BLOOD is the key word, I think--which he shed
in large quantities in Gethsemane--apparently more than he actually shed
on Calvary
Sweat AS IF drops of blood. Isn't this the wording of
the biblical text? I don't know that there was any blood in
Gethsemane except by the hand of Peter. But, if there was
, it was "drops." After the garden, He was beaten nearly to death
and on the cross, we have the wounds in his hands and feet, the blood from the
thorny crown and the wound to His side. Blaine, really, you
couldn't be more mistaken on this one. But more than this, the
First Scriptures do not attach atonement significance to Gethsemane.
So, for me, I have learned from the Mormon representatives several issues
that separate us :
1. They have a "right church" view of the Christian assembly and
membership in the "right church" is critical to what happens in the next
life.
2. The grace that saves is neither separated from works of
law, nor is it unmerited in that sense. Mormonism is a works
salvationist religion.
3 The Mormon view of Jewish history is vastly different from
the Jewish view of Jewish history - especially as it applies to
the "lost tribes," but, also as it applies to the Jewish teachings of
blood sacrifice for sin, the failings of a
law-based relationship with God and the importance of the death of
Christ from a Jewish point of view .......................
crtical differences, all.
4. Mormon scripture cannot be verified by anyone other than
the Mormon faithful.
5. The biblical doctrine (the "Frist
Scriptures") teaches a very different Jesus than that of the Mormon
religion.
6. The "atonement" doctrine between Christianity and
Mormonism is markedly different. This difference can be most
easily seen as one Faith gives emphasis to the cross and the shedding of
blood while the other does not. If the two
representatives of Mormonism are typical, those in the Christian
Faith may assume that the notion of the shedding of blood is not understood as
it relates to the Law, to the cross or to the continuing forgiveness of the
saint.
7. They cannot answer questions as to the differences between the
First Scriptures (written and given to a church the Mormons believe to be in
good standing - before the "apostasy") and the those scriptures given some
1800 years later. The differences are remarkable in
terms quanity and substance. The Mormon notion
that the First Chruch was the Right Church demands that the teaching of
that first church is both completely revealed and
correct. There should be no difference between the First
Scriptures and the Mormon seconds.
8. Mormon organization and church terminology is markedly different
from the biblical church or the pre-apostate church of history. If
we beleive that God "did it right" the first time, in regards to the
church, there should be no reason for any differences between the Mormon
church and scripture and that of the First Church and the First
Scriptures.
Note: it is not my intention to outline all of the difference, only those
that are of significance to me, those that make the Mormon Faith an
impossible religion to defend as "Christian" from my point of
view. I would love the opportunity to share in a public discussion
of these issues.
How does this affect their place in the sight of God?
My personal view is this: Joe Smith knew full well that he was an
imposture. Few others would have this knowledge. I do
believe that God will take this into consideration as the
judge of such things. Only because of the truth of the
incarnation and the unmerited nature of grace do any of us have a chance at
all. God is bigger than any of our failings and the name of Jesus
need not be uttered to have redeeming value.
jd
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Original message --------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
BLOOD is the key word, I think--which he
shed in large quantities in Gethsemane--apparently more than he
actually shed on Calvary. When he returns he will be wearing
red--right? This is a symbol of his blood drenching his entire
body, which it did not do on the cross. In fact, other than the
wounds in his hands, feet, and sides, little blood was shed on the Calvary
cross.
Blainerb
