Chapter 10b - Saved By Grace (Part 2)
Requirements for Eternal Salvation
If salvation is by grace…
then why does the Bible still talk about obedience?
Because the answer to that question
changes how you live your entire life.
Chapter 10b - ”Saved By Grace (Part 2) – Requirements for Eternal Salvation.
The Bible teaches much more about who will actually enter the kingdom of God and “will know God and Christ.
Welcome to the second part of my challenge of Joseph Smith’s teachings on “Saved By Grace, Not By Works.”
In the previous video I defined the difference between “salvation from sin” and “eternal salvation.” If you have not viewed that video, I encourage you to watch it first before continuing.
In this video, we will be exploring the requirements for Eternal Salvation.
Who Receives Eternal Salvation?
Now that we have defined two important levels of salvation—salvation from sin and eternal salvation—we can better compare the “saved Christian’s” doctrine with Joseph Smith’s teachings.
According to the “Saved Christian’s” belief, based on two scriptures in the Bible, all who have faith and believe in Christ will be saved in heaven.
However, according to Joseph Smith—and more importantly, according to Christ and His apostles—
Let’s begin with Paul:
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Question
Is this teaching of Paul’s, where we must “obey him,” a contradiction to the teaching in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians—where he tells us that “we only need to have faith” to be saved?
Requirements for Eternal Salvation
In continuing to define the difference between “saved by grace” and “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God,” the apostles taught that there are several different requirements to receive the “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.” These are some of the requirements.
1. We must obey Christ
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Mark 16:15, 16
15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
3. Be born of spirit (Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost).
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.
4. Endure to the end. In Matthew and Mark, Christ puts an additional requirement into the list!
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 24:11-13
11. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark 13:13
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
According to the Joseph Smith’s interpretation:
“Endure to the end” means that everyone has to continue their entire lives having faith in Christ
Obeying God’s commandments
Remaining faithful both personally and within the organized Church of Jesus Christ
Question
How does the “saved Christian’s” definition of “saved by grace” account for this requirement to “endure to the end?”
Another two requirements added to the list of requirements for “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God! (Slide 37)
5 & 6. The Two Greatest Commandments
Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind
Love your neighbor as yourself
Matthew 22:36-40
36. Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
These fall under the command to “obey Him.”
Christ continues and teaches us that we must be perfect, even as Father in heaven is perfect.
7. Be perfect, like Father in heaven!
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Question
What does it mean to become perfect like our Father in heaven?
The details of our requirement of “being perfect” are in:
Chapter 6 – The Holy Ghost
Chapter 13 – The Plan of Salvation: The Mortal Earth Life
Chapter 16 – “Salvation vs Exaltation”
I also have a YouTube playlist “Especially For Mormons” called “An LDS Convert’s QuickStart – A Path to Mortal Perfection.”
In this series I go into what is required to reach “Mortal Perfection” and how to achieve this “Mortal Perfection!”
I also simplify the meaning and process to where it is achievable!
Faith Only… or Faith and Works?
I could continue on and on with requirements that meet the “we must obey Him” commandment, but one question must be asked!
Is the requirement to receive “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God,” by:
1. having “faith” only or
2. by “faith and works?”
Joseph Smith teaches that faith is essential, and a person must have it.
Faith is the first step! But “works” are an essential part to it.
As we already see at least seven requirements that we must follow in order to achieve “Eternal Salvation in the kingdom of God” and I haven’t even included:
The 10 commandments given to Moses and
Many of the other commandments given by Christ and his apostles.
Christ’s Teaching: The Narrow Way
When considering the “Saved Christian’s” definition of being “saved by grace,” we must take into context what the Bible teaches about a Christian’s performance, after beginning the salvation process. First, we will study the actual teachings of Jesus Christ, then we will see what the apostles teach.
Matthew 7:13,14
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
It is very apparent that Christ taught that the way to “eternal salvation” or to “eternal life” is “very narrow, and few be there that find It!”
Question:
If salvation were simply belief why would the path be narrow?
Doing the Will of the Father
The Lord again teaches that all those Christians who believe in Christ, only the Christians who “do the will of my Father” will “enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Those who believe
Those who obey
Only those who do the Father’s will enter the kingdom.
Judged According to Works
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
The Christians who Christ is talking about in these past two passages are those Christians who actually believe in Christ, for they are crying “Lord, Lord.”
But Christ definitely divides the followers, into those who “doeth the will of his Father” and those who “do not do the will of the Father.”
Not only does He divide them, but He qualifies them into two groups, those who “shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” and those who “will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
Christ is talking about all the people who believe in Him!
Definitions of “Salvation”
This is where the definitions of “salvation” become important.
The definition of “salvation from sins,” — That all mankind will be resurrected and live eternally, receives “salvation” through the “grace of God and Christ.”
Even those who will suffer the “spiritual death” will live eternally, just not in the presence of God and Christ.
The definition of “eternal salvation.”— Those who “doeth the will of the Father” will “enter into the kingdom of heaven” and live in the presence of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Christ supports this concept in His parable of the wise man.
Matthew 7:24-27
24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock;
25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Questions
Does this parable support the need for obedience?
Does Christ call those who obey “wise”?
Paul Clarifies: Works Matter
Under the “Saved by Grace” teachings, there is no heavenly incentive at all. In fact, this doctrine teaches each person to settle for mediocracy. Mediocracy is contrary to the requirements for “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.”
Paul teaches actions bring consequences.
Galatians 6:7,8
7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
A reminder that Peter taught that Paul, in reference to “salvation,” was hard to understand:
2 Peter 3:16
…in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
James: Faith Without Works Is Dead
Now let’s take a look at what the apostle James taught on the subject of “faith versus works.” James sheds more light on the subject of “saved by grace.”
James could not be any clearer when he taught the following:
James 1:22
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 2:14-20
14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?
15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also believe, and tremble.
20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21,22
21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Again, we go back to the basics that Christ and the apostles taught:
First we must believe
Have faith
Be baptized by water by those who have the proper authority
Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost
Then progress to perfection.
It is through the scriptures and work, building the kingdom of God on earth, that a person’s faith can achieve perfection.
It is within every man and woman on earth, the ability to achieve perfection!
Please check out my Playlist, An LDS Convert’s QuickStart, A Path to “Mortal Perfection.”
James continues his teachings on faith and works:
James 2:23,24
23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:25,26
25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Question
What is hard to understand about“faith without works is dead?”
Simple Truth
Faith alone is not enough—true faith produces action.
Final Judgment: Works Again
The apostle John did more than just teach on this subject. John actually saw in Revelations a vision as to what would happen come judgment day!
Revelations 20:12,13
12. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
John, not once, but twice stated that the dead were “judged every man according to their works!”
Christ again answers this question and supports what Paul, Peter, James and John taught.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
So Where Do Believers Without Works Go?
Salvation from Sin
Given to all through Christ
All are resurrected
Eternal Salvation
Only for those who do the will of the Father
Those who enter God’s presence
Multiple Heavens
In the beginning of this video, I mentioned that the “saved Christians” are basically right when they will all go to the same heaven and live in the presence of Jesus Christ.
They are right!
In my chapters 12a & 12b – The Plan of Salvation – The Post Mortal Life, I explain that they will go to the 2nd heaven and rejoice, having the presence of Jesus Christ!
Warning About Misunderstanding Paul
2 Peter 3:16
…in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Paul’s writings can be misunderstood…
This explains why there is so much division today.
With the great division among the Christian religions today, in regard, to the definition of salvation and who actually receives it, Joseph Smith’s teachings on salvation and works does a lot in clarifying who actually receives “salvation from sin” and who receives “eternal life in the kingdom of God.”
Having studied the teachings of Joseph Smith on “saved by grace” in the Bible, the answers to the Biblical Support Chart are as follows:
The Biblical Support Chart
Is the following topic supported in the Bible? Yes or No
1. Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that “saved by grace” is defined as – “salvation from sin is given to all men and women who are born on earth?” Yes
(1 Cor 15:22,23; Luke 3:6; John 3:17; 3:17; 1 Peter 3:18-20; 1 Peter 4:6; Isa 45:23; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10,11)
2.Does the Bible support Joseph Smith’s teaching that “eternal salvation” is where only certain men and women may live in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ, in the actual kingdom of God? Yes
The Accursed Challenge
Whew!... It is evident that Joseph Smith will not be accursed with these teachings!
Conclusion
Now that Joseph Smith has defined the difference between “saved by grace” and “eternal salvation in the kingdom of God,” it is important to learn about the Plan of Salvation.
Joseph Smith’s teachings on the Plan of Salvation is the most detailed and comprehensive description of who we are, where we came from, where we are going after this life, and why we are here on earth.
In the next three chapters, Joseph Smith will answer all of these questions, according to the revelations that he received from Jesus Christ.
The next three chapters are:
Chapter 11 - The Plan of Salvation - The Pre-Mortal Life
Chapter 12a & b - The Plan of Salvation - The Post-Mortal Life
Chapter 13a & b - The Plan of Salvation - The Mortal Life
These will be the first step in understanding the kingdom of God.
Thank you for joining me on this important topic of being “saved by grace, not of works” video.
If you liked what you learned, please press the “like” button below.
If you want to make sure you have access to the entire series of my biblical challenges to Joseph Smith’s teachings, please make sure that you are subscribed!
Have a great day!