Mormonism and Christianity.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] My name is Steve. This is your first time here. I’m one of the pastors of Village Church [0:04] Want to welcome you? Hopefully you have power if not welcome to air conditioning. Isn’t it nice? [0:12] actually if [0:13] When storms like this happen and power outages, I want to encourage you [0:18] Those of you that are in groups check on the people in your community groups. Make sure they’re doing alright [0:24] Invite them to stay the night

[0:26] If you’re like me that might be uncomfortable [0:29] You’re afraid they’re gonna see you in your pajamas or something. I don’t know but be hospitable. That’s what communities all about [0:36] Check on each other love on each other. If you have a need right now because of the storm [0:41] Don’t hesitate let one of the pastors know let a community group leader know [0:45] We would love to help you if you need construction needs. It won’t be me coming out. I will cause more damage [0:54] Believe it or not, you’ll need someone to do more work once I leave but I’ll I’ll try to find somebody to help you

[1:00] Talking to somebody a little earlier about similar situation. We’re here to help each other. We’re here [1:05] To be helps when burdens are there so don’t hesitate to seek it when it’s needed [1:11] Also, secondly take care of some business Nate was talking about village Palooza

[1:17] The the auction that we’re having for our East Asia missions opportunities that are coming up now [1:23] You guys have really done a great job of giving things that we can auction or providing services [1:28] That can be auctioned and now in July 22nd. Here’s the key. I don’t want us to come together with the mentality [1:35] Okay, I’ve given something [1:38] I’m out [1:39] Alright now I want you to come on July 22nd with a realization that that those things are great, but bids are awesome

[1:48] All right, it’s kind of like good to great here. All right, it’s good that you gave something to be auctioned [1:54] It would be great if you would also bid like if there’s something that’s worth [1:59] $20 that doesn’t mean the bid should be $20 [2:03] Okay, because then we’re just breaking even and we’ve spent more money than we have actually raised. All right, so come [2:11] willing to sacrifice come willing to give come willing to help and God is going to [2:17] Multiply that which we sacrifice for there’s gonna be some great stuff that’s gonna be up for bids

[2:23] I’m gonna be bid bidding on a couple of things that I’d like to get my hands on but be careful because I’ll probably [2:29] Start higher than you want to go [2:32] Because that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to raise money. So come with generosity. You’re not coming just to get stuff [2:39] All right, you’re coming to help. All right, you’re coming to live the mission by being a sender on that night [2:45] So we live as sent people but also part of being sent is the fact that at times [2:50] Kind of like in the New Testament would Paul would go on his missionary journeys the churches would take collections to send

[2:56] All right, and they took the identity as a sender in that regard and some of you your sending [3:02] Capacity is great, which means that if there’s nothing that you want bit on it anyway [3:09] All right and give it to your grandmother. I don’t know [3:12] But come with a realistic expectation of what your sending capacity is and bring a checkbook [3:19] All right, because that’s what I’m talking about. I’m a preacher, you know, that’s normal, right? All right [3:25] All right, and then and then secondly by the time we let out all right

[3:30] Or you hope that we let out it’s it’s gonna be around 95 to 98 degrees [3:35] Okay, I’m gonna ask that [3:37] Some of you really help today [3:41] All right [3:41] We all this stuff is torn down put into trailers and it’s driven away [3:47] All right. Now I have a great and we have a great group of people

[3:51] That that stay behind and help us tear down [3:55] I’m gonna ask those of you that aren’t [3:58] Normally on the tear down crew because of the heat [4:02] The more the merrier today [4:04] Which means the more people that are staying behind to help us tear down the less time it will help us to tear down [4:11] So unless you have something serious

[4:15] Like you’re heading to the hospital [4:18] That kind of serious I’m not talking about you want to get your name in at TGI Fridays [4:23] All right, that’s not what I’m talking about today. I’m talking unless there’s something serious [4:27] I’m gonna ask that you make a sacrifice and you stay behind and help tear down [4:31] Alright, you know if you’re not like physically able that’s one thing [4:36] But if you are and you just want to leave come on help us out, please

[4:39] I don’t normally make requests like that, but there’s gonna be really extreme heat and I don’t want our crews [4:46] You know getting any type of heat exhaustion today. It does not take long [4:50] So please help us out with that today. All right, I’m not gonna beg anymore [4:54] I don’t want to be seen as a beggar but today I had to all right [4:57] Part of part of church, right? All right now today [5:01] We have a task in front of us where it’s gonna be a little different than than a normal

[5:08] Sermon that I guess you would normally come in here in Jeremiah 29 7 [5:14] The scriptures reveal God reveals to the prophet Jeremiah that Israel is going into captivity and that God is actually sending them [5:23] For a specific purpose and ultimately that purpose was to spread his fame and bring Jesus to redeem the world [5:31] But before they go into captivity God reveals to Isaiah [5:34] He says work for the good of the city that you are in and this is very complicated because they’re heading into a time [5:42] When those that are gonna be ruling over them are not seeking their good

[5:45] But rather seeking their harm and God says do not seek their harm [5:49] Rather seek their good plant gardens marry your daughters off to men and seek the [5:54] welfare of the city that you will be in because what that’s going to do is is going to propel the name and fame of [6:01] God all right now that

[6:04] Idea is alive in the gospel [6:07] We are to seek the welfare of the city and the way in which that we do that [6:11] Ultimately is by engaging culture with the message of the gospel and also the life that the gospel gives us [6:19] All right in a democracy, which is ultimately the culture that we are in that can get very tricky [6:25] And it can be very polarizing [6:28] You can go from one extreme to the other you can say seeking the welfare of the city is being very

[6:34] Militant on some type of view or you can say that seeking the welfare of the city is staying out of it all together [6:40] All right, but we are heading into a season and I just realized something I mean for this to be on the week of July the [6:48] 4th I didn’t even think about that [6:50] Because this is going to be one of the few times that I address an issue like this [6:53] And I didn’t realize what week I was actually doing it on but happy the happy fourth. I don’t know [6:58] Welcome patriotism. I don’t know but

[7:03] We’re heading into a season where we are choosing leaders [7:07] All right, and there comes a big temptation when we’re doing that to pick a team and [7:15] Just be all about that all right, but I don’t want to do that for many many reasons [7:21] All right, but ultimately what I want you to understand is that there’s one thing that trumps everything [7:27] Where being someone with faith in Jesus Christ is concerned and that is the gospel? [7:32] Right. We are people who have a hope in a kingdom that is not of this world

[7:36] But it is a kingdom that we trust will come [7:39] But in seeking the welfare of the city [7:42] I do believe it does call us to be involved in the process [7:45] But it calls us to be involved in the process with truth and the first [7:51] Ultimate truth where that is concerned is being honest with ourselves [7:54] All right, and there comes a temptation

[7:59] Where the lines of truth and error can become very very blurry [8:07] When we really want [8:11] One side to win [8:13] All right, and my [8:16] Suspicion heading into the season is that there’s going to come a temptation and there already have come very many questions [8:23] Where different world views of different people are concerned in this week and next week? I want to tackle

[8:31] The two prevailing worldviews that we’re going to be dealing with in the coming months and ultimately not [8:37] For you to vote one way or the other but for you to engage all sides [8:41] With the love and hope that we have in Jesus Christ. And so today [8:48] What I want to do is I want to dive headlong into a question that I’ve been getting because I believe the lines have already [8:55] been blurred by a lot of different people whereas [8:58] Mormonism and Christianity are concerned

[9:01] All right. I do believe that the lines have gotten very blurry as to our Mormons Christians [9:07] Is the Church of Latter-day Saints of Jesus Christ a denomination of Christianity? [9:11] Do they believe the same things that we believe in are they our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ? [9:17] All right now I can tell you I have a little background in this [9:21] number one from a few [9:23] Seminary classes and the number two from an active dialogue that I currently have with a few LDS missionaries in the area

[9:30] And so what I want to do today is it’s very [9:33] Tempting to turn this into like a seminary lecture [9:36] Where there’s like charts on the screens and I’m like get out your notebooks and and all that type of thing [9:41] That’s not what I want to do this morning. Nor do I want it to devolve into what is also very tempting and that is a [9:50] conversation where [9:53] Mockery and caricaturing of different aspects of the of someone’s faith are concerned

[9:58] I don’t want to do that what I want to do this morning simply have an honest and open [10:04] It’s gonna be a monologue, but I hope it turns into a dialogue within our church [10:08] But more so in the culture where we’re engaged in culture [10:11] And we’re equipped to actually represent truth when error comes into play [10:17] All right, and what I want to do is I just want to jump headlong into it and be very honest with you that [10:23] Mormonism on the surface

[10:28] Appears similar to biblical Christianity [10:31] It does [10:33] That’s one of the first things that you will be confronted with if you dialogue with anyone in the LDS faith now [10:41] I’ll tell you straight up that they prefer [10:45] To be called Churches Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [10:49] The moniker or the fray of the term Mormonism is not one that they prefer but for our purposes

[10:55] I’m gonna use that because it’s just far shorter. All right, so for my purposes. It’s just shorter [11:01] All right. I’m not doing it to be a jerk or anything [11:03] It’s just and the other ones really long and sometimes I say LDS and they’re like LSD. What are you? [11:08] What is he talking about? No, no, no, no, no, no [11:11] That’s not what I’m talking about [11:13] But on the surface because when you speak to them

[11:16] I want you to understand that you are not speaking with people who have a [11:20] personally wicked agenda [11:23] You know there they do not think that they’re seeking your harm [11:27] But they believe that they’re obeying Jeremiah 29 7 as we would in the same way [11:33] You will hear many of the same phrases you’ll you’ll hear, you know the name of God [11:37] You will hear the name of Jesus you’ll hear Son of God. You’ll hear word of God

[11:41] So on the surface there seems to be a great deal of [11:48] Unity between [11:50] our two systems [11:52] Because after all they believe in Jesus they believe in the atonement. They believe he lived a perfect life. They believe [12:00] That he died on the cross for the sins of humanity and that he rose again

[12:06] All of those things are exactly the same and it’s not they they [12:11] Devere Jesus [12:13] They love him. They see him as the Savior [12:19] but what I want to do today is I want to get past terminology and [12:24] Help us understand that at the core [12:29] There are

[12:31] key [12:32] Differences that are very important for us to understand especially entering into this season when so many questions [12:39] Are gonna arise [12:41] right and [12:43] The big difference is going to be the issue of origins [12:48] All right, and I just want to start there. All right with not just the origins of

[12:54] Faith but of the origins of God of the origins of humanity [12:59] the origins of Jesus of our relation with God and then the origin of [13:04] Biblical rebellion and the origin of what redemption really is so to really start off today [13:10] I want us to to really understand that they are committed to and they believe that they have true belief [13:18] All right, but in that belief system Mormonism redefines the origin of God’s and [13:26] humanity inside of that system and I pluralized it in parentheses

[13:33] Because [13:34] Inside of Christianity we are what I would call biblical Christianity where we believe that the scripture is absolute truth [13:42] That’s how I’m gonna define biblical Christianity [13:47] We believe that there is an ultimate authority by an eternal God who has no beginning [13:53] He has no ending. He’s completely self-sufficient. He does not have [13:58] You know a family tree per se

[14:01] Right. There’s just God [14:04] Revelation calls him the alpha and the omega [14:07] Isaiah says that he knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning because he has seen it all [14:12] And he’s been there from all time. He has no beginning [14:16] He has no end but inside of the Mormon faith there [14:22] Is a difference where that is concerned, right? I want to begin with a quote

[14:27] Where this is concerned from a a Christian apologist [14:31] Protestant apologist his name is dr. James white and [14:35] Here’s what he has saying. I think it’s gonna be up on the screen. I can’t be certain of that because I don’t make those [14:41] Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith jr. All right, so so I want to stop there because I got ahead of myself

[14:48] Mormonism’s founder Joseph Smith jr. He was a man [14:51] back after the second Great Awakening happened in the United States [14:54] Which was a revival that took place after the first Great Awakening [14:58] He had an experience that he proclaimed where God appeared to him and revealed to him that [15:05] The churches that he was seeking to be a member of were all quote-unquote apostate [15:10] Which means that they were corrupt or they were not true

[15:13] They were false churches and that he needed to begin a new work that would restore [15:19] The gospel of Jesus Christ you take that quote down really quick Laura and put up a previous quote [15:24] From the book the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ [15:28] All right [15:28] And here’s what basically the tenet of Mormonism will teach and this is from their own publication [15:33] But some inspired people such as Martin Luther and John Calvin if you are familiar with

[15:38] The Reformation period of church history. These are two men that were highly involved in that [15:43] They recognized that practices and doctrines had been changed or lost [15:47] They tried to reform the churches to which they belonged without priesthood authority [15:52] However, Christ gospel could not be returned to its original form [15:57] All right. Now the key there is priesthood [15:59] authority

[16:01] right now that is [16:03] Joseph Smith believed that for there to be a restoration of the true gospel that there needed to be a biblical [16:10] Priesthood very similar to the Old Testament set up in which there would be a line like the tribe of Levi from the Old Testament [16:17] Where there was real authority in which people were really hearing from God and speaking to the people now as Christians [16:23] We believe that that is the Bible that that is the closed revelation ultimately ultimate authority of God [16:29] Well, that’s a key difference and what it leads to

[16:33] Or what it led to after the second great awakening was Joseph Smith giving new [16:37] revelation to a group of people of the way God’s [16:41] revelation really happened and [16:43] So he somewhat recast a vision of who God is and the way in which he did that [16:50] was to say that between the time of the death of the Apostles and [16:54] His life that the church had gone completely apostate and the scriptures had been

[17:00] recast in [17:02] A corrupt form that it could not ultimately be trusted which has led them to have three different [17:08] books added to the scriptures [17:11] The Book of Mormon [17:13] Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price now Doctrine and Covenants is an open-ended [17:19] And they believe inspired by God book in which those who followed in the line of Joseph Smith who are considered the LDS

[17:27] presidents [17:28] continue [17:30] To prophesy so they continue to add to that book [17:33] That is why their faith or the tenets of their faith can change [17:38] That’s why certain aspects of it are different today than they were at the time of Joseph Smith because they say that they’ve [17:45] Received revelation from God in which things have changed

[17:50] right now [17:51] Back to the quote from James White now. There’s a great more deal to it, but trust me. You don’t want to be here till 5 p.m.

[17:58] Here’s what dr. [17:59] James White says about ultimately where it led Joseph Smith inside of doctrine and covenants and that is that Mormonism’s founder [18:06] Joseph Smith jr. Taught an extreme form of polytheism [18:09] LDS prefer the term plurality of gods wherein the distinction between God and man is abolished [18:16] God and man are of the same species and the difference between them is one of degree [18:23] Exaltation not one of being God himself as an exalted man who lived

[18:29] Excuse me on another planet and today lives upon a planet that circles a star named colob [18:35] There are gods before there were gods before him. There will be many gods after him in fact for many [18:42] Mormons the number of gods is infinite [18:45] Now I quote James White here [18:48] Because what he’s writing there is not something that he came up with but rather it was in an interview with a Mormon priest [18:55] Where he asked if there’s one true God and he said no well how many gods could there be and he says an infinite number

[19:02] Okay, so what you see here is a structural difference of [19:08] origin [19:09] That we in Genesis 3 5

[19:13] when [19:15] Excuse me rather before that in Genesis chapter 1 when it says that in that God [19:21] Scooped up some dirt formed man and breathed life, okay [19:28] scripture [19:30] Reveals that this is the beginning of man [19:33] Okay, that there was not life for us

[19:39] before that [19:40] Okay, that God chose at a specific point in time to breathe life into man and from that point forward [19:47] Humanity has existed what the Mormon faith teaches is is that God

[19:55] Before any of this had a great deal of spirit children and [20:00] That is whom we are dependent. We are descendants of and before we became humans. That is who we were [20:06] And that what earth is is earth is God’s [20:11] passageway for us to become as he is and that God is a human being [20:19] But he’s a spirit human [20:22] So inside of that it can get very tricky, but that is the ultimate thrust of the faith

[20:29] That we existed before we ever came to earth and that we will continue to exist in [20:35] Eternity but in a system in which we can progress and becoming like God to our ultimately we can be the God of our own [20:43] planet or [20:45] section of the universe [20:46] Okay [20:47] That is the major tenet of the origin of God and humanity

[20:53] That God is not unlike us and who he is [20:59] He’s just simply progressed further [21:01] And ultimately Jesus is very similar [21:04] So now let’s unpack that a little bit. So we have God and inside of Christianity [21:10] We believe that Jesus is God. Okay, we believe God the Father God the Son God the Holy Spirit the Trinity [21:16] Now I can say that that can be very hard in one sense to wrap your minds around

[21:23] But what’s very helpful in that is if you go and listen to the sermon on marriage [21:27] I discussed a little bit about how that really works out and why God said it’s not good for man to be alone [21:33] But rather we were created to exist in community. That’s because God exists in community [21:38] He’s one God with three persons God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Spirit [21:44] inside of Mormonism though it is [21:47] Jesus is the Son of God

[21:50] Literally [21:52] All right God the Father is his father and God the Father existed before Jesus [21:59] So Mormonism then recast Jesus as the elder brother [22:04] instead of eternal God

[22:07] Jesus is more like us than he is different than us that Jesus is of [22:16] the same father that we have [22:19] That in pre-existence Jesus was the first son that God had and so he is literally our [22:26] older brother in existence and that inside of the spirit realm that God inhabits [22:32] He had a plan for his spirit children to progress through Godhood and through his wisdom [22:38] he chose earth to be that vessel through which that would happen and

[22:42] When sin entered the world when Adam sinned against God [22:47] Immortality was lost [22:49] So we’ve rebelled and simply lost immortality, but we are still his and you may okay just off. I’ll be [22:58] Facetious enough to say this if you’re like that doesn’t make any sense

[23:06] You’re like well this is causing more questions than answers

[23:15] In [23:16] This spirit realm when man fell away from God God the Father looked to Jesus his [23:24] eldest son whom had not come to earth yet, and he said [23:28] We need to save them to progress in Godhood [23:32] So when Jesus was born of Mary it had to be a real physical birth and here is what? [23:40] The LDS literature will tell us about how that took place

[23:47] Bruce McConkey [23:48] Who is or at one time was of the quorum of the twelve apostles which inside of the Mormon faith are seen as? [23:56] prophets and [23:58] seers and [23:59] Revelators those whom can sometimes add to doctrine and covenants their word he wrote that the [24:08] The union in which Mary

[24:11] Conceived Jesus was a literal physical union [24:17] between God the Father and Mary God the Father came to earth in physical form and [24:23] Jesus was conceived not through a [24:27] Holy Spirit conception in which Mary was a virgin, but that that aspect of Scripture has been [24:33] Sully to take that aspect out and that [24:36] God knew Mary to keep it gee

[24:44] And this this is where they believe Jesus took physical form [24:49] Because because that’s what had to happen the spirit did not conceive Mary Matthew chapter 1 verse 18 though [24:56] The scripture is very clear that it was it was a miraculous [25:01] conception [25:02] Between the Holy Spirit and Mary in which the physical deed was not done and [25:08] Mary just found herself to be with child and remained a virgin at least until

[25:13] Jesus was born and she then married Joseph and had more children [25:17] So what we have here is not necessarily the exaltation of God, but rather the exaltation of [25:26] humanity to the level of [25:28] Possibly becoming a God all right and and you know because of time I want to continue [25:35] To move along a little bit faster all right if you will open your Bible to John chapter 14 [25:41] John chapter 14

[25:45] in [25:46] John chapter 14 [25:47] Jesus is speaking and

[25:52] He’s speaking to the disciples as well as a few of the rulers that are gathered around [25:58] And this is what he says he says let not your hearts be troubled [26:01] Believe in God believe also in me in my father’s house are many rooms if it were not so [26:09] What I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you [26:12] And if I go and prepare a place for you [26:14] I will come again and will take you to myself

[26:17] That where I am you may be also and you know the way to where I am going [26:22] Thomas said to him Lord we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way? [26:29] Jesus said to him I am the way and the truth and the life [26:33] No one comes to the father except through me if you had known me you would have known my father also [26:40] From now on you do know him and have seen him [26:45] It’s a very important aspect

[26:49] Philip said to him Lord show us the father and it is enough for us [26:54] Jesus said to him have I’ve been with you so long and you do not know me Philip [26:59] Whoever has seen me has seen the father. How can you say show us the father?

[27:09] Do you not believe that I am in the father and the father is in me the words that I say to you [27:14] I do not speak on my own authority, but the father who dwells in me [27:20] Does his works believe me that I am in the father and the father is in me or else believe on account of the works [27:26] Themselves truly truly I say to you whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do in [27:31] Greater works than he than these will he do because I am going to the father [27:36] Whatever you ask in my name this I will do that the father may be glorified in the son if you ask me

[27:42] anything in my name I [27:44] Do it

[27:48] And so you’re like okay

[27:52] Here’s what I want to stress with that text [27:56] Jesus is not talking in a sense in which there is a separation in [28:01] individuality between himself the father and even us [28:06] Whereas there is a progression in our lives to seek in which is separate from him [28:10] Nor is he talking about a separation between the father and him? [28:13] But the terminology that he uses between him and the father is one that is of the same

[28:20] essence and that’s what the Greek there [28:23] Pushes us towards what he is saying is he’s saying I and the father are one in the essence [28:30] If you’ve seen him, you’ve seen me. We’re inseparable. If you know me, you know him. We are inseparable [28:38] Here’s one thing I want you to understand you can know my father [28:43] And had know nothing about me [28:47] You can know me and know nothing about my son

[28:54] Because we are not the same essence

[29:00] We’re not weird totally separate [29:04] Totally different the same with my father and if you’re out there and your father and you have children your children are not of the same [29:10] Essence they’re the same DNA, but they’re nowhere near of the bond that Jesus is [29:16] Claiming me here and in John 8 58 when the Pharisees are questioning him and they’re saying are you God? [29:23] Who are you and Jesus says before Abraham was I? [29:29]

[29:32] In Israel they knew what he was claiming here he was claiming

[29:39] Eternality [29:41] He was claiming to be the eternal God of the universe [29:47] That Moses had written of in the book of Deuteronomy and had no beginning no end and had ultimate [29:53] Authority who could create everything out of nothing

[29:58] Who could take [30:02] His breath [30:04] And say exist it would [30:08] The God of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not do that

[30:14] He creates out of pre-existence [30:18] Makes it’s not as powerful. It’s not as potent. It’s not as Godlike

[30:26] Jesus then inside of that system is not the same [30:31] Jesus and more than that it is an issue of ultimate [30:35] Authority as to who is because if Jesus is our cosmic brother then on this earth [30:42] We can ascend to a level in which he ascended to on this earth [30:48] Because they will not say Jesus didn’t die for our sins [30:51] They believe Jesus did die for the sins of the world

[30:54] But rather the salvation that came from Jesus was one of simply restoring our [30:59] Immortality in which we were headed towards a place where we wouldn’t exist any longer and that [31:06] Sacrifice applies to even those whom he whom don’t believe in him [31:11] so everyone gets immortality and [31:16] In their system the series of authority is set up by us reaching new levels of our own [31:24] making of

[31:26] our own possibility the potential of [31:29] Humanity is endless and [31:32] Authority and leadership inside of humanity is that which we seek to stake a claim in a better [31:39] world [31:41] That which we will rule over [31:45] So Jesus is not the completion of God’s plan

[31:50] Rather he’s just somewhat of a stepping stone along the path in which we complete his plan [31:57] That’s why in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints their system of [32:03] Revelation is not closed, but it’s still open

[32:07] That’s why they depend the only sticking point between my [32:12] Communication [32:14] With a few different mission at Mormon missionaries in this area has been the issue of their prophet [32:22] Whom they regard very highly because he is somewhat [32:25] It’s the same system somewhat similar as Catholicism in which [32:30] He is the somewhat now they’ll use different phraseology

[32:33] But if you know anything about Catholicism, he is the vicar of Christ or rather their language would be the vicar of God [32:41] he’s somewhat the mouthpiece of God to them and [32:45] The sticking point came when I looked to him and I said sir. Have you read the book of Hebrews? [32:50] He said no [32:51] And I said in in Hebrews [32:55] What we have here is a system in which Jesus is seen as being better than the Old Covenant

[33:03] Okay, and in being better than the Old Covenant. He’s the completion of it [33:07] He’s the fulfillment of that covenant in which works based righteousness is not something that we seek [33:12] But rather the righteousness of Jesus has been added to our account and more than that Jesus is the better [33:18] Priest Jesus is the better prophet and Jesus is the better king [33:23] He has fulfilled the office of prophet priest and king and right there is where the conversation got a little bit messy

[33:31] They didn’t like that [33:33] So in Hebrews chapter 8 [33:35] I want to I want to I want to take you through a few different texts in Hebrews chapter [33:39] Chapter 8 very quickly as quickly as I possibly can you have no idea how much I’ve already skipped [33:45] It always seems like it’s gonna go faster on paper

[33:51] In [33:52] Hebrews chapter 8 the right author of Hebrews says now the point in what we are saying is this [33:58] We have such a high priest [34:00] One who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven a minister in the holy places in the true [34:07] Tent that the Lord set up not man [34:11] It’s a difference in essence

[34:14] For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices [34:17] Thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer [34:22] Now if he were on earth he would not be a priest at all since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law [34:28] already [34:29] They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things for when Moses was about to erect the tent [34:37] He was instructed by God saying see that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown

[34:43] you on the mountain, but as it is [34:45] Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant [34:52] He mediates is better since he has enacted all [34:56] Excuse me. He hasn’t enacted on better promises for if the first covenant had been faultless [35:02] There would have been no occasion to look for a second

[35:08] I [35:09] Want you to grasp in this what the author of Hebrews is saying is that Jesus is? [35:15] What God was working the world towards and he is the fulfillment of everything and the reason that the [35:23] priesthood ended with Jesus and was not reenacted with Joseph Smith is because Jesus is the [35:31] fulfillment of [35:32] Everything that God was doing is doing and will do

[35:39] There is no greater [35:42] priest than God there is no way of [35:46] Ascending to the point of Jesus there is no [35:50] possibility of reaching the place of [35:53] Jesus because we are not of the same essence of Jesus [35:56] We are not of the same ilk as Jesus because Jesus is our creator king and eternal God

[36:04] With the father [36:06] He’s of the same essence [36:10] Therefore when we seek [36:14] To reinstate a priesthood we do so in direct disagreement with that which God has ultimately [36:22] revealed [36:23] He’s ultimately set up

[36:25] As the question then may be well, how do we know our scriptures are not corrupt?

[36:32] Very honest historically [36:35] There are thousands of documents [36:40] Very close to the first century [36:44] That read exactly the same as this

[36:48] With witness upon witness upon witness that actually knew who Jesus was one generation removed

[36:56] And I do not say this

[37:01] Facetiously or in mockery, but at the beginning of the Book of Mormon, there’s a list of like a dozen

[37:12] People that said just say Joseph Smith did write this

[37:20] Do not trust [37:23] That which adds to this trust this [37:27] Because this is the Word of God [37:29] Jesus is his son, but it’s not the same

[37:35] As Liam is my son [37:37] He’s the eternal son and an eternal work by an eternal God

[37:48] When Mormonism recasts who Jesus is what happens is is that it exalts [37:55] The state of man to God while scripture reveals that God redeems man to his glory [38:02] Just a little bit more and I’ll be done [38:06] promise [38:08] What we have here [38:11] Unfortunately friends

[38:14] And if you’re of the Mormon faith, I do not say this to offend but I say this to warn of deceit

[38:22] In Genesis chapter 3 verse 5

[38:27] The serpent who was [38:29] Satan and inside of Mormonism it’s not that that Lucifer or Satan is just you know [38:34] The brother of Jesus but rather he is the rebellious one [38:38] So he is the evil one and I warn you that if you’re of Mormonism understand that he is the evil one [38:45] But he’s not the brother of Jesus [38:47] He seeks to detract from the work of Jesus and the way in which he does this at the very beginning in

[38:52] Genesis 3 5 as he looks to them and he says for God knows when you eat of the tree that God said don’t eat [38:58] Of your eyes will be open and here’s the key. You will be like God

[39:05] You [39:05] Know what Eve was tempted with where Adam was standing right beside her so guys were not out of that one [39:11] So what they were tempted with?

[39:24] Every false religion brings the same

[39:32] And it’s the promise of Genesis 3 5 you will be like God

[39:42] We cannot be like him

[39:48] Because he’s our creator he’s eternal I’m not [39:53] So that origin is so important because origin determines destination

[40:03] If my origin was the same as his then my destination will be the same as his but if my origin was different my [40:09] Destination will be different [40:11] Because I will be with him but not to be him [40:16] But rather to see him [40:19] And one thing that I will say instead of Mormonism there’s a great dignity [40:24] To humanity that I believe even inside of the church has been lost

[40:27] But that dignity is not [40:31] Fulfilled in saying we are the same as God. I believe that dignity is trampled upon when we say that [40:39] Because our destination [40:42] Changes in which we are the master of our own destination [40:46] But rather the scriptures do not reveal that the scriptures of I am to trust them reveal that God is the ultimate master of my [40:53] Destination and inside of this great work and I want to quote this because it really summarizes what the scriptures say about

[41:02] Humanity this is what a work that was written hundreds of years ago called the Heidelberg catechism has to say about [41:09] Humanity it says God created human being good and in God’s own image that is in [41:15] Genuine righteousness and holiness so that we might truly know God our creator [41:21] God wholeheartedly and live with God in [41:25] Eternal blessedness in order to praise and glorify God

[41:31] The story of Scripture is the story of an eternal God who created man to bring glory to himself by giving man [41:39] ultimate joy in knowing him if [41:43] All were like him then all that glory would be lost

[41:48] What I mean to say is

[41:52] That [41:53] To go on separate from him into a world that I could make would literally be hell

[42:02] Because I was not ever created to be apart from him I was created [42:10] For him to be my destination and the redemption that Jesus comes to offer [42:18] [42:19] Romans chapter 3 [42:21] Tells us of so so well in verse 21

[42:27] 226 [42:28] What we read there is [42:30] But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law [42:35] Although the law and the prophets bear witness to it the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe [42:42] For there is no [42:44] Distinction all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift

[42:52] This is the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God put forward as a propitiation or way [42:59] By his blood to be received by faith [43:03] This was to show God’s righteousness because in his divine [43:09] He had passed over former sins it was to show his righteousness at the present time [43:14] So that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus [43:22] Here’s the key

[43:24] That we are the that Jesus is the propitiation to [43:27] Justify us in a way that we go from those who are separated from God to those who are eternally bonded to God [43:35] with God [43:37] For God [43:39] Because his is the glory [43:42] not ours

[43:44] If you live a life in which you are told to seek your own glory [43:50] You are living a life in which you are under an authority that will lead you to a place that is not good [43:57] And it is not God it is evil because it is you [44:03] There is dignity in humanity, but only because God breathed life into us his very life

[44:14] Ultimately

[44:19] You cannot get around [44:23] The eternal authority of God for us [44:29] The hope of Mormonism is in their own [44:36] Exaltation in their own authority in their own leadership [44:44] So sometimes when the lines between the two faiths get blurry [44:49] Must be careful of their intention

[44:54] And be honest about our own [44:59] When we seek to rule and reign this world at all costs we are not seeking [45:06] The way that God has prepared for us [45:11] But rather we are seeking the way of deception in which we will be like God [45:17] We will not ever be like God and I praise him for that [45:26] Because if I was

[45:30] Hell would reign eternally in my life

[45:34] He’s offered a better way friends through the eternal Son of God whom [45:40] sacrificed himself perfectly for us not because he reached a level of [45:46] Living in which I seek to reach myself [45:49] But rather because it was only the eternal God who gave the law that could obey the law [45:56] Trust in him above yourself because all other revelations are [46:02] Deceit from evil

[46:06] As the band comes up

[46:14] The question has to come there was about another hour on that by the way the quite [46:20] We’ll talk someday if you want to have coffee the question then comes

[46:26] Our Mormons Christians

[46:31] And that question doesn’t really sum it up right because they’re following their Jesus

[46:38] But friends he’s not our Jesus if you are a believer in God the Son the eternal God from all time

[46:46] So no [46:48] They’re not

[46:52] The only hope that you have in life and death [46:56] The Heidelberg catechism said

[46:59] Is in knowing the God of all eternity who’s revealed himself through Jesus Christ

[47:08] Communion is a holy thing that we take part in and I want to be very honest with you this morning that this is a [47:14] different subject [47:16] But I don’t want this to be lost

[47:21] Inside of Mormonism I believe the meaning of communion could be completely lost because [47:26] The fellowship with God that he gives us at his table is not as sweet [47:31] When that fellowship is not the promise that’s been given to me for the rest of eternity

[47:37] We had offended God with our sin and through his son [47:44] He says I’m offended no more because my son paid the price [47:49] Come have a meal with me [47:53] If you’ve ever wondered what is the promise of Christianity

[47:59] It’s that type of fellowship with God [48:02] It’s that type of peace in which we can walk in to him [48:08] No holds barred [48:10] And the promise of Scripture is is that because of Jesus will have that forever [48:15] And we’ll be with him and we’ll see his face

[48:20] If you believe in that this morning if you trust in that

[48:26] His tables wide open and what it’s gonna do is it’s gonna remind you of the price that God the Sun [48:32] Humiliated himself to become a human because he wasn’t a human [48:37] And took a sinner’s death on the cross for you

[48:42] His tables open [48:44] If you want to trust to me you don’t know [48:47] Come talk to me this morning tables up