Mormons Launch 'He Is the Gift' Initiative
Dec 10, 2014 21:25:52 GMT -5
Post by J.J.Gibbs on Dec 10, 2014 21:25:52 GMT -5
Mormons Launch 'He Is the Gift' Initiative
This Christmas, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the Mormon Church) has launched a campaign that they are calling the 'He Is the Gift' Initiative. It is being introduced in large part by the following video:
It looks and sounds good, does it not? A call to step back from the busyness of the world's version of Christmas and remember that Christ is the greatest gift of all sounds very…well, Christian. In an age of deception, however, it is important to take a few moments and discover the Jesus who is embraced by Mormons and compare him to the Lord and Savior who is revealed in the Bible.
What Mormonism Teaches
On the triune nature of God:
Mormonism is simultaneously monotheistic, tritheistic, and polytheistic. There is but one God, yet there is a Godhead of three, and beyond them, ‘gods many, and lords many’. But regardless of the multiplicity of personages bearing divine titles, they are one in that priesthood which governs throughout the eternities. Unlike the carnal gods of mythical Olympus, they are not competing against one another for status and dominion. (Rodney Turner, “The Doctrine of the Firstborn and Only Begotten,” in The Pearl of Great Price: Revelations from God)
I will preach on the plurality of Gods. . . I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. . . I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit, and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and who can contradict it. (History of the Church, 6:474)
Jesus Christ is a created being and was not "begotten by the Holy Ghost."
The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers. (Journal of Discourses, 8:115)
When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father, and so on in succession. I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and overrighteous of mankind. However, I have told you the truth as far as I have gone. I have heard men preach upon the divinity of Christ, and exhaust all the wisdom they possessed. All Scripturalists, and approved theologians who were considered exemplary for piety and education, have undertaken to expound on this subject, in every age of the Christian era; and after they have done all, they are obliged to conclude by exclaiming "great is the mystery of godliness," and tell nothing. . . .
Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, "it is an immaterial substance!" What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.
I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.
(Journal of Discourses 1:50–51)
The atonement began in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus' work was finished on the cross, allowing all men to be resurrected. The blood of Jesus is not sufficient, however, to fully atone for the sins of man.
[M]an may commit certain grievous sins–according to his light and knowledge–that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved, he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone–so far as in his power lies–for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail…. Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that men may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. (Doctrines of Salvation 1:134, 135)
What Christianity Teaches
There is only one God.
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me." (Isaiah 44:6; cf. Isaiah 44:8; 45:5)
God has eternally existed.
Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. (Psalm 90:2)
He exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity.
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:13–17)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus Christ has eternally existed.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)
Jesus Christ is the God-man. In the Incarnation, He was supernaturally conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is God.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30–35)
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:1–4; cf. John 1:14)
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
The blood of Christ was the perfect and acceptable sacrifice to God for the sins of all who will believe. This atonement was full, sufficient, and complete to make propitiation for the sins of those who would believe. The resurrection demonstrated that God accepted Christ's sacrifice. It is through Christ alone—His person and His work—that man can be reconciled to God.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:9–10)
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
Today, put your faith in the true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as revealed in God's Word, the Bible. Repent of your sin and trust in Him alone for salvation. Do not be deceived—He alone saves.
link
This Christmas, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the Mormon Church) has launched a campaign that they are calling the 'He Is the Gift' Initiative. It is being introduced in large part by the following video:
It looks and sounds good, does it not? A call to step back from the busyness of the world's version of Christmas and remember that Christ is the greatest gift of all sounds very…well, Christian. In an age of deception, however, it is important to take a few moments and discover the Jesus who is embraced by Mormons and compare him to the Lord and Savior who is revealed in the Bible.
What Mormonism Teaches
On the triune nature of God:
Mormonism is simultaneously monotheistic, tritheistic, and polytheistic. There is but one God, yet there is a Godhead of three, and beyond them, ‘gods many, and lords many’. But regardless of the multiplicity of personages bearing divine titles, they are one in that priesthood which governs throughout the eternities. Unlike the carnal gods of mythical Olympus, they are not competing against one another for status and dominion. (Rodney Turner, “The Doctrine of the Firstborn and Only Begotten,” in The Pearl of Great Price: Revelations from God)
I will preach on the plurality of Gods. . . I wish to declare I have always and in all congregations when I have preached on the subject of the Deity, it has been the plurality of Gods. . . I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit, and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods. If this is in accordance with the New Testament, lo and behold! we have three Gods anyhow, and they are plural: and who can contradict it. (History of the Church, 6:474)
Jesus Christ is a created being and was not "begotten by the Holy Ghost."
The birth of the Savior was as natural as are the births of our children; it was the result of natural action. He partook of flesh and blood—was begotten of his Father, as we were of our fathers. (Journal of Discourses, 8:115)
When the Virgin Mary conceived the child Jesus, the Father had begotten him in his own likeness. He was not begotten by the Holy Ghost. And who is the Father? He is the first of the human family; and when he took a tabernacle, it was begotten by his Father in heaven, after the same manner as the tabernacles of Cain, Abel, and the rest of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve; from the fruits of the earth, the first earthly tabernacles were originated by the Father, and so on in succession. I could tell you much more about this; but were I to tell you the whole truth, blasphemy would be nothing to it, in the estimation of the superstitious and overrighteous of mankind. However, I have told you the truth as far as I have gone. I have heard men preach upon the divinity of Christ, and exhaust all the wisdom they possessed. All Scripturalists, and approved theologians who were considered exemplary for piety and education, have undertaken to expound on this subject, in every age of the Christian era; and after they have done all, they are obliged to conclude by exclaiming "great is the mystery of godliness," and tell nothing. . . .
Again, they will try to tell how the divinity of Jesus is joined to his humanity, and exhaust all their mental faculties, and wind up with this profound language, as describing the soul of man, "it is an immaterial substance!" What a learned idea! Jesus, our elder brother, was begotten in the flesh by the same character that was in the garden of Eden, and who is our Father in Heaven. Now, let all who may hear these doctrines, pause before they make light of them, or treat them with indifference, for they will prove their salvation or damnation.
I have given you a few leading items upon this subject, but a great deal more remains to be told. Now, remember from this time forth, and forever, that Jesus Christ was not begotten by the Holy Ghost.
(Journal of Discourses 1:50–51)
The atonement began in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus' work was finished on the cross, allowing all men to be resurrected. The blood of Jesus is not sufficient, however, to fully atone for the sins of man.
[M]an may commit certain grievous sins–according to his light and knowledge–that will place him beyond the reach of the atoning blood of Christ. If then he would be saved, he must make sacrifice of his own life to atone–so far as in his power lies–for that sin, for the blood of Christ alone under certain circumstances will not avail…. Joseph Smith taught that there were certain sins so grievous that men may commit, that they will place the transgressors beyond the power of the atonement of Christ. If these offenses are committed, then the blood of Christ will not cleanse them from their sins even though they repent. (Doctrines of Salvation 1:134, 135)
What Christianity Teaches
There is only one God.
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me." (Isaiah 44:6; cf. Isaiah 44:8; 45:5)
God has eternally existed.
Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. (Psalm 90:2)
He exists in three distinct persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity.
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:13–17)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19)
Jesus Christ has eternally existed.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” (John 8:58)
Jesus Christ is the God-man. In the Incarnation, He was supernaturally conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born to the virgin Mary. Jesus Christ is God.
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30–35)
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. (Colossians 2:9)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. (John 1:1–4; cf. John 1:14)
By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)
The blood of Christ was the perfect and acceptable sacrifice to God for the sins of all who will believe. This atonement was full, sufficient, and complete to make propitiation for the sins of those who would believe. The resurrection demonstrated that God accepted Christ's sacrifice. It is through Christ alone—His person and His work—that man can be reconciled to God.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:9–10)
For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)
Today, put your faith in the true Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as revealed in God's Word, the Bible. Repent of your sin and trust in Him alone for salvation. Do not be deceived—He alone saves.
link