LDS Ephesians 2:1-10

[Rescued One]

We come to know God by His love and grace not by commandment keeping.

1 John 4
10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.


John 14
23 ...If a man love me, he will keep my words


God's love and forgiveness come first. Then we love and forgive others for His glory --- not to gain a reward.

 

[He is the way]

You said: Did you ever notice that sometimes the worst sinners become the most active ministers, Paul is a prime example. There is also a similar example of Alma in the Book of Mormon. There is also this:
(New Testament | Luke 7:40 - 47)

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

 

[He is the way]

We come to know God by His love and grace not by commandment keeping.

1 John 4
10 And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1 John 4
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.


John 14
23 ...If a man love me, he will keep my words


God's love and forgiveness come first. Then we love and forgive others for His glory --- not to gain a reward.

God is love and the commandments are love:
(New Testament | 1 John 2:4)

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

 

[Rescued One]

God is love and the commandments are love:
(New Testament | 1 John 2:4)

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

My post is about Christians, not liars. Liars are not Christians.

There is no greater love than the propitiation for our sins.

 

[Yodas_Prodigy1]

No we don't have any room to boast because:
(New Testament | Luke 17:7 - 10)

7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

It is our duty to keep the commandments and do the work God requires of us:

(New Testament | 1 John 3:17 - 18)

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

I disagree... You can boast that you did your duty...

 

[Yodas_Prodigy1]

Your equation is wrong because salvation does not come before works:
(New Testament | Matthew 24:13)

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

So, you are saying that I have your LDS formula correct?

For by grace you are saved through faith, and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God and not of works so that no man can boast...

 

[He is the way]

Sure we can agree, love comes before the Law and love fulfills the Law. You won't get any arguments from me. The one condition in the New Testament and it's undeniable, we love because God first loved us. Jesus said my yoke is easy and my burden light, that is not how the legalism of Judaism was lite.

He did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? (Acts 15:9-10)​

Peter said this after speaking with the other Apostles, I assume included Paul since he was there. Paul describes his discussion with Peter, actually called him a hypocrite, the issue was the Law and salvation. If you were circumcised you were obligated to follow the whole Law, which Peter described as, 'a yoke neither we nor or fathers could bear'. The reason? The Gentiles had 'purified themselves by faith', that's justification by grace through faith plain and simple.

Grace not only saves us but sanctifies us, apart from Christ we can do nothing and to make myself clear, your merit counts for nothing. If one were to ask the Apostle Paul how it is that he worked so hard and suffered so much and bringing so many the Gospel, he would, and did, tell us that it is by grace.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (I Cor. 15:10)​

Did you ever notice that sometimes the worst sinners become the most active ministers, Paul is a prime example. A good working definition for grace is 'unmerited favor', Paul worked in the ministry field by grace alone and he is crystal clear on this point. The merits of Christian ministry are Christ's alone we can add nothing. James 2 in speaking to believers who were obviously showing favoritism was simply telling them that this is not how saving faith works. He was outraged that a wealthy Christian could teach a poor Christian as inferior when they themselves apart from Christ are poor, pitiful, blind and naked. We will receive that full recompense of righteousness and be glorified forever based on Christ's merit, it is never our own.

Grace and peace,
Mark

You said: "why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear?"

We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But we are no longer children tossed to and fro by the sleight of men. Is there any of the commandments we need no longer follow other than those of sacrifice which have been fulfilled? If so, which ones are they?

 

[drstevej]

Is there any of the commandments we need no longer follow other than those of sacrifice which have been fulfilled? If so, which ones are they?

Special underwear?

 

[He is the way]

I disagree... You can boast that you did your duty...

I do not believe that boasting about doing one's duty would be of any benefit to our relationship with God. We would still be unprofitable servants. However doing one's duty is better than not doing it:
(New Testament | Matthew 21:28 - 32)

28 ¶ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

 

[He is the way]

My post is about Christians, not liars. Liars are not Christians.

There is no greater love than the propitiation for our sins.

That is good, they are keeping the commandments by not lying.

 

[Rescued One]

That is good, they are keeping the commandments by not lying.

No, not lying is only one of the commandments and keeping the commandments results from the work God began in us when He saved us.

 

[He is the way]

No, not lying is only one of the commandments and keeping the commandments results from the work God began in us when He saved us.

Good, keep up the good work.
(New Testament | 2 Timothy 3:17)

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

[Rescued One]

Good, keep up the good work.
(New Testament | 2 Timothy 3:17)

17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

A Christian knows that good works are the result of God's grace(unmerited favor) not some innate goodness in himself. We are under Satan's power until God sets us free.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Proverbs 16
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

[He is the way]

A Christian knows that good works are the result of God's grace(unmerited favor) not some innate goodness in himself. We are under Satan's power until God sets us free.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

View attachment 254676

View attachment 254677
Proverbs 16
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 30
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Yes, good works are the result of learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and following His teachings. It is good that Christians are doing just that:

(New Testament | Matthew 5:16)

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

[Rescued One]

Another thing that Christians will do is share the word of God without altering it the way Joseph Smith did.

 

[He is the way]

Another thing that Christians will do is share the word of God without altering it the way Joseph Smith did.

View attachment 254679

I am glad Christians are sharing the Bible. I thank the Jews for bringing us the New Testament. I use the Bible a lot and value it greatly. I am thankful for both the Old Testament and the New Testament:

(Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 12:13 - 14)

13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

(New Testament | 1 John 2:3 - 4)

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

[Rescued One]

Yes, good works are the result of learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and following His teachings. It is good that Christians are doing just that:

The Mormon declare that their teachings are the teachings are the teachings of Christ and only their members belong to the Kingdom of God and only their members can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and that Christ commands them to have marriages or sealings performed in the LDS temples.

So are Trinitarians learning the Gospel?

 

[Rescued One]

I am glad Christians are sharing the Bible. I thank the Jews for bringing us the New Testament. I use the Bible a lot and value it greatly. I am thankful for both the Old Testament and the New Testament:

(Old Testament | Ecclesiastes 12:13 - 14)

13 ¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

(New Testament | 1 John 2:3 - 4)

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

The non-LDS are referred to as Gentiles:

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away [the Bible]it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13: 24-29

 

[He is the way]

The Mormon declare that their teachings are the teachings are the teachings of Christ and only their members belong to the Kingdom of God and only their members can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost and that Christ commands them to have marriages or sealings performed in the LDS temples.

So are Trinitarians learning the Gospel?

All those who keeps the commandments will live with God. He has promised it:

(New Testament | John 14:23 - 24)

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. Trinitarians believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are of one substance. Jesus has a resurrected spiritual body so that means they all have a resurrected spiritual body. However the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

 

[He is the way]

The non-LDS are referred to as Gentiles:

29 And after these plain and precious things were taken away [the Bible]it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles; and after it goeth forth unto all the nations of the Gentiles, yea, even across the many waters which thou hast seen with the Gentiles which have gone forth out of captivity, thou seest—because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, which were plain unto the understanding of the children of men, according to the plainness which is in the Lamb of God—because of these things which are taken away out of the gospel of the Lamb, an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them.
Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 13: 24-29

You said: "The non-LDS are referred to as Gentiles:" Nope.