Mormons are Christians - Apologetic Setup [01]

Pro said:"By professors, it is referring to the individual church leaders Joseph Smith had been talking to, it is not a blanket statement about all Christians."Answer: Incorrect. By professors he speaks of all who "profess Christ" (declare Christ). As Baptism is an "outward profession of faith". He was not talking about college professors. It was indeed a blanket statement.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pro:"Con also twists this to mean that Mormons didn't intend to be Christians from the start, but this claim is also unfounded. "Answer: Proverbs 30:5-6Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro said:"Also, there is no official position on how the Father came to be God"Answer: God is eternal. He did not "come to be". He has always been. Genesis 21:33Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.Psalm 90:1-4 ....Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God."John 8:58 I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pro said: "God is the only God(creator and Father) that will ever be God, and nothing about becoming like him diminishes that."Answer: Answer this question in the next round please. What is most important to God? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pro asked: "As to the God of the Bible being omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient, I would ask Con to support his assertions."Answer: Sure.Omnipresent:Jeremiah 23:24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell [the grave], behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7–10).Omnipotent: Jeremiah 32:17 (NKJV) 'Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. Luke 1:37 (NKJV) "For with God nothing will be impossible." Psalms 115:3 (NKJV) But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Omniscient: Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;his understanding has no limit. 1 John 3:19-20 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Isaiah 46:9 I am God, and there is none like me,declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro said: There are no scriptures that spell out the details of creation, the details of the characteristics and history of God. Answer:Creation - See Genesis Chapter 1Character of God : Eternality of Jesus - Hebrews 1:2But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Love -1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. Morality - 1 John 1:5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Mercy 1 John 2:2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Justice Romans 14:11For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Patience 2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro: As to god being a spirit, this is also unsubstantiated. In scripture we are told that God is spirit, not a spirit.Answer: Ok, we can remove the indefinite article "a". What is this supposed to change? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro said: Mormons believe in the God of the Bible, albeit a different interpretation than what is considered traditional.Answer: Mormons wrote another book. That is not interpretation. The King James Bible is an interpretation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pro: Mormons believe that traditional baptism isn't valid because the authority of the prophets and apostles isn't with those churches(they don't have prophets and apostles, the foundation of the Church of Christ).Answer: Explain this further please. I want to make sure I fully grasp this before I answer. You may add it in the comments section if you run out of debating room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My next point:Covenants 59:23 "But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come."The problem with that:Titus 3:4-7 "But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."Mormonism teaches salvation by works. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that we receive salvation through grace...."so that none may boast."Mormonism is a flagrantly false teaching. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------