He is the way
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Why did the reformers object to the works of charity?This is similar to the man-mandated works (as opposed to works of charity) that the Reformers objected to.
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Why did the reformers object to the works of charity?This is similar to the man-mandated works (as opposed to works of charity) that the Reformers objected to.
They didn't object to works of charity. They objected only to man-mandated works that the popes considered necessary for salvation like mandating 7 sacraments, pilgrimage to the Vatican, buying indulgences, etc.Why did the reformers object to the works of charity?
Okay I must have misunderstood what you said.They didn't object to works of charity. They objected only to man-mandated works that the popes considered necessary for salvation like mandating 7 sacraments, pilgrimage to the Vatican, buying indulgences, etc.
You said: "Every single gift we receive is a blessing! He died for us while we were sinners!:"
A gift is NOT a blessing, Grace is a gift, NOT a blessing. Blessings are given to those who act in faith such as praying for something, being humble, keeping the commandments, etc...
The definition of grace is something that really messed me up during my time as a Mormon. There is a lot of cognitive dissonance and doublespeak related to defining the terms and outlining how Christ's love is delivered.
The condition of grace, as outlined in 2 Nephi 25:23, is that you're still expected to try your hardest in everything in order to qualify for the gift. Yet without grace, we would not be able to meet God's standards of perfection.
Have you heard the parable of the bicycle? A modern day allegory thought up by Steven Robinson in his book Believing Christ where he spends over 200 pages trying to lead you through the gordian knot of the Mormon conception of grace.
"A young girl wants to buy her own bike. Her father suggests that if she works and saves her money, they will go buy a bike. The two eventually go to the store, and the girl discovers that she does not have enough funds to buy the bike on her own. Her father then agrees to make up the difference."
My experience with grace in the LDS church was to take it seriously when they say no unclean thing may enter the house of the Lord. That grace is merely a tool that enables repentance, which is a continuous process that starts with identifying sin committed, praying and working to make amends, getting spiritual confirmation from God that you have labored and struggled sufficiently, then ending with taking the sacrament on each Sunday to symbolically baptize yourself again. And that's for minor sins, like being rude one time, having a dirty thought, cursing, borrowing something without asking, etc. More serious sins you have to include your Bishop in the process in which case, when you get spiritual confirmation from God that you've struggled with the spirit sufficiently, you have to get confirmation from your Bishop that yes, indeed, you have met the required amount of sorrow and humility over the sin in order to be considered forgiven.
The idea of LDS repentance says that it is a transformative process, that it is not enough to say you're sorry and move on. It is meant to be a change in your character and your life. Yet they acknowledge that our earth life will always be plagued by sin. You won't escape your unconscious desire to sin until you die, when your spirit is separated from the natural man inherent in your body of flesh. So, for someone who serves Christ in your word and deed, who tries his hardest to live as He lived, you still fall short of worthiness continuously because of your flawed nature making you do little things that are impure or naughty or distempered. This results in someone who is otherwise a good person, a disciple of Christ who serves his fellow man with love and humility, feeling guilty and shamed and unclean all the time.
And exhausted. I was plagued by a constant Sisyphus task of being vigilant over myself and being sorrowful over falling for small temptations. Because once you find that the big sins no longer hold any weight or temptation for you, it has to be the small ones you must purge continuously. Line upon line, right? It was exhausting knowing that I could always do more.
According to the Bible salvation is for the obedient:
(New Testament | Hebrews 5:9)
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Christ expects us to keep the commandments:
(New Testament | 1 John 5:1 - 5)
1 WHOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
The way to the kingdom of God is made known:
Great scriptures, still they do not nullify any of the scriptures I posted. The victory is to overcome the world through living faith. We overcome the world by keeping the commandments of LOVE.God makes it known:
1 John 5
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
John 14
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Titus 3
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 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; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
MORE OF JESUS
LESS OF ME
John 3:30
Great scriptures, still they do not nullify any of the scriptures I posted. The victory is to overcome the world through living faith. We overcome the world by keeping the commandments of LOVE.
(New Testament | Hebrews 5:9)
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Faith without works is dead faith:We overcome the world by the faith that God gave us! Not by our works which can't be done without Him.
Faith is a gift! You misinterpret the Bible multiple times a day. Your interpretation is anti-biblical. No, the Bible can never be nullified. It can be disbelieved, criticized and misinterpreted as Joseph Smith and millions of Mormons did/do.
Christians love Jesus. If they claim to be Christians and don't love Him, they are liars.
We are told to not follow false Christs. Doing that is a slap in the face to God.
Christians have living faith and eternal life.
Verse 9 is a Biblical truth:Christians obey Him because He made then new creatures (not by works of righteousness which they have done, but according to His mercy.)
Verse 9 does not say that anyone is saved by obedience; that is a Mormon lie.
We choose to obey God and LOVE our neighbor or have dead faith. Those who LOVE God will keep His commandments. Those who choose not to keep the commandments are on shaky ground:The Christian God NEVER gave and will never give anyone dead faith!!! Every good and perfect gift is from our God from Whom all blessings flow. We shall have no other gods before Him!
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." (Isaiah 26:3)
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:7)
“I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. I have revealed and saved and proclaimed — I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.”
(Isaiah 43:11-12)
We choose to obey God and LOVE our neighbor or have dead faith. Those who LOVE God will keep His commandments. Those who choose not to keep the commandments are on shaky ground:
(New Testament | Matthew 7:24 - 27)
24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Those who have been set free, and truly LOVE God obey Him solely to bring glory to Him! All glory belongs to God. Without Him we can do nothing.Those who LOVE God will keep His commandments.
Those who choose not to keep the commandments are on shaky ground:
(New Testament | Matthew 7:24 - 27)
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Dead faith is a choice that people make by disregarding the commandments of LOVE!Dead faith isn't the faith that God gives His adopted children.
Those who have been set free, and truly LOVE God obey Him solely to bring glory to Him! All glory belongs to God. Without Him we can do nothing.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Those who choose not to keep the commandments are followers of Satan.
Psalm 127:1
A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Dead faith is a choice that people make by disregarding the commandments of LOVE!