Biblical Reasons Ministry
Week Three: Eternal Life
Cue video Search for Truth: Eternal Life @ 13 minutes.
Latter-day Saint members are oftentimes confused when they're challenged with the claim that the LDS religion isn't a Christian religion. According to them their religion should indeed be considered Christian. We believe in Jesus, they say. His name is in the name of our church. We pray in his name. We believe the Bible. We’re Christians just like you.
The problem: The things their prophets and apostles are saying about Jesus grossly contradicts that which has been previously revealed in the Bible.
Sincerity of belief can never create truth. Just because he believes doesn’t make it so.
This week: Eternal Life, compared and contrasted. We’ll answer another question: What does it mean to be forgiven in Mormonism?
And “What’s missing in Mormonism?” (Holy Spirit)
-Spencer W. Kimball, 12th LDS president, 1973-1985
Miracle of Forgiveness
It's important to realize the weight that Miracle carries with the LDS hierarchy. Here's a quote from the plaque next to the book memorialized under glass that stands just in front of a large picture of Spencer W. Kimball in the LDS museum in Salt Lake City: "Spencer W. Kimball authored this thorough explanation of the consequences of sin and the possibilities of forgiveness through Christ’s atonement."
"But into the terrestrial will go those who do not measure up to the celestial" – LDS president, Spencer W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, pg. 315.
23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do. (2 Ne. 25:23).
What is LDS repentance and what does it afford the Mormon? According to the official LDS website at http://lds.about.com/library/glossary/bldefrepentance.htm, LDS repentance is defined as a complete cessation of sin:
Turning away from sin by changing one's actions to obey the teachings of Jesus Christ. The repentance process consists of feeling sincere regret or sorrow for doing wrong, confessing the sin(s), asking for forgiveness, making restitution for any damage done, and promising not to repeat the sin. (underline added)
Kimball comments on pages 163:
There is one crucial test of repentance. This is abandonment of sin. Providing that a person discontinues his sin with the right motives – because of a growing consciousness of the gravity of the sin and a willingness to comply with the laws of the Lord – he is genuinely repenting. This criterion has been set by the Lord: "By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins – behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (D&C 58:43. Italics added)
Kimball defines LDS repentance the same on pgs. 207 - 209:
…no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.
This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and assures one of exaltation through that perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us. In his Sermon on the Mount he made the command to all men: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48.) Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal.
The Christian, unlike his LDS friend, through faith in God's mercy and forgiveness, is able to confess before God the sins that plague his walk with God. Through such prayers and supplications the Holy Spirit is allowed to work in and through the believer's life. Obedience is important, but no one is so obedient that they can "earn" or "deserve" eternal life. The Bible states clearly: "For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God." The true test of repentance isn't to "be perfect." No one has ever achieved that. The true test of repentance is acknowledging our sins before a holy God and agreeing with Him that we're still in need of a Savior.
Video: Eternal Life about 5 min.
You’ll hear a reference to an alleged revelation in the “D and C.” That's LDS scripture, Doctrine and Covenants
Eternal Life
All world religions, except the religion of the Bible, have one thing in common: Man reaching up to God. Our Bibles show us again and again that God reached down to us. We must simple believe and receive.
No unclean thing will enter in. How does one, according to Kimball, become "clean?" By obeying the commandments, attending their meetings, paying a tithe, and ceasing to sin.
Kimball explained that the repentance which merits forgiveness ". . .is that the former transgressor must have reached a 'point of no return' to sin wherein there is not merely a renunciation but also a deep abhorrence of the sin -- where the sin becomes most distasteful to him and where the desire or urge to sin is cleared out of his life." (Miracle, pp. 354, 355)
Do LDS have even the urge to sin? They admit they do. I’ve yet to meet a Mormon who states he doesn't sin, which only proves he hasn't kept his promises to keep the commandments
James 2:14 It’s not faith BY works, it’s faith THAT works.
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Define Imputation. Abraham's faith accounted as righteousness
The righteousness of Christ is imputed to the Christian believer through grace through faith rather than through works and obedience to the laws, ordinances and principles of the LDS Church. We are justified through trust. Through belief. No one comes to the Father but by Jesus.
Conversely, if a Mormon desires to attain "exaltation in the celestial kingdom," the highest of all Mormon kingdoms, now-deceased LDS president Spencer W. Kimball states it’s not enough to merely "try" to renounce all sin. He states in his book The Miracle of Forgiveness that the Mormon must abandon all sin if such a one desires exaltation (Mormon godhood). That begs the question: What does it mean to be forgiven in Mormonism?
...when she had proved by her works and the living of the commandments that she was “born again” and was a new creature – when she had done these things the forgiveness of the Savior could overshadow her and claim her and give her peace – pg. 166.
If living the commandments were possible, there would be NO reason for forgiveness and no reason to be pardoned.
Moroni 10:32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
If it’s by works, it’s no longer GRACE. If one could find themselves able to deny themselves all ungodliness what need is there of a Savior? One could save himself.
Fortunately, the Lord has told us in His Word that we can know that we’re forgiven:
John 10:25-30 states: 25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one.
That is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A sure foundation. A lasting hope.
Eph. 2: 8,9
Conclusion
According to Spencer W. Kimball, the answer to the question What does it mean to be forgiven in Mormonism? is to renounce all sin. If Mr. Kimball is correct, then why are LDS members still repenting? Since they’re still repenting they’re only proving that they haven’t lived up to Celestial Law.
Here’s what bothers me most about Mormonism: It steals away any hope of eternal life; even as defined by LDS theology. Mormonism makes a promise that it can’t keep. It's obvious that LDS salvation remains a proverbial carrot on the end of a stick. We know this because LDS members will likely admit they're still repenting; which only proves that they are not worthy of their celestial exaltation.
Scott Ewen: Here's the problem - The Jesus of the Bible came to set us free...to wipe our slates clean. That is a fundamentally different message, than controlling people through misinformation. He didn't die so that we would sacrifice our lives to a totalitarian theocracy. He didn't die so that a new generation of Pharisee or Hasidics could impose more "rules" on the social nature of humanity. The Jesus I know was a liberator.
Sharon Lindbloom: Mormonism presents an “impossible gospel.” If I must rely on achieving sinlessness in order to be forgiven of past sins, if I must prove my repentance is sincere by never repeating my sin again (I can never “repent again”), if I can be reconciled to God only after all I can do (as stated in 1 Nephi 25:23) — and all I can do includes achieving perfection — it’s hopeless. Nobody ever reaches a point in their life when sin is no longer a problem. If the Apostle Paul couldn’t do it (Romans 7:12-24), who can? “Why would you want to hold on to a system that only guarantees failure?”
(Titus 3:4-7). “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”
http://www.mormondoctrine.net/articles/miracle_of_forgiveness.htm
Jesus Saves
Mormon Testimonies Turned to Christ
Updated 5.08
Why Mormonism?
Mormon Temples
Secret or Sacred?
What Happens In There?
The Mormon Miracle Pageant
That’s my King! (S M Lockridge) – free video
"Jesus' blood on the altar was the ultimate payment. He made us worthy permanently. When Jesus died on the cross the veil covering the Holy of Holies tore in half. The mercy seat lay exposed to mankind. There is no veil, anymore, between God and man. Jesus ripped it down. But Mormonism has hung up a new one." -Kathleen Baldwin
"When I was LDS (not that long
ago) I saw a lot of things that made me question my membership in the LDS
church, but I sure wouldn't admit it for a long time (not even to myself). I
just knew there had to be good explanations for all of those silly criticisms,
if I just looked in the right place...or prayed about it long enough. I was
wrong." - Former Mormon, Marsha Bette
More...
Editor's note:
If the quote above describes you, please know that God loves you and has a
wonderful plan for your life. Visit Testimonies Turned to Christ at
the top of this section to understand that you're not alone in your feelings.