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 Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:33 am
by Matt Slick | Dec 16, 2008 | Mormonism, World Religions “Take up the Bible, compare the religion of the Latter-day Saints with it and see if it will stand the test,” (Brigham Young, May 18, 1873, Journal of Discourses, vol. 16, p. 46). What does Mormonism teach? Well, here are some of the basics, plain and simple. God came from another planet God is a man with a body of flesh and bones There is a mother goddess God and his goddess wife are married You can become gods Read more: link
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Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 7:08 pm
Why does he limit “salvation” to just being saved from eternal damnation…? as if that’s all we’re saved from according to Scripture? Salvation from falling into temptation, for example, depends on prayer…
Matthew 26:41 New International Version
41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Salvation from divine judgment unleashed on earth depends on your behavior…stop sinning or something worse may happen to you…
John 5:14 New International Version
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
1 Peter 4:17 New International Version
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And,
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”[a]
Footnotes
a. 1 Peter 4:18 Prov. 11:31 (see Septuagint)
Proverbs 11:31 New International Version
31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Protestantism is suffering from similar practices / leaven of the catholics…(allowing man’s summarization to override what the totality of Scripture says).
Why doesn’t he also mention the salvation of your dead soul/spirit, once dead now regenerated to life…? Works can’t give you that genuine desire in your inner-being to obey righteousness as it is written…
Ephesians 2:1-5 New International Version
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Footnotes
a. Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Colossians 2:11-15 New International Version
11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[a] was put off when you were circumcised by[b]Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[c] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[d]
Footnotes
a. Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
b. Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
c. Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
d. Colossians 2:15 Or them in him
Romans 8:7-9 New International Version
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
Titus 3:4-6 New International Version
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
Romans 6:6 New International Version
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—
Footnotes
a. Romans 6:6 Or be rendered powerless
Romans 6:12-13 New International Version
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
Romans 6:16-18 New International Version
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
…regeneration of the inner-being to honestly desire to obey righteousness is a part of what Salvation refers to.
Some of the points he made were legitimate distinctions, but oversimplified definitions of “salvation” (in order to attack the cult) do not help teach sound doctrine. That just makes us look incompetent/unfamiliar with all the verses and casts doubt on our ability to discern legitimate distinctions between cult vs. Bible.
I’m interested in fellowshiping with truth alone…not faulty definitions/faulty summaries. In either direction.
That said, I’m not familiar with Mormonism very well, much less what a “James Talmage” had in mind when giving his own summary / definition of “salvation” but what is quoted concerning Salvation…
Quote: Salvation has a double meaning in Mormonism: universal resurrection and . . . “The first effect [of the atonement] is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins,” (Articles of Faith, by James Talmage, p. 78-79).
…sounds like the following from Scripture…
Hebrews 10:26 New International Version
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
Acts 3:26 New International Version
26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
Acts 24:14-16 New International Version
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
How was that incorrect…?
Christian apologists can be just as ignorant and Bible-rejecting as the cults they’re attacking…
Romans 3:4 New International Version
4 Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar. As it is written:
“So that you may be proved right when you speak
and prevail when you judge.”[a]
Footnotes
a. Romans 3:4 Psalm 51:4
Deuteronomy 4:2 New International Version
2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
Proverbs 30:6 New International Version
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
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