ’s presence began. Anointed ones who are alive during the great tribulation will be “caught away in clouds.” (Matthew 24:31) What does that mean? Those “caught away” will not “fall asleep in death,” that is, they will not remain dead for a long time. Instead, when they die, they “will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, during the last trumpet.”​—1 Corinthians 15:51, 52.

19. What is the “better resurrection”?

¹⁹ Today, most faithful Christians are not anointed and are not chosen to rule with Christ in heaven. Instead, they are looking forward to “Jehovah’s day,” when he will end this wicked world. No one knows exactly when this end will come, but evidence shows that it is close. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3) When God’s new world comes, there will be a different type of resurrection. At that time, people will be resurrected to life on earth and will have the hope of becoming perfect and never dying again. This will be “a better resurrection” than that of those in the past who were resurrected but died again sometime later.​—Hebrews 11:35.

20. Why can we trust that the resurrection will be organized?

²⁰ The Bible says that those who go to heaven are resurrected “each one in his own proper order.” (1 Corinthians 15:23) So we can trust that the resurrection on earth will also be orderly, or organized. That might cause us to ask: Will those who died recently be resurrected near the start of Christ’s Thousand Year Rule and be welcomed back by loved ones who know them? Will faithful men from the past who were skilled leaders come back early to help organize God’s people in the new world? What will happen to people who never served Jehovah? When and where will they be resurrected? There are so many questions we could ask. But we do not need to worry about these things right now. It is better simply to wait and see. We can trust that it will be exciting to see how Jehovah will do things.

21. What is your hope?

²¹ Until then, we should strengthen our faith in Jehovah. He promised through Jesus that the dead are in His memory and that they will live again. (John 5:28, 29; 11:23) As additional proof that Jehovah will resurrect the dead, Jesus once said that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob “are all living to him.” (Luke 20:37, 38) Clearly, we have plenty of good reasons to say, as the apostle Paul did: “I have hope toward God . . . that there is going to be a resurrection.”​—Acts 24:15.

1, 2. Why might some parents worry when their children want to dedicate themselves to Jehovah and get baptized?

THOUSANDS of Bible students dedicate themselves to Jehovah and get baptized. Many are young people who have been raised in the truth and have chosen the best way of life. (Psalm 1:1-3) If you are a Christian parent, you probably look forward to the day when your son or daughter will get baptized.​—Compare 3 John 4.

² Still, you might worry. You may have seen some young ones get baptized but later begin to doubt whether living by God’s standards is really good for them. Some have even left the truth. So you might be concerned that your child will start serving Jehovah but then lose the love he or she used to have for the truth. Your child might become like some Christians in Ephesus in the first century. Jesus said of them: “You have left the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4) How can you help your child keep his love strong and “grow to salvation”? (1 Peter 2:2) We can learn from the example of Timothy.

“YOU HAVE KNOWN THE HOLY WRITINGS”

3. (a) How did Timothy become a Christian, and what did he do with what he learned? (b) What three aspects of learning did Paul point out to Timothy?

³ The apostle Paul first visited Lystra in the year 47. This is probably when Timothy, who may have been a teenager, learned about Jesus’ teachings. He applied what he learned, and two years later he began traveling with Paul. About 16 years after that, Paul wrote to Timothy: “Continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from whom you learned them and that from infancy you have known the holy writings [the Hebrew Scriptures], which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14, 15) Notice that Paul said that Timothy (1) knew the holy writings, (2) was persuaded to believe the things he learned, and (3) became wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

4. What have you used to teach your young children? (See opening picture.)

⁴ As a Christian parent, you want your child to know the holy writings, which today include the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scriptures. Even very young children can learn about the people and events of the Bible. Jehovah’s organization has provided many books, brochures, and videos that parents can use to help their children. Which of these are available in your language? Your child needs to know what is in the Bible in order to build a strong relationship with Jehovah.

“PERSUADED TO BELIEVE”

5. (a) What does “persuaded to believe” mean? (b) How do we know that Timothy was persuaded to believe the good news about Jesus?

⁵ It is not enough to teach children about the people and events of the Bible. Remember that Timothy was also “persuaded to believe.” The Greek phrase Paul used here means “to be assured of” or “to be convinced and certain of the truth of something.” Timothy knew the Hebrew Scriptures “from infancy,” that is, from the time he was very young. Later, he became convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Timothy’s faith was so strong that he got baptized and worked with Paul as a missionary.

6. How can you help your children to build faith in God’s Word?

⁶ How can you help your children to build faith as Timothy did, so that they too will be “persuaded to believe”? First, be patient. It takes time to build strong faith. And the fact that you believe something does not mean that your children will automatically believe it too. Each child needs to use his or her own “power of reason” to build faith in the Bible. (Read Romans 12:1.) As a parent, you can do much to help your children strengthen their faith, especially when they ask questions. Let us see what we can learn from the example of one father.

7, 8. (a) How does one Christian father show patience when he teaches his daughter? (b) When have you needed to be patient with your child?

⁷ Thomas, whose daughter is 11 years old, says that she sometimes asks him questions such as: “Could Jehovah have used evolution to develop life on earth?” or “Why don’t we get involved in the community, with elections for example, to try to improve things?” At times, he has to resist the urge simply to tell her what to believe. Thomas knows that what convinces a person of the truth is not one big fact but many small pieces of evidence.

⁸ Thomas also knows that he needs to be patient in order to teach his daughter. In reality, all Christians need to be patient. (Colossians 3:12) Thomas realizes that it will take time and many conversations to help his daughter build her conviction. He needs to reason with her on what she learns from the Bible. Thomas says: “Especially on important points, my wife and I want to know if our daughter really believes what she is learning and if it makes sense to her. If she has questions, that’s good. Frankly, I would worry if she accepted something without asking questions.”

9. How can you help your children to believe God’s Word?

⁹ When parents teach with patience, in time their children will begin to understand “the breadth and length and height and depth” of faith. (Ephesians 3:18) We can teach them in a way that fits their age and understanding. As their faith in what they learn becomes stronger, it will be easier for them to defend their beliefs to others, including schoolmates. (1 Peter 3:15) For example, can your children use the Bible to explain what happens at death? Does the Bible’s explanation make sense to them?a (See footnote.) Remember that you need to be patient to help your child to build faith in God’s Word, but it will be worth it.​—Deuteronomy 6:6, 7.

10. What should be an important part of your teaching?

¹⁰ Of course, your own example is also important to help your children develop faith. Stephanie, the mother of three daughters, says: “Ever since my children were very young, I have had to ask myself, ‘Do I talk to my children about why I am convinced of Jehovah’s existence, his love, and the rightness of his ways? Can my children clearly see that I really love Jehovah?’ I can’t expect my children to be persuaded unless I am.”

“WISE FOR SALVATION”

11, 12. What is wisdom, and how do we know that it does not depend on how old a person is?

¹¹ We have learned that Timothy had (1) knowledge of the Scriptures and (2) conviction about his beliefs. But what did Paul mean when he said that the holy writings could make Timothy “wise for salvation”?

¹² Insight on the Scriptures, Volume 2, explains that in the Bible, wisdom includes “the ability to use knowledge and understanding successfully to solve problems, avoid or avert dangers, attain certain goals, or counsel others in doing so. It is the opposite of foolishness.” The Bible says that “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child.” (Proverbs 22:15, footnote) Since wisdom is the opposite of foolishness, wisdom is one sign of maturity. A person becomes spiritually mature because he fears Jehovah and wants to obey him, not just because he grows older.​—Read Psalm 111:10.

13. How can young ones show that they are wise for salvation?

¹³ Young ones who are reasonably mature spiritually are not “tossed about as by waves and carried here and there” by their desires or by the influence of other young people. (Ephesians 4:14) Instead, “their powers of discernment” are being “trained to distinguish both right and wrong.” (Hebrews 5:14) So they make wise decisions, even when their parents or other adults are not watching. (Philippians 2:12) That kind of wisdom is necessary for salvation. (Read Proverbs 24:14.) How can you help your children to develop such wisdom? You need to make sure that they know what your values are. By what you say and do, they should see that you are trying to live according to Bible standards.​—Romans 2:21-23.

14, 15. (a) What should a young person who wants to get baptized think about? (b) How can you help your children to meditate on the blessings that come from obeying God’s laws?

¹⁴ However, to help your children to build faith, it is not enough simply to tell them what is right and what is wrong. You also need to help them to reason on such questions as: ‘Why does the Bible forbid things that might seem appealing? How can I be sure that Bible standards are always good for me?’​—Isaiah 48:17, 18.

¹⁵ If your child wants to get baptized, help him also to think seriously about the responsibilities that come with baptism. How does he feel about them? What are the benefits? What are the difficulties? Why are the benefits greater than the difficulties? (Mark 10:29, 30) It is very important to think about these things carefully before baptism. Help your child to meditate on the blessings of obedience and the bad results of disobedience. Then he will be more likely to believe that following Bible standards will always be good for him.​—Deuteronomy 30:19, 20.

WHEN A BAPTIZED YOUTH STRUGGLES WITH HIS FAITH

16. What should parents do if their baptized child begins to weaken in his faith?

¹⁶ What can you do if your child begins to express doubts about the truth after baptism? For example, your son or daughter may become attracted to the things of the world. Or your child may begin to doubt whether following Bible principles is really the best way of life. (Psalm 73:1-3, 12, 13) The way you react can affect whether he continues to serve Jehovah. Try not to fight with your child about this, no matter if he is still very young or if he is now a teenager. Instead, make sure he knows that you love him and want to help him.

17, 18. If a young person has doubts, how can his parents help him?

¹⁷ A young person who is baptized has made a dedication to Jehovah. This is a promise to love and serve him above everything else. (Read Mark 12:30.) Jehovah views dedication as a serious promise, and so should we. (Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5) Remind your child of this. But first, read and study the material Jehovah’s organization has provided for parents. Then, in a kind way and at the right time, stress to your child that his decision to dedicate himself to Jehovah and get baptized was very serious but will bring him many blessings.

¹⁸ For example, you can find good advice in the appendix “Questions Parents Ask,” at the back of the book Questions Young People Ask​—Answers That Work, Volume 1. It advises parents that they should not quickly think that their teenager has rejected the truth but should find out what the real problem is. It could be peer pressure or loneliness. Or the child may feel that other young people are doing more in Jehovah’s service than he is. The appendix also explains that these issues do not necessarily mean that your child disagrees with your beliefs. They are usually a result of some other difficulty that he is experiencing. The appendix then gives suggestions about how a parent can help a child who has doubts about the truth.

19. How can parents help their children to become “wise for salvation”?

¹⁹ As a parent, you have the important responsibility and privilege to bring up your children in “the discipline and admonition of Jehovah.” (Ephesians 6:4) As we have learned, this means that you must teach your children what the Bible says and help them to be convinced about what they learn. When their faith is strong, they will be moved to dedicate themselves to Jehovah and give him their best. May Jehovah’s Word, his spirit, and your efforts help your children to become “wise for salvation.”

1. Why is baptism such an important step? (See opening picture.)

EVERY year thousands of Bible students get baptized. Many of these are young people, teenagers or even younger. They may have been raised in the truth. Are you one of them? If you are, you have done something very good. Every Christian must be baptized. And baptism is needed in order to gain salvation and live forever.​—Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Peter 3:21.

2. Why should you not be afraid to make a dedication to Jehovah?

² When you got baptized, Jehovah began to bless you in many new ways. But you also had new responsibilities. In what way? On the day of your baptism, the brother who gave your baptism talk asked: “On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?” You answered yes. You promised to love Jehovah and to make serving him the most important thing in your life. Should you regret making such a serious promise? Absolutely not! You will never regret letting Jehovah guide your life. Those who do not know Jehovah are part of Satan’s world. The Devil does not care about them or about you at all. In fact, he would be happy if you lost your hope of living forever because you took his side and rejected Jehovah.

3. How has Jehovah blessed you because you dedicated yourself to him?

³ Think about how Jehovah has blessed you because you dedicated yourself to him and got baptized. You gave your life to Jehovah, so you can say with confidence: “Jehovah is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6) There is no greater honor than being on God’s side and knowing that he is proud of you.

A PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

4, 5. (a) Why can we say that dedication is a personal responsibility? (b) What challenges do Christians of all ages have?

⁴ You cannot view your relationship with Jehovah like a cell phone ‘family plan’ that your parents pay for. Even if you still live with your parents, your relationship with Jehovah is your personal responsibility. Why is it important to remember that? None of us can know exactly how our faith will be tested in the future. For example, you may have got baptized before you became a teenager. But now that you are in your teens, you have new feelings and new problems. One teenage girl said: “A child usually won’t resent being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses just because of not having a piece of birthday cake at school. But in a few years when the urge to have sex becomes stronger, he or she needs to be thoroughly convinced that obeying Jehovah’s laws is always the best choice.”

⁵ Young people are not the only ones who will have new challenges. Even those who get baptized when they are adults have their faith tested in ways they do not expect. Their tests may come from their marriage, their health, or their job. No matter how old we are, each of us will need to be faithful to Jehovah in many different situations.​—James 1:12-14.

6. (a) What does it mean that your dedication to Jehovah is unconditional? (b) What can you learn from Philippians 4:11-13?

⁶ To help you stay faithful, always remember that the promise you made to Jehovah is unconditional. This means that you promised the Most High to serve him no matter what happens, even if your friends or parents stop doing so. (Psalm 27:10) In all situations, be sure to ask Jehovah to help you keep your promise to him.​—Read Philippians 4:11-13.

7. What does it mean to work out your own salvation “with fear and trembling”?

⁷ Jehovah wants you to be his friend. But it takes effort to keep that friendship strong and to work out your own salvation. Philippians 2:12 says: “Keep working out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This means we need to think carefully about how we will stay close to Jehovah and remain faithful no matter what. We cannot simply assume that we will do so. Remember that even some who served God for many years have not remained faithful. What practical things can help you to work out your own salvation?

BIBLE STUDY IS IMPORTANT

8. What does personal study include? Why is it important?

⁸ To be Jehovah’s friend, we need to listen to him and we need to talk to him. The main way we listen to Jehovah is by studying the Bible. This includes reading and meditating on God’s Word and Bible-based publications. But studying the Bible is not like memorizing facts as you might do for a school exam. Rather, it is like an exciting journey on which you explore and discover new things about Jehovah. You will draw close to God, and he will draw close to you too.​—James 4:8.

9. What tools have helped you in your personal study?

⁹ Jehovah’s organization provides many tools that can help you in your study program. For example, there is a series called “Bible Study Activities” in the “Teenagers” section of jw.org to help you to apply what you learn from Bible accounts. Also on jw.org, you can find the study guides “What Does the Bible Really Teach?” These can help you build your faith and explain your beliefs to others. You can find other ideas for your personal study in the article “Young People Ask . . . How Can I Make Bible Reading Enjoyable?” in the April 2009 issue of Awake! Study and meditation are important for working out your own salvation.​—Read Psalm 119:105.

PRAYER IS VITAL

10. Why does a baptized Christian need to pray?

¹⁰ When we study the Bible, we listen to Jehovah, and when we pray, we speak to him. We should not think of prayer as simply a habit or as a ‘good luck charm’ to bring us success. Prayer is real communication with our Creator. Just think: Jehovah wants to hear what you have to say! (Read Philippians 4:6.) So when you feel anxious for any reason, the Bible says to “throw your burden on Jehovah.” (Psalm 55:22) Millions of brothers and sisters can tell you that this advice has helped them. It can help you too!

11. Why should you always thank Jehovah?

¹¹ However, we should not pray only when we want Jehovah to help us. The Bible reminds us: “Show yourselves thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) Sometimes we worry so much about our problems that we do not notice all the good things we have. So try this: Every day, think of at least three things you are thankful for, and then thank Jehovah for them. A teenager named Abigail, who got baptized when she was 12 years old, says: “I feel that Jehovah deserves our thanks more than anyone else in the universe. We should thank him at every opportunity for the gifts he has given us.” Sometimes Abigail asks herself this question she once heard: “If I woke up tomorrow with only the things I thanked Jehovah for today, what exactly would I have?”a (See footnote.)

THE VALUE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

12, 13. How have you personally experienced that Jehovah is good, and why is it important to think about how Jehovah has helped you?

¹² Jehovah helped King David to endure many difficult situations. So David spoke from personal experience when he said: “Taste and see that Jehovah is good; happy is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psalm 34:8) This verse shows us that we need to experience Jehovah’s goodness for ourselves. When you read the Bible and our publications and attend our meetings, you learn how God has helped others to stay faithful. But as your own relationship with Jehovah becomes stronger, you need to see how Jehovah is helping you. How have you personally experienced that Jehovah is good?

¹³ Every Christian has experienced Jehovah’s goodness in one special way. He invited each of us to draw close to him and his Son. Jesus said: “No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him.” (John 6:44) Do you feel that Jehovah has drawn you to him? Or do you think, ‘Jehovah drew my parents to him and I am just following’? Remember that when you dedicated yourself to Jehovah and got baptized, you then had your own special relationship with him. The Bible tells us: “If anyone loves God, this one is known by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:3) Always treasure the place Jehovah has given you in his organization.

14, 15. How can the ministry help you to have stronger faith?

¹⁴ You also experience Jehovah’s goodness when he gives you the courage to talk about your faith with others, either in the field ministry or at school. It can be difficult to preach to your schoolmates. You might worry about how they will react. It can be especially frightening to explain your beliefs in front of a large group. What can help you?

¹⁵ Think about why you believe what you believe. If the study guides found on jw.org are available in your language, make sure to use them. They can help you to think about what you believe, why you believe it, and how you can explain your beliefs to others. When you are truly convinced and have prepared well, you will want to witness about Jehovah.​—Jeremiah 20:8, 9.

16. What can give you courage to speak about your beliefs?

¹⁶ Even if you have prepared well, you might still be nervous about explaining your beliefs. An 18-year-old sister, who was baptized when she was 13, says: “I know what I believe, but sometimes I have trouble putting my thoughts into words.” So she tries to speak about the truth in a natural and relaxed way. She says: “My classmates talk freely about the things that they do. I should feel free to do the same. So I’ll mention something in passing, such as, ‘I was teaching the Bible the other day, and . . .’ Then I continue with the point of my story. Although the immediate point is not in itself about the Bible, often others are curious about what I do when teaching the Bible. Sometimes they ask questions about it. The more I use this approach, the easier it gets. And afterward, I always feel great!”

17. What else can help you speak to others?

¹⁷ When others feel that you really care about and respect them, it is easier for them to respect you and your beliefs. Olivia, who is 17 and got baptized when she was much younger, says: “I had always been afraid that if I worked the Bible into a conversation, people would view me as a fanatic.” Then she started to view things differently. Instead of thinking too much about her fears, she thought: “A lot of young people don’t know anything about Jehovah’s Witnesses. We are the only Witnesses they are exposed to. So the way we act can determine how they will respond. What if we are shy or timid or have a hard time speaking up about our faith, or what if we cringe when we do speak up? Then they may look at us as if we aren’t proud of who we are. They may even respond unkindly because of our lack of confidence. However, if we talk with ease and assurance about what we believe, making it a normal part of conversation, it’s more likely that they will respect us.”

KEEP WORKING OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION

18. What do you need to do to work out your own salvation?

¹⁸ We have seen that it is a serious responsibility to work out your own salvation. To do this, you need to read and meditate on God’s Word, pray to Jehovah, and think deeply about all the ways he has helped you personally. Doing these things will help you to be much more confident that Jehovah is your Friend. This will make you want to speak to others about your beliefs.​—Read Psalm 73:28.

19. Why is it worth any effort to work out your salvation?

¹⁹ Jesus said: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me.” (Matthew 16:24) Yes, to follow Jesus, each Christian must dedicate himself to Jehovah and get baptized. But this is just the beginning of a wonderful life now, and it will lead to eternal life in God’s new world. So do everything you can to keep working out your own salvation!

WHY was my father so angry? Let me explain. I was born on July 29, 1929, and grew up in a village in the province of Bulacan in the Philippines. We did not have much money, and our life was simple. When I was young, the Japanese army invaded the Philippines and war began. However, our village was isolated, so the war did not directly affect us. We did not have radio, television, or newspapers, so we only heard about the war from other people.

I had seven brothers and sisters, and when I was eight years old, my grandparents took me to live with them. Although we were Catholic, my grandfather was willing to discuss religion and accepted religious literature that his friends gave him. I remember that he showed me the booklets Protection, Safety, and Uncovered in the Tagalog language,a (see footnote) as well as a Bible. I enjoyed reading the Bible, especially the four Gospels. Doing so made me want to follow Jesus’ example.​—John 10:27.

LEARNING TO FOLLOW THE MASTER

The Japanese army left the Philippines in 1945. About that time, my parents asked me to come back home. My grandfather encouraged me to go, and so I went.

In December 1945, Jehovah’s Witnesses from the town of Angat came to preach in our village. One older Witness came to our house and explained what the Bible says about “the last days.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) He invited us to attend a Bible study in a nearby village. I went, even though my parents did not go. About 20 people were there, and some asked questions about the Bible.

I did not really understand what they were talking about, so I decided to leave. But then they started singing a Kingdom song. I really liked the song, so I stayed. After the song and prayer, we were all invited to attend a meeting in Angat the following Sunday.

That meeting was held in the home of the Cruz family, and some of us walked about eight kilometers (five miles) to get there. About 50 people were gathered, and I was impressed that even the young children answered questions about difficult Bible subjects. After I had been to several more meetings, Damian Santos, an elderly pioneer brother who used to be a mayor, invited me to stay overnight at his house. We spent most of that night discussing the Bible.

Back then, people would get baptized soon after they learned basic Bible teachings. After I had gone to just a few meetings, the brothers asked me and others, “Do you want to get baptized?” I replied, “Yes, I do.” I knew that I wanted to “slave for the Master, Christ.” (Colossians 3:24) We went to a nearby river, and two of us got baptized on February 15, 1946.

I realized that baptized Christians should preach regularly as Jesus did. My father thought that I was too young to preach and that simply being baptized did not make me a preacher. I explained to him that it is God’s will that we preach the good news of God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) I also said that I needed to keep my promise to God. That is when my father made the threat that I mentioned in the beginning. He was determined to stop me from preaching. That was the first time I had to leave things behind, or make sacrifices, to serve Jehovah.

The Cruz family invited me to live with them in Angat. They also encouraged me and their youngest daughter, Nora, to start pioneering. Both of us began to pioneer on November 1, 1947. Nora pioneered in another town, but I stayed in Angat.

ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE THINGS BEHIND

After I had pioneered for two years, Earl Stewart, a brother from Bethel, gave a talk to over 500 people in the town square of Angat. He spoke in English, and afterward I gave a summary of his talk in Tagalog. This was the first of many talks that I have interpreted over the years. How was I able to do this? Although I went to school for only seven years, my teachers regularly used English. Also, I studied many of our publications in English because there were very few Bible publications in Tagalog. These things helped me understand English well enough to interpret talks.

Brother Stewart told the local congregation that the missionaries were leaving to attend the 1950 Theocracy’s Increase Assembly in New York, U.S.A. So the branch office wanted one or two pioneers to help at Bethel. I was one of the brothers invited. Once again, I left behind the things I was used to, this time to work at Bethel.

I arrived at Bethel on June 19, 1950. Bethel was in a large, old house surrounded by big trees on a one-hectare (2.5 acre) piece of land. About a dozen single brothers worked there. In the early morning, I helped in the kitchen. Then, from about nine o’clock, I ironed clothes in the laundry. I did the same things in the afternoon. Even after the missionaries returned from the international assembly, I stayed at Bethel. I did whatever the brothers asked me to do. I wrapped magazines for mailing, worked with subscriptions, and served as a receptionist.

LEAVING THE PHILIPPINES FOR GILEAD SCHOOL

In 1952, six other brothers from the Philippines and I were invited to attend the 20th class of Gilead School. I was thrilled! While we were in the United States, we saw and experienced many things that were new. Life was very different from what I was used to in the small village where I came from.

For example, we had to learn how to use appliances and utensils that we had never seen before. Even the weather was different! One morning when I woke up, everything was white outside. That was the first time I saw snow. It was beautiful, but I quickly discovered that it was very, very cold!

I enjoyed the wonderful training at Gilead so much that those adjustments did not bother me. The instructors were very good teachers and showed us how to study and do research. The training at Gilead definitely helped me to strengthen my relationship with Jehovah.

After I graduated, I was temporarily assigned as a special pioneer in the Bronx in New York City. So in July 1953, I was able to attend the New World Society Assembly, which was held there in the Bronx. After the assembly, I was assigned back to the Philippines.

LEAVING THE COMFORTS OF THE CITY

The brothers at Bethel assigned me to do circuit work. This gave me more opportunities to imitate Jesus, who traveled to faraway towns and cities to help Jehovah’s people. (1 Peter 2:21) My circuit covered a huge area of central Luzon, which is the largest island in the Philippines. It included the provinces of Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales. To visit some towns, I had to cross the rocky Sierra Madre Mountains. No buses or trains came to those places, so I had to ask truck drivers if I could sit on top of the logs they were transporting. Many times they allowed me to do so, but this was a very uncomfortable way to travel.

Most of the congregations were small and new. So the brothers were grateful when I helped them to organize meetings and field service better.

Later, I was assigned to a circuit that covered the entire Bicol region. In that area, there were many isolated groups where special pioneers were preaching in places the Witnesses had never been before. At one home, the toilet was only a hole in the ground with two logs across the middle. When I stood on the logs, they fell into the hole, and I fell with them. It took me a long time to clean myself up and get ready for breakfast!

When I was serving in that circuit, I began to think about Nora, who had started pioneering when I did. By that time, she was a special pioneer in Dumaguete City, and I went to visit her. After that, we wrote letters to each other for a while, and in 1956, we got married. We spent the first week after our wedding visiting a congregation on Rapu Rapu Island. There we had to climb mountains and walk long distances, but we were happy to be together and help the brothers in faraway places.

INVITED TO SERVE AT BETHEL AGAIN

After we had done circuit work for about four years, the brothers invited us to come to the branch office. We started working there in January 1960. During the many years we have been at Bethel, I have learned a lot from working with brothers who have heavy responsibilities in Jehovah’s organization. And Nora has enjoyed many different assignments at Bethel.

It has been a blessing to see more and more people serving Jehovah in the Philippines. When I came to Bethel as a young, single brother, there were about 10,000 publishers in the whole country. Now there are more than 200,000 publishers in the Philippines, and hundreds of brothers and sisters are working at Bethel to support the preaching work.

As time passed, we needed more space to do the work at Bethel. Then the Governing Body asked us to look for property where we could build a larger branch office. The printery overseer and I went from house to house in the neighborhood of the branch and asked people whether they wanted to sell their property. No one did. One person even told us: “Chinese do not sell. We buy.”

However, one day some unexpected things started to happen. One of our neighbors was moving to the United States, so he asked whether we would like to buy his property. Then another neighbor decided to sell his property, and he encouraged the others around him to do the same. We were even able to buy the property from the man who had said that “Chinese do not sell.” In a short time, the branch property was three times larger. I am sure that Jehovah wanted that to happen.

In 1950, I was the youngest person working at Bethel. Now my wife and I are the oldest. I have no regrets about following Jesus no matter where he directed me. Although my parents threw me out of their home, Jehovah has given me a big family of people who love him. I really believe that Jehovah gives us everything we need, no matter what our assignment is. Nora and I are very grateful to Jehovah for all his kind provisions, and we encourage others also to test Jehovah out.​—Malachi 3:10.

Jesus once invited a tax collector named Matthew Levi to be his follower. What did Matthew do? “Leaving everything behind, he rose up and began to follow him.” (Luke 5:27, 28) I too have had the opportunity to leave things behind to follow Jesus, and I encourage others to do the same and experience many blessings.

Is the IUD (intrauterine device) a form of birth control that Christians might use?

About this matter each Christian couple should make a decision that will allow them to have a good conscience. To do so, they must carefully consider how IUDs work and what Bible principles apply.

Jehovah commanded Adam and Eve and, later, Noah and his family: “Be fruitful and become many.” (Genesis 1:28; 9:1) The Bible does not say that Christians need to follow this command. Therefore, each couple must decide whether they will use some form of birth control to limit the size of their family or to determine when to have children. What factors should they consider?

Christians should base any decision about birth control on Bible principles. That is why they would never use abortion as a form of birth control. A voluntary abortion ends a pregnancy that, if it were allowed to continue, would normally result in the birth of a baby. Abortion goes against what the Bible says about respect for life. (Exodus 20:13; 21:22, 23; Psalm 139:16; Jeremiah 1:5) What about using an IUD?

The Watchtower of May 15, 1979 (pages 30-31), examined this matter. Most IUDs that were common at that time were plastic objects that were inserted in the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancy. The article explained that it was not fully clear how such IUDs worked. Many scientists said that IUDs prevented sperm from reaching and fertilizing a woman’s eggs. If an egg was not fertilized, a new life did not begin.

However, there was some evidence that an egg might at times get fertilized. The newly fertilized egg might grow in a Fallopian tube (an ectopic pregnancy) or might travel into the womb. If it did reach the womb, the IUD could prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the womb, and the pregnancy would end. This would be like an abortion. The article concluded: “The sincere Christian concerned about the propriety of using an IUD should seriously weigh such information in the light of a Bible-based respect for the sanctity of life.”​—Psalm 36:9.

But since 1979, when that article was published, there have been many developments in medicine and science.

Two additional types of IUDs are now available. One type includes copper and became widely available in the United States by 1988. Another type releases a hormone and began to be sold in 2001. What do we know about how these two types of IUDs work?

Copper: As already mentioned, IUDs make it difficult for sperm to survive passing through the uterus to reach an egg. In addition to that, in IUDs that contain copper, the copper appears to be toxic to sperm, so it acts as a spermicide.a (See footnote.) Also, such IUDs change the lining of the uterus.

Hormone: Another type of IUD contains a hormone similar to the one found in birth control pills. These IUDs function like the older IUDs, but they also release the hormone in the uterus. For some women, this stops them from ovulating, or releasing an egg. Of course, if an egg is not released, it cannot be fertilized. These IUDs also thin the lining of the uterus.b (See footnote.) Additionally, they thicken the mucus at the cervix, which blocks the sperm from passing from the vagina into the uterus.

As already mentioned, both types of IUDs seem to change the lining of the uterus. This means that if a woman does ovulate and an egg is fertilized, it might enter the uterus but fail to implant because the lining is not as receptive. That would end the pregnancy at an early stage. However, scientists believe that this rarely happens, and it may also happen at times with birth control pills.

So no one can be certain that copper or hormone IUDs never allow an egg to be fertilized. However, scientific research shows that because such IUDs function in the ways mentioned above that prevent an egg from being fertilized, they rarely allow a woman to get pregnant.

A Christian couple who want to use an IUD might discuss this with their doctor. He or she can tell them what IUD products are available where they live as well as possible benefits and risks to the wife. The couple should not expect or allow anyone else, not even a doctor, to decide what they will do. (Romans 14:12; Galatians 6:4, 5) This is a private decision that they should make as a couple. Their goal should be to please God and to have a clean conscience.​—Compare 1 Timothy 1:18, 19; 2 Timothy 1:3.