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To: Normandy
The same James from whom Mormons like to quote one verse to support their familiar spirit appeal to test God on the book of Mormon has addressed this works/legalism versus Grace issue and finished the issue in a way that Mormonism does not wish to embrace since it eliminates their/Mormon 'after all that you can do':

Acts 15:13-21 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up (Amos 9:11):
That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things (Amos 9:12).

Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

This pronouncement was being sent to gentiles. James did not say 'follow the ten commandments and all the law and the prophets or your salvation will be cancelled'. Yet that is precisely what Mormonism teaches!

'Abstain from pollution of idols' is an interesting point, because later we find that Paul explains some (himself included) may have eaten food that had been offered to idols, but it didn't cancel his Salvation!

Abstain from fornication was perhaps an admonishment to not have pre-marital sex because such behavior has been frowned upon by God from the beginning, yet even this behavior is not a condition posed by which these gentile Christians would lose their Salvation.

The last two items are how we know this was aimed at trying to not cause contention between Jews converted to Christianity and the gentiles. Paul later addresses the freedom of Christians juxtaposed with the legalism of judaizers (Mormons).

72 posted on 11/06/2010 1:06:08 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Some, believing they can't be deceived, it's nigh impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN
James did not say 'follow the ten commandments and all the law and the prophets or your salvation will be cancelled'.

Yet that is precisely what Mormonism teaches!

85 posted on 11/06/2010 2:28:10 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: MHGinTN
THIS is precisely what Mormonism teaches!


 
 


 
The Articles of Faith
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 
 

  1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
  2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
  3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
  4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
  6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
  7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
  8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
  9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
  10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
  11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
  12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
  13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith


86 posted on 11/06/2010 2:29:39 PM PDT by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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