From: noring@netcom.com (Jon Noring)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: A Question (was Re: LDS response to John Meulhausen)
Date: 14 Apr 92 23:59:03 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest)


In article mark@yvax.byu.edu writes:

>As was stated above, Mormons believe that faith in Jesus Christ as our
>Redeemer and living a Christian life of love and service are necessary for
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>salvation.  How is this out of tune with what Jesus taught?  How does this
>make them non-Christian?  

My belief, and those of most orthodox Christians, is that faith in Christ is
not only necessary, but it is also sufficient (John 3:16, and several other
verses are very clear on this).  One cannot be saved via good works, nor can
it be a required "add-on" since God made it very clear, in both the Old and
New Testaments, that in order to be saved via works a person must not have
sinned (i.e., went against God's Will) even once in their life.  Suffice to
say, God himself said, through his Word in several verses, that not one person
(other than Jesus Christ Himself) ever could lay claim to that path of
salvation (the Book of Hebrews shows the power of faith, vis-a-vis salvation).
I would conclude that any teaching that requires that good works is necessary
for salvation (even if in addition to faith in Christ), is essentially calling
God a liar.  God alone saves, so that no man may brag - we are all humbled
before the Lord.

Since a person cannot find salvation any other way than by personally
accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, what is the role of good
works and service?  This is the importance of the Holy Spirit as Orthodox
Christianity defines the Holy Spirit.  Those who accept Christ as their
Saviour are given the Gift of the Holy Spirit, who will gently lead us to
live a life pleasing to God.  Many Christians (those that have accepted Jesus
Christ as their Lord and Saviour), with the love of God in their hearts,
will sincerely and *voluntarily* follow Christ's example and live a life
worthy of His Name, and do so out of love, and not out of obligation.  Love
(of God and of our fellow man) is the only legitimate reason to live a life
worthy (i.e., good works) of that free Gift given to us by God's grace.  It
is infinitely higher in God's eyes (IMHO) than to live a "worthy" life out of
obligation or fear (Paul's teaching of love in I Corinthians).  Of course,
some Christians do not follow very closely the leadings of the Spirit that
is within them, with the risk that they may lose their faith and belief in
Christ (that's why the Spirit is there, to help us towards all righteousness
because we ourselves cannot do it alone).  Also, such Christians will not
find peace, happiness and joy in this life by denying the leading of the
Spirit - but as long as they continue to put their faith of salvation in
Christ, they are still saved, albeit as a man escaping through the flames.

[In the above statment of my belief, I am not implying that *all* LDS
believers do not have love of God as their highest motive for pursuing a life
pleasing to God (i.e., good works and service).  To the contrary, I have no
doubt that there are many, many LDS believers who do have love of God as their
primary motive.]

One question for those practicing LDS:  It is obvious that I believe in and
have put my faith for salvation in Jesus Christ, and Him alone.  It is also
obvious that I am not a LDS (I'm a Protestant in theology and in practice).
As long as I do not switch over and accept and practice LDS teaching and
theology, will I, or will I not, after I pass away from this life, go to
Heaven and be eternally in the direct presence of God and of Jesus Christ?
Of course, out of fairness to my LDS friends, I'll share the reverse of this
in a future post if queried.

Everybody have a good day.

Jon Noring

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