This lesson will cover 1st Peter in this segment, and 2nd Peter in the next segment.  Both parts will be released this week. This General Epistle was written from Rome around AD 64.  1 Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers (believers who are exiles from society) scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (all in modern-day Turkey).”  The next verse is one that the LDS often refer to in conjunction with the doctrine of foreordination – meaning to them – that certain people have been chosen and foreordained in the preexistence or the pre-mortal life, to come to earth and carry out certain responsibilities in the Lord’s work here.  Joseph Smith taught, “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was.  I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 365).  1 Peter 1:2 “Elect (chosen) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (not from a pre-mortal life), through sanctification (made holy) of the Spirit, unto obedience (to the Royal Law of faith and love) and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (referring to the high priest sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat): Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”  What this means is – that God planned beforehand in His mind – and predetermined each Christian’s salvation.  It is the Holy Spirit who makes God’s chosen sanctified – by setting them apart from sin and unbelief to faith and righteousness.  True salvation produces obedience to Christ.  The word for “foreknowledge” here in the Greek is “proginosko” – meaning – to know beforehand what will happen.  Peter tells us in Verse 2 that God has elected them based on his prog ginosko or prognostication – on His knowledge of things before they ever happen.  God is omniscient and knows every outcome.  He knew those who would believe on His Son and accept salvation – these were His elect.  Obviously, unlike Christ – we weren’t this way from birth.    Speaking of Jesus 1 Peter 1:19-21 “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb (sacrificial lamb) without blemish and without spot (who was perfect):  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.  Who by him (Christ) do believe in God (the Father), that raised him up from the dead, and gave him (Christ) glory; that your faith and hope might be in God (the Father).” In other words, Jesus came to you and was glorified by the Father so that you could have truth and a correct understanding about God.  Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, who was raised and glorified, we are able to have faith in God.  Verses 22-23 “Seeing ye have purified (been saved) your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) unto unfeigned (genuine) love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently (deeply).  Being born again (spiritually regenerated), not of corruptible seed (not by mortal parents), but of incorruptible (by the Holy Spirit), by the word of God (who was Jesus), which liveth and abideth for ever.”  In Chapter 2, Peter will tell those saints who are born again – that as newborn babes they should, Verse 2 “desire the sincere milk of the word (the basic understanding of the gospel), that ye may grow thereby (become more spiritually mature).”  Those who do not nurture themselves with the word of God – reading the Bible often – will become malnourished and will weaken in their faith.     Peter will now compare Christ to a large, solid rock, or foundation upon which we can safely build.  Verse 4 “To whom coming (as you come to Christ), as unto a living stone (Christ the Rock of our Salvation – the chief cornerstone), disallowed indeed of men (who was rejected by the world), but chosen of God (God’s chosen Son), and precious.”

What is the meaning of “wisdom” as referenced in James 1:5?  What is the meaning of the “Royal Law?”  What does James mean when he says, “faith without works is dead?”  Is there a conflict in what James teaches about works and, what Paul are teaches about faith? Here we go!  The General Epistle of James.  So called General Epistle because it was written to a general audience.  James was the son of Joseph and Mary – half-brother of Jesus.  He first rejected Jesus as Messiah (see John 7:5), but later believed (see 1 Corinthians 15:7).  Of all the apostles, this James was first to be martyred.  Acts 12:1-2 tells us that he was beheaded by King Herod Agrippa around the year A.D. 62.  James had been the leader of the church in Jerusalem.  The writer does not use the title of an apostle – but calls himself in Chapter 1 Verse 1 “James, as servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes (Jewish converts) which are scattered (because of persecution – called the diaspora) abroad, greeting.”  Paul in some of his epistles and John in his epistles don’t introduce themselves as an apostle.  So, it’s no big deal that James doesn’t either.  Verse 2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various) temptations (trials);” Verse 3 “Knowing this, that the trying (proving and testing) of your faith worketh (builds) patience (perseverance).”  Verse 4 “But let patience have (do) her perfect work, that ye may be perfect (complete) and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing.”  We quickly come upon one of the best-known verses among members of the LDS Church.  It was supposedly, the verse that Joseph Smith Jr. read – which motivated him to go into the woods and pray.  The reported result of that prayer was the First Vision (see Joseph Smith – History 1:11-20).  Verse 5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not (won’t restrict or rebuke ); and it shall be given him.”  Mormons use this verse to support their view that you can ascertain whether a religion is true or not – simply by praying about it.  It was a favorite tool of mine, as a young LDS missionary.  But I have since learned in my life that the way to identify a true religion is not simply by praying – but by testing its claims according to the clear teachings of God’s Word.  In all of this – we have to do what every serious student of the Bible must do – look at the verse in context.  First, what does “wisdom” mean in relation to its immediate context in the letter of James?  Within the framework of James, the passage sets the tone and subject of the entire letter.  James is a book of wisdom – that is, a book of advice and admonishment.  The remainder of the letter is, in one sense, a long answer to the question of what is meant by “wisdom” in 1:5.   In short, the concept of wisdom is – the ability to use knowledge in a practical way to the best advantage.  The Bible never tells us to pray about spiritual truth.  Instead the Bible tells us to compare all things with Scripture (see Acts 17:11 and 2 Timothy 3:16) because it is through the word of God that we have spiritual truths revealed to us.  The context of James 1:5 is about gaining wisdom through difficult trials and the testing of one’s faith – not about praying to find out which church is true, or – to find out if a book is true.  Then James goes on to tell the Jewish believers to have faith – and trust God.   Verse 6 “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (not doubting).  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (in other words, is unstable).”  Moving on to Verses 13-15 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man (in other words, God does not tempt people to do evil):  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn (pulled or dragged) away of his own lust (desires), and enticed.  Then when lust

The general theme of Chapter 9 is the same as the two preceding chapters – showing that Christ as High Priest is superior to the Jewish high priests.  The more focused point here in Chapter 9 is – that the former dispensation was a mere shadow, type or figure, – and that latter dispensation was real and efficacious.  Verse 14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot (as a perfect sacrifice, without sin) to God, purge your conscience from dead works (works of the unsaved are worthless) to serve the living God (the believer is freed from sin to serve the living God)?”   When Christ entered the Most Holy Place, He did so to offer His own blood once and for all time – making future sacrifices unnecessary.  This is what Jesus meant by His dying words on the cross: “It is finished.”  Only by accepting Jesus’ blood – shed on the cross for the remission of sins – can we stand before God covered in the righteousness of Christ.  Verse 15 “And for this cause he (Christ) is the mediator of the new testament (new covenant), that by means of death (by offering Himself as a sacrifice), for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (to redeem us from personal sins which remain upon us when we lived by the law), they which are called (who believe on Christ) might receive the promise of eternal inheritance (joint-heirs with Christ in heaven).” We end Chapter 9 with an interesting passage, Verse 27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to do die, but after this the judgment.”  I have heard even Christians say, they would consider re-incarnation to be an option after death.  Reincarnation is a Hindu belief that teaches the rebirth of a person’s soul into a new body – be it human or animal.  That is NOT a biblical teaching.  Paul teaches in Verse 27, that we die – only once.  And after that- we are judged by God.  Chapter 10:14-17 “For by one offering (sacrifice) he (Christ) hath perfected (He provided a way for believers to be made righteous by and through His shed blood) for ever them that are sanctified (made holy).  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he (Christ) had said before (in the past, as recorded in Jeremiah 31:33-34),  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days (after the Law of Moses), saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”  Now, from Verse 18 of Chapter 10, to the end of Chapter 12, the writer of Hebrews begins to petition his readers toward unrelenting faith in Christ.  The passages are outstanding in their clarity of what it means to be a Christian and that our relationship with Christ is all predicated upon faith in Him alone.  Verses 18-22 “Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.  Having therefore, brethren, boldness (confidence) to enter into the holiest (Holy of Holies) by the blood of Jesus (because of His Atonement),  By a new and living way (Christ), which he hath consecrated (prepared) for us, through the veil (when the temple veil was torn in two), that is to say, his flesh (His sacrifice).  And having an high priest over the house (kingdom) of God;  Let us draw near (approach God) with a true heart (sincere heart) in full assurance (confidence) of faith, having our hearts sprinkled (cleansed by the blood of Christ) from an evil (guilty) conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (not water baptism, but the Holy Spirit’s purifying by means of the Word of God).”     

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The Prophet Ezekiel, tapping into this imagery and into the time when God would change His people from the heart said: Ezekiel 36:25-26 “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you (referring to the Holy Spirit), and ye sh

Who was Melchizedek?  Was he a priesthood to be handed down and transferred to other men?  How was Melchizedek (King of Salem) a representation of the coming Messiah?  We are about to find our answers.   Chapter 7 is the focal point of the epistle to the Hebrews because of its detailed comparison of the priesthood of Christ and the Levitical high priesthood.  Last week at the end of Chapter 6, the writer of Hebrews ended by saying that Christ was made “after the order of Melchizedek.” Now Hebrews 7:1-2 “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem (Jeru-salem), priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the (maraudering band of) kings, and blessed him;  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all (a tenth of the spoils of war); first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;”  So, who was this Melchizedek?  He was another TYPE of Jesus Christ – not of a priesthood to be handed down like the Levitical priesthood.  There is no mention of any Melchizedek priesthood – just a figure named Melchizedek who was such an imposing high priest even Abraham, the father of our faith, paid him respect and homage.  Prior to Sinai, the patriarchs – or fathers of each family – were established priests of the land.   Then at Sinai, God established a priesthood based on the heritage of Aaron.  Melchizedek was a great high priest prior to the establishment of the priesthood based on heritage.  And, he was a figure for our final high priest – Jesus Christ.  In Genesis, it says that Melchizedek – king of righteousness and priest of the most high God – brought to Abraham “bread and wine.”  The very same elements Jesus established communion upon in the upper room.  Melchizedek predated and typified Christ in his priestly duties of approaching the throne of God on our behalf.  Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek as an indication that Jesus’ position of authority and power were far above even Father Abraham.  This story is NOT about Abraham paying a tenth or tithing – it is about a freewill offering in which Abraham gave – as a sign of being subservient to a High Priest who was greater than himself.  Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils.  It wasn’t a tenth of all his personal possessions or income.  It was a one-time offering following war.  Then in Verse 3 speaking of Melchizedek – that he was “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.”  Now, we’re really getting the picture about this character Melchizedek as a type of Jesus.  Did the pre-incarnate Word of God have a Father?  No!  There was not a father of Jesus as there was no Jesus preincarnate – but the Word of God (see John 1:1) – and the Word of God had no father, nor mother!   And then the writer says that He was without descent.  The Greek word for “without descent” is “agenealogetos.”  Without genealogy!  “having neither beginning of days nor end of life” meaning existing eternally in the past and eternally into the future.  “but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.”  David gives us some insight in Psalm 110:4 “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”  Where other priests (of the Levitical order were merely high priests while alive), Christ would perform His sacred duties beyond this life and into the eternities (see Hebrews 7:22-27).  The object of the writer of Hebrews is to show that Jesus is a better – or superior – High Priest than the Jewish high priest – by likening Him to Melchizedek.  Whether Melchizedek was a real mortal man, or He was a pre-incarnate Christophany of the Messiah to come – we don’t know for sure.  The important thing is that we understand the parallels between this Old Testament character and Jesus.

Hebrews is such a great book and can be as challenging and inspirational to study as Romans and Galatians.  It is uncertain who the author is, but it is assumed that Paul wrote it – about AD 67-69.  The book’s primary aim is to show the Jewish converts of Christianity that the Levitical priesthood which was so important to them, and their culture, and their temple – was all but a shadow of the Messiah – Jesus Christ.  For this reason, understanding the content of the book of Hebrews goes a long way in seeing how far Mormonism is off in their doctrinal claims of priesthood restoration Here we go!  Hebrews 1:1 “God, who at sundry (various) times and in divers manners (different ways) spake in time past unto the fathers (our ancestors) by the prophets.”  What different ways did God speak to prophets in the past?  He spoke to Moses through the burning bush.  He spoke to Job from a whirlwind.  He spoke to Joseph in dreams.  He spoke to Joshua through an angel.  He spoke to Samuel as a voice in the night.  He spoke to Elijah in a still small voice.  He spoke to Daniel in a vision.  None of these men knew each other, yet what God revealed to them perfectly meshed, together in the narrative of the Old and New Testaments.  While God has spoken to the prophets in the past, Verse 2 “Hath in THESE last days spoken unto us by his Son (Jesus), whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he (Jesus) made the worlds.”  HOW has God “spoken to us by His Son?”  Jesus revealed the invisible person of God – through being perfect in his mortal body.  Through the prophets during the preceding 1500 years, God revealed fragmentary revelations of Himself.  But when Jesus came, He was the complete and full revelation of God.  Verse 3 “Who (Jesus) being the brightness of his (God’s) glory, and the express image of his (God’s) person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins (paid for our sins), sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  Mormonism interprets that to mean God also is in a body of flesh and – that Jesus is an exact physical replica of His Father on high.  First of all the Greek word for “express image” is “charkter” – the character of His person.  In this sense, the word relates to characteristics not of physical form.  God is love – Jesus is love in physical form, etc.  Jesus said in John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  Paul says in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the image of the “invisible God.”  Getting back – remember Hebrews is trying to build a case that Christ Jesus is better than all they have had in the past.   Verse 3 finishes by saying – Jesus “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”  He was sitting because His work – THE work – was done.  See, the singular high priest working in the temple never sat, because the work and ordinances and rituals were never done.  Here the writer points out that Jesus is our ONLY high priest who completed all the work once and for all – and that Jesus sits down because His work is finished.  I want to point out that the phrase “right hand of God” is a Hebraism that describes a place of power and position.  Being on “the right hand” means the person or being is in a position of power and honor.  Mormonism teaches that, if God the Father did not have a physical body of flesh and bones, then how could Jesus Christ have possibly sat down at “the right hand” of the Father?  If the Father has a right hand, then He must have a body of flesh of bones?  Once again, the Mormons are reading an idea into the text that is not there.  In the Jewish mind, the right hand referred to the place of honor.  It is simply a metaphorical expression affirming that Christ was in a position of authority.In Hebrews Chapter 2, the writer continues to bear witness to the Jews as to who Christ is – and that He is better than prophets and angels.  He again use

Paul’s two letters to Timothy were written around AD 64.  Timothy was a young missionary companion of Paul and was treated tenderly like a son.  Timothy’s father was a Greek and his mother (Eunice) was Jewish.  Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to watch over the body of believers.  In 1 Timothy, Paul gives him advice concerning his leadership duties and warns about the sinful behaviors common in society at that time.1 Timothy 1:1-2 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour (He is a saving God), and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Paul starts out by warning Timothy about those in Ephesus who were teaching false doctrines, fables (or falsehoods), endless genealogies, and questioning rather than godly edifying the body of Christ.  These false teachers were trying to reintroduce elements of the Law of Moses back into the Gospel of Grace.   Then Paul reminds us of his former life as a Pharisee.  And, how grateful he is to have been rescued FROM HIMSELF by God and called into the ministry.   1 Timothy 1:12-14 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.  And the GRACE OF OUR LORD was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”  Then Paul summarizes and personalizes the Good News: Jesus didn’t come merely to show us how to live a better life or to challenge us to be better people.  He came to offer us salvation that leads to eternal life.  1:15-16 “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom, I am chief (one of the worst).  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy (forgiveness), that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering (incredible patience), for a pattern (or example) to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”  The next verse clarifies the nature of God.  Verse 17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, INVISIBLE, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.  Amen.”  God is unseen – we cannot see Him or touch Him – He is Spirit.  He alone is God.1 Timothy chapter 2:4-6 “Who (speaking of God) will have ALL men to be saved (not just some elect), and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all (who paid the cost of redeeming us from sin), to be testified in due time (according to God’s plan).”  Christians understand that Christ Jesus is our mediator because He is God.  There is only one God; there is only one Mediator; that Mediator gave himself as a ransom – He paid the price.  There is nothing more to do – except believe that He accomplished it all in our behalf and simply accept the gift of salvation.  Then, Paul reassures Timothy and the church in Ephesus that Verse 7 “Whereunto (to whom) I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity (or truth).”   When Paul says he was “ordained” it doesn’t mean what the LDS interpret it to mean.  In Mormonism, to be ordained is to have Melchizedek priesthood holders lay hands on a male person’s head and confer authority and an office – in this case Apostleship.  However, the Greek word for ordained means “to appoint” – without involving the laying on of hands.  Paul, as we know, was ordained or appointed by no one else than the resurrection Lord.  The rest of Chapter Two can be a source of contention and hurt, if not read in the larger context of the scriptures.  Paul was counseling Timothy with respect to rather drastic local problems where women were being very contentious and effected by

Just a reminder – that Paul’s epistles are arranged in the Bible according to length rather than in chronological order.  Paul’s first and second letters to the Thessalonian believers were written around AD 50-52 from Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey.  He and his companion missionaries had recently been driven out of Thessalonica, in what is known today as northeastern Greece, by an angry mob of Jews (See Acts 17:1-15).  After they were driven out, they journeyed to Berea, then to Athens and from there to Corinth – where they met Silas and Timothy.  Timothy was then sent back to Thessalonica to check on the church.  After a time, Timothy returned to Corinth and reported conditions among the Thessalonian believers to Paul.  Paul then wrote First and Second Thessalonians to them.  These were the first letters written by Paul which are included in our New Testament.  And most scholars say they preceded the writing of the gospels.   Paul begins this letter by introducing the names of two men who labored with him as missionaries – Silvanus (also known as Silas) and Timotheus (or Timothy) – “unto the church of the Thessalonians.”  As I have pointed out in previous lessons – there were many references for the primitive church.  There was not one true name the church was called.  In fact, the Greek word for church is “ekklesia” meaning “assembly.”  These people were part of the church – or ekklesia – or assembly in Thessalonica that belonged to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul discusses the missionary work he and his companions have done and some of the persecutions they endured in the process.  Paul complements the believers in Thessalonica as he speaks of their faith and charity.  He will warn them against getting caught up in sins accepted by the culture in which they lived.  Let’s pick up where Chapter 4 ends.  Verses 13-18 “ But I would not have you to be ignorant (uninformed), brethren, concerning them which are asleep (those who have died), that ye sorrow not (don’t mourn for them), even as others which have no hope (like others do who do not believe as we do).  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus (those who died who were faithful to Jesus) will God bring (to heaven) with him (Christ).  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (have any advantage over) them which are asleep (have died already).  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven (at the Second Coming) with a shout, with the voice of the archangel (possibly Michael the archangel), and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ (the righteous dead) shall rise (be resurrected) first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (some people call this the rapture) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  The primary purpose of this passage is to provide encouragement to those Christians whose loved ones had died before the Lord was to return.   They seemed to fear that their dead brothers and sisters were going to miss out on everything the church was expecting to receive when Jesus returned.   Paul was reassuring those Thessalonian believers that not only would some of THEM still be living when Jesus returned – but that the dead in Christ would rise first – and those saints who are living will be “changed,” all “in the twinkling of an eye.”  (See 1 Corinthians 15:51-52).  Paul made these promises nearly 2,000 years ago.  They were promises to the Thessalonians – not to us, today!  All the New Testament scriptures point to the Second Coming of the Lord in AD 70.   Peter, James, John, and Paul proclaimed the same messages that Jesus preached.  The harmony of the Bible is beautiful!  You can compare what Jesus taught in Matthew 24 with what Paul taught here in 1 Thessalon

Mormonism claims to have the same organization that existed in the early Christian church, which was necessary to bring all believers into a unity of the faith.  But a close examination of the LDS church structure reveals that it is not the same organization as in Biblical times.   Here beginning in Chapter three, Paul is continuing to speak about the unity of the believers of God.  He will refer especially to the great “mystery” that was revealed in that dispensation.  Paul’s words are so beautifully and eloquently written. Chapter 3:1-4 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.  If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery (that both Jews and Gentiles are brought together in one body in Christ); (as I wrote afore in few words, Where by when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).”  Verses 5-7  “Which in other ages (ages past) was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (none of the Old Testament prophets knew the meaning of this mystery, until it was revealed to Paul and the other apostles);  That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  Whereof I was made a minister (by God Himself), according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power (which caused the gospel to work effectively in me).”  Verses 8-11 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints (the least deserving Christian there is), is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ (the infinite blessings of Christ).  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Angels and the entire realm of spiritual beings) might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,  According to the eternal purpose which he (the Father) proposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”  Verses 16-21 “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man (the Holy Spirit will energize the committed believer);  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded (solidly based) in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth (width), and length (extending into the eternities), and depth (His deep love), and height (suggests the vastness and completeness of His love);  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge (exceeds our ability to understand), that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Now unto him (the Father) that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (of God) that worketh in us, Unto him (the Father) be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.  Amen.” Chapter 4 is very important in Mormonism because it contains – what the LDS believe – is strong Biblical evidence that there is one true (brick and mortar) church – one true organization.  Paul writes, Verse 4 “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;”   The LDS believe theirs is the one true church – and that they are the only ones who have the one Spirit – they call the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Verse 5 “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” Mormonism claims that the LDS Church is the “one faith” and that all other churches are corrupt.  At least that’s what Joseph Smith claims he learned in the First Vision.  Yet there are 83 different church groups which point to Joseph Smith as their founder.  Each group charges that the other groups are improperly structured or completely apostate.