"The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets,
concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended
into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it."
— Joseph Smith
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Can we save ourselves by our works?Can we save ourselves by our works? Many people have the perception that "Mormons" believe that they can "work their way to heaven" or perform good works to "earn" salvation. But this concept is not found in either the teachings or the doctrinal sources of the Church. So even if some members believe in this notion, they are mistaken. First we will look at many Book of Mormon scriptures that talk about salvation and grace, since the Book of Mormon is one of the main sources of Church doctrine. Next we'll look at some possible reasons why the idea of working for one's salvation even exists in association with the Church. Last we'll ask and answer the question: What role do works play in salvation? LDS Scriptures on Grace and SalvationHere are eight of many scriptures explaining that it is by grace of Christ—and only by the grace of Christ—that we are saved: 2 Nephi 2:8 8 ...there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah [Jesus Christ], who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. 2 Nephi 10:24 24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. 23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do*. * The phrase "after all we can do" is usually taken by opponents of the Church to mean that after we do everything we possibly can, only then are we able to be saved. The true meaning of that phrase, however, is understood by many to mean that after all we could ever do, we could never save ourselves by our works--only the grace of God can do that. Mosiah 3:17 17 And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. Mosiah 16:13 13 And now, ought ye not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved? Alma 38:9 9 And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness. Helaman 5:9 9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. 1 Nephi 10:6 6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer [Jesus Christ]. These eight scripture citations from the Book of Mormon are so clear. Do you need more? There are plenty. Here’s a small sample from scripture and so-called “Mormon” scripture: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/j/25 In short the answer is “No!” We cannot save ourselves by our works. Only our faith in the blood and grace of Jesus Christ can save us. Why people think the LDS church teaches working for your salvationThere are different reasons that people think the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints teaches that you can—or must—work for their own salvation. Probable Misinterpretation"after all we can do"One reason is due to a misinterpretation of 2 Nephi 25:23 that says "...it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." The phrase "after all we can do" is usually taken by opponents of the Church to mean that after we do everything we possibly can, only then are we able to be saved. The true meaning of that phrase, however, is understood by many to mean that after all we could ever do, it is still not enough—we could never save ourselves by our works—only the grace of God can do that. There is an inherent flaw in thinking that only after one has done "all he can do" can he be saved. You'll just never reach that place (and therefore no one would ever be saved)...unless you include repentance for not having done "all you can do", but even then you pre-suppose God's grace for forgiving you of that. There will always be a time when you could have been doing something beneficial for God rather than some other thing you're doing. Even if for just a moment. 15 seconds extra you rested on the couch when you could have been doing something good in that moment. You didn't truly need that 15 seconds of extra rest. You can see it's just not possible to ever do "all you can do"...without the grace of Christ. Certain scriptures suggest
Philippians 2:12 Alma 34: 37, Mormon 9:27 Romans 14:11 Do works fit in? If so, how?Do the things that we do have any bearing whatsoever on our salvation? If you say no, you deny clear biblical doctrine. Biblical doctrine teaches that we are saved by grace through what? It is through "faith" (see Ephesians 2:8-10) Faith in what? In ourselves? In our works? No. It is faith in Jesus Christ. The key to everything is the word “faith”. What is faith? James gives such a clear definition of faith: James 2:14-26 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. This scripture makes it clear that works are inextricably connected to faith. Put another way: Faith IS—in part—works. Or, as James put it, works make our faith perfect. In this sense we are saved by our works IN THAT our faith in Jesus Christ is DEAD without works that demonstrate that our faith really is faith and not just belief. But if I say something like, “I'm going to do works like a Christian to gain salvation even though I don't really believe in the idea of atoning blood of Christ or in Jesus as the Messiah.” then, from my understanding, there’s no salvation.There must be belief. There must be hope. And that belief and hope must be in Jesus Christ. You must say, in effect, “I do have faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and that it is the only way I can be saved; now I'd better get to work to demonstrate that my faith in the grace offered by Jesus Christ is not just an empty proclamation saying that I believe, because if I don't do works to demonstrate that faith, according to the Bible, my faith in Jesus Christ is not really faith because it is dead!” In summary, no works = dead faith (James 2:26); dead faith = no salvation. Your works prove that you have faith in Jesus Christ. Are there other Biblical references that talk about works (or doing)? Many. The words of Jesus on DoingOur Savior spoke much on doing. Let's explore a few passages from the New Testament: Mark 16:16 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. It’s interesting that he doesn't just say to believe. He says to believe and do. Believe and be baptized. Those who do this “shall be saved.” In John 5 Jesus is talking about being judged "resurrection of life" vs. the "resurrection of damnation" and how the things done effect that: John 5:28-29 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Notice the emphasis on things done in relation to the judgement. It’s interesting that belief and faith are not mentioned. My feeling is that there was an unspoken, universally accepted truth that doing is a direct indication of true belief and faith. Matthew 7:21-26 21 ¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Now you could stop there and say, "Well, the will of the Father is to believe in Jesus Christ." But we won't stop there; we'll continue to gain better context... [continued] 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. In summary he’s saying, "Although you iniquity workers may have been able to do wonderful things in my name, now it’s time to leave my presence because you did evil" The corresponding statement to this would be "Come into my presence you that did righteousness" [continued] 24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. The last 4 verses summarized say, "The wise will do; the unwise will not do"
The following verses from Matthew 25 is the parable of the sheep and the goats. It gives the reasons for why the King tells some to "come, inherit the kingdom" and others he says will "go away into everlasting punishment" Matthew 25:32-46 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Other's Words on Doing and WorksThe book of Revelation speaks very clearly of how works are involved in our final judgement before our God: Revelation 20:12-13 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Everyone will be judged according to their works.... Romans 14:10 ...for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ...Does that judgement—which all will experience—have nothing to do with salvation? Ecclesiastes 11:9 9 ¶ Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Ecclesiastes 3:17 17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. 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. So explain these passages:
Jesus said to the Jews, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.” Would he not also have added to that “If you were God’s children, you would do the works of God”? James 2:21-22 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Romans 2:5-11 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: Moroni 10:32-33 32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. 33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. ? 2 Ne 2:4 “salvation is free”…yes but what does that mean? 4 And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free. What does it mean to be “saved”? Being saved has two parts: a physical salvation and a spiritual salvation. Physical (known as the “Resurrection”): Acts 24:14-15 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. John 5:28-29 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Spiritual (known as “Salvation”): Romans 6:15-16 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? John 5:29 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. “Choose ye this day…” Is Faith necessary for salvation?1 Peter 1:5-19 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 2 Timothy 3:14-17 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. But what about these: Romans 10:9 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Acts 16:31 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Hebrews 10:38-39 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. ConclusionChrist Saves us by His Grace through our faith. Without works (i.e. actions that demonstrate our faith), our faith dies. After this life we will stand before his "judgment seat" to be judged by the things we have done. "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) |
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