Well, obviously 1010...what's a "Christian" who calls Jesus/God "Lord" yet continually ignores what He directs?
It'd be like calling yourself "married" yet going out on your spouse, right? Obviously, one will perform good works for their spouse & refrain from adultery out of love...yet if you think your wife stays married ONLY or PRIMARILY because you've kept some magical "to do" list...such a legalistic approach to marriage is quite shallow.
In the same way, we embrace a RELATIONSHIP -- not a ritualistic religion!
Example: Note the word "KNOW": "this is eternal life, that you KNOW the only true God, and Him who thou didst send, Jesus Christ" (John 17:3, also Young's Literal translation)
[As an aside here, 1010, how could one possibly have a multiplicity of "only true gods"...
...[3 gods in the godhead, a mom god or multiple polygamous mom gods, the "council of gods" that Joseph Smith talked about who supposedly assigned Elohim as god of this planet, and a host of Mormon-turned-gods, some of those future gods]...
...without twisting Jesus' words in John 17:3 IS beyond any semblance of the language here.]
So let's review: Works work...because faith works. Faith isn't dormant, anymore than you would be a "husband-in-name-only" to your wife, right?
Let's look @ this New Testament-wise, also using Young's Literal translation:
* 12 So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out, 13 for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2)
So, yes, we agree 1010 that we "work out" our salvation per Phil. 2:12. But who gets this credit for working it out per verse 13? God does! He is working in us both to will and work...His enablement! His power!
Stop being a glory thief by taking credit for what HE does thru us!
Next verse:
* 28 They said therefore unto him, `What may WE DO that we may work the works of God?' 29 Jesus answered and said to them, `This is the work of God, that ye may believe in him whom He did send.' (John 6)
Here, we have Mormon-like people asking Jesus what spiritual checklist they need to perform in order to be found worthy of doing God's work? What does Jesus do? He turns this around -- as something GOD does..."This is the work of God..." ...and even here this "work of God" of simply believing [faith--what even children can do] is His work!!! He gets the credit and glory!
Sorry, 1010, but children who die short of obeying the rather lengthy Mormon spiritual checklist don't need an accomplishment resume'...They need faith, which has been GIVEN to them...And they need a faith that relates (communicative prayer, for example)...
When I read thru Mormon leaders' quotes...like the D&C study manual & other sources, I see constant references to checklists, laws, & other legalistic garbage.
So again: Stop being a glory thief, 1010!
The apostle Paul reaffirmed John 6: ...NO ONE [that means NO ONE, 1010] is able to say Jesus [is] Lord, except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 12:3)
Who gets the credit & the glory here, 1010? The Holy Spirit! Not you, and not some Mormon glory hound.
...looking to the author and perfecter of faith -- Jesus... (Hebrews 12:2)
Other versions reference this as the "author and finisher" of our faith...but "finisher" and "perfecter" is the same...Jesus authored our faith; He finishes/perfects it.
Who gets the credit & glory for that? Jesus does!
Stop being a glory thief by trying to claim credit for what He does IN and thru us!!!
As an aside here, 1010, how could one possibly have a multiplicity of "only true gods"...
This is a question that intrigues me. It used to disturb me about the LDS, that they didn't accept the Trinity. Your constant posting about this issue helped me to explore more fully both the Trinity and the LDS belief about the nature of God, His goal for us and our potentiality.
As you know we're made in God's image and likeness. Did you notice that the reference to makers is plural?
Then we read in 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV - For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
That's the "glass darkly" scripture. In Genesis the making of man in God's or the gods' image is more like an outline, that's the better translation. We then fill that in via our beliefs and actions based on those beliefs (Jefferson got it wrong).
God expects growth, no? That's Christ's example. He grows from grace to grace. He started as a baby and grew up, etc. Christ goes on to state that we'll be full heirs, full heirs with him.
As I read with an open mind, not bringing any preconceived notions to the text I learned for myself that the Trinity is an invention of men. It isn't in the text. It is forced and nonsense. It isn't even a doctrine of salvation. Why must Christians believe it?