380 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
380 lines
18 KiB
Plaintext
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MORMONISM'S "SALVATION BY WORKS"
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vs.
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SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH CHRIST
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The entire BIBLE points in all directions to the cross. Upon
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it God's only begotten Son died that we might have eternal life
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from God. Only through Christ can this separation be bridged.
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On the other hand, MORMONISM points in all directions to the
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"Law of Eternal Progression". We have seen that Mormon doctrine
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states that God was once a man. He progressed to become God. The
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same law states that man may become God!
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Let's go to the authorities of the church and hear what they
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have said, first on the subject of man's pre-existence as a
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spirit in a "spirit world" prior to taking a body here on earth:
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DID WE PRE-EXIST?
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BRUCE R. McCONKIE (Apostle); MORMON DOCTRINE, page 589
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"Pre-existence is the term commonly used to describe the
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pre-mortal existence of the spirit children of God the Father ...
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All men and women are in the similitude of the universal Father
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and Mother, and we are literally the sons and daughters of Deity;
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as spirits they were the offspring of celestial parentage ...
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Unless God the father was a personal Being, He could not have
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begotten spirits in His image, and if there had been no self-
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existent spirit element, there would have been no substance from
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which those spirit bodies could have been organized."
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The basis of the Mormon law of progression in Mormonism is
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that "intelligences" are eternal. On the other hand, God is not!
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He started as a spirit child in another 'spirit world' long ago;
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entered a body on another earth as a man; apparently was able to
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follow the law of progression perfectly; after death He became
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God in the 'celestial kingdom' of that other earth; brought (or
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was given) many wives; through sexual union in our spirit world
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had billions of spirit children : The first was Jesus, the second
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Lucifer, the third and on and on were to enter the earth as you
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and me.
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No organic difference in the parentage between us and Jesus
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and Lucifer! We all have the same literal "Heavenly Father". Note
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how those in Mormonism generally refer to Him as "Heavenly
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Father" -- they mean just that - LITERALLY!! Just remember that
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they could say also; "Heavenly GRANDFATHER", "Heavenly Great-
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Grandfather", and so on ...!
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MILTON R. HUNTER (1st Council of 70); GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES;
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pages 127-129 (1958)
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"In the first stage, man was an eternally existent being
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termed an intelligence ... The next realm where man dwelt was the
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spirit world."
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According to Mormon concept eternally existing intelligences
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were clothed with spirit bodies in the mansion of their eternal
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Father... "numerous sons and daughters were begotten and born of
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heavenly parents into that eternal family in the spirit world ...
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There ... they were reared to maturity, becoming grown spirit men
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and women prior to coming upon this earth ... Following his stay
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in the spirit world, man comes to earth in a probationary state
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... receives a physical body and undergoes the experiences of
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mortality .. Eventually; however, mortal death comes upon all.
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The eternal spirit goes to the spirit world to wait resurrection
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and judgement ... there they shall be assigned to the glory that
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they have merited ... Some will receive celestial glory; others
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terrestrial, while those who are recorded in the 'Lamb's Book of
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Life' will enter celestial glory. There some of them will become
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angels and others priests and kings, or, in other words, Gods."
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On page 12, Hunter states a basic "truth" of Mormonism, that
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God is subordinate to the law of eternal progression.: "Our
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Eternal Father has attained His position of exaltation and
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Godhood by obedience to the great law of progression."
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JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH; DOCTRINES OF SALVATION; Vol 1, pg 12
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"The intelligent part of man was never created but always
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existed. That is true of each of us as well as it is of God, yet
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we are born sons and daughters of God in the spirit and are
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destined to exist forever. Those who become like God will also be
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from eternity to eternity."
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The BIBLE states explicitly that there are no intelligences
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co-eternal or co-existent with God. Anything that exists, other
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than God, is a "thing". COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 and JOHN 1:1-3 state
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that ONLY Jesus is co-eternal with God as the "WORD WAS GOD"
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(John 1:1). He is before all "things" and created all "things".
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His creation did not pre-exist Him! God knows the beginning and
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end of all things before they exist. There are several scriptures
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stating HE "knew" us before we were born. They do not imply we
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existed before we were born.
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"The burden of the word of the Lord of Israel, saith the
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Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the
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foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within
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him." (ZECHARIAH 12:1)
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SALVATION BY GRACE VERSUS WORKS
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The BIBLE states over and over that we do not merit
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salvation (eternal life in God's presence) by our own goodness
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and system of good works from or for any organization. You need
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only to study the Old Testament and see the hopelessness of a
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system whereby man was to live within God's laws with the system
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of prophets - temples - priests and ordinances. The purpose of
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Jesus coming to earth to die for us was to make provision for our
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own inability to bridge this separation of man from God and
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brought a new covenant. If you choose Mormonism as your plan of
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salvation, you have regressed to the old covenant of the prophet,
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temple and ordinance which produce only "dead works" in an
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attempt to obtain righteousness on your own. If you trust the LDS
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church and its prophets; here is what is said:
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MILTON R. HUNTER; THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES; pg 115 JOSEPH F.
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SMITH; TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH SMITH; pg 348
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"Thus all men who ascend to the glorious status of Godhood
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can do so only by one method - by obedience to all the principals
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and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (another way of
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saying "Mormonism")... Men are saved no faster than they gain
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knowledge. The Prophet Joseph described the process of going
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toward Godhood as follows: When you climb a ladder, you must
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begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at
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the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel - you
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must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all of the
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principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you
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have passed through the veil before you will have learned them."
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JAMES E. TALMAGE; ARTICLES OF FAITH; pg 480
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"The sectarian dogma of justification by faith alone has
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exercised an influence for evil."
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II NEPHI 25:23 (BOOK OF MORMON)
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"For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after
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all we can do."
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WHAT THE MORMONS THINK OF CHRIST
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LDS CHURCH TRACT; pg 32,46,47
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"Christians speak often of the blood of Christ and its
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cleansing power. Much that is believed and taught on this
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subject, however, is utter nonsense and so palpably false that to
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believe it is to lose one's salvation. Many go so far, for
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instance, as to pretend, at least, to believe that if we confess
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Christ with our lips and avow that we accept Him as our personal
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Savior, we are thereby saved ... And no man can pick the fruit of
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eternal life off the branches, as these are tied to the vine,
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without accepting both Christ and His prophets ... If it had not
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been for Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the perfect knowledge of
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Christ would not be had in the world in this day. If it had not
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been for him and his mission there would be no legal
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administrators now on earth to administer in the ordinances of
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salvation."
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BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; pgs 84 & 745
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"The second birth begins when men are legally baptized in
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water by a legal administrator ... Those who receive the Gospel
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(Mormon Doctrine) and join the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
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day Saints have power given them to become sons of God."
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(Compare to John 1:12 -- "But as many as received Him, to
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them gave He power to become sons of God..")
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BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; pg 149
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"Those things which men are directed to do to attain peace
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in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come are
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collectively called the commandments."
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BRUCE R. McCONKIE; MORMON DOCTRINE; preface to 1966 Edition; pg
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118
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"Man is saved no faster than he gains knowledge -- (See I
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Corinthians 1:17,20-23,2:1-5) -- To gain salvation after baptism
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it is necessary to keep the commandments of God and endure to the
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end ... The most important things that any member of the church
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of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints ever does in this world are:
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1. To marry the right person, in the right place, by the right
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authority (Mormon Temple marriage); and 2. to keep the covenant
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made in connection with this holy and perfect order of matrimony
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- thus assuring the obedient persons of an inheritance of
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exaltation in the celestial kingdom."
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CHURCH NEWS-EDITORIAL; November 8,1975; page 16
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"There is only one way to become sanctified and perfected,
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and thus prepared to live with God. That is by obedience to His
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laws. There is no other way ... When will we learn to obey him
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with all our heart, mind and strength?
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(Compare with Luke 10:27 - "Thou shalt love the Love the
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Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with
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all thy strength, and with all thy mind....")
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MILTON R. HUNTER, GOSPEL THROUGH THE AGES; pgs 118-120
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"If men and women obey all the other laws of the gospel
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except that of celestial marriage (Mormon Temple Marriage), they
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are appointed angels ...."
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BENNET; WHY I AM A MORMON; pg 170
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"Once we have been resurrected, it will be our own efforts,
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and not Christ's sacrifice, that will be the deciding factor ...
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A man can be saved only so fast as he gains knowledge of the laws
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of God." Prophets ... temples ... Obedience to the Law ...
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Aaronic Priest .. Legalisms ... Dependent on our own efforts and
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good works ...
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Sound familiar? Old Testament in a new wrapping? Wrapped in
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Christian terminology? Mormonism calls the unsuspecting back
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under what amounts to the old covenant. If righteousness could be
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obtained, earned or gained by our own efforts to be perfect under
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the law, there would have been no need for a "NEW" covenant. If
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all Christ's death meant was to conquer death - to pay for Adam's
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sin as Mormonism teaches - why are the following among the great
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number of God's words declaring the TRUTH of the NEW COVENANT of
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salvation through Christ, by faith, not works of the law. Look up
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these scriptures and review their full context:
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THE LAW AND WORKS DO NOT SAVE
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JOHN 6:28,29,39,40 ... What must we do to be doing the works of
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God? This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He
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sent.
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ROMANS 3:21,22 ... No one is justified by the works of the law.
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Now righteousness of God is manifested apart from the Law.
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ROMANS 4:13-16 ... If it is adherents of the Law that are to be
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heirs, then faith is NULL and the promise void.
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ROMANS 7:4-6 ... Died to the Law through the body of Christ.
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Discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so
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that we serve not under the old written code but in new life of
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the Spirit.
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ROMANS 8:1-4 ... God has done what the law could not do!
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ROMANS 9:30-32 ... Israel who pursued righteousness based on the
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law did not succeed. WHY? They did not pursue it through faith,
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but as if it were based on works.
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ROMANS 10:1-4 ... A zeal for God - but not enlightened. Seeking
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to establish their own righteousness. Christ is the end of the
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law. Romans 14:1-23 and Colossians 3:8-23 are clear refutations
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of the point made by Joseph Smith in "Words of Wisdom" to not
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drink and eat certain things is nothing more than MAN'S
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regulation and NOT from God. Read and see what God said through
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the Apostle Paul!
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GALATIANS 2:16 ... Man is not justified by works of the law but
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is through faith!
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GALATIANS 2:19-21 ... Died to the law, that I might live to God.
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I do not nullify the Grace of God; for if righteousness were
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through the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
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GALATIANS 3:10 ... As many as are under the works of the law are
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under the curse!
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GALATIANS 3:23-28 ... Before faith came, we were under the law -
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our schoolmaster (Custodian) until Christ came. Now that faith is
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come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
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GALATIANS 5:18 ... If led by the Spirit, you are not under the
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law.
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II TIMOTHY 1:8-10 ... Who saved us, not according to our works,
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but according to His own purpose and grace.
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TITUS 3:3-9 ... He saved us, not by works of righteousness which
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we have done, but according to His mercy. Being justified by
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grace.
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HOW IS MAN (or WE ) SAVED ?
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If salvation is not by works of our own under the law and
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ordinances, HOW IS MAN SAVED? Just a few of the scriptures God
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has given us are:
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JOHN 3:1-18 ... YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN! In context Jesus,
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Himself, explains that, not only do we have a natural birth
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(Flesh) but a spiritual birth! "Whosoever believeth in Him shall
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not perish but have everlasting life (ETERNAL)!
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ROMANS 5:1-11 ... Christ died for us, sinners, who are now
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justified by His blood. We are reconciled through Him.
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ROMANS 5:15-17 ... The free gift of righteousness by the grace of
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God.
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ROMANS 10:9-17 ... Confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and
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believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be
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saved.
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GALATIANS 2:16-21 ... We are justified by faith. Our old nature
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is crucified with Christ; Christ now lives in us; we live by
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faith --- not the law!
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EPHESIANS 2:8-10 ... "For by grace are ye saved through faith;
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and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works,
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lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in
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Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that
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we should walk in them."
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Works have nothing to do with our justifying eternal life.
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The Mormon will be quick to point out James 2:17 - "Even so
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faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." AMEN! That is
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not denying salvation by faith. What it is saying is this: "You
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say you are saved? Saving faith will naturally flow into a life
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that will show evidence of it. Your 'works' will testify of your
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faith. If none, there is reason to question whether there really
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was a saving faith to start with." To quote Ed Decker in his
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tract "To Moroni with Love"; You do not bark to become a dog nor
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"baa" to become a sheep. You bark because you are a dog or "baa"
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because you are a sheep! Christians, when born-again and indwelt
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by the Holy Spirit, have a never ending desire to follow the Lord
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Jesus in their daily life behavior. "Works" is not an appropriate
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name as it suggests payment after the work has been done. Christ
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made the payment IN FULL for our sins by His blood for us; if
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only we REPENT of our sins and ACCEPT Him by faith. It is
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available only through God's grace for an eternal life.
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I JOHN 1:7 ... Blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin.
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HEBREW 9:23-28,10:10-18 ... Jesus was the sacrifice, once, to
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perfect forever those who are sanctified.
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ROMANS 5:6-11 ... We are reconciled by His blood.
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ISAIAH 53:6-11 & I CORINTHIANS 5:17-21 ... Our iniquity was laid
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on Jesus; to die for us; that we might be made the righteousness
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of God in Him.
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I PETER 2:24 ... "Who his own self bare our sins in His own body
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on the tree, that we, being dead to sins should live unto
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righteousness: By whose stripes ye are healed."
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You will never (Well, We won't say never because God may
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have His plan for their salvation that We are not aware of at
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this moment) see a cross on a Mormon structure. They will say
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call it a "graven image"; yet "Moroni" stands on top of their
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temples. Moroni didn't die for them. Joseph Smith, Jr. didn't die
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for them. The church didn't die for them. JESUS DIED FOR THEM, if
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they would only cling to His cross and reach out to claim His
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blood for their sins. They're told they can earn their own
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righteousness based on the law of the church which is based on
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"prophets, seers and revelators" proven -TIME AND AGAIN- to be
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false. Wouldn't you rather lay your eternal life in the hands of
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the ETERNAL GOD; the SON who, personally, died for you - than,
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say, a "prophet" in Salt Lake City?
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Our prayer is that this comparison of the Bible vs: the LDS
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Mormon church will show you the LIGHT of CHRIST.
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