Wednesday, January 24, 2007

One God or many gods?

My next topic will look at the issue of, is their One God or many Gods.

Mormonism teaches that the GoodHood is made up of 3 seperate gods, not one God in the form of 3 people. Mormonism teaches that God the father was once a man and his father was a god. I will use a little (g) For the word god when it refers to any god other than the true and Living God. If God the father had a father who was a god, and we keep looking back we could find hundreds if not millions of gods.

We read in the king follet discourse given by Joseph Smith that there is millions of gods. We also are told faithful LDS can attain god hood and become gods someday. Lets first look at some verses in scripture.


"I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God....is there a God beside me; yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isa. 44:6&8

"To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?...for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me." Isa. 46:5&9

"I am the Lord; that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another." Isa. 42:8

If Mormonism is true, and their are 3 seperate gods that form the Godhood, then God lied when He says, I know of no other Gods. If God the father has a father and he has a father, and we keep going back, How can He know of no other Gods if his father is a god, If Jesus is a God and the Holy Spirit is a God, then God the father should have said, I know them or of them.


Now the Bible teaches God cannot Lie. If God cannot lie, how can God say, their are no gods formed before or after me. That tells me we cannot become gods. If God the father says, I know of no other gods, then either God lied or God is not very smart. How can God have a father who is a god, yet He claims I Know of no other gods. Did God forget that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are gods according to Mormonism?

Know we read in D and C 121:32
32 According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was, that should be reserved unto the finishing and the end thereof, when every man shall enter into his eternal presence and into his immortal rest.

33 How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.


In Verse 32 is states that God is eternal and over all other gods. then in verse 33 it says God is almighty. How can God be Eternal if He was once a man? How can God be before and above all other gods if he has a father who is a god and how could he come before ALL OTHER gods, if he has a father that is a god? How can he be ALMIGHTY, if a god is before him, IE his father?

Now we read in the BoM in Alma 11
26 And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God?
27 And Amulek said: Yea, there is a true and living God.
28 Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?
29 And he answered, No.
30 Now Zeezrom said unto him again: How knowest thou these things?
31 And he said: An aangel hath made them known unto me.


Now if Amulek is supposed to be a true prophet of God and he states their is only one God, how can their be millions also?

Read in the Pearl of Great Price, all throughout Moses, it says, (I GOD created) then over in Moses chapter 1 verse 6 God says, (But their is no God beside me)

But then we read over in Abraham All through out God says (and the gods) created Etc. How can God say in the Bible that their is no other gods, the BoM only teaches one God, then in the pearl of Great Price we find one God only then later many gods. So which is it? Rick b

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Works and the Law part 4.

Ok, here we go on part 4.
Let's look at Paul, formerly called Saul. This is what he says about himself.
Phl 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

Phl 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Phl 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Phl 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,

Phl 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith


Paul followed the law to the letter. He even states that he was blameless, yet he admits the law cannot save him.

Let's look at the story of the good Samaritan.

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

Luke 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Luke 10:30 And Jesus answering said, A certain [man] went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded [him], and departed, leaving [him] half dead.

Luke 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked [on him], and passed by on the other side.

Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion [on him],

Luke 10:34 And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Luke 10:35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave [them] to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.


What I see in this story is bondage. The guy that was beaten was a Jewish man. The Priest and the Levite were both Jewish men, but they were following the law. The law stated that they would be unclean if they touched a man or beast that was dead or they thought was dead. So, they choose to follow the law to the letter, yet obeying the law to the letter would not allow for them to save someone and remain clean. It appears the law cannot save us or allow for mercy.


Let's look at some Bible verses and thoughts.

Now what does it profit, my brethren, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? can faith save him (Jam 2:12-14)?

Now, at this point, many people see James and Paul in conflict in teaching. I don't. Paul teaches that salvation is through faith, faith alone. "By grace are you saved through faith; not of yourselves: it is a gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Then, what does James say? "Can faith save him?" The answer is yes, faith can save him. A true faith. But make sure you have a true faith. For, if you have a true faith, it will be manifested by the works. In other words, to just say you have faith doesn't cut it. Saying it isn't enough.

I've had people come to me and say, "Oh, I have all the faith in the world." Baloney! Nobody has all the faith in the world. And saying it doesn't make it so. If you believe certain things to be so, then your life is going to be lived accordingly. Your life testifies of your faith or your beliefs. To say that you believe in God and that God is supreme and that God is first in your life, then it will follow that there will be certain evidence that will verify that fact what you have declared to be so. By the works that you do, your faith will be proved or proclaimed. To say that you have faith and not have any works that correspond is totally wrong. You've deceived yourself. You aren't really walking in faith. If you are truly walking in faith, your works are going to be manifesting that truth.

So "what does it profit if a man says he has faith, and he doesn't have works? can that kind of faith save him?" No, it can't.

If a brother or sister is naked, or is destitute of daily food, And you say to them, [Oh] Depart in peace, be warmed and filled; but yet you don't give them any clothes or any food; what good are your words (Jam 2:15-16)?

They can't make him warm. They can't fill his stomach.

Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, if you try to stand alone. Yes, a man may say, "You have faith, and I have works": but you show me your faith without your works, I will show you my faith by my works (Jam 2:17-18).

So it isn't just the declaration. It's the declaration that has something behind it. The proof behind it is the works that I do. Now the works don't save me. They only prove that I have saving faith. And if I don't have works that are corresponding to what I am declaring, then I do not have saving faith, just the declaration, the verbal affirmation isn't enough, and it won't do it.

Now, a lot of people made mistakes; going forward and saying the sinner's prayer and then going away and living the same kind of life, doing the same kind of thing. They say, "Oh yeah, I was saved. I went forward and I said the sinner's prayer." No, no, the sinner's prayer isn't going to save you. It is a living faith in Jesus Christ that brings about actual changes in your life and the proof is in the works; the proof of your faith. Your works have to be in accordance, in harmony with what you are declaring to be true.

You believe that there is one God; [Ah] you do well: the devils believe the same thing, and they tremble (Jam 2:19).

"Oh, I believe in God." Big deal. Who doesn't, except some fool? The Bible says the fool is the one that says there is no God. So you say you believe in God, it only proves one thing, you're not a fool. But it doesn't save you. The devils believe in God, they probably believe more firmly in Him than you do. They said to Jesus, "We know who you are, you're the Holy One of God." (Mark 1:24). So you say, "Oh I believe Jesus is the Holy One of God." So what? Have you submitted your life to His Lordship? Are you doing His works? Are you obeying His commands?

You see, not all who say, "Lord, Lord," are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. So you say, "Oh Lord, Oh the Lord, Oh the Lord," yea, yea, but saying it is not going to do it. Jesus said, "not all who say, Lord, Lord, are going to enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of the Father" (Matthew 7:21). James is telling you the very same thing. It isn't saying I have faith, it is demonstrating the faith because the works of my life are in harmony with what I am declaring that I believe.

If I believe that there was a bomb planted in this room, set to detonate in two minutes, and I stand up here and calmly proclaim to you, "You know, there's a huge bomb in this room that is going to detonate in two minutes and blow this whole place to smithereens." Terrible of people to do that, isn't it? Can't imagine the mind of a person that would plant such a bomb. Why would they want to destroy us? You'd say, "Ah, you don't really believe there's a bomb here." Why? Because my works don't correspond with what I'm declaring that I believe. But if I go running out of the door and say, "Get out of there. A bomb's going to blow up in two minutes," then you're more apt to believe that at least I believe what I'm telling you because now my actions are corresponding with what I am declaring that I believe to be so.

The same is true with faith and works. You say, "Well I believe in God and I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and all." Well, do your actions correspond? Do your actions really show that Jesus is the Lord of your life? Is that demonstrated by the works that you do? That's what James is saying. Don't just say it. Don't rest in just words, beautiful words. But, let's see the actions that demonstrate that you truly believe what you're saying.

"Will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead ?" (Jam 2:20)

It isn't really alive. It isn't a living faith. It isn't a saving faith.

"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" (Jam 2:21)

You see, his works corresponded with his faith. He believed God. He believed that through Isaac, God was going to raise up a nation because God had promised that. "Through Isaac shall thy seed be called." Now his very offering of Isaac was proof of his strong belief in the word of God. Believing that God would, if necessary, raise Isaac from the dead to keep His promise. And so his faith was in keeping or his works were in keeping with his faith.

"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works," (Jam 2:22)

They were working together. His faith produced the works as faith will also produce the corresponding works in our life.

"and by works was faith made perfect?" (Jam 2:22)

Not a question mark. In the Greek there is no question mark there. It's just the declaration, "by works his faith was made complete." His faith was proved.

And the scripture was fulfilled which said, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (Jam 2:23-24)

The works being the proof of the faith.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (Jam 2:25-26)

When your spirit leaves your body, your body is dead. The body without the spirit, is dead. So faith, if it doesn't have corresponding works, is not a true faith. It's dead. It does nothing for you. It cannot save you. Dead faith can save no one. It's a living faith and a living Lord, and that living faith can be demonstrated by the actions of my life that are in harmony and corresponding with what I declare to be true and what I declare I believe to be true. There has to be the corresponding works for faith to be alive.

Therefore, let us examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith, the true faith that saves. Not just the verbalizing of the Apostle's Creed, I believe, but the actions of my life being in harmony with it.

Father, help us that we might indeed be doers of the word and not hearers only. That we might not just affirm a belief but may we demonstrate that belief by the attitudes and actions of our lives. Lord, help us not to be deceived. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May the Lord bless you and guide you as you go this week. As you face the many temptations, may the Lord give you strength and may you walk and live after the Spirit. And may you respond after the Spirit. In the temptation may you not yield to the flesh and react after the flesh. May your life be pleasing unto God, as our actions come into harmony with our declarations of what we believe. May we show it in the works that we do. In Jesus' name.
All this in the quote was taken from Pastor Chuck Smith. I agree with what he taught on this.


It seems to me that these verses are clear. As an LDS member, how do you view them, in light of the works plus grace issue?

Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Rom 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound


My point on these verses is this: Paul is clearly teaching that we are under the law as long as we live. He uses the example of husband and wife, if one dies we are no longer bound by the marriage so we can remarry. We read in the Bible, Christ is our husband and we are married to him, read verse 4.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Rom 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband.

Rom 7:3 So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Rom 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter.


Here we read that we are free from the law, and that the law is weak and brings death.

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Rom 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.


Here in verse 3, it talks of tablets of stone. Those are the stone tablets that Moses wrote the Ten Commandments on.

2Cr 3:3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2Cr 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

2Cr 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;

2Cr 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Cr 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be done away.



The law is a school master, and a very hard one at that. Our righteousness is not from the law. We are lead by the Spirit, not the law.

Gal 3:19 Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one.

Gal 3:21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.


These verses should be rather clear.

Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us];

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.


Well, I hope I have given you something to think about. I know a certain Billsjane has given it much thought. He decided he would rather spend eternity apart from Christ, and insult the Holy God by claiming His death on the cross was not good enough to save us. Bills said he would rather work for his salvation. It is a complete insult to a Holy God to say we need to add works to His death for us. When Jesus said, "It is finished," He meant that. Works cannot save us, and neither can keeping the law. Rick b

Monday, January 08, 2007

Works and the Law part 3.

I want to review a few things before we start on part 3. The first two parts covered teachings from the LDS Church and show they believe and teach the law saves and doing good works saves us. An LDS member wrote me and misunderstood something I wrote in the first two parts, So I want to clear it up before we start. They felt that I was, or am, teaching that I deny good works and do not believe in them. Also, I will go into a 4th and final part.

Here is what I believe. I believe the law and all the good works in the world cannot save us.

Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


Notice in these verses, it teaches we are saved by grace alone not works. But, we also read in verse 10 God created us for good works, BUT these good works are HIS good works that HE ordained us to do before we were created.

Now, let's look at what the Bible teaches. Let's go back to the beginning, in the garden with Adam and Eve. When God created Adam and Eve, there was neither laws to follow or good works to keep; the only work was to tend the garden. But tending the garden did not save us. The reason tending the garden does not save us is because God told Adam to tend the garden before the fall. After the fall, God kicked Adam and Eve out of the garden.

After Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of life, and they saw they were naked, what did Adam and Eve do? They covered themselves with fig leaves, (works by their own hands). What did God say? This is not good enough, so God killed an animal and covered man and woman.

Then, if we move onto Chapter 15 in the Book of Genesis, we read the story of God making a covenant with Abram. The thing about this covenant is this: it was one- sided. God put Abram into a deep sleep and God walked through the pieces by Himself. This way it is on God only, not Abram or man. This shows us that God knows we will fail. This shows GRACE ALONE.

Now, let's look at the law compared to the fiery serpent. Here is law number 2 from the ten commandments God gave.
Exd 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:


Num 21:5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for [there is] no bread, neither [is there any] water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Num 21:6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Num 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

Num 21:8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

Num 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.


Here are a few things to compare in this story. Many of the Jews died and refused to look upon the fiery serpent to live. The question is why? Here's why. I posted law number two. God gave the law, but God also told Moses to make this fiery serpent. Now, in order to live, the Jews must believe God spoke through Moses and told them to disobey the law. The law cannot save us and never will save us.

The issue with the fiery serpent is also a type of Christ. Jesus was to come and be lifted up upon a cross. All who look and believe will be saved.

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.


Then, there is the passover, yet another type of Christ. We see the cross being made by putting blood on the door and sides. A lamb was slain and only the blood would save you. You could put up the blood upon the door and the posts, but if you left the home where the blood was, you would die. This passover applied to both the Jews and the Egyptians that enslaved the Jews that were with them. God was showing love, mercy, and grace to the people that harmed the Jews. But any Jew who left the protection of the blood covered doors was slain as if he/she were a non-believer.

Then, we read about Abram in the OT. He was a pagan who worshiped false gods and idols. God called him to be the father of a great nation that would bring in the Messiah through birth. When God called Abram to be the father of many nations, this was grace alone. There were no laws (Ten Commandments) and Abram was not doing good works to save himself and his family.

Let's go back to Exodus Chapter 20 for a minute. We read in Exodus 20:24-26:
Exd 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

Exd 20:25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.


Here God tells Moses to make an altar, but no tools shall ever come upon this altar lest it be polluted. Jesus is our altar, and our works from our hands will pollute that altar.

We read in these verses in John, people are saved by believing in Him (Jesus). They are not saved by keeping the law or doing works. On the other hand, it says, people are condemned for not believing in Him, (Jesus), not that they are condemned for not working or keeping the law.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.


Jesus Died because He knew we could never keep the entire law.
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.


I asked once before, and I will ask again, can you keep the entire law like the Scribes and Pharisees tried doing? Jesus makes it even harder and more impossible to do by saying:

Mat 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

Mat 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Mat 5:23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

Mat 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Mat 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Mat 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Mat 5:31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Mat 5:33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

Mat 5:34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

Mat 5:35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Mat 5:36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.

Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Mat 5:38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

Mat 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Mat 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also.

Mat 5:41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Mat 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Mat 5:46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

Mat 5:47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.


So, are you perfect? Are you keeping the entire law as the Scribes and Pharisees did? If not, why not? Rick b

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

works and the law, part 2

Well Here we go. Part 2 of the works and law topic.

Bruce McConkie says in the book Mormon Doctrine, under the title of Work pg 847
Work is a blessing that brings salvation, idleness a curse that assures damnation


This is simply not taught in scripture, We are told we are saved by the shed Blood of Christ, not works that we do. If we are to believe that work brings salvation, then what about people who cannot work? What I mean by that is, what about a person who is in jail, or stuck in a wheel chair, paralyzed from the neck down.

Now I scanned and will post entire pages for everyone to read. Not everyone has a copy of Mormon doctrine, My part two will be a few thoughts on what is said by Bruce, and allow the readers to read all this for themselves as it is a lot.

Over all their is a lot I could point out, but will not. If anyone wants to talk about a certain section Bruce brings up and I did not address, please feel free to ask about it or speak on it.

Notice that Under the issue of (Salvation), at the very end, Bruce says,
If it had not been for Joseph Smith and the Restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day-Saints.


Wow! You mean if the LDS Church is real and JS is a true prophet of God, then If it were not for Good ol Joe God would have failed? I read in Scripture, God can do anything, If for some reason Joseph Smith never believed God or was killed while a Child, Jesus could have used another Person.

That to me is not how that statement seems to come across, It's Joseph Smith or nothing.

Then under the heading of, (Salvation by Grace) We read this is a soul destroying doctrine. Not only is that not true, but it shows Mormons do teach salvation by works.












I mentioned part of this in my first part. Devin wanted evidence of these quotes, so I scanned them onto here in the Evidence topic. I am adding this one here (Below at the bottom) and want to point out a few things. One is, the author, Joseph Fielding Smith, was the 10th President and a Prophet of the LDS Church. Notice his book is called (The way to perfection). We cannot perfect ourselves and will never be perfect here on earth in this body. Jesus said, if we break even one law, we are guilty of breaking them all. If we are guilty of breaking them all, then we cannot be perfect, if we could be perfect, then Jesus died in vain for our sins.

Notice J.F.S Teaches, in order to be saved in the higest heaven, we must keep the entire law. I want one Mormon to show me he or she can and does keep the entire law perfectly, or tell me any one who does. If you cannot, how can you be sure your saved? How can you be sure what heaven you will enter? Why would I want to join the LDS church if I know I cannot keep the entire law. This would simply be an exercise in frustration.

Lastly, J.F.S says, who ever keeps the Entire law will be washed clean of his sins. This is not what the Bible teaches, The Bible teaches we are washed in the Blood of the lamb to be clean, not keeping the law. Rick B