Testing the Mormon Gospel

THE FIRST TEST...THE GOSPEL

The gospel Paul preached and wrote to the Galatians, about which he pronounced a curse on anyone who would teach otherwise, was clearly revealed:

"Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Galatians 1:3-5)

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 2:21-3:3)

See also Galatians 3:6, 8-9, 11, 26-27 and 5:5

Paul declared the same gospel to Titus when he wrote:

"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" (Titus 3:5)

He likewise expressed the same truths to the Ephesians when he wrote:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And to the Romans:

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." (Romans 4:5)

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:4)

"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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation...For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

The apostle Paul and John were in agreement:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)

And the very words of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself teach the same thing:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:29)

Thus we see that the Biblical plan of salvation is the substitutionary life, death, burial, and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christin the sinner's place:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1Corinthians 15:1-4)

All who truly put their trust in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on their behalf are thereby "born again."

"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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God...Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1Peter 1:18-21, 23)

The one verse summation of the above is:

"For he (the Father) hath made him (the Lord Jesus Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; thatwe might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus Christ took upon Himself the guilt and penalty of our sins. Upon our receiving Him as our Saviour by faith, we have His righteousness put to our credit (see Romans the 4th chapter)!