"9 As all the visible creation is an effect of faith, so is
salvation, also. (We mean salvation in its most extensive latitude of
interpretation, whether it is tempo-
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ral or spiritual.) In order to have this subject clearly set
before the mind, let us ask what situation must a person be in, in order to be
saved? or what is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved?
We answer from what we have before seen of the heavenly worlds, they must be
persons who can work by faith, and who are able, by faith to be ministering
spirits to them who shall be heirs of salvation. And they must have faith to
enable them to act in the presence of the Lord, otherwise they cannot be saved.
And what constitutes the real difference between a saved person and one not
saved, is the difference in the degree of their faith: one's faith has become
perfect enough to lay hold upon eternal life, and the other's has not. But to be
a little more particular, let us ask, where shall we find a prototype into whose
likeness we may be assimulated, in order that we may be made partakers of life
and salvation? or in other words, where shall we find a saved being? for if we
can find a saved being, we may ascertain, without much difficulty, what all
others must be, in order to be saved - they must be like that individual or they
cannot be saved: we think, that it will not be a matter of dispute, that two
beings, who are unlike each other, cannot both be saved; for whatever
constitutes the salvation of one, will constitute the salvation of every
creature which will be saved: and if we find one saved being in all existence,
we may see what all others must be, or else not be saved. We ask, then, where is
the prototype? or where is the saved being? We conclude as to the answer of this
question there will be no dispute among those who believe the bible, that it is
Christ: all will agree in this that he is the prototype or standard of
salvation, or in other words, that he is a saved being. And if we should
continue our interogation, and ask how it is that he is saved, the answer would
be, because he is
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a just and holy being; and if he were any thing different
from what he is he would not be saved; for his salvation depends on his being
precisely what he is and nothing else; for if it were possible for him to change
in the least degree, so sure he would fail of salvation and lose all his
dominion, power, authority and glory, which constitutes salvation; for salvation
consists in the glory, authority, majesty, power and dominion which Jehovah
possesses, and in nothing else; and no being can possess it but himself or one
like him: Thus says John, in his first epistle, 3:2 and 3: Behold, now we are
the sons of God, and it doth not appear what we shall be; but we know, that when
he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And any man
that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.--Why purify
himself as he is pure? because, if they do not they cannot be like him."
This puts into motion a whole domino effect of questions concerning this.
1. If Jesus is saved, who "saved" him?
2. If Jesus was in need of "salvation", that would mean he sinned, would it not?
3. Can a person who sinned, then become sin and still be our Savior?
4. Was Jesus on another planet, living a life like we are now, needing a Savior at some other point in time?
5. The whole "Progressing to Godhood" would that mean that he has a resurrected body now since he was already on another "Earth"?
6. If he was on another planet at another time, how could he put the Resurrected body down, he once had, and be born yet again into another body here on this earth? (Reincarnation)
Is your head spinning yet? Where does that leave room for the simplicity of the Gospel. The gospel is simple.
Matthew 18:1-4
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is NOT a "Saved" being according to the Bible. The Biblical Jesus Christ is fully God and fully Man.
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 20:28 Thomas said to him [Jesus], “My Lord and my God!”
Let's look at Philippians
Philippians 2:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross
Verse 6 says Jesus existed in the “form of God.”The word form (Greek “morphe”) means “nature.” Nature is the essential attributes or characteristics of a living being or thing. Paul is stating here that Jesus is fully God; He has the nature of God. Then in verse 7 he writes that Jesus "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" or emptied himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men. Again we see the same Greek word “morphe” for form used to say Jesus took on the nature of a human. Jesus had 2 natures, fully God and fully man but was one person.
Jesus Himself stated he is God. John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." The utterance is a remarkable one. It does not merely assert that he was before Abraham, but before Abraham was, I AM. It identifies with the I AM of the Old Testament. Divinity has no past tense, no future tense, but always the present.
Cross reference with Exodus 3:14 "And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
The Late Prophet of the LDS Church, Gordon Hinckley, started, himself, that he doesn't worship the "Traditional" Jesus Christ, but a different one.
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=69e58c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
I dare say the Mormon Jesus and the Biblical Jesus Christ are not the Same Jesus. You have been warned in the Bible for False Christs. Are you following a false Jesus who can't save?
Matthew 24:24.
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
The Gospel is simple. It's man, and their man made religions that make it complicated.
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