| MORMON CHURCH (LDS) | SALVATION IS BY WORKS, NOT BY GRACE |
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The greatest doctrine of the Christian belief is that of salvation, by grace, through faith in Jesus
Christ. However, the Mormon church rejects the idea of salvation by grace, and, instead,
substitutes a doctrine that teaches the attainment of salvation through a system of works
accomplished by human effort.
The idea of obtaining salvation through human effort and works is nothing new. It is the core element of every religion in the world with the exception of Christianity. It was the primary constituent of the religious belief in Judaism as it was practiced. It would surprise many Mormons, and some Christians alike, to be told that the Old Testament does not teach that salvation was through a system of human effort and works. That was the system developed by the Jewish religious leadership, but it was not the message that was revealed by God. Prior to the giving of the Ten Commandments (The Law) it was noted that Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, the parents of Moses, Moses and numerous others were justified by faith and not by works: All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. These were all commended for their faith; yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. The Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:13, 39-40 (NIV) The Mormon church includes the Ten Commandments (The Law) as one of the items in its list of "works" that men must do in order to be acceptable to god and to be a good Mormon. One might ask, "If it appears that The Ten Commandments (The Law) were part of the attainment of salvation in the Old Testament, then why can't it be part of the Mormon belief?" The answer is apparent, by reading the Old and New Testament, that the Ten Commandments (The Law) were not given by God so that man, by obeying them, could achieve salvation. Quite the contrary; The Ten Commandments (The Law) were given to show man that it was impossible to keep them and therefore could not please God or be justified before God by doing, or keeping, the works of The Law. The Ten Commandments (The Law) were not given just to the Jewish people, but to every human being as the standard for attainment to right standing before God. This point is made in a strong presentation by the apostle Paul: Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. The Holy Bible, Romans 3:19-20 (NAS) If The Ten Commandments (The Law) are the standard, then they must be PERFECTLY KEPT in a continuous state. There can be no time in which even one item is not continually and perfectly kept: "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, "Cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, 'Listen to My voice, and do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,' in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day."'" The Holy Bible, Jeremiah 11:2-5a (NAS) You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you" Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing form you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now truing to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing - if it really was for nothing" Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written' "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. The Holy Bible, Galatians 3:1-14 It is the Mormon belief that salvation is by works, through the attainment of goodness by the works accomplished and the moral and righteous character that is achieved through those efforts. However, The Law makes it clear that it is salvation from the character of man that is needed, and that relying on the character of the individual to achieve a right standing with God will ALWAYS result in failure. We who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. If while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have ben crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of god, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of god, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! The Holy Bible, Galatians 2:15-21 The Mormon church chooses to ignore the clear teaching of both the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible and, instead, prefers to place its people under the bondage and curse of The Law and the doctrine of works, thus condemning themselves to the judgment of God that Jesus Christ came to remove. At the same time they claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, falsely attributing a system of human works as the gospel that He preached. We may talk of men being redeemed by the efficacy of his blood; but the truth is that that blood has no efficacy to wash away our sins. That must depend upon our own action. LDS apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 229, 1859. Mr. Lyman made a statement without foundation, spoke a direct lie in contradiction of the Bible and then put his own words in a position of authority in relation to the teaching of the Bible. LDS apostle Lyman was not a spokesman for God because he did not teach the same gospel as that in the Bible, but, instead, substituted his own teaching in place of the revelation of God and the words of a true Apostle of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter: If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. The Holy Bible, 1 Peter 1:17-19 (NAS) Complete salvation, which is full and eternal life, results from man's full endeavor to conform to the laws of life, the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we often say that men save themselves with the aid of the Lord. LDS apostle John Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 1960. p. 190 One common erroneous concept is that belief alone in the Lord Jesus Christ is the only requirement for salvation... Salvation comes through living the Lord's commandments and doing good works. LDS apostle LeGrand Richards, Deseret News, Church News, November 14, 1973, p. 11. We are notwithstanding our weaknesses, the best people in the world. LDS President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, p. 236. Self deception is a terrible circumstance because it is not based on reality or truth. The Mormons make the mistake of comparing themselves to other human beings, and defining the standard of performance against those people. That is a great error, because human beings, no matter how "good" are not the standard. If the Mormons wish to be judged by their works and their self-defined goodness of character, then they must be prepared to compare what they have accomplished with the standard which is perfection, facing the only person who was ever perfect, Jesus Christ. If the Mormons believe that they can meet that standard, then they should think again and read the words of Jesus Christ: Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." The Holy Bible, John 6:28-29 (NAS) The Apostle Paul defines salvation as follows: Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. For knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by that righteousness. But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "Do not say in your hears, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down), or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)." But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as lord, and believe in your heart that god raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. The Holy Bible, Romans 10:1-10 (NAS) I want you to see this, and to comprehend that the whole matter of your salvation is your own business and work. What else has Jesus done? ...you examine the principle in the Gospel as it is taught to you, and what requirement of that Gospel has been obeyed for you { by Christ}? None. LDS apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 301, 1859. What is it that frees us from sin? ...truth exists all around us to a vast infinity, yet we pass on in our darkness from year to year, and add folly to our transgressions, and still continue to hope that yet, through Jesus, we shall be redeemed; but it will be when, by our own actions, we shall be released from the thraldom of sin. LDS apostle Amasa M. Lyman, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 7, p. 299, 1859 The last two statement by LDS apostle Amasa M. Lyman reveal the disparity between Mormon doctrine and Biblical teaching. The two are radically opposed. Mormon doctrine teaches that man can attain to godhood by his own "good" works. The Bible teaches that man cannot do any good works prior to salvation, which is by faith and grace, through the work of Jesus Christ. Mormon doctrine and Biblical teaching cannot be reconciled on this subject.
Can the Mormon go to heaven by adhering to Mormon doctrine and belief? The answer, according to the Bible, is, No. |
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