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#12 The Facts On The Mormon Church
12. Do Mormons teach that true salvation occurs only by
good works and personal righteousness?
From its inception, the Mormon Church has consistently and adamantly
opposed the clear biblical teaching of justification by grace through faith
alone (Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9). In fact, few religions are more
hostile to the biblical teaching of salvation by grace than Mormonism. Talmage
refers to "a most pernicious doctrine-that of justification by belief alone."
Joseph Fielding Smith taught that "mankind {is} damned by {the} 'faith alone'
doctrine." McConkie complained, "Many Protestants...erroneously conclude that
men are saved by grace alone without doing the works of righteousness."
Because salvation by grace is thoroughly rejected, Mormonism forcefully
teaches a system of salvation by works of righteousness and personal merit. Both
the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants teach "works salvation."
Further, virtually every Mormon authority of past and present has emphasized the
absolute necessity of salvation by works and personal righteousness.
Heber C. Kimball taught, "I have power to save myself, and if I do not save
myself, who will save me? All have that privilege, and naught can save us but
obedience to the commandments of God." Talmage referred to "the absolute
requirement of the individual compliance with the laws and ordinances of his
{Jesus'} gospel by which salvation may be attained." Joseph Fielding Smith
emphasized that "the new birth is also a matter of obedience to law." Bruce
McConkie believed that the great defender of justification by faith alone, the
apostle Paul, is "the apostle of good works, of personal righteousness, of
keeping the commandments, of pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ, of
earning the right to eternal life by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the
gospel."
But again, none of this is biblical teaching. From the Old Testament to the
Gospels and the book of Acts, from the apostle Paul's writings to the apostle
John's, the Bible teaches only one way of salvation-by grace through faith
alone. "Of Him {Jesus}, all the prophets bear witness that through His name
everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins" (Acts 10:43).
Jesus Himself taught that salvation was secured by faith alone. For example,
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me,
has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death
into life" (John 5:24). "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal
life" (John 6:47). "Jesus answered and said to them. 'This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He has sent' " (John 6:29).
Notice the testimony of the following additional Scriptures. As early as
Genesis we read, "Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as
righteousness" (Genesis 15:6 NIV). The Apostle Paul comments on this verse when
he asserts, "What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God it was credited
to him as righteousness' " (Romans 4:3 NIV). Paul never once taught that
salvation was earned by good works and personal righteousness, as Mormons claim.
To maintain this is to seriously misinterpret and distort Paul's teaching. In
his own words, Paul confessed that even though he was a righteous man according
to the law, he counted it:
but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, and may be
found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but
that which is through faith in Christ. the righteousness which comes from God
on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:8-9).
Does this sound as through Paul was a great defender of
salvation by good works and of "earning the right to salvation" by obedience to
gospel law? To the contrary, Paul repeatedly emphasized salvation was secured by
grace through faith in Christ alone, as the following Scripture prove:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from
works of the Law (Romans 3:28).
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God - not as a result of works, that no one
should boast (Ephesians 2:8,9).
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no
longer be grace (Romans 11:6).
I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes though the Law,
then Christ died needlessly (Galatians 2:21; see also Romans 4:5,6; 10:4;
Galatians 3:11; Titus 3:5).
Mormonism, because it teaches a religious system of
salvation by good works and personal righteousness, comes under the condemnation
so clearly expressed by the apostle Paul in Galatians 1:8 (NIV):
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a
gospel other than the ones we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!
If Mormonism teaches personal salvation by good works and
individual merit, then if what value was the atonement of Jesus Christ for our
sins?
Taken from The Facts On The Mormon Church, by John Ankerberg
and John Weldon, published by Harvest House Publishers.
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