Gospel Topics Chapter 1 Blomberg Part 3

I'm prepared to engage Mormon missionaries would knock on your door.

Perhaps the book Mormonism 101 will help Mormonism 101. Published by Baker at your favorite Christian bookstore .1 examines the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from respect you .1 Mormonism sponsored by Mormonism research ministry since 1979 Mormonism research ministry has been dedicated to equipping the body of Christ with answers regarding the Christian faith in a manner that expresses gentleness and respect. And now, your host for today's viewpoint on Mormonism. What about second Nephi 2523 welcome to this edition of viewpoint on Mormonism on your host, Bill McKeever, founder and director Mormonism research ministry and with me today is Eric Johnson. My colleague at MRM we continue looking at the first chapter of the book the LDS gospel topics series a scholarly engagement. The first chapter is titled our Mormons Christian and it's a critique by Dr. Craig Blomberg, an evangelical professor at Denver seminary.

There are some things that Dr. Blomberg says that we tend to question and one of them has to do with his suggestion that at some future day, the LDS church and actually revise their gospel topic essay titled our Mormons Christian and add a couple of points to it. Point number four. He says would be responding to the charge that latter-day Saints are a religion of works, not grace and also point number five that Latter Day Saints do not believe that Jesus provided a full and final atonement for the sins of humanity. On that same page.

He says this in responding to point for such a hypothetical revised document in my opinion he says should refer to the kinds of teachings one finds in Robert Millet's grace works that we've talked about grace works before the actual title of the book is after all we can do. Grace works at the title of Internet itself doesn't sound too promising, but I have to admit, and I've read a lot of Dr. Robert Millet's works. He is sometimes all over the map. He does say things that sound very promising but then as you read a little bit deeper into it is Mormonism just tends to pull him right back in but yet it's Dr. Blomberg that thinks that grace works contains ideas that I'm assuming Dr. Blomberg would show that Christianity and Mormonism were not too far apart on this subject will looking at page 128 of grace works. What does Dr. Millet say if, as we have suggested the works of man are necessary, then how can the words of the risen Lord, be true.

Quote my grace is sufficient for the" second Corinthians 12 nine that answer lies in the final words of Moron I am the last page of the book of Mormon gay come onto Christ and be perfected in him and deny yourselves of all ungodliness and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then this is grace sufficient for you, that's Moron I 1032 he says for us to enjoy the strength enabling power and purifying influence of the mighty arm of God we must do all in our power to receive it. Thus, we reach and stretch to take the hand of the Almighty.

We open our hand in our hearts to the proffered gift.

We strive with all our souls to love our maker and avoid unholy attitudes and behaviors and places and influence that distance us from the holy one, then his grace is sufficient for us to work after you do all these things than he gives the list then his grace is sufficient for us is that Christian teaching is that something that would endear me to this materiality of the LDS church. I don't think so. It's not that Millet doesn't say things that sound promising but again I think we have to take Millet in his proper context and also realize Dr. Millet was merely a professor at Brigham Young University. He was not a general authority. Why would you think that the LDS church would want to revise this essay. Our Mormons Christian when some of the things that Millet says sounds like it conflicts with what LDS leaders and church manuals have said that's why I can't see them ever doing this now. He goes on to talk about second Nephi 2523 that's going to compel us to come back to Robert Millet because he does tend to, as some commentators do. He combines Moron I 1032 that you just read. He quoted in the book. After all we can do. Grace works. He combines it in his commentary that he wrote with Joseph Fielding McConkie, the son of Mormon apostle Bruce McConkey what is he say at the bottom of page 40 Eric second Nephi 25, 23, remains a sticking point for many people a straightforward reading suggests that faithful Latter Day Saints do everything they possibly can. And then God graciously steps in and supplies grace for what remains. This sounds exactly like the teaching of the Judaizers in Galatia, whom Paul condemned, even if it did not, it should offer hope to no one because no one ever does all, one could have done. We miss opportunities daily for doing more good but when one learns that the passage may take this fact into account and mean quote after all you can do which can never add up to anything that would satisfy God. We are saved by grace" or quote. After all, there is nothing you could ever do to merit God's favor. So God saves us holy by his grace" then the believer from any denomination should acknowledge this as a thoroughly Christian concept. The problem is though that's not what the passage says he's gone back and he's re-worded it in order to make it sound satisfying. Though we don't have to guess where Dr. Blomberg got this idea, he tells us in footnote number 37 he says compare. Further, Stephen E. Robinson following Christ. The parable of the divers in more good news and this is the citation. He concludes in the footnote on page 87. In fact, having faith in the Savior repenting entering the covenant and staying put. Therein are all we can do most of us examine that for a while. What is repentance involving Mormonism. It means that you confess your sins and you never commit those sins ever again.

That's all repentance has been defined what is entering the covenant is just not agreeing that you're going to keep the covenants it means you're going to keep the covenants if you do not keep your covenants which are based on keeping the commandments then no Latter Day Saints can have the assurance that they're going to reach exultation not Robert Millet and Stephen E.

Robinson might have some independent views of how these verses need to be interpreted, but the question then becomes, how have LDS leaders interpreted this passage and they certainly don't seem to concur with what Stephen Robinson is saying. So while Dr. Blomberg might've been friends with Dr. Robinson while he was still alive.

Dr. Robinson does not speak for the church, neither does Robert Millet know BYU professor speaks for the church. We get our doctrine from the leadership the teachings from the leaders are found in church manuals now. Dr. Blomberg might feel it would be nice to have it understood that way. The problem is that's not the way the church has historically looked at second Nephi 2523. Now let's go back to Dr. Millet because Dr. Millet has spoken on second Nephi 25, 23, a number of times in the doctrinal commentary that he wrote with Joseph Fielding McConkie. As I said, who was the son of Mormon apostle Bruce McConkey Dr. Millet and Joseph Fielding McConkie said this on page 295 commenting on second Nephi 2523 know why is this important because Stephen Robinson says that his interpretation of second Nephi 2523 is rather common.

What he saying in footnote 51 found on page 125 of his book our Mormons Christian LDS commentators agree that the word after in this passage is used as a preposition of separation rather than of time the senses that apart from all we can do it is, ultimately, by the grace of Christ, that we are saved. This meaning is apparent from the fact that none of us actually does all he can do now that last phrase sounds very similar to what Dr. Blomberg said we don't do all we can do correct. That's why that passage sounds so suspicious it doesn't sound like something that God would ordain, but let's not go through scriptural gymnastics to try and make it sound better in appealing to us. Let's take it for what it says and let's take it for how LDS leaders have talked about it when Robinson says LDS commentators are agreed that the word after in this passage is used as a preposition of separation rather than of time will let's go to one of those LDS commentators let's go to Robert Millet and his commentary with Joseph Fielding McConkie. He says this at the top of page 295, he says. Indeed, it is only after a person has so performed a lifetime of works in faithfulness only after he has come to deny himself of all ungodliness and every worldly lusts that the grace of God that spiritual increment of power is efficacious in the language of Moron I he's quoting from Moron. I 1030 2J come unto Christ and be perfected in him and deny yourselves of all ungodliness and EP shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength then is is grace sufficient for you, that by his grace, he may be perfect in Christ. Let me add to that what is said in volume 2 of the doctrinal commentary of the book of Mormon. You read volume 1. This is volume 2, page 258 it says people do not earn eternal life. There is no scriptural reference whatsoever to anyone earning the right to go over God's and angels are rather according to the words of the prophets. It is so attested in the Scriptures, almost 100 times, people inherit eternal life. But then he goes on to say after we have done all that we can do after we have denied ourselves of ungodliness and worldly lusts, then, is the grace of God sufficient for us, then we are sanctified in Christ and eventually made perfect in Christ. Sounds very similar to what you just read from volume 1 of the doctrinal commentary on the book of Mormon. But does that sound like what Stephen Robinson was saying that we have a number of quotes dozens I will say quotes from different leaders if they want to go to our website MRM.org/2 Nephi 2523 two Nephi 25.3 no hyphens and you can see dozens of similar types of quotes that were given right now on that verse I want to go back to Millet and McConkie statement about how we don't earn eternal life we inherit eternal life. Sounds like a bit of equivocation there but let me just psyched for you. Statement from Thomas Monson who was the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

He said it is the celestial glory which we seek. It is in the presence of God, we desire to dwell. It is a forever family in which we want membership such blessings must be earned now.

Millet said we don't earn them. Monson also said Pres. Spencer W. Kimball has always been a prolific worker. He spent several summers working on a book which he later entitled the miracle of forgiveness as one reads the book, particularly the first portion. One wonders if anyone will make it to the celestial kingdom. However, in reading the final portion, it is apparent that with effort. All can qualify with effort he said thank you for listening.

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