INTRODUCTION

This article discusses in-depth the reason for the many counterfeits and deviations of Christianity we see around us today, and then compares Mormonism with the gospel taught by Christ's apostles in the New Testament. In order to gain a deeper understanding of this subject, we will also examine the biblical teachings on Satan and the fall, God's redemption plan, the Redeemer and the cross, the attempts by false prophets to propagate a different gospel, and the spiritual weapon that God has given us for our protection against deception.



SATAN'S STRATEGY

As we read through the Bible we can see the trail of tragedy, disaster and suffering that Satan has left behind him in his ongoing attempts to thwart the purposes of God.

From the very beginning he's done his utmost to bring about the downfall of the human race. However, God has never deserted us, not even when we have let Him down. Immediately after Satan had succeeded in masterminding the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, God announced the first of a long list of Messianic promises about a coming Redeemer who would reconcile fallen mankind to Himself and at the same time bring about Satan's downfall (Genesis 3:14-15).

Later on He revealed that this Redeemer would come through the line of Abraham, the Hebrew patriarch (Genesis 12:3, 22:18). Satan then pulled out all the stops in his efforts to wipe out the Hebrew race, in an effort to prevent God's promise from coming to fruition. After they had become enslaved in Egypt, he incited Pharaoh to issue the decree that all baby boys born to Hebrew women must be killed at birth (Exodus 1:15). But the midwives made the excuse that these women were so robust that they gave birth before they could get to the scene.

Following that he made numerous attempts to bring about the downfall and ultimate destruction of the Hebrew nation by enticing them into idolatry. But God's hand was on His people and He ensured that there was always a faithful remnant.

Then in the New Testament we read about the birth of the Redeemer, Christ our Lord. Time was fast running out for Satan, so he frantically renewed his efforts. When the wise men approached King Herod enquiring about the baby who had been born to be King of the Jews, Satan put the suspicion into his head that this child might one day become a threat to his throne (Matthew 2:1-3, 16). So he gave his soldiers in the neighbourhood where Christ had been born, the order to kill every single boy child under the age of two. However, an angel warned Joseph to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus until the danger was over (Matthew 2:13-18).

During Christ's lifetime Satan continued with his ongoing vendetta by doing his utmost to prevent Christ from carrying out His planned redemption of the human race. Firstly he tempted Him to take a different route; one that would bring Him popularity and fame rather than the suffering and death that was part of God's redemption plan (Matthew 4:1-11). When that failed, he incited the citizens from Nazareth (and others, too) to kill Him before the time came for Him to go to the cross (Luke 4:28-30, Matthew 26:4, Mark 14:1, Luke 13:31, John 5:18, John 7:1, 25, 8:37, 11:53, etc.)



SATAN'S WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

After Christ's vicarious death on our behalf on the cross at Calvary and the formation of the early church as recorded in the book of Acts, Satan turned his attention to the church. He did his utmost to have them wiped out right at the start, by putting it into the hearts of the enemies of Christ to persecute, torture and slaughter all who followed Him. He is the one responsible for the suffering of Christ's church throughout the ages. But his plan backfired, because persecution has the effect of refining and purifying the church. And this always makes the remnant stronger.

At that stage he turned to what he was best at, deception. He knew that if he could deceive the human race into believing in a false Christ and a false gospel this would be their ruination, as it would prevent them from attaining salvation. And whereas God has provided only one way of salvation, Satan has fabricated a great many counterfeits. He fills the earth with his lies by sending out false prophets, false teachers and the like, who continuously trickle out an endless stream of pseudo "Christian" gospels. They guide their unsuspecting victims down paths that don't lead to salvation or eternal life, but right into Satan's hands.

It's all too easy to be taken in by those who promote counterfeit gospels and unbiblical philosophies, because they don't come across as evil or repulsive people. On the contrary, the Bible warns us that:

..... Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness ..... (2 Corinthians 11:14-15, KJV).

God knows that we are no match against the evil one. We're only flesh and blood. He fooled Adam and Eve, and he'll fool us too. But God has given us Satan-proof spiritual protection in His standard of truth and Sword of the Spirit, the Bible (Ephesians 6:11-17). By using the Bible as our spiritual weapon we can decimate any false teaching that comes our way. Remember how the Lord Jesus defended Himself against Satanic attack by quoting the Word of God (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)? If it was good enough for Him, then it's good enough for us.

It's a fallacy to think that Satan's main aim is to turn us into depraved and disgusting specimens of humanity. On the contrary, he doesn't mind us going to church or being religious. His primary concern is to prevent us from coming to salvation. And God's chosen way of salvation is not through membership of a church organization or through religion. It's through a saving relationship with the biblical Jesus Christ (John 14:6). So Satan knows that if he can keep us preoccupied with churchianity, religion and self-effort, then he'll have us exactly where he wants us, eternally separated from our Creator God. (This is not saying that we shouldn't attend a place of corporate worship. In Hebrews 10:25 the Bible exhorts believers not to give up the practice of meeting together.)

The apostle Paul wrote this letter of warning to the Corinthians:

But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, KJV)

The following is some of what God's spiritual weapon, the Bible, teaches us about Christ and the gospel of salvation:



THE TRUE JESUS

The Bible doesn't tell us that Jesus was "like" God, or that He was "a" God or "another" God. It clearly and plainly states that He was God. It also tells us that there is only one God, and there always has been only one God, eternally.

..... I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. (Isaiah 44:6, KJV).

..... I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me (Isaiah 46:9, KJV).

In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was not any thing made that was made ..... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us ..... (John 1:1-3, 14, KJV) (Italics inserted by the writer.)

No man hath seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him (John 1:18, KJV)

Who [Christ] being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his [God's] person, and upholding all things by the word of his power ..... (Hebrews 1:3,) KJV.

For in Him [Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9, KJV)

..... God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself ..... (2 Corinthians 5:19, KJV).

(The biblical concept of the trinitarian deity is very simply explained in the article Understanding the Biblical God .)



THE TRUE CHRISTIAN GOSPEL

After His resurrection and just before He ascended to heaven, the Lord Jesus instructed His followers to be His witnesses throughout the world (Acts 1:8). Their gospel was to be all about Him, the promised Messiah foretold by Moses and the Prophets (Luke 24:27) and the seed of Abraham through whom the world would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). His followers were to spread the good news that by His sinless life, His atoning death and His triumphant resurrection, the Lord Jesus had fulfilled God's promises of a coming Redeemer, thereby paying the price of man's salvation, which included both forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life.

By sacrificing His life and shedding His blood on our behalf on the cross at Calvary, Christ ratified the New Covenant of Grace. Because He represented mankind and took upon Himself the penalty for our sins, whosoever identifies themselves with Him by faith as their Redeemer, will freely receive both forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Those who are His will no longer face judgment for sin, as He took our judgment in our place on the cross and paid the price, once for all, in full.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15, KJV)

God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them ..... (2 Corinthians 5:19, KJV).

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross (Colossians 2:13-14, KJV). (Italics inserted by writer.)

Notice that the Garden of Gethsemane doesn't come into the atonement at all and nor does the name of Adam. The cross was the place where Christ paid the terrible price for the forgiveness of our sins. Colossians 2:14, printed above, is only one of many scriptures that are emphatic about the cross being the place where our atonement for sin was wrought. But counterfeit gospels always do their utmost to downplay the cross, because that is where Satan, sin, death and hell were defeated on our behalf. In line with this, the LDS teaches that Christ's atonement took place primarily in the Garden of Gethsemane, and they look upon His death on the cross as something that should not be dwelt upon or given predominance. Consequently, they have banned the cross on their premises, and have adopted the use of pagan symbols instead. No Christian symbols will be seen anywhere in Mormonism. And Mormon women do not wear a crucifix. (See the link provided at the bottom of this page, to the article, Mormon Opposition to the Cross.)

The fact that Christ had died on the cross as our substitute sin bearer, to earn the forgiveness of our sins, was the good news that Jesus wanted His followers to tell the world. He wanted them to be witnesses of who He was and what He'd done for us. That's why their gospel was all about Him, and why the cross was always central to their message:

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:22-24, KJV) (Italics inserted by writer.)

THE MORMON GOSPEL

It needs to be noted that the LDS gospel, discussed below, is nothing other than an outright, strongly worded attack on the church of Jesus Christ and its doctrines, as well as on the reliability of the Bible.

The Mormon gospel (meaning good news) is that God allowed the church for which Christ had died to became apostate, that their teachings are an abomination in God's sight; and that He also permitted the Bible that He gave us as our standard of truth to protect us against spiritual error to become corrupted and unreliable. Furthermore, contrary to what the Bible says, Christ's atonement took place primarily in the Garden of Gethsemane and it reverses the curse of death, thereby guaranteeing universal resurrection. It also open the way for us to earn the right to the forgiveness of our own, personal sins, through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the LDS church. Faith in Joseph Smith as the prophet of God is also necessary for salvation.

The first effect (of the atonement) is to secure to all mankind alike, exemption from the penalty of the fall, thus, providing a plan of General Salvation. The second effect is to open a way for Individual Salvation whereby mankind may secure remission of personal sins. As these sins are the result of individual acts, it is just that forgiveness for them should be conditioned on individual compliance with prescribed requirements, obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel (Talmage, Articles of Faith, page 87).

All men are saved by grace alone without any act on their part, meaning they are resurrected. (LDS Apostle Bruce McConkie, What the Mormons Think of Christ, page 28).

After this instruction, you will be responsible for your own sins; it is a desirable honor that you should so walk before our heavenly Father as to save yourselves; we are all responsible to God for the manner we improve the light and wisdom given by our Lord to enable us to save ourselves. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by President and Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith, 1976, page 227)

Redemption from personal sins can only be obtained through obedience to the requirements of the [Mormon] gospel, and a life of good works ..... The Sectarian Dogma of Justification by Faith Alone has exercised an influence for evil (Mormon Apostle James Talmage, pages 478-479).

There is no salvation outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Bruce McConkie, "Mormon Doctrine," page 670).

There is no salvation without accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, (Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1, page 188.)

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the [LDS] Gospel. (3rd LDS Article of Faith.) (Emphasis by editor.)

The end result is that what Christ achieved on the cross is deprecated and Joseph Smith and his LDS church are made out to be the heroes of the day and the gateway to God. But Christ said:

I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6, KJV)

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12, KJV)

Nowhere does the Bible say that salvation from sin is through membership of or obedience to a religious organization or a specific church.

NOTE: The LDS gospel also includes their story of eternal progression, pre-existence and their three degrees of glory in the afterlife, all of which is unbiblical.

At this point Mormons need to carefully consider the fact that their doctrines on deity and on Christ Himself, as well as on His atonement, are all unbiblical. Besides which, their teachings on the gospel do not fit in with the "good news" that Christ commanded his followers to preach, i.e. the gospel was to be all about Him, about how he had sacrificed His life on the cross as our substitute to earn the forgiveness of our sins, and about how His resurrection had proved Him to be exactly whom He had claimed to be. Instead the LDS has an "another" gospel which is not biblical, and nor is it it the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is Joseph Smith's gospel and centers around himself, his claims and his unbiblical ideas. (c/f 2 Corinthians 11:3-4)



CHANGES IN THE PRESENTATION OF THE LDS GOSPEL

It needs to be mentioned at this stage that for some time now the LDS has been conducting a publicity campaign that has cost them millions of dollars, and that deceptively promotes them as being a Christian denomination. In line with this they have changed their lesson books so to present their teachings on both the atonement and salvation in a more biblical light. (They have made these books available on the Internet.) However, in reality nothing has changed. They still believe they are the only "true" church and that they alone hold the "authority" for salvation. And although they teach that Christ's atonement covered the forgiveness of our sins, they also insist that we are saved through obedience to their laws and ordinances, and this includes a full tithing to the LDS church. In other words in order to deceive folk into believing that their teachings are Christian, they are using the tactic of "double speak."

The truth is that the only person who has authority for the gospel is the Lord Jesus Christ. And He earned that authority when He shed his blood and died on the cross at Calvary, to cover the penalty for the sins of those who trust in Him as their Messiah.



THE NEW COVENANT

That the Lord Jesus had ratified the New Covenant of grace was glorious, good news for mankind. But it was bad news for Satan. Man's fallen state and his inability to live up to God's standards of holiness in his own strength, no longer meant that salvation was out of his reach. Instead, because of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, our salvation is now ensured, as it doesn't depend on the inadequate abilities of fallen man but rests solely upon the power of the mighty Christ and upon his abilities and saving work.

As we can see, in Christ God has provided a plan of salvation that caters for our fallen condition. This means that there is hope for everybody. No matter how awful a sinner we may think we have been, or how inadequate we may feel, we all have the opportunity of being forgiven and reconciled to God on the grounds of what Christ achieved on the cross at Calvary, provided we take our eyes off of ourselves and our own inadequacies, and instead put our trust in Christ, His power and His atoning sacrifice. This is what prompted Paul to proclaim, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33). Even those who doubt that they will have the ability to cope with the problems and trials encountered on the Christian walk need have no fear. As Paul testifies, when we are weak that's just when the power and the grace of Christ makes us strong (2 Corinthians 12:9).

This is what prompted Satan to begin propagating false gospels. He knows what his end will be, and his aim is to take as many of mankind (who were the pinnacle of God's creation), down with him. And it seems that he had been having some success along this line with the church at Galatia. So Paul sent them a strong letter of rebuke on this subject:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galations 1:6-8, KJV)

Counterfeits of Christianity generally appeal to the natural tendency of fallen man to be self-reliant (which is a subtle form of independence from God). So it's an easy matter to convince folk that God would have us earn our right to salvation through our own performance. Although this isn't exactly the same thing, it's similar to being back under the Old Covenant of Law again. However, the New Covenant of Grace superseded the Old Covenant of Law for the simple reason that it is a better covenant.



CHRIST'S ATONEMENT

Satan would like us to forget all about the cross, because that's where he was defeated by Christ. And one common denominator in all false gospels, is that Christ's atonement on the cross is kept in the background. As already mentioned, the LDS has gone one step further, and has actually banned the presence of the cross on their premises. Their excuse that this has been done out of respect because it was there that Christ was killed, doesn't hold water and reveals their ignorance concerning salvation. They have twisted the facts. Christ went to the cross voluntarily. And He wasn't killed. He gave His life freely, for the likes of us. It was there, on the cross, that He vicariously paid the price for our sins, and defeated Satan, sin, death and hell. This means that the cross was not the place of defeat where evil won the day, but of victory, where Christ won our salvation.

We'll never find Satan's messengers knocking at our door with the good news that by His substitutionary death on the cross Christ atoned for the sins of those who trust in Him, and that "in Him" we have forgiveness, reconciliation with God, eternal life and every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3). Instead they'll promote another gospel, one that features their organization as the only possessor of truth, and draws the attention of their followers away from the true biblical message of salvation. And this is precisely what Satan wants, because he knows that once we start relying on Christ alone for our salvation he will have lost his hold on us.

The crux of the atonement is that Christ paid the full redemption price for all our personal sins, past, present and future, with His own blood and by His suffering and death on the cross. As Paul says in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Counterfeit Christianity is no different to counterfeit money. It has no value. When they step into eternity, those relying on a counterfeit gospel will find themselves spiritually bankrupt.

Should you have any queries, you are welcome to contact this site at reply@bibtruth.com

The first two links lead to articles that have a bearing on the above discussion, and the last to an article that reveals the vast difference between the LDS's idea of salvation, and salvation by Christ:

Mormon Opposition to the Cross

LDS Temples Compared with those of Biblical Times

Mormonism's Individual Salvation Falls Short

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