First Baptist Lenoir City

Mormonism - The Temple vs. The Church

The Temple

-The temple is sacred and restricted. 

-The restricted building is reserved for high-level religious ceremonies: baptism and weddings.

-Temple destruction followed the death of Jesus and His Apostles, but Joseph Smith and the LDS restored the Temple on earth in 1830. The first one was built in Kirtland, OH, in 1836.

-Must have a special card strictly for church members in good standing. 

-Closed on Sundays, but open weekdays and Saturdays.

-Temple clothing: church members who enter the temple go to dressing rooms first to change from their everyday clothes into white clothing.

-Instruction rooms: instruction on who we are. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where will we go when this life is over? (All of these are worldview questions).

-Celestial Room: A glimpse into Heaven. After an Endowment ordinance that happens in the Instruction Room, participants enter this room.

-Sealing Rooms: Families can be sealed to continue forever. Families are central to God’s plan for our happiness.

-Baptistry: blessings for ancestors. Required to enter heaven. Temple ceremonies can actually help the dead. You can be baptized for someone who died before you without being baptized.

The Church

-The church (also known as “Chapel or Meetinghouses”) is open to everyone (non-members included).

-Used on Sundays and throughout the week for educational activities.

-Their church service (called Sacrament Meeting) lasts for 60 min. The service includes congregational singing, with an opening and closing prayer.

-In the middle of the singing, they observe “The Sacrament,” or Communion. They use small pieces of bread and small cups of water to represent Jesus' sacrifice.

ADAM then SETH now NOAH:

• Noah was a preacher of righteousness; Noah was a man of righteousness -

• According to Moses - 6:8; 6:22; 7:5; 7:9; 7:23; 8:1; 8:15-16 (God told Noah what to build, when to get in, when to get out); 8:20-21

• According to I Chronicles 1:4 (Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth)

• According to Isaiah - 54:9 • Accord to Ezekiel - 14:14, 20

• According to Jesus - Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27

• According to Hebrews 11:7 (‘ungodly”)

• According to Peter - I Peter 3:20; II Peter 2:5; II Peter 3:1-7 (“ungodly”)

• The sons; daughters, & giants

I. THE SONS OF GOD (2a, 4b) -Job, Psalm 82, John 10

1. Fallen angels - reproduced a mutant race

2. Seth’s line of the seed - bc they married into Cain’s line

3. Earthly rulers possessed by demons

• The serpent in chapter 3

• The setting in Job 1 •

The seeking in I Peter 5:8

• Angels don’t marry - Mt 22

II. THE DAUGHTERS OF MAN (2b, 4c) - 5:4,6,10,13,16, 19, 22, 26, 30

III. THE NEPHILIM (4a) - Giants (Seen in the Old Testament - sons of Anak

IV. THESE WERE THE MIGHTY MEN OF OLD / THE MEN OF RENOWN (4d) -

V. The Corruption of Man - 6:5

1. “the wickedness was great”

2. “every intention of the thoughts of his heart were only evil continually”

3. If sin isn’t that bad then grave isn’t that good (of course God is going to rescue me); The cross of Christ is elevated by the confession of sinful man!

• God is disappointed when

• We are Unresponsive and

• Unrepentant and instead are

• Increasing in wickedness

VI. The Lord and Regret - 6:6a

1. God is All-Powerful

2. God is All-Personal

3. “Jesus wept”; The Father likes away, “MY GOD, MY GOD…”

VII. The Lord and Grief - 6:6b

1. Grief to the heart of God -

2. Heart of God - Bill Mills

VIII. The Lord and Sorrow - 6:7

1. “I will blot out man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens”

2. “for I am sorry (repented) that I made them” Communion Examination / Celebration: Regret, Grief, Sorrow

• Pleasing God - Matthew 3:16-17; Luke 2:14; John 8:29; Romans 8:8; I Corinthians 10:5; II Corinthians 5:6-9; Ephesians 5:10; Colossians 1:10; I Thessalonians 4:1; I Timothy 2:3; I Timothy 5:4; Hebrews 11:5-6; Hebrews 13:16, 21

IX. The Lord and Favor - 6:8

Theology 

• God was actually a man first

• All people lived with God as his spirit children.

• Lucifer was also once a spirit child or God.

• Lucifer responds in chapter 4 of the Book of Moses (found in the Pearl of Great Price) saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that not one soul shall be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.”

• Jesus was a spirit child that came to earth through a physical relationship Mary had with God (returned as a man just for this reason).

• The Trinity is 3 separate beings without “oneness.”

• One priesthood (both Melchizedekian and Aaronic) is “without beginning of days or end of years.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 84:17)

• Church presidents, apostles, high priests, seventies (traveling ministers and special witnesses of Jesus Christ), elders, and the various offices all share specific authorities.

• Even this has been “changed” in Doctrine and Covenants 20:65-67 amending from only officers and elders of the Mormon church to now include all groups above in their “priesthood.”

• Their “priesthood” is critical to their doctrine due to the fact they believe they can return to or become gods themselves.

• John 10:34 - “Ye are gods.” John 10:34 actually says this phrase, but contextually, it is a rebuke from Psalm 82:6 where God rebuked Israel’s unjust judges, calling them gods because they ruled as His representatives and spokesmen.

• “In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people in it.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 349)

• “God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man . . .” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 345)

• “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s: the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit . . .” (Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22)

• Their view of God being many has not changed.

The Holy Spirit is a personage and not a physical being. He is immaterial, which is not actually existent according to their own theology regarding God. 

• So, when is the Holy Spirit bestowed upon those that believe? Well, even Smith doesn’t really know. (1) baptism occurs first then you get the Holy Spirit with remission of sin (3 Nephi 12:2) or (2) you are forgiven of your sins and given the Holy Spirit before baptism (Moroni 8:11).

• Baptism in water is the same as baptism in the Spirit which is necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God. There are various degrees of possessing the Holy Ghost.

• The Book of Mormon sums up the creation narrative this way: the gods who created this earth actually planned that Adam, who was to become ruler of this domain, and his wife, Eve, were foreordained to sin so that the race of man who now inhabit this earth might come into being and eventually reach godhood.

(VIDEO HERE)

• 'Salvation in Mormonism is simple: (1) have faith in Christ, (2) baptism by immersion, (3) obedience to the teaching of the Mormon Church, (4) good works, and (5) “keeping the commands of God (which) will cleanse away the stain of sin” (Journal of Discourse 2:4).

• Heaven: three-fold heaven: (1) the telestial heaven - a holding place for all worldly people, (2) the terrestrial heaven - Christians who did not accept the Mormon message along with Mormons that did not live up to the churches requirements as well as other men of good character from other religions that reject the revelation of the Latter Day Saints, and (3) the celestial heaven - three levels here: the lower level is associated with individuals lived honorably and accepted the Mormon testimony of Jesus, but they are unmarried or did not complete all specific temple ordinances. The middle level is not explained well enough in detail. The highest level is for godhood or the possession of one’s own kingdom and family to reign over it. 

• Hell is temporary post-mortal position most often known as Outer Darkness. You can and will still hear the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the Latter-Day Saints. You can repent and accept baptism in order to leave the Outer Darkness and enter Paradise = Heaven.

• Our Former walk - We must be born-again

• Our Faith walk - We won’t be secure or grow strong without it (II Corinthians 5:7;Col. 2:6-7)

• Our Frustrating walk - We wobble (Psalm 73:1-2); We stumble (James 3:2); We grieve the Spirit, Ephesians 4:30); We quench the Spirit, II Thessalonians 5:19)

I. Walking with God

  A. Enoch walked with God - Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5-6

  B. Noah walked with God - Genesis 6:9; Hebrews 11:7

  C. All of us walk w/ God - Colossians 2:6-7 - AS WE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS SO WALK IN HIM

II. Three Ways to Walk with God 5:1-21

  A. Walk in the Way of Love - vv. 1-7

   1. Recognize God’s purity -

   2. Reject Humanity’s perversion -

   3. Repentance to the disobedient -

  B. Walk in the Way of Light - vv. 8-14

   1. The Shift…to the light (8-10)

   2. The Shine…of the light (11-14)

   3. John 1:4-5, 9-13; John 3:16-21; John 8:12

  C. Walk in the Way of Wisdom - vv. 15-21

    1. Being Careful with our use of time (15-17)

    2. Being Controlled by the Holy Spirit (18-21)

    3. Proverbs 1:7; Luke 1:28-35; Romans 1:18-23; James 1:5

Mormonism: History

The Founder:

1.) Joseph Smith Jr. was the son of a mystic.

2.) Smith’s mother was a product of extreme religious views and trivial superstitions.

3.) Joseph was their fourth child, born Dec. 23, 1805.

4.) The family never succeeded as “treasure seekers” in the multitude of attempts in Vermont and New York.

5.) Smith regretted and later denied being known as a “money-digger.”

6.) Smith was called as a prophet in 1820 after receiving a marvelous vision in which God the Father and God the Son materialized and spoke to him in the woods. The vision must not have been too moving.

7.) In 1823, Smith was visited by the angel Moroni and told of the “golden plates” that later became the Book of Mormon.

8.) In 1851, Smith recounted that the angel Nephi appeared to him at this time rather than Moroni. Thoughtful Mormon scribes corrected this “error.”

9.) Smith allegedly found the golden tablets in 1827 by digging them up in Palmyra, New York, where Jesus left them.

10.) Translation of the tablets took place from 1827-1829.

11.) Oliver Cowdery joined Smith as a Mormon convert and began to help with the translation. On May 15, 1829, John the Baptist visited both men at the behest of Peter, James, and John in Pennsylvania, with orders to confer the “Aaronic Priesthood” on both men. (Pearl of Great Price records this event)

12.) Shortly after this conformation, both Smith and Cowdery received the Melchizedekian Priesthood from Peter, James, and John (Doctrine and Covenants 84:17).

13.) Both men left Pennsylvania shortly after this event and returned to the home of Peter Whitmer in Fayette, New York, where the translation was completed and published in 1830.

14.) After a conference garnered more “converts,” the Mormon church moved to Kirtland, Ohio. In 6 years, 16,000 members were added.

15.) Between 1831 and 1844, Smith received well over 135 direct revelations from God to help build Kirtland. Smith’s practice of polygamy was instituted here and later confirmed by divine revelation.

16.) Smith purchased 63 acres while in Missouri, deeming it “holy ground” to mark the spot where the temple of Zion, the earthly headquarters of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, was eventually to be built.

17.) The Mormons moved on to Nauvoo, Illinois following the controversy in Missouri.

18.) On June 27, 1844, an angry mob of some 200 people stormed the jail and brutally murdered Smith and his brother, unknowingly placing the title of martyrdom on Smith.

Succession

1.) Brigham Young takes over at 43 years old. In 1846, Young announced that the Mormons were leaving Nauvoo. A year later, the first band of Mormons made it to the Great Salt Lake.

2.) Young ruled the Mormon Church for 30 years, claiming the same authority and infallible prophetic succession from Smith.

3.) To maintain Mormon control of Utah, Young ordered a massacre of around 100 non-Mormon immigrants known as the Mountain Meadows Massacre in September of 1857.

4.) From that time on, the Mormon church slowly began to reach out from Salt Lake City, Utah, building LDS churches in most towns across the US.

 •  Reading: Ephesians 4:17-32

  •  God is Love; God is Light; God is Wisdom (personified) - Godly people look to God for how we walk! 

I. What does Walking with God look like? 

  1.   Enoch walked with God - Genesis 5:24

  •  Hebrews 11:5-6

  •  He pleased God 

  •  He drew near to God 

  •  He believed God exists 

  •  He believed God rewards those who seek Him

  2.   Noah takes with God - Genesis 6:9

  •  Hebrews 11:7 (4 things)

  •  He believed concerning events never seen before 

  •  He built an ark bc of his reverent fear of God 

  •  He condemned the unbelieving world 

  •  He became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith 

  3.  Abraham, Moses, & David walked with God -

  4.  All of God’s children are called to walk w/ God - II Corinthians 5:7 - WE WALK BY FAITH; Colossians 2:6-7 - AS WE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS SO WALK IN HIM; I John 2:6 - THE ONE WHO SAYS HE ABIDES IN CHRIST OUGHT TO WALK IN THE SAME MANNER AS JESUS WALKED 

II. Three Ways to Walk with God - Ephesians 5:1-21

  1.   Walk in the Way of Love - vv. 1-7

  •  Recognize God’s purity - 

  •  Reject Humanity’s perversion 

  •  Repentance for the disobedient - 

  2.   Walk in the Way of Light - vv. 8-14

  •  The Shift…to the light (8-10)

  •  The Shine…of the light (11-14)

  •  John 1; John 3; John 8:12

  3.  Walk in the Way of Wisdom - vv. 15-21

  •  Careful with our use of time (15-17)

  •  Controlled by the Holy Spirit (18-21) 

  •  Proverbs 1:7; Luke wisdom is vindicated by her children; Romans 1 - professing to be wise; James 1:5

THE FIVE SOLAS

The Theological Pillars of the Protestant Reformation

1. Sola Scriptura: By the Scriptures Alone

2. Sola Fide: By Faith Alone

3. Sola Gratia: By Grace Alone

4. Solus Christus: Because of Christ Alone

5. Soli Deo Gloria: To God Alone Be the Glory

 •    The Remnant call on God 

    •    The Remnant walk with God 

    •    This Remnant build for God 

I.  Faith Moving Forward: Marks of faith!  

    1.    Abel worshiped - 

    2.    Seth called - 

    3.    Enoch walked - 

    4.    Noah walked -  Noah found favor with God - This means God was pleased with the way Noah walked!

    •    Hebrew for “walk” is halak. Walking with God as used in Genesis 5:24 & Genesis 6:9 

“signifies an intimate, ongoing relational fellowship with life lived in loyalty and devotion to Creator God”.  When the term is “walking in His ways” (common theme in Deuteronomy), then it represents active obedience, adherence to divine instruction, and patterning one’s life after God’s character

    •    Genesis 5:24 & 6:9 - 

    •    Genesis 17:1 - God commanded Abraham how to walk before Him

    •    Exodus 16:4 - The manna was a test to see if the people would walk in God’s Law

    •    Deuteronomy 10:12 - unpacked what walking with God looks like

    •    Joshua 22:5; Psalm 1:1-2; Isaiah 40:31; Micah 6:8

• History

• Beliefs

-Authority

-Sin and Salvation

-Eucharist

-Life after death

-Lord's Supper/Communion/Mass

I. The Righteous Reminders (1/2)   - This comes right after men CALLED ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

II. The Scriptural Significances (3/32) It is a…

  1.  Historic timeline 

  2.  Holy line - connecting to the Future Seed; Genesis 4 & 5; I Chronicles 1:1-27; Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38.

  3.  Harsh line (the reign of death) - “and he died”; Romans 3:23; 6:23; Genesis 2:15-17; Hebrews 9:22; John 11:25-26; I Cor 15:20-28, 50-58

  4.  Hopeful line (the way of life; 18/24) - Enoch “walked” with God; Enoch “pleased” God (Hebrews 11) - physical death doesn’t mean there can’t be spiritual life!

  5.  Help line (28/32) - Noah 120 years (Rescue) - references to Noah (52x in OT (36 in Genesis alone; 8x in NT); ISAIAH 54 (v. 10); EZEKIEL 14:12-23MATTHEW 24:37-38 (Luke 17:26-27); Luke 3:36; Hebrews 11:7; I Peter 3:20; II Peter 2:25