St. Athansius and Gods

[rameumptom]

Okay, so what essential to salvation teaching was changed or left out of the Gospels or New Testament letters?

1. Continuing revelation through apostles and prophets

2. A clearer and more precise explanation of Priesthood Authority and Melchizedek Priesthood

3. Temple work (the apostles attended after Christ, so there must be something to it)

4. The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands of those with authority

5. The proper understanding of the Godhead

6. The full teachings of Enoch and other ancient prophets and apostles.

7. Paul's letter to the Laodiceans

8. Priesthood keys

There are many more issues. The reality is, if the New Testament were as clear to understand as you pretend, we wouldn't be arguing over these things. There wouldn't be hundreds of Christian churches. There wouldn't be Trinitarians, Modalists and those who believe in the Godhead. There wouldn't be some who practice baptism by immersion, some by sprinkling, and some thinking it isn't necessary. There wouldn't be some who believe in a specific priesthood ordination and hierarchy, while others believe in a "priesthood of believers" (which really has no Biblical stance). There wouldn't be some who believe in salvation by grace alone, and others by faith and works. There wouldn't be some Christians who believe in the continuing gifts of the Spirit and others who believe they ended with the ancient apostles. There wouldn't be some claiming the scripture is complete, while others point out that the Bible predicts more revelation in the last days.

Soninme, You keep asking these same questions over and over again. We keep pointing out the problems. It is as if you don't read or can't read what we explain. Are you so close-minded that you are unable to see that these are issues that are not covered in the Bible? At least not covered well enough for the average group of people to agree on all issues?

The Bible contains many truths of God and Christ. However, they are not always easy to understand or to get to. Why would Jesus and his apostles all speak about repentance and obedience, if we are to be saved only by grace, and not works? Somewhere there is a major disconnect in the writings, if they cannot be more easily understood on what should be an easy issue in the Bible. Yet tens of millions of Christians line up on each side of this discussion. Mormons and Catholics and some others insist that works go with grace/faith. Evangelicals and others insist that we are not saved by works, but by grace alone. This from the exact same Bible/New Testament.

Meanwhile, the Book of Mormon and modern prophets give us a better understanding on these issues and the mass confusion that surrounds this one issue in the Bible. "We are saved by grace, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25). This life is the time of our probation, when we will be judged by our actions, our words, and even our thoughts. Yet our works must be preceded by faith. These are some of the things taught by the Book of Mormon on the issue, clarifying in the Bible what is so confusing to millions of Christians today.

While Catholics and Protestants argue over priesthood authority, modern prophets have taught us what is really going on. Authority must be passed down by the laying on of hands by those in authority. The authority was lost after just a few centuries of Christianity, as the apostles died and were not replaced, as was the case in replacing Judas Iscariot. There is a "kingdom of priests", but it is not the same as a "priesthood of believers." The only way to restore the priesthood authority once it is lost, is by angelic restoration to a newly called prophet, such as Joseph Smith.

Most Christians latch onto a portion of one verse of the Bible to explain the concept of the Trinity: "God is Spirit." But while we can all agree on this one phrase/sentence, it does not explain all the information found in the creeds on the Trinity. The concept of Trinity leaves open many questions that the best traditional Bible scholars have difficulty in explaining, preferring to leave it as a mystery of God. How can Christ be a Spirit person in the Trinity AND be a resurrected being with a physical body? Which person is more perfect: God the Father as a Spirit, or Christ as a resurrected being? And if it is so well understood in the Bible, why would they need the Council of Nicea to argue over what constitutes God, and then later the Council of Chalcedonn to further explain the duality of Christ? Modern revelation explains that the three persons of the Trinity/Godhead are physically separate beings, who are one in purpose, love, and all other attributes that beings can share. This goes in line with John 17, where Christ prays that the disciples may be one even as the Father and Son are one. It shows that God IS Spirit, but so much more than just a spirit. He made us in His image, meaning God looks like us (or we look like him). We are made of the same stuff God is made of, and can grow up to be like him.

These are just some of the things tied to salvation that are not clearly explained in the Bible. And this is further proof to the open-minded seeker of truth that there must be more divine teaching than just what is found in the Bible.

Edited April 13, 2010 by rameumptom