difference in definitions

My wonderful high school pastor made copies of some papers/research he had from college concerning the differences between the Mormon religion and what is stated in the Bible. One page he gave me is titled 'Terminology Differences' and is written by Sandra Tanner(The author of The Bible and Mormon Doctrine). It wasn't until only a few minutes ago I began reading through this page and I thought it would be a great starter-post to lay down the foundation of this blog. Here are a few of the definitions provided on this page.

Pre-Existence

LDS: Teaches that everyone pre-existed
Bible: Only Christ pre-existed, not man.
"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" John 8:58
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." 1 Col. 1:17
"The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual." 1 Cor. 15:46

The Fall

LDS: Teaches that it brought mortality and physical death, not fallen nature, and believe that Adam was given two conflicting commandments and was supposed to fall.

Bible: God tempts no one and man is sinful because of man's sinful nature.

"We are all infected and impure with sin." Isaiah 64:6

"When tempted no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, not does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, but his own evil desire, he is dragged away enticed." James 1:13-14

Sin

LDS: Consists of specific acts, not man's nature.

Bible: We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. We do not just commit sins, we are sinful.

"For we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

            

Salvation

LDS: Christ's death brought release from the grave and universal resurrection. Salvation by grace is universal resurrection, beyond this man must earn his place in heaven.

Bible: Salvation is not universal, but based on belief of each individual.

"For it is by grace you have been saved,  through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Redeemed

LDS: We are redeemed from mortal death only- not sinful rebellion or spiritual death.

Bible: Christ redeems from more than mortal death, He redeems us from spiritual death.

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins." Ephesians 2:1 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Gospel

LDS: The Mormon Church system and doctrines.

Bible: The message of Christ's death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. 

"By this Gospel you are saved. . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:2-4 

Eternal Life

LDS: Exaltation in Celestial Kingdom- the ability to bear children- and must have a Temple marriage.

Bible: Not limited to certain ones in heaven, no mention of parenthood or temple marriages but is given to ALL Christians.

"He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:12-13

Heaven

LDS: Divided into three kingdoms-Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial. 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 is misused to support this idea.

Bible: Only mentions two conditions- everlasting punishment or life eternal.

Matthew 25:31-46

Hell

LDS: Hell as an institution is eternal however inmates come and go as in jail. One only stays in hell until their debt to God has been paid, they do not spend eternity in hell.

Bible: No mention of people getting out of Hell.

"This is how it will be a the end of the age. The angels will come an separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 13:49-50

Godhead

LDS: Father God is a resurrected man with a physical body, Christ is a separate resurrected man with a physical body, and the Holy Ghost is a separate man with a spiritual body. The godhead is made up of three totally separate Gods.

Bible: God is not a man, there is only one God, and the Father is Spirit and invisible.

"God is not a man, that He should lie. . ." Numbers 23:19

"Before me no God was formed, nor will there be one after me." Isaiah 43:10

"God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24

"Now the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever an ever."   1 Timothy 1:17

I hope seeing some of these evident differences help see the distinct line between what is taught in the LDS Church and what is clearly stated in the Bible. Through out the next couple of weeks I hope to go deeper into some of these issues, reading more into the context of the arguments between the different religions and analyzing each side. 

I would love to hear what you have to say, what thoughts you may have about some of these interesting definitions! Please don't hesitate to leave a comment below!