LDS Theology

In this post I am going to try and briefly summerize LDS Theology:

EXAMPLE OF MOSES
When God called Moses up into the mountain, God desired all the Elders of Israel to first purify and sanctify themselves and then ascend the mountain with Moses (Ex 19:10,22). God didn't just want one chief and a nation of indians. God wanted a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:6)(Num 11:29). God wanted every man to be a King and Queen, Priest and Priestess in their own homes. God wants to be the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Rev 19:16). However, the Elders of Israel refused, they told Moses that they were scared and that Moses should go alone and come back and tell them what God said (Ex 20:19).

As Israel approached the Mountain of the Lord, the top of the mountain was burning with fire, the sky was dark, and the gound shook beneath thier feet. The Elders of Israel refused to ascend the mountain because they feared what would happen if they put their life into the hands of the LORD. Similarily, many today refuse to sanctify themselves and ascent the mountain also. Many still fear what would happen if they fully give their lives into the hands of God. (ie He will ask me to do things I may not want to do)

In addition to being very afraid, the Elders of Israel didn't want to repent and change and keep the commandments. They didn't want to do what was required to have a close relationship with God and see His face as Moses had. So, while Moses was away, the people said Moses delayeth his return, they then gave all their gold/money to Aaron (anti-Christ type) who fashioned the golden calf and began worshipping it through lude and immoral behavior (type of the Last Days, false relgion, and sexual permissivness). When Moses came down from the mountain (type of Second Comming), and caught the people in their sins, he drew a line in the sand and only the Levites stood with Moses and the LORD (Moses 32:26).

Today, God again wants all believers to purify and sanctify themselves and ascend the mountain so that they can have a personal relationship with Him. But just as in Moses' time, we still must sanctify ourselves, and many of us just as the Elders of Israel choose to worship false religion that makes no such expectation of us. Many religions let us go through the motions of being Christian without giving us any of the of expectations and requirements that go along with enjoying a personal relationship with the LORD.

So, in the next sections, I will explain how God has revealed what we must do to ascend the mountain and enjoy a personal relationship with Him. This process involves 2 steps: Justification and Sanctification. (1Cor6 :11) Thankfully, God makes the first move and empowers every part of the process thereafter. We can do nothing good without Him. Joseph Smith taught that through the ordinaces of the Gospel the power of God is manifest. (D&C 84:20). So, nothing in the LDS Church is being done without the LORD.

#1 Justification: acquital, posponement of judgement, initial rescue/salvation

God makes the first move. Christ stand at our door and knocks (Rev 3:20). If we accept Christ, we become Justified and Christ's righteousness is imputed to us. We are innocent until proven guilty, thus since judgement is posponed, we can have access to the Holy Ghost through Christ's rightousenss and not our own. Justification and this innitial salvation and rescue is by grace and is a free gift from God. That said, the Bible teaches that we accept Christ by 1. Confession of Faith (Rom 10:9-10), , 2. Repentance (1Cor5:11), 3. Baptism by Immersion, 4. Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands (1Tim 4:14)(Acts 2:38).

The Lords Supper/Sacrament is the way the Bible teaches that we renew our acceptance of Christ and our Justification. The need to examine ourselves and continually renew this convenant points us to Christ and the need of Christ's atonment and the power of the Holy Ghost to Sanctify and further change us. We promise promise to accept Christ, remember Him, and He promises to give us His Spirit.

#2 Sanctification: becoming perfected in Christ through the sanctifying presence of the Holy Ghost such that we lose all desire for sin but desire to do good continually.

Justification is only the first part of the Atonement of Christ. But not only does the Atonement of Christ have the grace and mercy to rescue us in our sins, but Christ's atonement also has the power to overcome our flesh and save us from our sins (Matt 1:21). The next step involves the Spirit-empowered process of Sanctification. Santification is so important a life-long process, Christian believers in the NT were called SANCTS or SAINTS.

Christ told the rich young ruler "If thou wilt be perfect, sell all that thou hast, give to the poor and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." (Matt 19:21) Paul in Hebrews teaches that the Levitical priesthood had not the power to pefect but the higher covenant and priesthood of Melchezidek did through Christ. (Heb 7:11,19) Latter-day SANCTS or Latter-day Saints make the covenant of Consecration in the New Testament/Latter-day Temple. (Acts 2:46).

Consecration means to give all time, talents and everything to the work and kingdom of God. Allegorically, the temple symbolizes, "The MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD" (Isa 2:2) In the old testament the temple and the priesthood was only availible to one kingdom, nation, tongue and people and one tribe. But in the Last Days, John saw an angel fly with the everlasting gospel to give to all kingdoms, nations, tongues and people (Rev 14:6). In the OT God made His priesthood and covenants excluseive by limiting them to the oldest son, or only one tribe. This was done, not because God is a respecter of persons, but because He wanted man to appreciate the importance of these blessings. However, in the NT, God is promising these blessings to all people. This is what the angel on the top of LDS Temples is announcing and why LDS build temples among all nations and peoples.

While the blessings of the Temple are now inclusive and availible to all people now in the Last Days, to ascend to the Mountain of the Lord, the People of the LORD are still required to Sanctify themselves, or in other words to receive the Holy Ghost and allow the Holy Ghost to sanctify them. Paul in 1 Cor 5:11 gives us God's requirement for spiritual preparation and purification to be worthy to enter into the presence of the LORD.

1 Cor 5:11 "if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat".

This verse by Paul is the basis for worthiness to enter into an LDS Temple. LDS are interviewed by our Bishops who serve as the High Priest to determine ritual purity. However instead of external purity, Bishops who serve as Judges in Israel and who are not just "Preachers" verify our inward and spiritual purity. LDS demonstrate our compliance with 1 Cor 5:11 by confessing any sexual sin and living complete abstainance before marriage and fidelity within marriage. LDS demonstrate a Spirit-empowered love of God over money by paying tithing. Latter-day SANCTS are asked if they accept Christ as their Savior and are asked to confess any support or partipation with anti-Christian groups. LDS who are worthy of the temple and have the Holy Ghost would never abuse their wives or children (railer), Also, LDS would never take any chemical or substance for the purposes of getting "high" or drunk. God expects His SANCTS to turn to Him and not to drugs and alcohol when we are tired, bored, or stressed. And finally, God promises that though His Spirit, His SANCTS will be empowered to be honest in our dealings with our fellow man. God's temple-worthy people should never be found taking and offering bribes, kickbacks, or defauding our neighbors.

In the end the Temple is a beautiful allegory and symbol that teaches the follower of Christ who God is, who we are, and our relationship to God. The Temple teaches us about God's plan of happiness and Salvation and gives us an Eternal Perspective of what is really important. Through the temple, God's people come to receive the Holy Ghost more prefectly, and feel God's love and power. After receiving this Eternal Perspective about the purpose of life, God's' people are empowered and "endowed" and immunized against sin. Sin and being ruled by the passions and appetities of the flesh, just doesn't have the appeal that it used to have. The closer of a relationship a person has with God, the less he is subject to sin and temptation. Just as Christ promised the Rich young ruler, LDS make the covenant of consecration in the temple, and God in turn promises us greater sanctification.

So, why bother being sanctified? Well, in addition to being told that no unlcean thing can dwell in the presence of God (1Cor6:9). And this is more than just being "called clean". The issue is that despite being Justified, sin still has very real and very painful consequences. That is why I am grateful to Christ for His faithfullness, and the power of His Atonement that promises the power to overcome and escape my sins. (1 Cor 10:13)

However, Sanctification is not something that man can do on his own, or even part way. The Holy Ghost empowers the entire process. But when Nephi says "it is by grace we are save after all we can do" (2Ne25:23) or Moroni says "deny yourselves of all ungodliness and then is His grace sufficent for you" (Moro 10:32-33) LDS Scripture is not saying that we can meet God half-way or save oursleves by our works without Christ. What Nephi was saying was explainining why they observed the Law of Moses knowing that salvation was in Christ. What Nephi was saying was, becasue Christ gave the Law, they were going to receive the grace Christ had already given them before expecting to recieve more. So, in other words, Nephi and Moroni were saying we should "finish with the grace that Christ has already put on our plate, before asking for seconds".

Justification and Sanctification both occur at the time a believer truely accepts Christ and is Born again. The Temple is given to keep believers continuing in our Sanctification. Therefore, just like in the days of Moses, God is inviting us to receive His grace, and His Spirit and sanctify and purify ourselves and ascend into the mountain into His presence. So, for those who have accepted Christ and saved by His grace, will we allow the Holy Ghost to continue to sanctify us according to 1Cor 5:11 and ascend the mountain wth Moses, or will we stay behind and backslide into worshipping the golden calf? (2 Cor6:17)

Ezekiel 37:26-28 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God. and they will be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do ***sanctify*** Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Grace and Sanctification

ITS ALL GRACE
The whole gospel is grace. Everything is by grace. But here here is where we differ with the Evangelicals. There is the lesser law and the higher law. The lesser law deals with Justification by grace and not by works. This initial salvation or "rescue" is God condescending and snatching us from the jaws of death and hell. The "saved" by grace and not by works "lest we boast" is talking about our initial justification or rescue. I like to replace the word "saved" with "rescue" to clarify what Paul is taking about.

FREE FALL RESCUE
In another sense, all of us when we leave our eternal home and step into this fallen world; take a step off the cliff into spiritual free fall headed straight to hell. Whether we realize we are falling from a cliff or not, the ground is approaching. God is like an Eagle and dive bomb us and in his condescension match our position and speed, and tap us on the shoulder and inform us of our dreadful condition. We are promised that Christ will even bare us up on Eagles wings so that we can stop our free fall. But even though we are no longer falling, we are still a long way from where we started.

JUSTIFICATION (NO WORKS NECESSARY)
After Justification, Christ's righteousness is "imputed" to us and we are "called" clean such that we are enable to receive the holy ghost through the merits of Christ. But just because we are justified and "called" clean doesn't really mean we are clear and ready to return into the presence of the Father. Sure, Christ condescends and hangs out with sinners and publicans and accepts us how we are. But not the Father. The Father is the Man of Holiness, and he permits no unclean thing into his presence. This is why it is imperative to understand the distinctness between the Father and the Son.

HIGHER LAW, COVENANT, PRIESTHOOD
But now that the believer in Christ, can enjoy the presence of "a portion" of the Holy Ghost, if he allows it, the Holy Ghost will work within that person to purify them, and perfect them. This is the higher covenant and higher law and higher gospel. Remember that Paul said in Hebrews that the Levitical Priesthood didn't have the power to make one perfect. (sanctified).

Heb. 7: 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

SANCTIFICATION (LIFETIME OF WORKS REQUIRED)
And remember the words of Christ to the rich young man who asked what he needed to do to gain eternal life. After reviewing the law and confessing that he had kept the law since he was a boy. The young man asked "what lack I yet" Christ responded, "If thou wilt be perfect" (sanctified) then accept the law of Consecration. (Matt 19;21). So, here the young man had to make a choice, enter into a covenant, and keep that covenant in exchange for the promise of sanctification. Yes, its the power and grace of Christ that empowers the keeping of the covenant and blesses the keeper with the promised sanctification or eventual disposition never to do evil but to do good continually. However, there are a whole lot of consecrating works between here and there which may not end until the end of the Millennium when Christ presents the Sanctified Earth and His sanctified people on it, to His Father.

THE LDS MESSAGE
Unless a person understands the difference between Justification (called clean) and Sanctification (made clean), then I can see why the LDS message may seem peculiar. All LDS who have been baptized have already been rescued. LDS members have already been justified and enjoy the reception of the Holy Ghost. We are already "called clean" through the merits, and mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ. That is water under the bridge. Now the whole LDS message is focused on Sanctification and preparing to receive and keeping the Law of Consecration. The whole focus of the New Testament, Higher Covenant is about "trying a little harder to be a little better." The focus is not trying to save ourselves, or even meet God half way. The focus is on receiving and exercising the grace, spirit, and power that God has already extended to us, and then asking to be added upon--- Grace upon grace and not a fullness at first (John 1).

AFTER ALL WE CAN DO
Again, "Being saved by grace after all we can do" is not talking about meeting God half way or even taking one step toward God by our own power. Nephi is talking about why they bother to keep the Law of Moses knowing salvation is in Christ. But Christ gave the Law, so therefore, Nephi's conclusion is that they will receive what Christ has already given them (1sts) until the time that he gives more (2nds).

GAINING ALTITUDE
After we are Justified and Christ breaks our free fall descent and bares us up on eagles wings. We still have much work to do to get back to our heavenly home. We have lost a lot of altitude. Christ gives us wings to bare us home. Christ teaches us how to fly. Some will look up at the cliff from which we fell, and fix our gaze on a lower perch and settle for a lesser reward. Although, others who put our faith in Christ's flying lessons and the wings we have been given will diligently, persistently, patiently use those wings to return us home again into the presence of the Father from whence we came.

Power of Christ and Sanctification

Rescued by Jesus Christ
Many Christians understand the mercy and Justification of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. But many could speak more of the transforming and sanctifying power of Christ's Atonement. The basic doctrine begins understanding that all mankind are fallen and lost as a consequence of living in a fallen world. Therefore, none of us could even take one step towards God without His mercy and condescension to reach down and "rescue" or "save" us from our "spiritual free-fall" from glory to eternal damnation. This rescue is by virtue of Christ's grace and mercy alone and not any works of our own as Paul explained in the Bible. To sum up, this means, "God makes the first move" and empowers every move toward heaven thereafter.

Justification by Grace
But what happens after we have been saved. Obviously, there isn't a person alive that has not sinned, nor does a believer gain the ability to live a sinless life immediately. Some Christians believe that living sinless is not the point. However, we both agree that Christ's righteousness is imputed to the believer who is then empowered to receive the Holy Ghost by virtue of Christ's righteousness and not their own. The Holy Ghost makes any righteousness possible, and because even one little sin breaks the whole law, even one sin would make receiving the Holy Ghost impossible forever. So, because Christ's righteousness if imputed unto the believer, the sanctifying and perfecting and purifying influence of the Holy Ghost can begin to operate in our lives as though we were righteous. This "declared righteousness" is what is known as "Justification."

The issue here is that the initial reception of the Holy Ghost through the grace and merits of Christ is not the end but only the beginning of a new life, and new walk as a disciple of Christ. The path of Christian discipleship still remains ahead. The straight and narrow path of Christian discipleship lasts a lifetime. This is why Paul gloried God before His death "I have finished the course, kept the faith, and endured to the end."

Sanctification by Grace
Many Christians just don't get what LDS doctrine is all about. Many errantly claim that LDS believe that we "save ourselves" or "meet God part way". Any idea even close to this is categorically false. What people don't realize is that when LDS leaders are speaking to LDS members, they are focused on the message of "sanctification", "repentance" and "becoming better in Christ" and not necessarily on the initial Justification by grace and mercy, which has already happened. So, to outsiders and even some insiders, it may seem all this talk about "trying a little harder to be a little better" sounds like LDS are leaving Jesus Christ out of the equation. Again, nothing could be further from the truth.

Will and Agency
According to LDS salvation theology, the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ empowers every move of the believer. The grace and mercy and power of Christ doesn't end at the first move, but continues on until the work of purification, sanctification, and perfections is complete. The power of Jesus Christ's atonement empowers every step back into His presence, but the believer is still an active participant. God does not force his will upon us, therefore, while Christ empowers each step, the believer must choose to receive the empowerment. Man's will is our essence, our mind, our sentience. But just because man is sentience, doesn't mean he has a choice. Agency, freely given through and by Jesus Christ, gives man a choice to choose something better than a guaranteed eternal death and hell. But we still must choose.

Not a Fullness at First
What some believers are not taught well is that when a person is "Born Again" and they receive Christ through their faith, that the person does not receive the fullness of the Holy Ghost at first. Upon accepting Christ, we receive a certain portion of light and spirit which is proportional to our faith and personal righteousness at the time. While this righteousness is not the basis of our receiving the Holy Ghost at all, the fact of the matter is, the more we receive Christ, the more we align our lives with His will, the more light and spirit we will receive in our life. This is what is meant when the scriptures teach that we "do not receive a fullness at first, but grace to grace."

Remembering and Enduring
Look at it this way. Have you committed sin today? If your like me, then yes. So, ask yourself the following? How could you possibly have sinned at all if you have been "Born Again" and had become a "new creature." What did the Holy Ghost do while you were committing that sin? Was the Holy Ghost still with you while you were in the act of sinning? Where did the Holy Spirit go while you where sinning? How could you possibly sin after you have experienced the love of Jesus Christ? Is Christ's love and power and spirit not powerful enough to overcome your flesh? Isn't the power and love of Christ more powerful then whatever urges or appetites or habits you have? The answer is an obvious "YES." The issue at hand, is that after the initial Justification, and Rescue and being "Spiritually Born Again" comes the life-long process of sanctification, repentance, remembering and enduring to the end.

Spiritually Born Again
Let me clarify that LDS recognize that a sign of being Spritually Born Again doesn't mean sinlessness or perfection, but it means a deep desire and longing to be follow Christ and hope and faith that He will perfect us. Being Born Again means we wish we were perfect. Being a disciple of Christ means that we wish we could never forget, wish we never would falter, wish that we would loose all desire or disposition for evil forever.

Active Participants and Free Agents
So, how does the process of Sanctification happen and upon what conditions? First, Christ empowers each and every step. But as active participants in the process as we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling", believers are expected to participate. What believers are expected to do is to choose. Christ gives us the ability to choose. He give us the choice, and then He empowers our ability to make the correct choice. But, remember, Christ makes us free, we are not slaves. Therefore, as free agents, we must make the many right choices we are given. So, as George Bush would say, knowing that Christ is the empowerer, we are still the deciderers.

Heavenly Father is Holy
The Bible clearly teaches that "No unclean thing can dwell in the Kingdom of God." God is holy, and therefore, those that dwell in His presence must also be holy and not just "called holy." So, if we realize and accept that we are not perfect at first, but that eventual perfection and sanctification is necessary, required, and possible in order to dwell in the presence of God, then we need to understand how sanctification works. And when we understand how sanctification works, then we can begin to receive, apply, and enjoy the sanctifying power of Christ's atonement right now.

The Father and the Son
Much of the doctrinal disagreement on the need for sanctification I think stems from confusion about the nature of God. When Joseph Smith received the First Vision, He saw Jesus Christ standing on the right hand of Heavenly Father. They were 2 numerically distinct persons, individuals, and beings, who are 1 God, just as Stephen witnessed prior to his martyrdom and just as Justin Martyr explained to Trypho the Jew.

Saved From Our Sins
Because Jesus Christ, the Son of Our Heavenly Father, condescended to come to Earth and associated with sinners and publicans during his life, many Christians may not believe sanctification or becoming sin free is necessary. Many believe that being "called clean" or "declared righteous" is good enough and sufficient. However, when you realize who God the Father is and who the Son Jesus Christ is, then you realize that the scriptures refer to God the Father as "The Man of Holiness" and Jesus Christ as "The Son of Man."' The scriptures teach that, because of our unholiness, Man has been separated from the presence of God the Father since the Fall in the Garden of Eden and that God the Father has not dealt directly with man since that time (not even to Joseph Smith). Therefore, just because we feel that Jesus Christ accepts us as we are, "in our sins." We must realize that the power of Christ's Atonement and His mission is for the precise purpose to "save us from our sins." Therefore, at some point, when Christ has finished His work in us, He may present us perfect, and clean, and holy, and sinless to enter into the presence of The Father forever. In this way we understand that Jesus Christ was begotten from the beginning to perfect and complete mankind, and not to complete and perfect God the Father. God the Son is not a piece or part of God that if removed would detract from the perfection or completeness of God the Father who is perfect alone.

Not All Sin From Satan
In order to return holy, purified, and sanctified into the presence of God the Father, man must become sinless. Some may think that sin is impossible in the presence of God. Some may think that with Satan cast out that there would be no more tendency at all to do evil. But this view that sin would necessarily be impossible in heaven is based on an incorrect assumption that all sin is Satan's fault. The truth is that man can sin all on His own. Think about it, if it were impossible to sin in heaven, then Lucifer could never have rebelled in heaven, and would never been able to lure a 1/3-part of the hosts of heaven to his side before being cast out.

Growing Light and Grace
So, knowing that sanctification is necessary, required, and possible in Christ, here is the process. In order to receive more power, spirit, light, and grace that empowers righteousness, you have to be fully receiving the power, spirit, light,and grace that Christ has already given you. In other words, if you want seconds, you have to finish the food that is already on your plate. And that is what growing from grace to grace is all about. And in this way, the LDS focus and the Higher and New and Everlasting Covenant which is sanctification-centered, is fully and entirely grace dependent and not at all about saving ourselves or even taking one step towards heaven without Christ. Trying a little harder to be a little better is about receiving and applying the grace and gifts that Christ has already given us. Why ask for more, if we have cast aside what we have already been given?

Why Change?
So, why do LDS bother talking about sanctification and repentance. Why do we discuss ways to avoid this or that sin, or ways to have a good attitude in doing this duty or that duty? The reason is, that while it's nice to be forgiven, sin still has very real consequences. Sin is painful, and sin hurts and injures ourselves, and others. And the reality is that we can do all the praying we want, but if we have a serious sin or habit or addiction, Jesus Christ is not going to save us from the painful consequences of that sin. In reality, it is the good news of the gospel that Christ's atonement is not just mercy to forgive us our sins, but also empower us to stop the sinning. That is the beauty of the Atonement. Christ can overcome any addiction and empower you to escape it. And only when you put that sin or addiction behind you, then the guilt, and pain, and consequences go as well.

LDS 12-Step Program
I was part of a family discussion the other night about how the LDS Church has successfully implemented and utilized the 12-Step Program" for behavior modification and overcoming addiction. LDS considered the 12-Step Program to be inspired by God. However, there is a small but very important addition that LDS give to the 12-Steps that illustrates just what I have been discussing here.

First, here is the LDS version of the 12 Steps:
1. Honesty-most sin involves lying and making excused to others and to ourselves.
2. Hope-you must believe that change is possible.
3. Trust in God-you must recognize you cannot overcome sin or do anything good without God.
4. Truth-knowing is half the battle. In all cases, when we realize God's way really is better, and that we had been missing out all this time, then we wish we had never sinned in the first place.
5. Confession-we will confess to God and to those we have injured.
6. Change of Heart-we will desire to change and be sinless.
7. Humility-we will recognize our weakness.
8. Seeking Forgiveness-we will forgive ourselves, seek forgiveness, and forgive others.
9. Restitution and Reconciliation- where possible, we will make right what we made wrong.
10. Daily Accountability- we will set goals and systems to monitor our progress daily.
11. Personal Revelation- we will seek revelation from God to know what we are to do.
12. Service- we will actively serve others and help others in the same way we have been helped.

Power of Christ's Atonement
Above are the LDS-version of the 12-Step Program. These steps are very typical to those that are presented at a typical AA meeting. These steps are also very akin to the traditional 5-steps of repentance that are routinely taught in the LDS Church which includes: Recognition, Sorrow for Sin, Confession, Restitution, and Service.

Change of Heart
Now, here is the twist I was talking about before. When you join with an AA group, it is taught that you are an alcoholic and that you will be an alcoholic forever. Therefore, according to the traditional 12-Step programs, you can never have a drop of alcohol again. Alcohol will always be a temptation for you the rest of your life, and that there is always the risk of slipping back into the addiction.

However, according to LDS Doctrine and according to personal experience, the Atonement of Jesus Christ goes further that just helping us deny ourselves of our ever-present, wicked, evil and destructive appetites and desires. According to the gospel of Jesus Christ is the promise that if we exercise faith in Christ through first applying His grace and denying ourselves, then is the great promise that Christ, through His grace and mercy, will take that desire from us completely. Jesus Christ promises us that it is possible that He can remove any disposition or desire for evil in this life. Now that is the greatest miracle of all.

Now, critics may say, that they do not know any Christian believers, that are perfect, so actually becoming sinless cannot possibly be expected. However, I do now know what the purpose of arguing this point is. Sin causes suffering and pain, and real consequences. Righteousness, on the other hand, brings joy and happiness. I cannot understand why anyone who believes Christ, would have a problem with believing that Christ's has the power to overcome our flesh and can help root out of us any addiction or sin, or bad habit, if we desire and allow Him too.

Resurrection of Just and Unjust
I think the issue here is a misunderstanding of God's time line. As I see it, Adam and Eve had nearly 1000 years to work on their sins and repentance and sanctification after the garden. For us today, we have hardly 85 years or less during a time when more wickedness exists on the Earth than at any time in Earth's history. The good news however, is the promise of the Millennium. During the Millennium, the believers in Christ are promised to be resurrected to dwell on Earth with Christ for 1000 years. During that time we are told Satan will be bound and have no power. Therefore, I look forward to this period when we can complete our sanctification and be prepared for Jesus Christ to present us and this Earth as holy to Our Heavenly Father. However, the work we allow Christ to do in us here and now, will make sure we are physically resurrected in the morning of the first resurrection clothed with glory and immortality and not resurrected with the unjust near the end after spending the majority of the Millennium in spirit prison.

Moroni 10:32-34 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. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

Borne Upon Eagles’ Wings

Ex. 19: 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Isa. 40: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

I believe that all little children who have not arrived at the age of accountability are innocent of sin and are alive in Christ. However, the Bible teaches that Adam fell and consequently all men need saving. Therefore, using this analogy, I think it can be said that coming into a fallen world from the presence of God is like falling off a cliff into a free fall with the ground (death and hell) accelerating towards us with each passing moment. Ignorant or not, gravity is in operation and the consequences of the fall are imminent.

Alma 34: 9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

But the Bible says the there is Hope in Christ. That by the Grace of Christ we can be initially saved and rescued by faith alone. The Bible says that no one commeth unto the Son save the Father draweth Him. Therefore the Father reaches down to rescue us from our fall and the impending impact. God promises that eventually all men will be drawn unto Christ. But while all men will eventually accept the saving embrace of Christ, some will later turn away. Christ says none will be lost save the Sons of Perdition.

John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me"
John 6: 44. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day"
John 6: 39 "And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
John 17: 12 "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled."
Rom 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Before God reached down to offer us rescue, we were not free. We had no agency and no choice. But God says that The Father lifted up the Son on the Cross to draw "all men" unto Christ. So, nothing we could do caused God to reach down towards us but His loving kindness and infinite mercy. But after being given a choice (impact or rescue), we then are free to choose at that point. Moral agency requires: 1. free will, 2. knowledge of good and evil, 3. enticement by good and evil 4. Atonement of Christ.

After accepting rescue, we are borne up as if on eagles wings. God gives us a set of wings and the first thing we learn to do is stop the fall and maintain altitude. The is termed Justification. But after our drop in altitude has ceased, is everything done?

2 Ne. 31: 19-20 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of bhope, and a clove of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

No, not everything is done after being rescued and justified. We still have fallen a long way, some more than others. So, Christ promises to empower us and teach us to use the wings we have been given to gain altitude.. Some people might say, Wow, Im sure glad I was rescued before hitting the ground, but gee, that is a long way back up there to the top of the cliff. Maybe instead of allowing Christ (wings) to empower by assent back to the top of the cliff, maybe ill just settle for one of these lesser perches and outcroppings. The one there looks like a nice comfortable spot.

Using wings that we have been given determines the degree of Sanctification we allow Christ to do in us. Christ said that none which the Father have given Him will be lost, except the Sons of Perdition, but again although we are saved from hitting the ground, this is no guarantee that we will necessarily get back all the way from where we have fallen and receive the same gift/reward/mansion/glory/kingdom/world/seat/crown. But if we will give our whole will: heart, might, mind and strength to God, then Christ will sanctify, perfect, and exalt us and carry us back to the very top again.

The Evidence of My Faith

Some people confuse faith with hope and hope with speculation. But the scriptures tell us the true meaning of faith. According to the Bible, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Therefore, hope is the assurance, but faith is the substance of that assurance. A song I learned growing up equated faith with "knowing the sun would rise, brightening each new day." Equating religious faith with the reality of the sun rising each morning is a fascinating comparison. In the same way there is proof of the earth in its regular orbit around the sun, there is evidence that God's word is faithful and true. The difference between each type of evidence, is that the sun can be measured with scientific instruments and described with equations. God's word can be experimented upon, but it is measured by living it and personal and collective experience. But, just as I set my alarm clock the night before counting on the sun rising the next morning, I can arrange my life around the commandments and promised blessings of God.

John 7: 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

[Lec 1:24a] Faith then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God.

Alma 34:4 Yea, even that ye would have so much faith as even to plant the word in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of its goodness.

Some Evangelical Christians have charged that because there is no archaeological and scientific evidence that the Nephites described in the Book of Mormon existed, that I exercise faith in a vain hope. However, I don't believe in God because I scientifically measured Him. I do not believe that Jesus Christ came back from the dead and ascended to heaven because some archaeologist found ancient video tape of the events. Therefore, I don't base my belief in the Book of Mormon based on what archeologist's have yet to find.

First off, it is impossible to scientifically prove or disprove the existence of God. To do either would require that the person be God. Accordingly, I believe in God not because I can scientifically measure Him, but because He has revealed Himself to me. In the same way, I believe in Christ, and in Joseph Smith, and in the Bible and Book of Mormon because God has revealed in the same way that these things are true and of Him.

While emotions are subjective by definition, I also have objective evidence of my faith? I believe in the LDS faith because the Bible says that the New and Everlasting Covenant carries the promise of a more perfect sanctification as well as future salvation. Therefore, this more perfect sanctification which is a more complete mastery over the appetites of the flesh, becomes a testable proof of God and His word. I have experimented upon God's word and the LDS faith and I have found that it has proved to produce the promised increase in sanctification and self control. behavior is measurable and objective. Therefore, by objective as well as subjective evidence, I have hope in a future salvation as well.

Subjectively, my evidence of God and the LDS religion is based on the fruit that the LDS gospel produces in my life. This is something that Satan cannot duplicate or falsify. "The fruit of the spirit is love, peace, joy, happiness, temperance, patience, father; against such there is no law" Objectively, the LDS doctrine focused on sanctification in Christ inspires and encourages and empowers men to bridle their appetites and master their flesh. Remember, the higher covenant is all about sanctification. If you do not understand what the word of Christ means when Christ said "If thou wilt be perfect" and what Heb says about the NT vs the OT having power to make us perfect then you have missed the whole meaning and purpose of the NT and the atonement of Christ who came to save us from our sins.

The LDS gospel helps me and others around me be better. I see that the people I associate with who keep their covenants, can be depend on, can be trusted, and they exemplify better mastery of their flesh and appetites and this is what Zion is all about. Zion is the "pure in heart"

I respect many Christians who have confessed and forsaken serious sins through Christ. LDS don't deny this but carry the promise to the next level. LDS teach a message of eternal progression and encourage our members to never stand still, because when it comes to spirituality, if you are not progressing your are backsliding. The Scriptures promise that after coming to Christ, Christ will bring us to the Father through a more perfect Sanctification. Therefore, the message of the New Covenant and the LDS gospel is sanctification and striving through Christ to be better as Pres Hinkley said "try a little harder to be a little better"

I am careful not to confuse peace with prosperity. God said he would cause it to rain on the just and the unjust. Therefore, temporal prosperity is not necessarily a sign of God's favor. But the Bible and the Book of Mormon do clearly state that what does differentiate the righteous in Christ with the wicked is peace and happiness. Isaiah said, "There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked." Alma in the Book of Mormon taught his son, "Wickedness never was happiness." Therefore, the fruit of my faith is not only prosperity but primarily peace, temperance, patience and a more perfect sanctification "against such there is no law."

Some Evangelicals vilify LDS doctrine because it is focused on trying to inspire people to be better? Why call good evil and evil good? Why say, "LDS are trying to be better and focus on sanctification because they think they are better than everyone else? Or, LDS focus on being better is because they think they can save themselves?" The simple truth is that the higher covenant of the NT is about being empowered by Christ to enjoy a greater more perfect sanctification. Therefore, the evidence of my faith in the LDS religion is the fruit of better self-mastery over the appetites of the flesh that I have experienced as a member of this church. The evidence of my faith in Christ is that His atonement is not just mercy to save me in my sins, but also power to help me overcome, escape, and forsake them. I have witnessed this power, and have witnessed this power in the lives of others.

Spiritually Begotten or Made?

The Nicene Creed says that Jesus Christ was "begotten and not made." Many Evangelical Christians on CARM have told me that this spiritual begetting does not apply to man. Man is, according to their interpretation of the Bible, a created being "made" no different than a "dung beetle" and not spiritually begotten like Christ who the Bible names "The Firstborn of many brethren" and the "Firstborn of every creature."

LDS understand that the Bible does talk about being adopted a son of God upon being born again, accepting Christ. However, we believe this adoption is referring to Christ becoming the Father of our eternal life. The God referred to here is God the Son and not God the Father. LDS would differentiate this from our understanding of the Bible that all men regardless of belief are spiritually begotten of God the Father who is named "The Father of Spirits". (Acts 17: 28-29, Heb. 12: 9. Eph 3:14-15, Heb. 2: 11, Ps. 82: 6, Col. 1: 15, Rom. 8: 29)

"The Value of Believing in Free Will" by Kathleen Vohs and Jonathan Schooler, Psychological Science, 2008:53

In the following study, Vohs and Schooler demonstrate that belief affects moral behavior. In this study the researchers had college students read some information about genetics. Half the students had the following quote placed within the material by Nobel Laurette Francis Crick "We are nothing but a pack of neurons." The other half read the same information without this quote. The researchers then had the students take a math quiz where it was possible to cheat. The results of the study were that the students who were exposed to the deterministic statement were much more likely to cheat than the others who were not.

So, my question, is how is evangelical doctrine that men are made a created like "dung beetles" or Calvanist doctrine that our fate is already predetermined or predestined before we were born any better than evolutionists who say man is "evolved from pond scum" or "just a pack of neurons"? The Book of Mormon foretells and explains this false doctrine with the following prophecy:

2 Nephi 28: 7-8 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

Sanctifying Ordinances and Gifts of Grace

All of us have accepted Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ and our personal Savior. All of us were sinful, fallen and lost and we were "rescued/saved" by the condescension of God who turned us from our path leading straight to death and hell. Thus, all of us are immediately justified and saved from Hell/Gehenna/Blackness of Darkness Forever. God made the first move, and only by His grace and mercy alone were we "rescued" and not by anything we did.

Now that we have been "rescued" and "justified" and "saved", Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, and we can enjoy the "indwelling" of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost, we begin the process of grace-empowered sanctification.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [up unto salvation].

However, in spite of our acceptance of Christ, and in spite of the "indwelling" of the Holy Ghost, we still sin. How could sin still be possible? Isn't Christ and the Holy Ghost more powerful than the flesh? Why the battle?

Galatians 5:17: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

The issue here is not that the Holy Ghost and Christ cannot overcome our flesh, but that sanctification is a process, and as we become more committed to Christ, and our faith in Christ increases, the light and power and grace and influence and indwelling of the Holy Ghost will increase. And by the increased empowerment of the Holy Ghost, we will be increasingly strengthened against sin, purified like silver, etc.

LDS attitude about "works" and ordinances, and covenants is not these produce salvation, but that they are gifts of God which refocus and orrient our lives better towards Christ. The problem is that man forgets, so LDS consider proper daily prayer, scripture study, partaking of the Lords Supper, baptism, and the temple a great way to remember and refocus our lives on Jesus Christ.

Therefore, LDS "works" are not about saving ourselves. And although some call them "saving ordinances." These works are really "sanctifying gifts of grace" that we are invited to receive. And by these "sanctifying gifts of grace" we are promised and hope we can better remember, refocus, and re-orient our lives toward Christ, and receive by grace a more powerful "indwelling/measure" of the Holy Ghost which will empower greater good works, sin protection, and sanctification.

Moro 10:30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift,

What is the importance to bother with the process of sanctification? LDS believe that the better we progress in the process of sanctification here in this life, and the greater degree of the Holy Ghost/light/grace we accept/receive, the better gift/crown/kingdom/glory/seat we will be given in Heaven.

(1 Thessalonians 5:23) (1 Peter 1:15) (1 Thessalonians 4:3,7) (2 Corinthians 7:1) (2 Timothy 2:20) (Matthew 5:48) (Romans 6:19-22) (2 Thessalonians 2:13) (1 Corinthians 6:11) (2 Corinthians 3:18) (1 Peter 1:2) (Romans 8:13) (Ephesians 5:25) (1 Peter 1:22)

Legalism vs. Antinomianism

Antinomianism: The doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral, and that salvation is attained solely through faith and the gift of divine grace.

Legalism: strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, esp. to the letter rather than the spirit. The doctrine that salvation is gained through good works. The judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.

Some of our friends of other faiths have claimed on many occasions that LDS theology is purely legalistic. However, if you look at the definition of legalism vs. antinomianism, its opposite, I think it is clear that LDS theology is a balance of grace and works in the same way Christ, Paul, and the other Apostles taught principles of righteousness that stressed both grace and good works.

Rom. 6: 1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 Cor. 9: 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

James 2: 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

1 Jn. 2: 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Rom 2: 6-10 [God] will render to every man according to his deeds:To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons

Eph 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Matt. 12: 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Luke 6: 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Matt. 7: 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Rev. 20: 12-13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

LDS theology finds balance and harmony between grace and works by understanding that what Paul was saying about being "saved" by grace and not works was the initial "rescue" which turned us from our sinful ways. No one has ever been able to take even one step towards God alone. All of us have sinned and have turned completely away from God and Christ. Therefore, if it wasn't for God's condescension and mercy to reach down and "rescue" us from death and sin, all of us without exception would be doomed to suffer "the blackness of darkness forever."

However, God has reached down to knock on each of our doors, and if we open up that door to Christ, and repent, and return towards God, we are then justified. Justification is a legal term that means that even though we are guilty of sin, we are given a judgment of acquittal or "not proven." Our final judgment and guilty verdict is then postponed (acquittal is not covered by "double jeopardy"). In the meantime, Christ's righteousness is imputed to us. Accordingly, with Christ's righteousness imputed to us, we can enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Ghost and can then begin the process of sanctification in which we are empowered by the Holy Ghost to repent, and receive sanctifying ordinances and covenants. We are then promised that these covenants and ordinances will further empower our repentance such that we will eventually lose all desire for sin and become blessed with the desire for continual righteousness.

This is how the atonement of Christ is not just grace that overlooks and sweeps our sins under the rug, but also power that will empower us to forsake sin, purify us like silver, and purge the desire for sin from our very being. In this way, Christ not only initially "rescues" us in our sins, but eventually will "save" us from our sins. Therefore, on the theological spectrum we may be more legalistic, but I think LDS doctrine finds the perfect balance on the principles of grace and works in accordance with the Bible.

Justification, Forgiveness, and Disfellowship

I was out with the missionaries the other night to see an Evangelical minister. The missionaries presented a message about the apostasy, but the Minister became a little contentious over his mistaken understanding that he is automatically and unconditionally saved and guaranteed eternal life at the moment of accepting Christ. We couldn't stay to contend the issue but I re-read the New Testament to list the many places where the Apostles teach that salvation is conditional upon our continued good works and enduring to the end.

1 Cor 5:9-13 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person
1Tim5: 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses .20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Titus 3: 10 A man that is an heretik after the first and second admonition reject;

How does this scripture fit in with the Evangelical concept of compete forgiveness?LDS teach that Justification is a forgiveness and the inputation of Christs righteousness to the believer. But we also believe that Christ will empower us and expects us to forsake certain sins to enjoy fellowship with the Saints. In fact, according to Paul, members who commit certain sins should be disfellowshipped and/or excommunicated. The LDS definition of Justification by grace in Romans is not irreversible and unconditional forgiveness. Justification means aquittal from the law, it means a judgement of "not proven". Justification is not by works but by grace alone by faith in Christ. God makes the first move. Christs grace is imputed upon the believer and the believer can enjoy the indwelling of the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The more willing and receptive the believer is in submitting to the Holy Spirit the more the Holy Spirit will empower that person to turn away and forsake sin. Ultimately by the end of the Millennium, the Holy Spirit will empower the believer to forsake all sin. The process of Sanctification will have been completed. The believer will then be brought before God for the final judgement. Christ will confess the name of the believer and that He has paid the price of all past sin and recommend that the believer inherit eternal life because the believer has allowed Christ to compete the work of Sanctification within them.

1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

if Justification is complete forgiveness and automatic unconditional eternal life, why would Paul tell the Saints at Corinth to "examine themselves" and not partake of the sacrament "unworthily". Knowing these saints had already confessed Christ, what more must they do each week to demonstrate worthiness to partake the Lords Supper?

2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Cor 6:1We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

What labor is Paul talking about here. Why would Paul be talking to the Saints about a labor that yet had to be done to be accepted by Christ at the judgement day if all this was already done at the moment of Justification? The labor is Sanctification. How could believers receive the grace of Christ in vain?

2 Cor 13: 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Why would Paul invite believers at Corinth to examine themselves whether they be in the faith, and prove it. Why would Paul seem to say that Christs Spirit would not be with them in sin? Are not believers unconditionally forgiven of all past and future sin?

Gal 5: 19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, forniccation, uncleaness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies. Evyings, murders, drunkeness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 4 But let every man prove his own work . . . 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Seems Paul is saying that if you truely are saved your works will manifest it, and if you are not saved, the works of the flesh in you will manifest that you are not saved and never were.

Eph 4:24-32 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.25 Wherefore putting away lying speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:27 Neither give place to the devil. righteousness and true holiness.28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his give hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth . . . 30 And greive not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Many dont like the Miracle of Forgiveness becasuse Pres Kimball says it is expected that we forsake sin. But, here we seem to have Paul saying that the believer is expected to "put away lying" and forsake stealing and "put away" wrath and anger.How does a saved person "greive the Holy Spirit"?

Eph 5: 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedient.7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.. . . 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkenss, but rather reprovethem.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Some here at CARM claim that Justification means a total, permenant, and unconditional forgiveness and automatic eternal life.That may be true if the person was really Justified, but Paul says that fornicaiton should not be named even once among the saints at Ephesus. And that they should avoid foolish talking and jesting "loud laugher" and not just avoided but reproved.Could it be that those who teach the CARM and Evangelical doctrine preach "vain words." According to Paul you cant have the indwelling of the Spirit while drunk.

1 Tim 6: 17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
2 Tim 2: 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessels unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Why is Paul sayig the rich need to be rich in good works as to lay up in store that they "may lay hold on eternal life". This language does not seem to reflect the certainty of eternal life of many evangelicals who claim eternal life is automatic and unconditionally given at the moment of Justification. Paul says the better a man allows Christ to purge his sins from him and sanctifyy him, the better he will be for tthe masters use and prepared unto every good work.

Titus 1: 15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

It seems Paul says that although you can profess to know and accept Christ with your words, that you can just as easily deny Christ and reject Him by your works which will manifest that you were never justified.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;14 Who gave himself or us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, an purify people,zealous of good works. unto himself a peculiar.

Paul encouages Titus to deny and forsake all ungodliness and live godly so that he could have a "hope" or assurance in faith, and "might" be redeemed by Christ. This jsut doesnt sound like the unconditional automatic eternal life of the Evangelical.

Titus 3: 4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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;6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3: 14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Paul says we are initially rescued and justified and "saved" by the grace alone of Christ and not our righteousness. But I dont think this "hope" of eternal life is the unconditional, irreversible automatic kind of process the Evangelicals describe.It seems that Paul is concerned that the Saints not be unfruitful. Since Christ said of the gentiles that there would be both bad and good invited to the marriage supper and that only those wearing the wedding garment would be accepted. God said that there would be sheep and goats, wheat and tares, unwise virgins, and lukewarmers in the church, that it was the good works and fruit that would be a manifestation that that person was in the grace of Christ. Remember that John says in Revelations that the white clothing was the "rightousness of the saints" or the good works of the saints not necessarily absolute sinlessness since we are all sinners.

Gal. 6: 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
2 Tim. 4: 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith

Remember the parable of the workers in the field. The ones that worked one hour received the same reward as the workers who worked through the heat of the day. The important thing was that they were all found working when the Lord of the vineyard arrived.

Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

What is this that Hebrews is saying about giving earnest heed, and a warning about not letting our obedience slip and about our disobedience being recompenced upon us. Hebrews seems to be saying that disobedience puts our "escape" and "great salvation" into jeapardy.

Heb 3: 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God fresh, and put him to an open shame.

Heb 6:10,15 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:. .. . so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Heb 10: 26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowdge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Here Hebrews says that some who are called brethren could depart form the living God and have their heart hardened by sin after it was softened. But Hebrews says we need to hold stedfast unto the end and not procrastinate the day of our provocation or probation while it is yet today. Here Hebrews says that it is possible to be enlightened and taste of the heavenly gift and the Holy Ghost and have fallen away. Also, Hebews says the promise is dependent on diligence, endurance, patience, faith and a work and labor of love.

Heb 10: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace ... 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Hebrews seems to warn those who sin knowingly and willfully after receiving the Spirit of grace, Hebrews calls this falling away to "draw back" unto perdition instead of having patience in faith unto salvation of the soul.Heb 11:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us Chrsit is the author and finisher of our faith but Accepting Christ and being born again is not the end of the race but the beginning. And after being Justified we must endure the chastening and purifying process of sanctification.

Temporal and Spiritual

1 Ne. 15: 31-32 And they said unto me: Doth this thing mean the torment of the body in the days of probation, or doth it mean the final state of the soul after the death of the temporal body, or doth it speak of the things which are temporal? And it came to pass that I said unto them that it was a representation of things both temporal and spiritual; for the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it is that differentiates LDS from other Christians. As you look back at the history of the Christianity, we see the formation of the great Catholic and Orthodox churches with their ritual splendor, ordinances, tradition, and hierarchy. We then see the formation of smaller protestant denominations and non-denominations which have fractured off that have developed a kind of reactionary doctrine against the Catholic Church. While Catholics consider papal authority to be a major basis of their belief, Evangelicals interpret the Bible to teach no hierarchy and no authority but Jesus Himself (except when it comes to collecting tithing).

LDS on the other hand, do not consider authority and hierarchy to be in conflict or mutually exclusive to the "priesthood of all believers" and our individual ability to "approach the throne of God with boldness" as they say. As Nephi says, the things taught in scripture are both temporal and spiritual. And the same thing applies to the concept of the temple, church, priesthood and ultimately God Himself.

This conflict over temporal vs. spiritual is at the heart of the gospel divide even going back to the early church. Back then the Apostles warned against the doctrine of the Gnostic's who denied the physical resurrection of Christ. Such a denial was said to be of the spirit of the antichrist. Why did they deny Christ's resurrection? They rejected it because if Christ had redeemed His physical body and was viewed as the perfect revelation of the Father, then that would mean that the Father also consisted of the perfect harmonization of spirituality and physicality. But to the Gnostic's, matter was inherently evil.

The truth is that nothing is inherently evil but just corruptible. In the beginning we learn that God created all things and he looked upon the whole of creation and declared "It is good." But Christ sanctifies what Satan has corrupted and makes the corruptible incorruptible. Therefore since God encompasses all that is good, and tangible matter is good, therefore God must consist of both a glorified body and spirit. God is spirit, but God is not only just spirit and those who come to God must learn to worship him in spirit (talk) and in truth (walk).

It is this key truth concerning the unifying of the temporal and spiritual which is transcended by the very nature of God which is manifest in every aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The concept of the Church of Christ is an ordered organization but also is the body of believers. The concept of the temple is a sacred structure which administers sacred covenants and serves as a parable and reminder of sacred truth but also represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within each individual. The priesthood is divine authority given by God to man to administer the covenants and gifts of God allowing man to act and speak in the name of God, as well as being a power and authority available to all believers who have been called and ordained by the laying on of hands to empower them to approach the throne of God and dwell in His presence. The concept of repentance consists of tangible steps which assist the believer in escaping and forsaking sin as well as the spiritual motivation of the love of God which makes sin loose its enticement.

Again and again in scripture we see the pattern of the heavenly and the earthly manifest. The Law of Moses, Bible prophecy, and the parables themselves are true occurrences which teach and represent a greater spiritual truth. But the lesson of the Old Testament vs. the New Testament was not that the spiritual destroyed the temporal. Christ said He had not come to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill. What the New Testament was about was about a restoration of the spiritual and higher law and a unification and a sanctification of the physical.

The Masonic signs of the compass and square represent this truth very well. A compass is used to draw circles. Circles are a shape found in heaven. So, the compass is used to represent heavenly things. The sign of the square is used to draw horizontal lines. The horizon and horizontal lines are something we see terrestrially and therefore represents the Earth and the physical aspect of existence. Therefore the compass and square together represents the unification of the spiritual and physical, male and female, and represents the true nature of God and is reflected in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Definition of Acquittal and Justification

Recently, I was in a discussion with some Evangelical Christian friends of mine focused on the LDS vs. Evangelical concept of Justification, Acquittal, and Forgiveness. A synopsis on the Evangelical criticism of the LDS view on this issue can be found at the following link: http://www.mrm.org/grace-works.

One friend seemed to find fault with President Spencer W Kimball's book "Miracle of Forgiveness" for giving concrete steps to completely forsake sin. Those steps would be to acknowledge the sin, feel sorrow for sin, confess to God, make restitution if possible, and forsake the sin. His contention was that there are no 6 steps or 12-step program required to be forgiven of sin. All a person has to do is accept the real Christ and they are fully forgiven at that moment. At the very moment a person receives Christ, they are receiving the free gift of Eternal Life and the highest reward of exaltation with no further expectations or requirements.

2 Cor. 7: 9-11 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. to repentance: for ye were made. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
James 5:16 confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
1 John 1:9 if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Furthermore, this friend seemed to say that it was wrong for President Kimball to teach that God forgives only after complete forsaking of the sin. And only fully forgiven when we have completely forsaken all of our sins. My friend seemed to disagree saying that by accepting Christ they are already fully and completely forgiven from the start which includes all future sins and well as past sins.

Now we all agreed that eventually we would all need to have been empowered by Christ to overcome all sin. And that Christ would have the power to empower us to spinelessness and perfection eventually. But the disagreement seemed to be on how you get there. We also agree that there is no peace in sin so that it is advantageous for Christ to begin empowering us to forsake sin as much as possible here in this world because regardless of the eternal consequences, sin still has very real and painful temporal consequences.

It seems many Evangelicals feel they are empowered to forsake sin and be a better person because God had fully forgiven them and guaranteed their future forgiveness. It seems the pressure of the future judgement being off their shoulders in Christ was motivation enough for them alone to want to be better. It seems, to them, that removing the consequences of sin would inspire and empower greater humility and obedience by itself.

LDS would agree that witnessing Christs love would spiritually motivate to forsake sin, but we also recognize that the concrete physical steps of Pres Kimball's forgiveness paradigm also helps forsake sin. LDS are not making a dichotomy here. We are not trying to make a mutually exclusive argument. Yes, witnessing Christs love by His grace is motivating for us to forsake sin, but at the same time, the concrete steps of godly sorrow working repentance, confession, restitution, and ultimately prayer for divine assistance does help to forsake sin. And it works. I have personally experienced it work in my life and seen it work in others lives.

Pres. Kimball giving concrete skills to help us forsake sin is not with the expectation that we will die a completely perfect person having completed the process of sanctification. We have the rest of the Millennium to compete sanctification. But although we wont necessarily be perfect in all things now, we can be empowered to forsake some sins and vices. I have done it with a few. We can also be empowered to start doing certain good things consistently, like paying tithing for instance.

What does Pres Kimball want by writing this book? He wants youth of the church to not excuse themselves in committing sexual sin and experimenting with drugs. He wants new members coming into the church to know that while no one is perfect, that God will empower us in Christ to give up and forsake alcoholism and other substance abuse vices.

My friends also object to when Pres Kimball says that if you recommit a sin, after you have repented you really didn't repent and you really were not forgiven. It is like the initial forgiveness never occurred. The evidence of this is an alcoholic or meth abuser. They cannot touch it after giving it up. One drop or one time is too much, If they do it again, they cannot just stop halfway but more often than not relapse back into the same hole just as deep or deeper then they were before. And it can be harder to repent and forsake again, but obviously possible in Christ.

My friends contended that Pres. Kimball's paradigm denied the Justification and all-sufficient grace of Christ that a believer received when He becomes born again because he says that God does not forgive until a person completely forsakes all sin. What I tried to point out is that Pres Kimball's repentance paradigm does not deny grace or Justification. But it turns out that LDS and Evangelicals do differ in how we interpret Justification.

Some Evangelicals rightly understand that Justification is a legal term. However, it seems that some in our conversation would say that it means that a person is declared innocent and clean from the start. LDS would say that justification is acquittal for the law. But according to British Common Law there were two kinds of acquittal. And that one was "not proven." If Justified and received the verdict of "not proven" you could still be tried again and is not covered under "double jeopardy" where you cannot be tried twice for the same crime. If you are acquitted or justified under a ruling of "not proven" then you can be tried again when new evidence is obtained.

This second kind of acquittal, is how the LDS view the meaning of Justification. By the grace of Christ the believer who has faith in Christ is acquitted from the law, and given a grace period, a probationary state and time to prepare to meet God and repent or allow Christ to empower us to repentance. Christ's righteousness in imputed unto us and because we are innocent until proven guilty, according to God although we are guilty, we are viewed as innocent in Christ. Therefore we can enjoy the indwelling of the Holy Ghost which will empower us to sanctification, greater obedience, and to receive the sanctifying ordinances that LDS believe that God desires we receive.

My friends would say this does not sound like a very forgiving God if he does not really permanently forgiving but just temporarily forgiving and withholding judgement until He has collected further evidence against us. But LDS say that in that time and on into the Millennium, Christ will empower us to overcome all sin, and that process can begin here and now in this world.

LDS are encouraged to repent daily, but the point is to not be endlessly repenting for the same sins, but to focus on one area, allow Christ to sanctify us in that thing, forsake that sin, and then move on to another area. This is the process of Sanctification. It is not continually backsliding, or wheel-spinning, or a dog returning to its own vomit and a sow to its wallowing in the mire. The beauty of LDS theology on forgiveness is that God can overcome and sanctify our flesh, transform us, and purify us, give us a perfect heart, and help us begin to overcome sin. Who wants to be plagued by our sins all the time. The atonement is not just grace but also power to begin to overcome and escape sin because God is faithful and promises to make or weaknesses strengths.

[from Wiki]
In the Scottish common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the innocence of the accused, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi. Under the rules of double jeopardy and autrefois acquit, an acquittal operates to bar the retrial of the accused for the same offense, even if new evidence surfaces that further implicates the accused. The effect of an acquittal on criminal proceedings is the same whether it results from a jury verdict, or whether it results from the operation of some other rule that discharges the accused. Scots law has two acquittal verdicts: not guilty and not proven. However a verdict of "not proven" does not give rise to the double jeopardy rule.

From the LDS perspective of the Bible, we all are sinners, fallen and lost, but because of Christ we are forgiven. This forgiveness is Justification. This justification is acquittal. This acquittal is a verdict of "not proven", this verdict of "not proven" puts us on probation. This probationary grace period allows us time to allow Christ to complete the work of sanctification in us so that when we do stand before God at the final judgement we will be like Him. Then we can expect the ultimate forgiveness and be received into eternal life. It is possible to receive this ultimate forgiveness in this life. This is called having you calling and election sure and it is ultimately a personal experience between a person and God.

Christ makes it so that we can have the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. But it is not like we become like Enoch who walked with God or Elijah who was taken up to heaven at the moment we accept Christ and are justified. That's not the end of the process but the beginning. So, the point about acquittal and probation is that we know we are going to still be judged again. we are not saved by "double jeopardy" and Christ will still need to confess our names before the Father and the angels.

Yes, Christ paid for the sins of His people. To others who are not Christ's he will say "I know you not". Although the price has been paid in full already, we still sin and are still adding daily to His burden. All believers or those invited to the marriage, who are all guilty, have been justified, acquitted and given the verdict of "not proven." When we stand before God to be judged and Christ confesses us before his Father and the angels, then we know that Christ had taken upon himself our sins, because he knows us.

That's how He will know us, but He will not make mention of our sins. At the final judgement we will be judged guilty officially and Christ will say that He has paid our penalty for all past sins. And since we will be perfected by that point, we can then dwell in the presence of God. But others who were also justified and acquitted will not have allowed Christ to compete the work of sanctification in them. So, these unwise virgins, "lukewarmers", are those invited to the wedding feast who are not wearing the wedding garment and will find out that Christ never paid for their sins, and that He didn't and doesnt know them.

The Miracle of forgiveness is focused on vice kinds of sin. People want to know that Christ will help them completely forsake alcohol or tobacco or meth or porn or whatever so they can move on. People dont want to endlessly backslide, and spin their wheels. This paradigm is the basis for the 12-step program. This can apply to loosing your temper. I know people who I have never seen loose their temper and have mastered that aspect. I have seen them being seriously provoked and respond in a kind and soft voice and diffuse tense situations. There is no sin that this paradigm cant ultimately apply too. The 6 step paradigm comes from scripture: recognize your sin and that you are a sinner, godly sorrow, confess, make restitution, forsake. Christ had the power to heal us and treat the source of the sickness and not just the symptoms.

Evangelicals seem to focus on motivation and not just doing it. According to the Bible. God says obey because you fear God, obey because you desire reward, and ultimately obey because God loves you. God's love is the highest motivation, but God will not blame you if you obeyed because of fear but he does hope that we obey with a cheerful heart and with thanksgiving.

Evangelicals say that being completely forgiven without fear, or seeking reward makes you better able to repent. You think that God is the ideal parent because it is going to motivate us to remove any concern about a future judgment. Putting our mind at ease is supposed to motivate us. Our whole society is based on personal accountability that we will stand before God and be judged of our works. This is the basis of self government. No , a loving God is not going to remove that motivation. We have a deadline. God is knows we are weak and sinful and that we need time to learn and will empower us to learn. That is His great love. The Real God is a loving but responsible parent and not a "sugardaddy."

Left Behind and the Book of Mormon

I have started to read the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye to get a better understanding of the Evangelical belief in what constitutes true Christian discipleship. Overlooking that the Bible teaches a post-trib rapture, I was interested in what LaHaye had to say regarding what set apart those who were taken vs. those left behing. It seems from the prequels and the first book that the author establishes what he thinks constitutes true faith in Christ vs. the "lukewarmers" and "unwise virgins".

Ray Steele, the protagonist 747 pilot, husband and father, was left behind because although he occasionally attended church, he only did it for social reasons. He thought he was a "good person" never accepted his sinfulness and never truly accepted the grace of Christ and gave his soul completely over to Christ. Ray Steele was never took his discipleship seriously and never was truly spiritually born again.

LeHaye spends a lot of time comparing and contrasting the New Hope non-denominational church and pastor from Ray Steele's denominational church and preacher. New Hope only taught "salvation" and "grace". Steele's church was large but sermons were more focuses on feelgood stories and not scripture and doctrine.

The reason Bruce Barnes, the assistant pastor at New Hope, was left behind was more interesting from an LDS viewpoint. Bruce comments that he was very active at New Hope and knew he was a sinner, and knew he needed Christ, but he cheated on his tithing? LeHaye explains that good works are necessary not because they contribute your salvation but they are a manifestation that Christ is working through you and in you. LDS would agree with this 100%. I find it interesting that Bruce says his failure to repent of the tithing issue kept him from true acceptance of Christ.
I also find it interesting that all little children, including the unborn, were automatically covered and saved by Christ's atonement. LDS would agree with this as well.

What are the differences between LeHaye's views and LDS Doctrine? The LDS church also teaches "salvation and justification by grace" but we also spend time talking about sanctification and maintaining a godly walk. Some people say, if you just love more then everything will fall into place, you will be a better father, husband, employee, and disciple of Christ. LDS believe that love is a verb, and must be learned. Therefore, LDS messages go from initial grace and rescue and salvation and justification, to the message of sanctification and how to be a true disciple and a good neighbor. LDS talk about skills needed to learn how to love and be a true disciple such as how to share our testimony of Christ with others. Although all aspects of Christian discipleship are ultimately everyone's responsibility. LDS are given "callings" and responsibilities in the church to, work on, practice, and strenghten specific aspects of Christian service.

The Book of Mormon would agree that works are a manifestation of the power and love of God working in the believer. But What the Book of Momron teaches is the Law of Moses brought death because it brought immediate punishment. Christ brought grace or a "grace period" or a time to prepare and learn how to obey. LaHaye would believe that God gave commandments knowing that it was impossible for men to obey them. Nephi in the Book of Mormon says that God gives no commandments that He will not empower us to obey. The Book of Mormon says that we are given this "grace period" to be empowered by Christ to learn to obey. It might take till the end of the Millennium, but the Book of Mormon says that CHrist will overcome our flesh, make it incorruptible, turn us from sin and purify us like silver and not just white wash us like "whited sepulchers" while were are still filled with dead man's bones. The atonement of Christ is both grace and power to empower us to eventually deny all ungodliness, to make the weak things become strong and make us perfect even as Our Father in Heaven is perfect.