We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Intro: Many detest anyone saying that anyone else is wrong in any way, shape, or form. They generally misapply Jesus words; Mat. 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. However, they judge us for showing the error some doctrine and they end up doing the type of judging Jesus condemned. They think we hate the ones whom we have exposed: which is an improper judging of motives. We do not hate the ones we expose as a false teacher, in reality we have a deep love for that person s soul while opposing the doctrine they advocate. I. GOD A. God is love. 1. 1 John 4:8, 16 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love... 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. a. God s nature is love. (1) He loves because it is within Him to love. (2) His love is not in response to someone else s love. b. God s love is altruistic. (1) He puts the interest of others before His own interest. (2) It is unselfish, not expecting something in return. 2. God s love is sacrificial. a. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. b. Rom. 5:8, 10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us... 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 3. God s love is universal. a. God loves all people everywhere. b. Christ died for all; Heb. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. 4. God s love is unending. a. God will never stop loving us. b. Jer. 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. c. 1 Cor. 13:8, 13 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away... 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. B. God hates. 1. While this part of God s nature might seem odd to some, it is absolutely essential to His nature. 2. If God is love, then those things that are opposite or contrary to His love He must hate. a. God is light. (1) 1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (a) Light represents purity and sinlessness.
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -2- (b) Darkness represents sin, evil, and wickedness. (2) God hates darkness. (a) (b) Psa. 45:7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Pro. 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. b. Marriage. (1) God authored the marriage relationship. (a) (b) Gen. 2:21-24 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Mat. 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (2) Since God instituted marriage and still joins an eligible man and woman together, He hates divorce; Mal. 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 3. Another aspect of God s nature is truth. a. God is truth. (1) Deu. 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (2) Isa. 65:16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. b. God s Word is truth; John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. c. Thus, God hates falsehoods and lies. (1) Pro. 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (2) Zec. 8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -3- C. Man. 1. We are to be partakers of God s nature. a. 2 Pet. 1:3-4 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. b. We must love what God loves and hate what God hates. (1) Psa. 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. (2) Psa. 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (3) Pro. 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (4) Amos 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. 2. In a special way we should hate the false way and false doctrine. a. Psa. 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. b. Psa. 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. c. Pro. 23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. 3. Since we are to hate the false way, does that mean we cannot love? a. No more than God hates the false way, yet He loves. b. That should be our nature. (1) We are to hate the doctrine, but not the person. (2) God hates the false doctrine, but gave His Son to die for the person who practices the false doctrine. (3) We hate the work, not the person; Psa. 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. II. SALVATION A. God gave His Son to save man. 1. God s desire: a. 1 Tim. 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. b. 2 Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2. Man had sinned. a. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; b. Sin separated him from God; Isa. 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. c. Man could not save himself; Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -4-3. Takes the shedding of blood for forgiveness. a. Heb. 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. b. The blood of bulls and goats could not take sin away; Heb. 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. c. It took the blood of a sinless sacrifice. 4. God s love manifest itself in giving His Son to die on the cross. a. Rom. 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. b. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. c. God allowed His Son to die the most inhuman death simply to save sinful man. B. Jesus gave Himself to save man. 1. He came to give His life and save sinful man. a. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. b. Mat. 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 2. He gave Himself freely. a. John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. b. Not thinking equality with God was something to be held onto at the cost of man s damnation. (1) Phi. 2:6-8 who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. (2) Heb. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. C. We should seek man s salvation. 1. The great commission. a. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. b. Mat. 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. c. The early church recognized it was their responsibility; Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. 2. Paul expresses what all Christian s attitude should be. a. Rom. 10:1 Brethren, my heart s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. b. We see the extent of his desire; Rom. 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -5-3. God s method. a. 2 Tim. 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. b. Paul taught Timothy (Acts 16). c. Timothy was to teach the same truths to others. d. They were then to teach others. 4. The salvation of souls should be the overriding desire of every member of the church. 5. That desire will result in exposing false doctrines which will cause people to be lost (love for the people but a hatred for the doctrine). D. False doctrine condemns. 1. The truth makes us free from sin. a. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. b. Error, false doctrine, cannot save anyone. c. The gospel is God s power to save. (1) Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (2) Jam. 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. d. It is the truth of the gospel that saves. (1) Eph. 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (2) Col. 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 2. If we alter the gospel (teach false doctrine) will that save or condemn. a. Gal. 1:6-9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. b. 2 Pet. 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. c. Rev. 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 3. Believing false doctrines will cause one to be lost; 2 The. 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. E. If we desire man s salvation: 1. We will hate all false doctrine because it will damn man s souls. 2. However, our hatred of false doctrine does not mean we hate the individual, we hate the false doctrine because we do love their souls.
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -6- III. OBEYING GOD A. It should ever be our desire to do all of God s Will. 1. Even if it is not pleasant. 2. Even if others do not like it. B. Society has accepted pluralism. 1. Expressed as: We are all going to the same place just taking different routes. 2. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. a. Jesus is not one way of many. b. He is the way, which means the only way. C. There is one faith. 1. Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 2. It is not you have your faith and I have mine. 3. There is only one and all other ways are the way of death; Pro. 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. D. There are false teachers. 1. Scriptures teach such. a. Mat. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. b. Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. c. 2 Pet. 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2. We have the responsibility to make sure what is taught is the truth. a. 1 The. 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. b. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 3. We have the obligation to contend for the faith. a. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. b. Phi. 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence [from apologia meaning a verbal defense] of the gospel. E. Examples 1. Paul a. 1 The. 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. b. His record of his missionary journeys was his boldly defending truth and exposing error. 2. Timothy a. 1 Tim. 1:18-19 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: b. 1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
We Love The Mormons But Hate Their Doctrine Page -7-3. We have the same obligation as Paul and Timothy. a. We must fight against Satan and all error. b. 1 Pet. 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer [from apologia meaning to give a verbal defense] to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: F. We have the obligation to mark and avoid. 1. Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 2. Eph. 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Conclusion: David Brown correctly stated that one may do right things with wrong motives, wrong things with wrong motives and wrong things with right motives. However, God says that persons can do right things with right motives even oppose brethren who teach false doctrines (Contending For The Faith, Sept. 2000, p. 14) We oppose the Mormons because it is the right thing to do. Their doctrines will cause untold millions to be eternally lost. We have a love for them and desire their salvation, but to be saved they must reject Mormonism s false doctrines.