The term "grace" as it is used in the Bible, means free, unearned or unmerited favour. In other words, it's when we get something we haven't earned or worked for, and that we don't deserve. But that isn't how Mormons understands grace. In order to give their unbiblical doctrines some semblance of fitting in with what the Bible teaches, they have had to change the meanings of many of the biblical terms. And the doctrine of grace has been one of the casualties. They maintain that grace, as it applies to personal salvation, has to be earned.

This article discusses Mormon teachings on grace, compares them with what the Bible says, and then considers why it is that salvation had to be by grace, as opposed to works.



GRACE IN THE LDS ATONEMENT

Because the LDS version of the atonement is so complicated, they have had to split it into two sections. The first section, called unconditional or universal salvation, is by grace in that you don't have to do anything to earn it. But it only covers resurrection and amounts to damnation (c/f LDS Apostle McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 669). Under the second section, called individual or conditional salvation, the right to forgiveness of sins has to be earned by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the LDS gospel, plus virtuous living right to the end. And only after they've done that, they say that God then gives them grace to continue with their eternal progression.

The LDS's problem with the doctrine of grace seems to have been mainly caused by their the Book of Mormon. It contradicts the Bible by teaching that God only gives us grace and grants us salvation after we've done all that we can do:

Yea, come unto 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 is his grace sufficient for you ..... (Moroni:10:32)

..... for we know that it is by grace we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23)

Mormon doctrinal writers amplify this by insisting that grace is not free, and that it is only granted proportionally as it is earned:

Grace is granted to men proportionately as they conform to the standards of personal righteousness that are part of the gospel plan. (LDS Apostle Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, page 339)

Grace consists of God's gift to His children wherein He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe in Him and comply with His Laws and ordinances would have everlasting life (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pages 353-354)" (The author's italics)

The LDS Bible Dictionary explains the Mormon version of grace in this way:

"This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts." (LDS Bible Dictionary, page 697). (Author's italics).

However, the Bible consistently teaches that grace is free, and that if you have to earn it then it is no longer grace:

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. (Romans 11:6, KJV)

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:14, KJV) (Italics inserted by writer.)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV) (Italics inserted by writer.)

Although the New Covenant of Grace completely superseded the Old Covenant of Works, the LDS has one foot in the Old Covenant and the other in the New, and so it teaches a gospel of salvation by works. But the Bible explains that God used the Old Covenant of Law to prove to us that if the salvation of fallen mankind was to be possible at all, it would have to be by grace alone and not by works.



THE OLD COVENANT OF LAW (WORKS)

The Old Covenant of Law was given to the Israelites by God to demonstrate to them that it was impossible for fallen man to attain God's standards of righteousness. The Law never had the power to save anyone. All it did was show them that they were sinners. No matter how hard they tried, they were unable to live up to God's requirements for righteous living.

For that reason, when they fell into sin God did not tell the Israelites that they would have to earn their right to forgiveness. He knew that fallen man was incapable of ever doing such a thing. So instead He gave them the sacrificial system. When a man sinned he had to take a flawless animal to the altar and lay his hand on the animal's head to identify himself with it: It was going to be sacrificed in his place as his substitute, to cover his sin. This was a "picture" of the coming promised Messiah who would die once for all, to pay the price of all the sins of whosoever put their faith in Him as their Redeemer.

The apostle Paul explained to the church at Galatia that God had given the Law to the Israelites merely as a schoolmaster, or a tutor, in order to lead them to Christ. In other words, the Law taught them that as members of a fallen race, they were incapable of earning salvation through their own works. Try as they might, they just kept missing the mark in word, thought and deed. The plume of smoke above the sacrificial altar was a constant reminder of this fact. This readied their hearts for the New Covenant gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Galations 3:21-25, KJV) (Italics inserted by writer.)

..... Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galations 2:16, KJV)

THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE

God had foreseen that nobody would be able to keep His laws fully, not even the priests who spent their entire lives serving Him. That's why He had given His people all those promises about a coming Messiah. In His great wisdom and mercy He had foreordained a way of salvation from sin through Christ, under a new covenant of grace, that catered for the fallen condition of mankind. In an act of supreme love, through Christ, God Himself paid the price necessary to redeem us:

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

SALVATION BY GRACE DOES NOT ENCOURAGE SIN

The LDS teaches its followers that the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace encourages Christians to sin. But they couldn't be more wrong. The realization of the enormity of what Christ has done "for me," in spite of the fact that I didn't deserve it, and of how He suffered and died so cruelly because of my sin, in my place, when He Himself was blameless, gives the forgiven Christian the most powerful motive possible to live solely for His Saviour. He knows that he owes Christ his everything, and that it was his own personal sin that nailed Him to the cross. So when he does fall into sin, he is filled with shame and anguish. He understands all too well that his momentary lapse caused part of the suffering of the Saviour he has come to love and worship.

From the moment that he first comes to Christ, the Christian sees life through new and very humble eyes. All he wants to do is to live for and serve the One who loved Him enough to die for him. And that's when he discovers that God's grace doesn't end at the cross. The life lived "in Christ" is one of perpetual grace. As D. L. Moody remarked, "The Law tells me how crooked I am; grace comes along and straightens me out." It is only by the grace of God that the Christian is able to progress in his Christian walk.

When those of us who have accepted God's way of salvation by grace through faith in Christ meet together in heaven, there won't be any boasting of how "we made it." Instead we will be glorifying Christ because of what He has done for us, in us and through us. And we will spend all eternity serving Him, praising Him and thanking Him for paying the ultimate penalty on the cross for us, in our place, so that we could go free.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV)

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24, KJV)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us ..... (Titus 3:5, KJV)

But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galations 6:14, KJV)

Grace is when we do not get what we do deserve (which is judgment, condemnation, eternal punishment and separation from God) and instead we get what we don't deserve (forgiveness, justification, reconciliation, and eternal life with God).

Salvation by grace is the merciful, unmerited and unearned forgiveness of our sins by God because of our faith in Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins, as our substitute, in our place, on the cross.


Copyright 2007 by Mormonism and Biblical Truth. All rights reserved.