What core LDS doctrine(s) contradict the Protestant doctrine of salvation by grace through faith?
score:7
The core difference between LDS doctrine and Protestantism really is the core of Mormonism. Protestants believe that the Church as established by Christ fell into apostasy and needed to be reformed, requiring a return to the true doctrine of Jesus Christ by adhering closely to the doctrines described in the Bible.
Latter-Day Saints, on the other hand, fundamentally reject the idea that it is possible for such a reformation to be successful, believing instead that that which was established directly by the hand of God can only be restored the same way, not by the understanding of men, however sincere and honest they may be. More than anything else, the doctrine of the Restoration sets Mormonism apart from Protestantism.
EDIT: With regard to the question posed in comments, another pillar of Protestant doctrine is known as sola fide, Latin for "only faith." This doctrine takes a very literal reading of Paul's statement that salvation comes by faith as a gift from God and not by works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9), using it to support the claim that a person's actions, both sinful and virtuous, do not matter to salvation; what matters is accepting Christ and having faith in his atonement.
Latter-Day Saints accept the fide but not the sola, claiming that this is taken out of context, as Jesus (Matthew 7:21), James (James 2: 14-26), and John (Revelation 20: 12-13) all appear to flatly contradict this doctrine, as does modern revelation accepted by Latter-Day Saints as canonical. (See sections 76 and 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants.) Latter-Day Saints do believe that sincere faith is required for salvation, but also that this faith is invalid and useless if it is not what the Book of Mormon terms "faith unto repentance," a faith that motivates a person to actually work to improve and transform their life, to renounce sin and live in a more Christlike manner.
Upvote:2
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints believes in the doctrine of grace. In fact, since it's part of the Bible, Latter-Day Saints believe in Eph 2:8-10, which says:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Usually, the LDS Church focuses more on the good works part, since their teaching is focused on living their faith practically, but they fully acknowledge their complete reliance on the atonement of Jesus Christ. Without it they would be lost forever. In fact, the Book of Mormon supports the doctrine of grace in many places. Here is 2 Nephi 2:4,6-8:
4 [...] And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that 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, 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.
However, Latter-Day Saints believe that there is no such thing as cheap grace. Faith in the sense of merely believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God without a change of heart (that usually is manifested in good works) does not lead to salvation. Latter-Day Saints believe that the following things are necessary to be saved:
- faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,
- repentance (meaning a change of heart and turning towards God),
- making a covenant with God to take upon yourself the name of Jesus Christ through baptism,
- receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6),
- keeping the baptismal covenant by pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ and enduring to the end.
The need for baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is often explained by John 3:5:
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
One might argue, that it is not really grace, if you have to do something for it. But continuing to live in sin after having received the truth is like making the Son of God the servant of sin. Speaking of grace, Paul wrote the following in Romans 6:1-4:
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
If you want to study the teaching and understanding of grace in the LDS Church better, then I can recommend this talk by Brad Wilcox as well as this article by Bruce C. Hafen.
Upvote:3
From the other side of the coin, the most salient problem with labeling the LDS church as "Protestant" is that the LDS Church itself explicitly rejects the Nicene Creed.
According to the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith -- History; I quote the following from verse 19 in answer to Joseph's question of which church he should join: "I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight:"
At its very core, the Creed makes a series of statements that define what it means to be "Orthodox" as opposed to Restorian or Heterodox. Some key features, for example, that Mormons would thus reject:
- The Trinity
- The Eternality of the Son
- The Divinity of the Holy Spirit
This doesn't mean they are "bad," it just means, they aren't orthodox. Catholics and Protestants may disagree on Church Governance, what is happening during the Eucharist, and the role of Mary, but we actually are pretty well agreed on the Creed.
Mormons, rightly or wrongly, don't accept these things. As such, they are out of the scope of Orthodox Christianity, in the same way Gnostics, Jehovah's Witness, and Muslims are. Theologically, their understanding of God is much closer to Islam than it is to what the Catholic (and hence the Protestant Reformers) would subscribe to. This isn't to say they aren't "Christians" in their definition, but no Orthodox theologian - be they Eastern, Roman, or Protestant, would lump together with the present church
More post
- 📝 Lot's virgin daughters had husbands?
- 📝 What is a practical Catholic definition of conscience?
- 📝 What was the difference between the Pharisees and Sadducees?
- 📝 Why did the Old Testament command to kill?
- 📝 Does Hell exist according to Catholicism?
- 📝 Were there any ancient prophets B.C. considered of the same God?
- 📝 Do Paul's and Jesus' use of epithets and culturally-harsh criticisms mandate/approve our own?
- 📝 How can Protestants authoritatively declare something wrong or heretical under Sola Scriptura?
- 📝 Refutations of, or Thoughts on How Jesus Became God (Bart D. Ehrman)
- 📝 Did any Jews have the same canon as Jesus during the time of Christ and did the early church ever quote from it?
- 📝 What is the "eschatological tension"
- 📝 How does Christianity view participation in dangerous sports?
- 📝 Is Hell a physical place in mainstream Christianity?
- 📝 What is being said in Proverbs 25:2
- 📝 Why are Ahimelech and Abiathar reversed in 2 Sam. 8:17?
- 📝 How can Heaven exist if we know that people in Hell will suffer?
- 📝 What is the source of the phrase "in your chamber bewail your sins"?
- 📝 What does the Catholic Church say happens on the New Earth?
- 📝 How do those who understand Noah's Flood to be a global flood explain what the carnivorous animals ate after disembarking?
- 📝 How should Christians who work with fiction approach material which uses the Lord’s name in vain?
- 📝 What are the main beliefs/themes of the Prosperity Gospel and which are the current prominent groups and their pastors?
- 📝 To what extent did Isaiah understand his own prophecies?
- 📝 Why was God not angry with Solomon's Census
- 📝 How does the Catholic Church choose the patron saint of a parish church?
- 📝 How long was Jesus's ministry?
- 📝 Did the first Christian believers keep the Sabbath and if so on which day?
- 📝 How do those who deny baptism as a means of grace reconcile this bible verses apparently saing otherwise?
- 📝 According to Catholicism, what is an imprimatur?
- 📝 Did God create Jesus' soul?
- 📝 What type of Sabbath rest is Hebrews 4 talking about?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 What core LDS doctrine(s) contradict the Protestant doctrine of salvation by grace through faith?
- 📝 What is the Protestant argument against the doctrine of Purgatory?
- 📝 What is the Lutheran doctrine of consubstantiation and how does it differ from transubstantiation and a more general protestant sacramental view?
- 📝 What is the Plan of Salvation in LDS theology?
- 📝 What is the LDS position on changing doctrine
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the doctrine that salvation can be lost?
- 📝 What is the current and historical viewpoint on universal salvation as a doctrine in the Catholic Church?
- 📝 According to the doctrine of the LDS Church what is man's relationship with God
- 📝 How do Protestantism and the LDS Church differ as to what is required for a believer to attain salvation and eternal life?
- 📝 According to proponents of Sola Scriptura, what are examples of logical contradictions between doctrines from the Bible and LDS sacred books?
- 📝 What LDS scriptures support the doctrine that Jesus is Jehovah of the Old Testament?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 What Protestant arguments exist for the perpetual virginity of Mary?
- 📝 What is the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 On what do Catholics base their doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for disbelief in the doctrine of the Trinity?
- 📝 What significance, if any, does the doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary have?
- 📝 What important Mormon doctrines are taught in the book of Mormon that we couldn't find in the Bible already?
- 📝 If both the Orthodox and Catholic Church affirm salvation by grace through faith, why did the Protestant Reformation happen?
- 📝 What is the Mormon doctrine regarding becoming a god?
- 📝 What is the reason for the absence of the Cross as a symbol in the LDS Church?
- 📝 What is the difference between the doctrines of "Perseverance of the Saints" and "Eternal Security?"
- 📝 What does the LDS Church (Mormon) teach about marriage and polygamy in the afterlife?
- 📝 What has the LDS Church (Mormons) historically taught about the Curse of Cain and dark skin?
- 📝 What works do the LDS Church recognize as Scripture?
- 📝 What is the significance of the inverted pentagram symbols on the LDS Temple in Salt Lake City?
- 📝 What is the Protestant belief known as "faith alone"?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Trinity consisting of different persons?
- 📝 According to Protestant trinitarians, what is the significance of the father-son relationship between God and Christ?
- 📝 What doctrine does Family Radio have of the End of the World?