Biblical Answers

Now comes the fun part! What does God say in His word about Himself and the gospel? What is a Christian? Let's find out. For greater clarification, the Amplified Bible is excerpted from where noted.

A Christian is someone who subscribes to a particular theological view. Christianity revolves around belief in and on Jesus Christ as presented in the Bible. If I claim to be a Christian but say that my backyard peach tree is the reincarnation of Christ, would I be? If I claimed to be Islamic but denied the Koran or the prophet Mohammed, would I really be a Muslim? If I claimed to be Hindu but refused to accept reincarnation and the many gods of Hinduism, would I be a Hindu? If I insisted that I was Mormon but denied that Joseph Smith was a prophet, did not believe the Book of Mormon to be scripture, and said that temple work was not necessary to the salvation of both living and dead, could I really claim to be Mormon? So how can a Mormon, denying the basic tenets of Christianity, insist s/he is a Christian?

Does being a "good person" make someone a Christian? If being a good person made someone a Christian, then how do you explain the many non-Christians who do volunteer work and are honorable in their dealings with their fellow men? How would you explain a philanthropic atheist? Would believing that Jesus was a great teacher or a wonderful prophet make a person Christian? If believing that Jesus Christ walked the earth some 2,000years ago made people Christians, then that would make Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims Christians, because they believe Jesus was a real person. They may acknowledge he was a good man and maybe even a prophet, but they don't believe He was the Son of God, although they believe he was real. Satan and demons believe and even know Jesus is God in the flesh, but we couldn't call them Christians!

If a Mormon denies the doctrines that theologically define Christianity, he cannot consider himself a Christian. If a person denies the inerrancy of the Bible, does not accept the Triune nature of God, and rejects Christ's completed work on the cross, he cannot be considered a Christian, notwithstanding they may try to "follow his example." Mormon doctrine and Christian doctrine are two different things entirely. So to say that Mormons are not Christians is NOT saying they are not good people. They are wonderful people! Theologically speaking, however, they are no more Christians than Christians rejecting Mormon doctrine are Mormons.

"It is not logically possible that a religion which rejects the biblical Trinity and accepts polytheism, which denies that God always existed and instead maintains that God was once a man who evolved into godhood, which teaches works-salvation and denies salvation by grace, which offers a pagan view of the virgin birth, which endorses the occult, and so on, can legitimately call itself Christian. Mormonism is not true Christianity and true Mormons cannot be considered Christians.....For Mormons to maintain they are truly Christian, they must ignore the weight of 20 centuries of history and the conclusion of most people outside the church who have seriously and independently investigated the issue." (Fast Facts on Mormonism, John Ankerberg and John Weldon, 2003, p. 90)

 

Following is the biblical response to the LDS Articles of Faith

1. The Godhead

Was God once a nebulous "Intelligence" who became a spirit being through birth to a heavenly mother and father of his own? Did he "keep his first estate" (advancing as a spirit being) and thereby qualify for mortality, getting to be born to mortal parents on an earth like this in a galaxy far, far away? Did he earn his salvation/"exaltation" on that planet by "living the gospel," adhering to all the rules and regulations in such a way that he became worthy enough to advance to godhood? Did our "Heavenly Father" receive a resurrection with a Celestial-level body of flesh and bones so he could begin creating his own worlds with his many wives? Are there other gods out in the universe doing the same thing as he is and can humans become gods eventually if they become Mormons and valiantly "live the Mormon gospel?"

The Trinity:

There are many excellent books and websites that can go into greater detail on why the Trinity---or the Three-in-oneness of God---is a Biblically sound doctrine. Here we will touch on just a few points.

There is what is called a "plural of majesty," such as when Queen Victoria, referring to herself, would say, "We are not amused." This denotes the greatness of God in His majesty, holiness, and dignity. We also see in the Hebrew that the word used for God in Genesis 1:26-27 is Elohim (plurality), but in the latter part of the sentence singular descriptions are used. That is no grammatical error. The phrases "our image" and "our likeness" in Genesis 1:26 are concluded with "His own image" and "in the image of God." It does not read, "in their own image" or "in the image of Gods." It would have been so easy for God to say, referring to Himself, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, "We are three separate gods, but are one in purpose," as Mormonism teaches, if it were true! However, the Bible repeatedly refers to "God" as being one. Christians understand that as "one in essence," not "one in purpose." Deut. 6:4 reads, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD." The Hebrew words for LORD and God in this verse would be, "The YHWH our Elohim is one YHWH." Yahweh (how we pronounce the tetragrammaton "YHWH" in English) is the Hebrew proper name of God. Phonetically it would be pronounced, "Yode Hay Vov Hay." The Jews had such reverence for the name of God they would not dare utter it, despite God's command to take His name to all the world. "God" is a title, not a name. The Deuteronomy 6:4 verse and others in the Bible as well, imply a Triune God.

LDS might say that the concept of the Trinity is incomprehensible. Why is that a problem? Isn't it incomprehensible in Mormonism that their god had a father who had a father who had a father and there was never a first father? The fact that we cannot comprehend God does not negate His existence or His Triune nature. God exists outside of time and space. Science has shown that there are more dimensions than the three (four if you include time) we can see and understand. Why is it so hard to believe that God is more than the three-dimensional humans He created?We watch shows like Star Trek and other sci-fi programs where people jet through "worm holes" to the other side of the universe; where characters find an alternate dimension where their counter-parts have been living in other realities; and we think, "Yeah, why couldn't that be possible? Maybe it is." So why is it hard to believe that God is a unique being Who exists in many more dimensions than we can comprehend at this time?

I can't comprehend how invisible waves go through the air and transmit a picture through my television screen, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying TV. I don't understand how all around me there are radio waves and television signals all on different frequencies yet I can't see them or hear them unless I tune in to a certain dial or channel on my radio or TV, but I don't refuse to believe these are real.

Let me ask this; if God is everywhere at once, known as "omnipresence," then why can't He be in heaven and at the waters of baptism at the same time? Could He therefore not pray "to Himself," as LDS sometimes say does not make sense in Christian theology? An oversimplification of the Trinity would be to consider an egg, how it is a single cell yet has three distinct parts; the shell, yolk, and white. The shell is not the yolk, nor is the yolk the white, and yet the egg is one.

God tells us He is three persons, yet one God. There are three persons in the Godhead, but one God. he is infinite, I am finite. I don't expect that as a finite being I can understand an incomprensible God. I just take Him at His word. As born-again believers we have this promise; "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and we have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He really is." 1 John 3:2

The Father:

Isaiah 40:28 The LORD is the everlasting God.

Isaiah 43:10 Before me there was no god formed, nor will there be one after me.

Isaiah 44:6 I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:8 Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.

Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 45:18 I am the LORD and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:21 And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

Isaiah 45:22 For I am God and there is no other.

Isaiah 46:5 To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

Isaiah 46:9 I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.

God the Father is Spirit

1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.

Colossians 1:15 He is in the image of the invisible God...

Luke 24:39 Look at my hands and feet...Touch me and see; a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

LDS will refer to Exodus about no one able to see God and then Moses seeing him. In Christian theology this is known as a "Theophany;" which Nelson's Bible Dictionary defines as "any direct visual manifestation of the presence of God....But even in a theophany a person does not actually see God Himself. This is impossibility according to Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16; and 1 John 4:12. ...The most frequent visible manifestation of God's presence in the Old Testament is the 'Angel of the Lord.' Other theophanies are the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-6), the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21-22), the cloud of fire of Sinai (Ex. 24:16-18), and the cloud of the glory of the Lord (Ex. 40:34-38)...Theophanies are never given for their own sake, to satisfy a curiosity about God, but to convey some revelation or truth about Him." (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1995, Thomas Nelson Publishers, p. 1242-1243)

Jesus Christ is the Eternal God

Philippians 2:6-8 He existed in the form of God, [but] did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

1 Timothy 3:15-16 .....you will know how people are to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus created ALL things, including the angels; so how could Lucifer be Jesus' "spirit brother" when Jesus created all the angels, including Lucifer? "By Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him" Colossians 1:16. Throughout the Bible, when it speaks of "principalities, powers, and dominions," the writers are referring to ranks of angels.

"In the rabbinical (Jewish teacher) thought of the first century, these words were used to describe different orders of angels (see Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 2:10,15; Titus 3:1). Apparently there was a heresy flourishing in Colossae...that involved the worship of angels. In the process of worshiping angels, Christ had been degraded. So, to correct this grave error, Paul emphasizes in Colossians 1:16 that Christ is the one who created all things---including the angels---and hence, He alone is supreme and worthy of worship....Lucifer and Christ are of two entirely different classes---the created and the Creator." (Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Mormons, by Ron Rhodes, 1995, pp. 275-276)

The Holy Spirit is God

Probably the most direct allusion to the Holy Spirit being God is found in Acts 5:3-4. Speaking to Ananias, who lied about giving all their proceeds from a land sale to the church, the apostle Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself.....You have not lied to men, but to God."

"His ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and bear witness to our spirits of his Lordship. He convicts the world of sin and error through the reading of the word (the Holy Bible).He regenerates the believer, and places him in the Church, which is the body of Christ. He indwells, comforts, guides, instructs, gifts, and empowers the Christian for godly living and service. He seals and keeps the believer until the Lord comes, guiding them into all truth. The Holy Spirit enables us to comprehend the divine nature of God for, 'no man can say that Jesus is the Lord (the manifestation of God in the flesh), but by the Holy Spirit1 Corinthians 12:3.'" (Understanding Mormonism: Mormonism and Christianity Compared, Sandra and Conrad Sundholm, Truth-in-Love Ministries, 2000, p. 6.13)

John 16:8-11 When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

Jesus said in John 16:14, "He (the Holy Spirit) will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you."

2. The Fall of Man

God tell us in His word that Adam's fall was sin. It was rebellion against God, in that He commanded them to not eat the forbidden fruit. The Mormon Church uses semantics to "prove" it was not sin, by saying that Adam's eating of the fruit was a "transgression," not sin. Both Hebrew and Greek use the words sin and transgression interchangeably. The Hebrew lexicon (Strong's Exhaustive Concordance) defines "transgression" in its two uses in the Hebrew as "unfaithfulness," "rebellion, revolt, sin, transgression against human or divine authority." Even in the Greek context of Adam's transgression (Romans 5; 1 Timothy 2:14), the usage of the word is not in the context of Adam's transgression being a good thing!

1 John 3:4 Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violation of God's law by transgression or neglect---being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will. (Amplified Bible)

Genesis 1:27-31 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground---everything that has the breath of life in it---I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.

If Adam and Eve could not reproduce, and if they were not yet "mortal" as LDS theology dictates was necessary for their progression, then why would God pronounce things "very good?"

Adam and Eve warned not to disobey

Genesis 2:17 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you shall surely die."

The moment Adam ate of the fruit, he died a spiritual death, being separated from God's presence. He also became subject to physical death; the ongoing decay and winding down of life that actually begins at birth.The first several years of lives are marked by growth and development, nevertheless, death is programmed into our genes.

Halley's Bible Commentary explains the fall in this way; "The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was 'good for food,' 'pleasing to the eye,' and 'desirable for gaining wisdom.' Whatever the exact nature of this tree---literal, figurative, or symbolic---the essence of Adam and Eve's sin was this: they wanted to transfer control of their lives from God to themselves. God had, in substance, told them they could do anything they wanted to, except for that one thing. As long as they were in right relationship with God---in other words, as long as they recognized God as their creator and master---they experienced life as God had intended it to be, and they were truly the crown of God's creation. They were completely satisfied with this life until Satan, in the form of a serpent, deceived them into thinking that if they were like God and knew what he knows, life would be even better. Once the seed of deception had been planted, they became dissatisfied. They wanted to 'be like God.' They wanted to be their own master and sole master of God's creation. Is that not the essence of human sin? From the beginning, God designed humans to live forever; the one condition was obedience to God.....Is there any other way He could have made them? Could there be a moral creature without the power to choose? Freedom is God's gift to humanity: freedom to think, freedom of conscience---even freedom to disobey God." (Halley's Bible Handbook, with the New International Version, Zondervan publishers, 2000, pp. 91-92)

Adam's sin brought condemnation

Romans 5:18-21 Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's (Jesus) act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, heedlessness, carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to god, brought into right standing with Him). But then law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded. So that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord. (Amplified Bible)

Eve was deceived

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

There are a couple of noteworthy things in this passage. First, the fact that Eve was deceived. If eating the forbidden fruit was a good thing, as Mormonism teaches, then she could not have been deceived by Satan, who is telling her to do what "God" really wanted her to do. Yet, here is Paul telling us she was, in fact, deceived. Second, notice HOW Eve was deceived. Satan came "preaching" his own gospel to Eve. He came preaching a god different from the God who created them, by portraying God as a liar. He presented the very same lies to Eve that are taught in Mormonism today!

1) Satan said, placing doubt on God's word, "Did God really say 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden?'" (Genesis 3:1). Satan does not want people to trust God's word. He puts doubt into the minds of unbelievers regarding the veracity of the Bible, as in Mormonism. Mormons are taught that the Bible was not translated correctly and therefore NEW scriptures are needed (Mormon scriptures). It is interesting that the LDS Church has not come out with a new translation, given the fact they have a "prophet" and Joseph Smith's "seer stone" in a Salt Lake LDS Church museum. Of course, that is because the Bible has indeed been translated correctly and there are over 5,000 manuscripts authenticating the New Testament alone!

2) "You shall not surely die," the serpent said to the woman, "For God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4-5) What was Satan's greatest aspiration? To become like God! In fact, he wanted to BE God! Isaiah 14:13-14 tells us, speaking of Lucifer, "You have said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"

Likewise, Mormon doctrine teaches the same lie; that we can be as God; in fact, that we can become gods!

Because of Adam, all die

1 Corinthians 15:21-23 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

This does not just encompass physical death. Adam caused the spiritual death of mankind; i.e. eternal separation from God. That is NOT a good thing. That is an awful, horrific thing, for it would have meant the grave and hell forever if Jesus did not redeem us!

Sin and death entered the world by Adam

Romans 5:12-17 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned---for before the law was given sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

Adam's sin brought condemnation to all men. Although the Law was not in effect from Adam to Moses, death still reigned; the punishment for Adam's sin---physical and spiritual death---was upon ALL mankind, even on those who did not sin by breaking a command of God as Adam did! Look at how awesome God is though! Judgment on ALL followed ONE sin, bringing condemnation. But the gift of salvation (being spiritually reunited with God now and through the eternities, allowing us to forever dwell in His presence) followed many trespasses and brought justification. We are justified before God, not by our works, but through Christ's work on the cross! Wow! God is so good! This leads perfectly into the next topic;

3. Christ's Atonement on the Cross Complete

There is nowhere in the Bible where it talks about two different kinds of salvation. The resurrection is not referred to as a "general salvation." No where in the Bible, when read in context, is it implied that we are God's spirit children by birth to heavenly parents and that we can progress to godhood. Salvation, as taught in the New Testament, always refers to a believer's position in Christ as an adopted child, allowing him/her to live in God's presence and with Jesus forever. There is only one heaven and one hell. Our final destination is an either/or proposition; we either live forever in eternal torment, separated from God, or we live forever in heaven with God.

Christ's atonement is for all

1 Timothy 4:9-10 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 2:2 My dear children, I wrote this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have One Who speaks to the Father in our defense---Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Christ's atonement provided for our salvation, allowing us to live forever in the presence of God in heaven. It gave us an Advocate before the Father, so that when we DO mess up (and we often do) we come to God to confess our wrong-doing and by His grace we are cleansed and made righteous! HE, Jesus Christ, is the atonement for our sins. Our works, our sorrow, our efforts to be good do not bring forgiveness. It is Christ's work alone that gives us Right Standing before God.

Salvation is a GIFT, no "laws and ordinances" required

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself]. (Amplified Bible)

Colossians 2:13-14 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NASB)

Verse 14 in the KJV; "blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us"

4. The Gospel Not a Set of Principles and Ordinances

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Now I am reminding you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures...

A careful study of the New Testament reveals that "the gospel" is a message about a Person; Jesus Christ; that He lived, died, and was raised from the dead, and that through His substitutionary death on the cross in our place, we are saved by grace through faith.

Keep in mind what Paul said, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Cultists and unbelievers bristle at the Biblical doctrine that all it takes is saving faith in Jesus and trust in His work on the cross in our behalf. Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb, was a propitiation for our sins. They say it is too simplistic to just "ask Jesus to be the Lord of your life." They insist that we must add works to our faith in order to be saved.

It is interesting to read the account of Moses and the children of Israel when the fiery flying serpents came and bit them, causing many to die. the people cried out to Moses for deliverance. Moses was told to make a serpent of brass and place it on a pole, then beckon the Israelites to look upon it. Those who looked, lived; those who refused died. This event is an awesome foretelling of the gospel! The serpent is a symbol for sin. Brass is a Levitical symbol for judgment. The serpent being raised on a pole was a visual of sin being judged.

Now, fast forward to the gospel of John (John 3:14-15) where Jesus points to this saving event in the wilderness, saying, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." In a way we cannot even comprehend, Jesus, Who had no sin, was "made sin" for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For our sake He made Christ [virtually] to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become the righteousness of God." Jesus took our sin upon Himself, taking judgment upon Himself, so that we will be saved if we just look to the cross. If we look to the cross, we will live eternally in heaven with Him. There will be those who, like many of the Israelites, will refuse to look to the cross alone to be saved because too is "too simple."

5. Christians get their authority directly from God, by virtue of their adoption

A common question asked by Mormons is, "Where do you get your authority?" As you read the Bible you will see that the "authority" to preach, prophecy, or teach came directly through the Holy Spirit or by Jesus Himself. The Old Testament shows that there were often many prophets in Israel at the same time, as opposed to the LDS teaching that there can be only one Prophet on the earth at a time that "holds all the priesthood keys to the kingdom."

Unlike LDS theology, which teaches that only adult male priesthood holders can hold the office of a prophet, there are several Biblical accounts of female prophetesses. Deborah was a prophetess who led Israel in battle. She was also Israel's fifth judge (see Judges 5). Women of the Bible also prophesied of many wonderful events. Consider Moses' sister Miriam, Hannah, Anna in the Temple, Elizabeth, and Mary. 1 Corinthians 11:5 assumes a sanction for women to prophesy.

Ephesians 1:11-14 "In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession---to the praise of His glory."

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price.

Once we become saved believers, the Holy Spirit indwells us. With the Holy Spirit living in us, we therefore have God's authority to act in His name. Each person in God's family is given a gift, some severally. With the gifts comes the authority to use them as the Holy Spirit directs us. It is interesting that the majority of Mormon "priesthood holders" are from the tribe of Ephraim according to their "patriarchal blessings," yet according to Mosaic Law one cannot be a priest unless he is from the tribe of Levi!

6. Jesus did not organize "a church" as defined by LDS

Nelson's Bible Dictionary explains, "CHURCH --- a local assembly of believers as well as the redeemed of all ages who follow Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. In the four gospels of the New Testament, the term "Church" is found only in Matthew 16:18 and 18:17. This scarcity of usage in those books that report on the life and ministry of Jesus is perhaps best explained by the fact that the church as the body of Christ did not begin until the day of Pentecost after the Ascension of Jesus (Acts 2:1-4). That the church began on the day of Pentecost may be demonstrated in various ways: (1) Christ Himself declared the church to be yet future (Matt. 16:18); (2) it was founded upon the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, and such an accomplished fact was not possible until Pentecost (Eph. 1:15-23); (3) There could be no church until it was fully purchased with Christ's blood (Eph. 2:13) (Nelsons New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1995, p. 275)

You will find members of Christ's church among every mainstream Christian denomination. Membership in Christ's true church is based on relationship, not religion. "The Church" is the body of saved believers. A Mormon might ask, "If there is only 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism,' then why are there so many denominations?"

One Lord means only one Savior; Jesus of the Bible. One faith does not mean "one religion" or "one denomination." One faith means faith alone in Christ alone. One baptism does not mean that there is only one way to baptize someone through "proper priesthood authority in only one church." Baptism is a public demonstration of a private commitment to Jesus Christ. It does not matter if one is baptized in a Methodist church or a Baptist church, in a font or in a river. One might just as well why does Baskin Robbins have 31 flavors? Every Christian is different in the way he likes to worship. Every Christian is fed a little differently. Some believers prefer formality; others prefer a more flexibility. Some like traditional hymns, while others respond better to modern praise and worship. A familiar idiom among Christian churches is "in essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; but in all things charity."

Galatians 3:26-29 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

To put that in a modern setting, "There is neither Baptist nor Lutheran, Calvary Chapel nor Nazarene, Methodist nor Pentecostal, for we are all one in Christ Jesus." Denominations may differ in some regards, but our salvation comes through a saving relationship with Jesus alone. That is what makes us members of His church.

7. Gifts are given to glorify God and edify the body of Christ (the church)

Spiritual gifts are given to the children of God (born-again believers) as the Holy Spirit sees fit. These gifts cannot be earned, for God is "no respecter of persons." We are encouraged, however, to seek after---or earnestly desire---the best gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:4-12 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit. To another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

The gifts of the Spirit are given freely by God. Some people have one gift, others have several; but either way, the gifts are to build and edify the body (the church). The gift of tongues can be as on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were speaking in the languages of the various nations who were represented there. Three thousand people were saved that day! There are also those who speak with the "tongue of angels," usually during their own private prayer time with God. This gift is one which glorifies and exalts God as well as speaks the innermost desires of the person's heart which cannot be expressed sufficiently through an earthly tongue.

Whether a Christian is given the gift of knowledge (knowing something about another person that only God could reveal); the gift of wisdom (such as the supernatural wisdom that King Solomon had); prophecy (the forth-telling of God's word or of a future event); the gift of healing (being able to heal a sick or afflicted person under the direction of the Holy Spirit); or any of the other gifts, these are to be used to build and edify the church and be motivated by love.

8. The Bible is inerrant and complete

Now let’s look to the Bible; has it been translated correctly? Can it be supported? Are key doctrines missing?

The question often arises when discussing the biblical records, "How can a document that has been copied over and over possibly be reliable?" While it is true that the documents have been copied many times, we often have misconceptions about how they were transmitted. All ancient documents were copied by hand before the advent of the printing press in the 16th century. Great care was exercised in reproducing these manuscripts. When we think of copying manuscripts we often assume that one copy was made and then another from that and another from that and so on, each replacing the copy it was reproduced from. This is not how manuscripts copying worked. Copyists were usually working from one or two documents that were very old. They would make many copies of their source copy, all the while preserving their source and comparing the copies they have made.

Jewish historian, Josephus (an eyewitness), tells how the Jews copied the Old Testament. "We have given practical proof of our reverence for our own Scriptures. For although such long ages have now passed, no one has ventured either to add, or to remove, or to alter a syllable; and it is an instinct with every Jew, from the day of his birth, to regard them as the decrees of God, to abide by them, and, if need be, cheerfully to die for them" (Against Apion, Book I, sec., 8, p. 158). Josephus' statement is no exaggeration. The Jewish copyists knew exactly how many letters where in every line of every book and how many times each word occurred in each book. This enabled them to check for errors (Shelly, Prepare to Answer, p. 133). The Jews believed that adding any mistake to the Scriptures would be punishable by Hell. This is not like modern secretaries who have many letters to type and must work hard to keep their jobs, consequently feeling that mistakes are inevitable. Great care is exercised with scripture when someone holds a strong conviction about their sacredness.

But even with the great amount of care exercised in copying, errors have crept into the manuscripts. No one questions that spelling errors, misplaced letters, and word omissions have occurred. What is not true is that these errors have gradually built up over time so that our copies look nothing like the originals.

In 1947 the accuracy of these documents was confirmed by the Dead Sea Scrolls. These scrolls were found in caves in the dessert near the Dead Sea by a shepherd boy. Before the discovery of these scrolls, the earliest Old Testament manuscripts we had were from about 980 A.D. The manuscripts discovered in the caves dated from 250 B.C. to shortly after the time of Christ. In careful comparison of the manuscripts it was confirmed that the copies we had were almost precisely the same as those which date over 1000 years earlier! Old Testament scholar Gleason Archer said that even though there is such a difference in dates of the manuscripts, "they proved to be word for word identical with our standard Hebrew Bible in more that 95 per cent of the text. The 5 per cent of variation consisted chiefly of obvious slips of the pen and variations in spelling." No other historical literature has been so carefully preserved and historically confirmed.

When we come to the New Testament we see a similar phenomenon. There are over 5,000 Greek New Testament manuscripts in existence. This is by far more than any other historical documents, which usually have maybe a dozen copies from very late dates. The New Testament manuscripts are many and old and they are spread over a wide geographical area. What this enables the New Testament historian to do is collect manuscripts from Jerusalem and Egypt and Syria and other places and compare them for variations. And variations do exist, but as with the Old Testament they are relatively few and rarely important to the meaning of the text. What these manuscripts demonstrate is that different families of texts existed very early that were copied from the original or good copies of the original. This allows us to trace the manuscripts back to the source as one would follow the branches of a tree to get to the trunk. Aside from the manuscripts themselves, "virtually the entire New Testament could be reproduced from citations contained in the works of the early church fathers. There are some thirty-two thousand (32,000) citations in the writings of the Fathers prior to the Council of Nicea (325)" (Moreland, Scaling the Secular City, p. 136).

9. God has revealed all that matters in regard to salvation

Why don't Christians accept the possibility that other books, such as the Book of Mormon, are also scripture? Doesn't God still deal with His people today? Those are good questions. Christians DO, in fact, believe that God deals with humankind today and that His hand has been upon mankind since He first created the world and everything in it. Christians believe in and experience miracles. They receive personal direction and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit are actively manifest in the church.

The belief among Mormons is that God loves His children as much today as He did in Bible times, which leads them to conclude that continued revelation through prophets and additional scripture is necessary, especially in troubling modern times such as these. It certainly IS true that God loves people! He has loved them from the very beginning of their creation! He loves us so much, in fact, "that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Because of this, He made the "gospel" (the message, the good news about the Person of Jesus Christ) very simple; so simple that even a child could understand and believe.

God laid out His plan for the redemption of mankind in the Holy Bible. Old Testament prophets proclaimed the need for a Savior and foretold His coming. The Law was given to be a schoolmaster---to show us our sin and depravity. As Paul said, "Indeed, I would not have known what sin was except through the law" (Romans 7:7). The commandments and the requirements of the Mosaic Law brings us face to face with our unrighteousness. And just in case we try to justify ourselves by saying "I keep the commamndments," Jesus comes along and reveals our hearts and true nature by saying, "If any of you even looks at another person with lust you've committed adultery."

So the Old Testament reveals our sin nature and need for a Savior. It shows that only a Perfect blood sacrifice (nothing less than God Himself) can put us into right standing with God and allow us in His presence. The New Testament records the fulfillment of those prophecies in Christ Jesus. The whole Bible testifies of our need for redemption and gives man the solution; 1) recognize and confess our sin to God; 2) believe on Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice; and 3) accept His gift of salvation through His substitutionary death on the cross (He died in our place). That's it!

That is why we don't need more scripture. That is why we no longer need prophets to lead us. Jesus paid it all; He is everything we need for eternal life with God, and the Bible lays out everything we need to know about the plan of salvation.

10. The Ten Tribes are not "lost"

More info coming

11. The truth of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed and the "doctrines of demons" exposed

More info coming

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