Tag: salvation
Saved by Grace “After All We Can Do”? Nephi’s Context of Reconciliation
2 Nephi 25:23 has the statement, “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” Does this mean that salvation is a chore in which we do much of the work, or a transaction in which we pay as much of the price as we can, and Christ only steps in after all we have done or paid to make up the difference? Or does this actually mean that salvation is completely “apart from” if not unrelated to all that we can do? Or something else? I think a plausible answer comes through considering the context.
Cherishing the Book of Mormon’s Teachings on the Fairness of God
One of the most spiritually and intellectually satisfying elements of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ the is fairness of God. Contrary to centuries of tragically misguided theology about the…
The Yoke of Christ: Ancient Insights Related to Grace and Works
Last year while pondering Christ’s famous command to take his yoke upon us, I wondered if some of the symbolism of the LDS temple might be relevant. As I explored…
Grace and the Temple: Insights from a Jewish Scholar
Some of our fellow Christians misunderstand LDS teachings regarding grace, feeling that our choice to obey God and respect His commandments somehow means we think we earn our salvation and…
“Having Done All, To Stand”: Exposing a Self-Proclaimed “Christian”
Have you ever been fooled by someone who claimed to be Christian, only to find out later that they were part of a non-Christian cult which, because of a horrifically…
The Role of Obedience and Endurance: Peter’s Perspective
It’s almost an article of faith in anti-Mormon literature that the LDS Articles of Faith rule us out as Christians. After all, they call for that most unchristian, unbiblical attribute,…
Abiding in Christ and the Tragedy of Pernicious Theology
I’ve had some wild experiences since moving to China. Some were worried about the risks I might be taking in the crazy streets of Shanghai (one of Asia’s most livable…
Saved By Grace, After All We Can Do? Inisghts from Paul in Ephesians 6
I’ve encountered many Christians whose theology makes them struggle with basic LDS views like the importance of keeping the commandments and the concern that we as Christians can fall from…
The Savior of the World, the Entire World: Grace Effective to Save All Men
Some critics have argued that the Latter-day Saint concept of moral agency (a.k.a. free agency) would make God no longer sovereign if we were really free to choose and follow…
Sarcasm or a Serious Plea? “If Thou Wilt Enter into Life, Keep the Commandments” in Matthew 19
A Protestant minister recently explained to me that we weren’t Christian because of our belief that we must strive to “keep the commandments” and obey God, for this means we…
