If you run a search on the internet for the characteristics of true Christianity, you’ll find a plethora of opinions! One recurring theme I kept seeing is a list of four main characteristics the majority of the body of Christ agrees upon, thus identifying them as a traditional (‘orthodox’) Christian.
It should come as no surprise the LDS Church has rejected all four. Its adherents quickly adopted Joseph Smith’s dogma without the blink of an eye, and regrettably, have done so ever since. Here are the four characteristics –
Acceptance of the Bible as the divinely inspired, infallible, sole authoritative, Word of God
God put on human flesh, and lived on earth in the physical man Jesus
Jesus Christ atoned for the sins of all mankind through His death on the cross
Jesus’ resurrection from the grave on the third day after His death, is proof He is God
In direct opposition to Christianity, is an LDS document known as the 13 Articles of Faith, written by Joseph Smith in 1842. We’re listing #1-3, & 8 here. If you’d like to read all of them in context, click on the link above.
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.
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.
The four characteristics of true Christianity can be seen in our statement of faith you can access here – Life After Ministries Statement of Faith, and we’ve listed them below as well. In our list, you’ll find we’ve included 182 biblical verses. For just a moment think about this. The Church would have to reject all of these! How can they honestly tell people they’re a Christian organization if they reject this much of the Bible?
When you can, be sure you share the truth with a Mormon, and explain how the body of Christ operates!
Life After Ministries’ Statement of Faith
Bible
We believe the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, written by men as they were moved on by the Holy Spirit, and is the sole authority for the Christian’s faith and conduct. There is no other gospel, no other scripture or testament from which we receive God’s instruction to us.
The Trinity
We believe there is One True God existing in three persons, equally divine and equally God, working together to bring about creation and redemption.
God
We believe God has always existed, is perfect and holy in all ways, is not an exalted man, nor is He a cosmic force. We believe there is no other god except for the One, and Only God of the Bible.
Isaiah 43:10-11, 44:5-6, 45:5-7, 18, 21
Jesus
We believe that Jesus is God incarnate. This means God came to earth, and put on human flesh to redeem His creation of mankind.
We believe that it is through His substitutionary work on the cross alone we are saved, and not by any works on our part, and not in any other place outside of the cross.
We believe He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.
We believe He is fully God and fully man and not a created being.
We believe He was resurrected on the third day after His crucifixion, thereby giving us eternal life.
We believe in His literal, visible return to earth.
John 1:1, 12-14, 34-36, 8:24, 58, 10:30, 12:32
Holy Spirit
We believe the Holy Spirit came forth from the Father and Son to indwell each and every believer. We believe He indwells the believer to convict of sin and righteousness. He is the Comforter whom Jesus promised would regenerate, sanctify and empower all those who believe in Him. It is by Him through mankind that He is glorified.
Human Condition
We believe all men are sinners by nature and choice who are in need of a Savior. We believe those that repent of their sins and accept Jesus into their heart as their God and Savior will be saved from eternal damnation and will be renewed by the work of the Holy Spirit. We believe man came into existence at the time God created all things and not before. We are His creation and did not exist with Him from eternities past.
Rom. 3:23, 5:8, 12, 6:23, 8:19-22
Salvation
It is because of God’s love and grace alone that we have hope for salvation. We believe we are saved and have eternal life with God in heaven because Jesus died for us on a cross paying the penalty for our sins. We believe because of our sin there is nothing we can do to qualify living in heaven with God the Father except for the atoning sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. No church denomination, no works, no other name will give us salvation except for Jesus Christ.
The Church
We believe in the Church of Jesus Christ, a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all believers are members. We believe it has existed without ceasing since the time of Christ. We believe we have been commissioned by Jesus to go out and make disciples of men. We believe we have been given this authority by God the Father through Jesus Christ.
No comments yet.