Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 4/14/2004

Question
In order to be "saved" one must believe in Christ and what he did for us.  Your salvation is guaranteed.  What about those who add to this.  Mormons, for example, still believe in Jesus and what he did for us, yet they add scripture.  I am aware of the verse in Revalation that talks about adding or taking away from the scriptures, but i was talking to a Mormon one time and asked them about this. their stance was had not really changed any of the scriptures and therefore it was okay (something like that).  Where is the line drawn in what you believe and your salvation? (i am a christian)

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your questions.

Let's divide up your question into two parts:

First let's look at salvation:
Why do we die?  The Bible says, "It is appointed for men to die" Hebrews 9:27.  Yet when it occurs, people have difficulty in accepting the reality of the event.  Paul called death "the last enemy" 1 Cor. 15:26.  He also taught that death entered the world as the result of sin, Romans 5:12.  If there had not been sin, there would have been no death, Romans 5:17.  Death is more than a natural phenomenon:  "The soul who sins shall die" Exek. 18:4  When Paul describes death as receiving the "wages of sin," he means much more than its inevitable consequence Roman 6:23.  Death is God's verdict upon human sinfulness Romans 1:23.  Jesus Christ conquered death when He overcame sin and the devil.  Spiritually, believers have already passed from death to life John 5:24, and the broken relationship with God has been restored.  Believers still face the weakness and pain that accompany dying, but they need not be afraid of death itself.  Jesus Christ the victor will finally overcome the last enemy also 1 Cor. 15:26, 54-57.
Our penalty for sin is death.  Sin is the reason we are condemned to Hell.  The only way to go to heaven is to have that sin forgiven.  The Bible says the only way to do that is to have salvation through Jesus Christ.  In fact, the Bible says no one or other way is available for salvation except Jesus.  John 14:6  “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”  You cannot get to God except through Jesus.
How are we saved? God wants you to know that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) God wants you to know that Jesus Christ has already provided the way of salvation. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will have everlasting life." (John 3:16) You must repent of your sins, confess them and forsake them. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) God wants you to know that acceptance or refusal determines your destiny. "Everyone who has faith in the Son has eternal life. But no one who rejects Him will ever share in that life, and God will be angry with them forever." Romans 10:13 “Those who call upon the name of the Lord, will be saved.   “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8 If you wish to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life, then you must pray to God and let Him know that you believe, you repent of your sins, you ask for forgiveness, and you ask Him to save you and be your Lord (Master).  A Prayer would go something like this: "Dear God, I believe Jesus died on the cross for me and is alive today. I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sin. Please forgive me. I want Jesus to live in me as my Savior and Lord. Thank you for hearing me. In Jesus' name. AMEN."
All those who are saved go to heaven.  All those not saved, go to Hell.  It is that simple.
Remember, God does not send anyone to hell because they never heard of Christ or never accepted Him.  He sends people to Hell because they have sinned.  Romans 3:9-12 tells us “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written:  "There is no one righteous, not even one;  there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless;  there is no one who does good, not even one." Even a Child knows the difference between what is right and wrong.  As an adult, we cannot say that we are ignorant of what is right and what is wrong.  The judgment for sin will be in relationship to how much they knew.  A person growing up in the U.S. with a church on every corner will be judged more harshly than someone who never even heard the name of Jesus.  But even someone who grew up in an uncivilized jungle knows in his conscience that there is a god that is worthy of worship.  The Bible says his conscience will either accuse him or excuse him on the day of Jesus Christ.  God is not going to condemn people if their own consciences excuse them.  Regretfully, every human being has sinned against his or her own conscience.  God does not judge people for failure to believe in Jesus, but because they are sinners.  The Bible says that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God."
Original sin is the term for being born a sinner.  Remember, man was created in the image and likeness of God.  Man was a free moral agent, freely able to choose God or turn away from him.  By eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he did the one thing he was asked not to do.  Breaking God's one commandment to him was sin.  At that point Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden and cut off from the tree of life.  From that moment on, the spirit of man was damaged.  It is as if man is now born with a moral handicap.  He is lame in the most important part of his being- his spirit.  That is original sin.  There is a rebellious nature in most children.  They just like to do whatever you tell them not to do.  This natural rebellion stems from man's original sin.  Instead of being morally free, man has a decided tendency toward sin - urged on toward evil by what is called "the world, the flesh, and the devil."  Original sin is a tendency to do evil, not an act of evil itself.  God does not punish people for tendencies to do evil, only for what evil they do in light of what they know.  In other words, babies and children do bad things but do not truly understand the difference between good and evil.  They may even know that what they are doing is wrong, but they do not understand that it is evil.  Therefore, little babies and young children do not go to hell because of original sin, because babies have never committed any sinful acts.  So babies do not even need to be baptized until they are old enough to choose Christ and baptism themselves.
Baptists believe that once you are saved you are always saved.  That excepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and believing in Him means you go to heaven.  Nothing else will give you salvation.  We believe that you are saved forever because: 1. there is security because of God's Promises (Romans 8:31-39), 2.  God's presence assumes security (John 10:27-30 & John 3:16), 3.  Because of God's power the believer is kept (1 Peter 1:3-5),  
My wife and I adopted a child.  We have come to love her just as we love our other 2 children.  Can you imagine that we would stop loving her just because she did something wrong or was disobedient to us?  When you are saved, you are adopted into the family of God.  You must, out of your love for God, try to live a Godly life.  Acts of sin or rebellion will take away the joy of salvation.  When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed, he lost the joy of his salvation.  When he wrote Psalm 51 about it, he said, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation." He had no joy, because he had rebelled against God.  He did not lose his salvation, only the joy of it.  Jesus said in John 10:29 that "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."  Once you belong to God, you can never be taken away.    There is a difference between being immature in Christ (that is still sinning) and rebellion (those who sin without salvation).
However while a person can not lose his salvation, a person can openly denounce God.  If a Christian were to become a Muslim or a Satanist, then they are publicly and spiritually saying that they denounce their salvation.
Hell is both physical and spiritual. It is a place and not simply a condition. It is the place where all those who have refused the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ go upon death. Jesus presented it as a place of eternal torment for the devil, his angels, and the sons and daughters of Adam who rejected him and his sacrifice for their sins.  It is a place of damnation where the fire is not quenched (Matt 23:33; Mark 9:48). Their soul leaves their body and descends into the physical place hell.  Now, at the end of time in Rev. 20:11-15, all those who died without Christ will rise from the dead.  Their literal bodies will reform and stand before God in judgment.  Then their bodies will join their souls in hell for eternity.  
It has been said that if Jesus is not God, then we should worship the man who thought him up. Never has anyone in history spoken the way he did.  I see that the teachings of Jesus are self-validating.  Throughout history, they have been proven true over and over again.  When the teachings of Jesus are put into practice, they lead to peace, harmony, victory, and love.  This does not mean His teachings do not bring conflict.  For evil will always fight against the truth.  Jesus' words pulsate with wisdom.  For example, about governments "Give to Caesar the things of Caesar and to God the things of God."  The teaching that God the Father is a Spirit, not a man or woman.  The Sermon on the Mount has a treasury of wisdom, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you."  Remember, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  
Ultimately, I know that Jesus is God.  The only true God.  I know this because of the Holy Spirit.  The Bible tells us that our faith is foolishness to those who do not believe.  When I accepted Christ into my life, the Holy Spirit of God became a part of me.  I can feel His power.  I know the truth as He reveals it to me.  It is an overwhelming knowledge, joy, and peace.  Most other faiths cannot claim that they have true joy and peace.  I have been with a lot of people when they have died.  I have noticed that Christians seem to die at peace.  But non-Christians fight, and fight, and fight to their last breath and still die unhappy.


2. Mormans:FOLLOW THE PROPHET: Mormons declare that God always reveals his will through prophets (Amos 3:7; Mall 3:6) and reveals his will today only through the Mormon prophet. The prophet can receive revelation on any temporal or spiritual matter that must be accepted as new scripture by faithful Mormons. A person cannot attain Godhood unless he accepts Joseph Smith as a prophet.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: The context of Malachi 3:6 says God does not change in His opposition to evil; it says nothing about His method of revelation. A Christian should verify that a true prophet's teaching agrees with the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 14:29; Heb. 1:1 3). God reveals His will today through the Scriptures (2 Tarn. 3:16) and the Spirit Cohn 15:26; lJohn3:24; 5:~).

OTHER SCRIPTURES NEEDED: The Mormon Church has four accepted scriptures, or Standard works: the Bible; The Book of Monnon, Another Testament of Jesus Chnst (hereafter referred to by its traditional title, The Book of Mormon); Doctrine and Couenants; and Pearl of Great Price. The King James Version (KJV) of the Bible is the Mormon Church's official version, but is accepted as the Word of God only As far as it is correctly translated. Joseph Smith made more than 600 “corrections" to the KJV text. The Bible is not complete in its revelation, nor is it the final written authority.  The Book of Mormon, the “fulness of the gospels,” is the Most correct of any book on earth,   claims to be a history of the American Indians, descendants of Jews who migrated to America centuries ago. Around A.D. 1800 this was a popular theory, and at least six books advancing this idea were published before TheBook of Mormon. Official Mormon teaching claims that Smith translated The Book of Mormon from gold plates revealed to him by the angel Moroni. The Book of Mormon is the Stick of Ephraim prophesied in Ezekiel 37:15 20. Mormons declare it is to be united in purpose and equal to the Bible, which is known as The stick of Judah. The Pearl of Great Price, the third Mormon scripture, contains Smith's 'corrections of Genesis 1 6 and Matthew 24, the account of his first vision, the Book of Abraham, end the thirteen articles of Faith. The fourth scripture, the Doctrine and Covenants, with 138 revelations and two “declarations,” is more significant doctrinally. Revelations on baptism for the dead, polygamy, celestial marriage, the priesthood, church organization, et cetera, are found in the Doctrine and Covenants. The current prophet's words are also a source of authority.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: The Bible is the authoritative Word of God, and a sufficient revelation for salvation, doctrine, and instruction. It was written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit and has been carefully preserved. Any 'new revelation from God cannot contradict what He has already revealed in the Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:15 17; 2 Pet. 1:19 21). The Bible warns about those who preach Another gospel" (Gal. 1:6 9). The context of Ezekiel 3~39 points to the spiritual and political restoration of Israel by God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 1:30 33).

GOD AN EXALTED MAN: There are an infinite number of gods in the universe, each of whom is the god of his own planet. However, only God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, three separate and distinct gods, are worshiped. God the Father has a wife (or wives) and is the literal father of every person in the spirit world. God the Father, Elohim, has a physical body. God had a father, grandfather, et cetera. He lived on a planet as a mortal man before attaining Godhood or “exaltation.”

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: There is only one true God (Deut. 6:4, Isa. 43:10, 44:6 8; John 17:3; 1 Tim. 2:5). God is spirit (Num. 23:19; Isa. 31:3; John 4:24). God spoke to His people at Sinai, but they saw no form even though He spoke to them Face to faces (Deut. 4:12, 15 18). God cannot be likened to anyone or anything on earth (Isa. 40:18).

JESUS IS THE “SON” OF GOD: God the Father is the literal father of Jesus, or Jehovah, in both the spirit world and on earth. The virgin birth is denied; Jesus was not begotten of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is unique from other men because He was God's firstborn in the spirit world and because He is God's only begotten Son in the physical world. Jesus is our literal spiritual elder brother. Jesus and Satan are also spirit brothers. Jesus' death atoned for Adam's fall by guaranteeing every person a resurrection and immortality. Jesus appeared in the Western Hemisphere, organized a church and appointed apostles among the American Indians after his resurrection in Palestine.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: The Bible affirms the Virgin Birth (Matt. 1:18 23; Luke 1:26 35). Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived of the Holy Spirit, perfectly revealing the will of God (Matt. 1:18 23; John 1:1 18 8:56 59 Phil. 2:6 11; Col. 1:13 22; 2:9; lleb. i:3; 13:8i Jesus died for every person's sins; salvation is freely offered to all who accept Him as Lord and Savior (Rom. 5:6 8; 6:23, 10:9 10, 1 Tim. 2:5 6; Deb. 7:25 28; 9:12, 10:12; 1 Pet. 2:21 25; 1 John 1:9).

GODS IN EMBRYO: Adam's fall was necessary to provide billions of preexistent spirits
with mortal bodies. After an existence in the spirit world humans are born on earth for two reasons: to receive a physical body required for the resurrected state and to exercise the freedom to choose good or evil. Humans are basically good; they will be punished for their sins, but not for Adam's sin of disobedience. Men are potential gods, gods in embryo; as man is, God once was; as God is, man may become.. Women may become wives of gods.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: Only Christ enjoyed preexistence John l:l 2 15; 8:56 58; 17.5, Plait. 2 5 8; Col. 1:13 17). Other Scriptures speak of God's omniscience not human preexistence her. 1:5; Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:4). Consequences of Adam's sin affect all humanity (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12 19). Humans freely choose to rebel against God; their nature is corrupted by sin. Humans are sinners (Rom. 3:23; 7:14 25; lJohul:8 10).

ONE TRUE CHURCH: The church begun by Jesus Christ Fell away and disappeared until Joseph Smith restored the lone true church in 1830. The Mormon Church is true because the priesthood from Christ and His apostles was given to Joseph Smith by Peter James, and John. All other churches teach doctrines mingled with false man made philosophies are guilty of apostasy and are an “abomination” in God's sight. Several arguments are given to support this teaching: the name the church of Christ of Latter Day Saints was revealed to Joseph Smith; the Church has the true organization with apostles, prophets, and priests (Eph 4:11) members are called Saints.  There is no salvation, known as “exaltation,” outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day saints.  
Biblical Response:  The grace of God, offered through a personal relationship with jesus christ as Lord and Savior, saves a person (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-10); church membership does not save.  Christ alone is our “apostle and high priest.” (Heb 3:1, 7:23-24; 9:11-15).  The Bible warns about false apostles and prophets (Duet 18:21-22; 2 Cor 11:12-15; 2 Pet 2:1; Rev. 2:2)
Every Christian is potentially a prophet as the Holy Spirit leads (Acts 2:18).  All Christians are saints (Rom. 1:7; Eph. 4:12).

Works Salvation:  The Mormon Church distinguishes between “immortality” given to every person because of Christ's atonement; and “Eternal life,” received only through obedience to the gospel as taught by the Mormon Church. The doctrine of justification by faith alone is rejected as “An influence for evil.” A person's destiny is determined by right choices and good works, not Christ's sacrifice. "Exaltation" or "godhood" is the reward for people granted the Special blessing of “eternal life.”
Salvation begins with faith in God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ; repentance and a determination to forsake sin; baptism by immersion for the remission of sin by a male holding the Mormon priesthood; and laying on of hands to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and to be confirmed as a member of the Mormon Church.
Exaltation or individual salvation also is conditional upon ordination as a Melchizedek priest for all males; receiving the temple endowment, one of three temple ordinances, to give the individual the knowledge and power to live the right kind of life on earth; celestial marriage, the second temple ordinance, to unite the husband and wife For time and all eternity; observing the Word of Wisdom," which prohibits the use of coffee, tea, alcohol, and tobacco, sustaining the prophet; tithing; and regularly taking the sacrament. The reward for complete obedience is The highest degree of glory or Godhood.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: Humans cannot be saved by their efforts (Isa. 64:5 6; Rom. 3:20, 28; Eph. 2:8 10). No salvation is possible after death(Lukel6: 26; 2Cor. 6:2; Heb. 2:3; 9:27). Only Jesus is caged a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6 10; 6:20; 7:1 21).

THREE KINGDOMS: At death, Mormons go to Paradise while non Mormons are assigned to a temporary spirit prison hell to await resurrection and judgement. Baptism for the dead (1 Cor. 15: 29), the third temple ordinance, provides ancestors in the spirit prison hell the opportunity to attain exaltation.

Jesus Christ will return to reign at Independence, Mo., (during the millennium) for 1,000 years before the judgment when all humans will go to one of three kingdoms based on their works. The ungodly, wicked, and “filthy" will be resurrected from a spirit prison at the conclusion of the millennium and assigned to
the telestial kingdom. Honorable people Blinded by the craftiness of men" and Mormons who lose their testimonies win be resurrected at the beginning of the millennium and assigned to the terrestrial kingdom. Worthy Mormons, who have kept  the full laws and obeyed 'all the commandments of God,” will reign with Christ during the millennium. At the judgment, they will 'receive a fulness of the blessing, power, and glory of the Fathers in the celestial kingdom. Mornon men married in a temple can progress to Godhood and receive a planet to populate, as God did before them. Mormons not married in a temple but Worthy will become angels in tile celestial kingdom. Hell is reserved for Satan, his angels and a few people, who commit unpardonable sins, such as murder.

BIBLICAL RESPONSE: The context of 1 Corinthians 15: 29, the only verse in the Bible that mentions baptism for the dead, is the resurrection. Paul used this verse to illustrate that some unidentified group believed in the resurrection of the dead.

There are only two eternal states: communion with God (heaven) for the righteous (Matt. 5:12; Rom. 8:38 39; Phil. 3:20) and eternal separation from God (hell) for the unrighteous (Matt. 5:29 30; 8:12; 25:41). While Christ will reward each person according to his works (2 Tim. 4:14; Rev. 20:12; 22:12), works are not the basis of salvation (Eph. 2:8 10). Christian works are the evidence of faith in Christ.

CONCLUSION: As has been shown, an examination of Mormon theology reveals it is a different gospel (Gal. 1:6 7). Terms often sound right, but most have been redefined. Christians should test the teachings of religious leaders with the revelation of God in Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:8 9, Eph. 5:6 7; 6:11 13;1 Thess. 5:21 22; Ohm. 2:15; lPet. 3:15; IJolm 4:1).

SELECTED MORMON TERMS: Oftenheard Mormon terms, not defined elsewhere in this text, are:

Articles of Faith: Thirteen brief statements accepted as an authoritative guide for faith and conduct.

Branch: An unorganized ward (congregation).

Family Home Evening: A Monday evening activity encouraged to affirm parental authority and strengthen family ties.

First Presidency: The presiding authority aver the church, consisting of the president (prophet) and two or more assistants or counselors.

Free Agency: The belief that an individual has freedom of choice in his preexistence, earth life, and afterlife to determine his eternal destiny.

General Authorities: The general officers of the Mormon Church, consisting of the First Presidency, Twelve Apostles, Seventies, and Presiding Bishopric.

Gospel: The doctrines and teachings of the Mormon Church.
Tabernacle: The 6,000 seat auditorium in Salt Lake City and home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Temple. A House of God, closed to all but  "worthy" Mormons, where ordinances (endowment, celestial marriage, baptism for the dead) necessary for exaltation are performed. The 44 operating and 5 planned temples are not to be confused with wards or local meeting houses.

Testimony. The affirmation, often heard from one of the 45, 000 Mormon missionaries, that Joseph Smith was a prophet and The Book of Mormon and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints are true.

Chapel: The local meeting house for the weekly sacrament service, priesthood, and auxiliary meetings.

Zion: Generally refers to Independence, Mo., The Center Place, where Christ wall return, or any center of Mormon population.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR
EFFECTIVE INTERFAITH WITNESS:

1. Develop a clear understanding of your faith and the Bible.

2. Gain a basic knowledge of Mormon doctrine, especially their Nets arguments.

3. Make a list of Scriptures that refute their claims; memorize them, and keep them in your Bible.

4. Witness first to your Mormon neighbor or friend, not a missionary.

    5. Keep the initiative in the encounter.

6. Ask for and give clear definitions of all terms.

7. Don't allow a Mormon to use the Bible as a unhooks to distract you before he moves to a Mormon teaching.

8. Check that every biblical text is correctly cited; always consider its context.

9. Center the discussion on basic Christian doctrines; don't get sidetracked defending your denomination.

10. Remember, just because a Mormon testifies something is true does not make it so.

11. Point out the danger of relying on feelings; emphasize that the Bible is a more reliable guide than feelings.

12. Give a strong, positive testimony of your salvation experience.


I hope this answers your questions.  Blessings