Reason to Believe: Are Mormons Christians?

Reason to Believe: Are Mormons Christians?

Hi Ryan,

One thing people like you seem to get very hung up on is the fact that the scriptures say that the three members of the Godhead are one God.

1 John 5:7

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Jesus gives some insight into how they are one.

John 17:21-22

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Jesus does not intend for us all to become different natures of the same being, He wants us to be unified as He and the Father are.

One
1. Being a single entity, unit, object, or living being.
2. Characterized by unity; undivided: They spoke with one voice.
3.
a. Of the same kind or quality: two animals of one species.
b. Forming a single entity of two or more components: three chemicals combining into one solution.
4. Being a single member or element of a group, category, or kind: I'm just one player on the team.
5. Being a single thing in contrast with or relation to another or others of its kind: One day is just like the next.
6. Occurring or existing as something indefinite, as in time or position: He will come one day.
7. Occurring or existing as something particular but unspecified, as in time past: late one evening.
8. Informal. Used as an intensive: That is one fine dog.

You’re going to try to interpret these scriptures in light of others, but why don’t you interpret the other scriptures in light of these instead.

Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost, saw God and God’s son Jesus standing at his side.

Acts 7: 55-56
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.


Jesus was in the water with John, the Spirit of God or Holy Ghost was descending from the heavens and God in heaven spoke, and his voice was heard identifying Jesus as His beloved Son. He is the Son, because He is His Father’s son.

Matthew 3: 13-17

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Jesus is our advocate with the Father. He is not our advocate with himself.

1 John 2:1

1 MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Jesus prayed to His Father, not to Himself. Jesus pled for His Father to remove the cup. He did not plead with Himself. He did His Father’s will, not his own. They are separate beings capable of separate wills.

Matthew 26: 39,42

39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.


Jesus Christ is called the only begotten son because God the Father begat Him. God sent His Son into the world. God stayed in heaven, Jesus went into the world.

1 John 4:9

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Beget
1. To father; sire.
2. To cause to exist or occur; produce: Violence begets more violence.


Jesus was with God in the beginning, and held a position of Godhood.

John 1:1

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Jesus was equal to God. God the Father exalted His Son. Confessing that Jesus is Lord, glorifies His Father.

Philippians 2: 5-11

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Where do you get your justification for negating what these scriptures plainly say?