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You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Latter-day Saints > Christian
Expert: David Gross - 7/9/2007
Question
QUESTION: Do you believe that Jesus was GOD as the Bible teaches? I thought that Mormonism teaches that Jesus was the son of GOD, but you don't rely on him alone for salvation. Can you explain?
ANSWER: I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was the Son of God.
Acts 7 55-56 reads:
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
I believe that Stephen actually saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God and that they are 2 separate beings.
I believe that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ.
The following quote is from the Book of Mormon. Mosiah 3:17
And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
I also believe that there is more than one "salvation."
John 14:2 reads:
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
The "place" that we go is determined by our faith, works and obedience to God.
I started my religious life as a Jew and had no interest in Christianity. Once I became interested in Christianity and specifically the Mormon Church I could not understand how other Christians accept all the doctrine that is presently taught in the various denominations.
For example, if Jesus is God, how could he be on the right hand of himself?
When Jesus was baptized, was he talking to himself? Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Write again if you have any more questions.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: So by your own admission, you believe in "works" salvation, which is anti-christian because Jesus taught that he was the ONLY way to heaven. Not by works or deeds do we obtain salvation. If you don't believe in Jesus's divinity, you cannot be a "Christian". Why is it that you identify yourself as a "christian"?
You pose the question, "if Jesus is God, how could he be on the right hand of himself?". Well H2O is water, ice and vapor and they can all exist at the same time, all having three distinct characteristics. That's why you can see ice inside of a glass of water. Even though they are the same thing (H20), they can be seen separately.
John 1:1 says "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
These are only two reference to Jesus's divinity and the bible is full of references to Jesus's divinity, so I don't understand how you Mormons have attempted to identify yourselves as Christians, when you don't believe the very thing that separates us Christians from all other religions, that is Jesus's divinity and faith in him alone for salvation.
Answer
I believe that you want to argue rather than ask a question and receive an answer. Most of what you wrote does not respond to my reply to your question. There are many scriptures that support both your doctrine/interpretation and also mine. The water example is interesting but I still see the ice, liquid and water vapor as three separate entities. A water molecule is only one of then at any given time. However, I will not argue any of your points. I believe that each person has the agency to live their life as they think they should and that exercising this agency is one of the primary purposes of our life on earth.
There is no empirical test for religion. I have read the Book of Mormon, sincerely wanting to know if it is the Word of God, prayed about it and received an undeniable spiritual witness that it is. Have you put the Book of Mormon to the test?
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