Unveiling Mormonism

The question of whether families are forever in heaven is a central tenet of Mormon theology, but how does this idea align with the Bible? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as Mormonism, teaches that families are eternal, and through specific temple ordinances, marriages can be sealed for time and eternity. This concept appeals to the deep human desire for everlasting connection with loved ones, yet the Bible presents a different perspective on the nature of relationships in eternity. In this episode we explore how biblical theology addresses this question and where it diverges from Mormon doctrine.

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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

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The question of whether families are forever in heaven is a central tenet of Mormon theology, but how does this idea align with the Bible? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), commonly known as Mormonism, teaches that families are eternal, and through specific temple ordinances, marriages can be sealed for time and eternity. This concept appeals to the deep human desire for everlasting connection with loved ones, yet the Bible presents a different perspective on the nature of relationships in eternity. Let’s explore how biblical theology addresses this question and where it diverges from Mormon doctrine.

Mormonism teaches that marriage, family, and human relationships can be eternal through sacred ordinances performed in their temples. A key scripture often cited by Mormons is found in Doctrine and Covenants 132:19, which discusses the sealing of marriages that can last "for time and all eternity." For faithful Latter-day Saints, this belief promises that family units will continue beyond this life, ensuring the continuation of their relationships forever.

While the Bible affirms that relationships are important in this life and that marriage is a God-ordained institution, it does not teach that earthly family units, including marriages, will persist in their current form in heaven. Instead, the Bible offers a more profound view of eternal life in which all believers are united in Christ.

One of the clearest statements about marriage in eternity comes from Jesus Himself. In Matthew 22:23–30, the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, asked Jesus a tricky question about a woman who had been married multiple times—whose wife would she be in the resurrection? Jesus answered in verse 30, saying, “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

Jesus’ response shows that earthly institutions like marriage do not continue in heaven. Instead, believers will experience relationships that are transformed, not bound by earthly categories like marriage or family. Think about the implications of marriage in heaven. Polygamy would exist!? This is clearly not an option according to the Bible.

While the Bible does not affirm the continuation of earthly family units in heaven, it does teach that relationships will be perfect and glorified in eternity. In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul says, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” In heaven, believers will experience a depth of love, understanding, and unity with others far beyond what is possible on earth. Consider these verses:

• Ephesians 2:19 – The Household of God – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
• 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 – Reunion of Believers in Christ – “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
• John 14:2–3 – Dwelling in the Father's House – “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
• Revelation 21:3–4 – God Dwells with His People – “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”
• Revelation 7:9–10 – Unity of All Believers – “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

The New Testament presents heaven as a place where believers, regardless of their earthly families, will enjoy perfect fellowship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. Earthly distinctions, including marriage and family ties, will fade as all believers are united in Christ.

Ultimately, the Bible teaches that God’s eternal family is spiritual, not earthly. Jesus, when asked about His mother and brothers, redefined the family by saying, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). In heaven, the family of God will be made up of all believers, united by faith in Christ, sharing in the joy of His presence forever.

The Bible teaches that in heaven, believers will be perfectly united in their relationship with God through Christ. Revelation 21:3 describes the eternal state, saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” The focus of eternity is not on human relationships but on our perfect communion with God. While relationships with others will exist, they will be secondary to the overwhelming joy of being with Christ.

Furthermore, in Romans 8:16–17, the Bible emphasizes that believers are co-heirs with Christ, united in one family under God the Father. This passage points to the ultimate family of God, comprised of all believers who are spiritually adopted into His family, not through earthly bonds, but through faith in Christ.

Romans 8:15-17 (NLT) 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The idea that families are forever in heaven, as taught by Mormonism, is not supported by the Bible. While the Bible affirms the beauty and significance of family life on earth, it teaches that marriage and earthly family structures will not persist into eternity. Instead, believers are promised something far greater: perfect communion with God and a transformed relationship with others, where the family of God is united forever in Christ.

Our hope should rest not in the continuation of earthly family units, but in the glorious future where all believers will be one in Christ, experiencing His perfect love and the fullness of joy in His presence forever.

Welcome back to the podcast! Today, we're going to answer this question: Did God change how salvation works?

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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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Today we’re in part 4 of our mini-series on how salvation works

• Three weeks ago: Is Anyone Too Far Gone for God? (Acts 8:26-40)
• Answer: No! God can reach you on the desert road to nowhere
• Two weeks ago: How Does Spiritual Conversion Actually Work?
• We’ll looked at the dramatic conversion story of Saul (Paul)
• – and what we can generalize from his experience.
• About the HS opening eyes
• And how faith/repentance changes you in an instant
• From death to life
• From enemy of God to child of God
• Last week: How can you know if you’re really saved? (Acts 9:20-31)
• Paul went about preaching the gospel immediately
• The disciples in Jerusalem didn’t believe he was really saved!? After 3 years! 
• We looked at how Christians can have “assurance” of their salvation
• Today to finish up we’ll dig deeper into a theological question: 

Q. Did God Change How Salvation Works?

• Have you ever thought about this?
• In the NT
• grace, forgiveness, Jesus
• Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Jesus is THE way. But what about in the OT?
• Did salvation work one way in OT before Jesus
• And another way in NT after Jesus?

Q. What was the Old Testament way of salvation?

• Many thought: saved by keeping the commandments
• In Jewish tradition, there are 613 commandments (known as the Mitzvot) in the Torah. These commandments are derived from the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and encompass a wide range of moral, religious, and civil laws. 248 positive commandments (things to do) and 365 negative commandments (things not to do)
• Scholars estimate that around 100 to 150 of the 613 commandments address issues of purity and impurity.
• Dietary Laws (Kashrut): These include commandments related to clean and unclean animals (Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14).
• Table fellowship refers to the practice of sharing meals, which in ancient Jewish culture held deep social, religious, and spiritual significance. In the context of the Old Testament and Jewish tradition, sharing a meal symbolized more than just eating together; it represented community, unity, and, in many cases, ritual purity. This practice also reinforced the separation between Jews and Gentiles due to differences in dietary laws and religious observance. Eating with Gentiles, who were considered ritually impure, could defile an observant Jew, requiring purification rites (Leviticus 20:24-26).
• Clean vs. unclean
• So is this how people were saved in OT? Keep yourself clean? 

The answer is found in today’s text. 

• The passage we’re reading today is groundbreaking. 
• The early Christians are going to learn the answer to this question
• …by way of answering a broader question about salvation.
• Here’s the story:

Acts 10:1-6 (NLT) 1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.

4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! 5 Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

Acts 10:9-14 (NLT) 9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”

• Even after Jesus’ teaching on this, Peter still didn’t understand (see below). This would be the moment that he really got it… and its implications for the church.
• Mark 7:18-19 (NLT) 18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)

Acts 10:15-16 (NLT) 15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

• This is a watershed moment in salvation history
• Peter was learning the answer to our question today
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) What was implicit in the teaching of Jesus is now made explicit. The clean and unclean provisions of the law were temporary, designed to keep Israel a holy and distinct people, until the time when Jews and Gentiles could receive the forgiveness of sins and sanctification on the same basis, through faith in Christ (Acts 20:32; 26:17-18; cf. 15:9, 'having cleansed their hearts by faith'). 

Peter was confused, then Cornelius’ men showed up..

• He went with them to the Gentile’s house, and said this: 

Acts 10:28 (NLT) 28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean.”

• It wasn’t just about food! It was about people.
• God was revealing himself to Cornelius, and Peter was to share the gospel 
• Note similarity with Samaritan revival
• Philip shared the gospel
• But God waited for Peter and John to give HS
• This same pattern is happening
• God could have just shared the gospel in a vision
• But he wanted Peter to share it
• Not for Cornelius’ sake
• But for Peter’s sake!

Acts 10:34-36 (NLT) 34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all…. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

• Not just Lord of Jews. (mind blown)
• Salvation now goes out to Gentiles. This isn’t just a Jewish thing.
• Salvation is not about being clean or unclean according to Law
• It’s about trusting Jesus to clean you by his final work on the cross
• He is the ultimate sacrifice
• No longer a need for the old system

And here’s where it connects to our question of the day…

This answer doesn’t just apply to Jews and Gentiles moving forward

• It applies to everyone looking backward!
• Q. Did God Change How Salvation Works?
• Answer: no!! Everyone who has ever been saved… has been saved by faith
• Jews in NT were saved by faith in the one who came (Jesus).
• Gentiles in NT were saved by that same faith in the one who came (Jesus).
• People in OT were saved by faith, too
• In the one who was to come, even though they didn’t know his name
• Object of faith was still Messiah
• Galatians 3:11 (NLT) 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
• Quoting OT! Now they look back and see the truth: it was always faith
• salvation by faith, apart from the Law was an Old Testament principle
• Romans 4:1-3 (NLT) 1 Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”
• Believed in God’s promise (about his offspring)
• Even though it was humanly impossible (he was old and childless)
• God counted him as righteousness (even though he wasn’t)
• Because of his faith.
• Faith in God to come through on his promise
• His promise was all about Jesus!

Here’s the point: 

• No one was ever saved by perfectly keeping the Law
• Not back then, not today
• The Law simply shows people how imperfect they are
• To set the stage for the One who could perfectly keep the Law
• = Jesus
• So all along this was God’s plan for salvation
• It was always about dependence upon God, trusting his pathway
• In the OT his pathway was a concept: Messiah
• In the NT his pathway had a name: Jesus
• Everyone who has ever been saved… has been saved by faith in Jesus.
• As Peter said to the Jewish leaders in Acts 4:

Acts 4:12 (NLT) 12 “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

The concept of pre-mortal existence—that humans existed before their earthly life—is a theological doctrine central to Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). In contrast, the traditional Christian view, rooted in the Bible, maintains that life begins at conception, and there is no pre-birth existence of the soul. In this episode, we explore both perspectives and defend the biblical view against Mormon teachings on pre-existence.

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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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Pre-Mortal Existence: A Biblical Response to Mormon Teachings

The concept of pre-mortal existence—that humans existed before their earthly life—is a central doctrine of Mormonism, officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). In contrast, traditional Christianity, grounded in the Bible, teaches that life begins at conception and denies any pre-birth existence of the soul. This article will explore both perspectives and present a biblical defense against the LDS doctrine of pre-existence.

In Mormon theology, it is believed that human beings existed as spirit children of God before their earthly life. This belief is foundational to their understanding of the purpose of life. Key Mormon scriptures, including Doctrine and Covenants 93:29 and Abraham 3:22-23 (from the Pearl of Great Price), outline the idea that humans lived as pre-mortal spirits in heaven before coming to Earth.

Mormons believe that this pre-mortal existence is essential for understanding why humans are sent to Earth: to receive bodies, face challenges, and ultimately return to God. Life on Earth is seen as a critical step in an eternal journey of progression, where spiritual growth continues after death.

While Mormonism presents a narrative of pre-mortal existence, traditional Christianity finds no biblical basis for this belief. Instead, Scripture presents a clear view that human life begins at conception, and each soul is uniquely created by God.

Several key passages are often misunderstood in LDS theology but, when correctly interpreted, refute the concept of pre-existence:

1. Jeremiah 1:5 (NLT): “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
2. This verse, often cited by Mormons, does not refer to a pre-existence. Instead, it highlights God's foreknowledge and His plans for Jeremiah. Similar language is used in passages like:

• Romans 8:29: God’s foreknowledge and predestination.
• Ephesians 1:4: God’s choice of believers before the foundation of the world. These passages emphasize God’s omniscience, not human pre-mortal existence.

1. Psalm 139:16 (NLT): “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
2. This text celebrates God's intimate knowledge and sovereignty over human life, beginning in the womb, not before it.
3. Galatians 1:15 (NLT): “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace.”
4. Similar to Jeremiah, this passage reflects God’s foreknowledge and plan, not pre-existence.

In all these instances, the biblical narrative is clear that life begins at conception, and God’s knowledge of individuals precedes their birth but does not suggest a pre-mortal life.

A significant theological issue with the Mormon doctrine of pre-mortal existence is that it undermines the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. In Christian theology, Jesus is uniquely pre-existent. John 8:58 records Jesus saying, “Before Abraham was, I am.” Unlike any other human being, Jesus existed eternally as God before His incarnation.

John 3:13 further emphasizes this uniqueness: “No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.” If all humans existed in heaven before their earthly lives, this statement would lose its meaning. Jesus’ pre-existence sets Him apart as the only one who descended from heaven, making His divinity and incarnation singularly significant in the plan of salvation.

The Mormon doctrine of pre-mortal existence raises two critical theological problems:

1. The Authority of Scripture:
2. Mormon teachings about pre-existence are not found in the Bible, but are drawn from extra-biblical sources like the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Orthodox Christianity affirms that Scripture is complete and sufficient, as stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Adding non-biblical teachings undermines the authority of God’s Word.
3. Salvation and Grace:
4. In Mormonism, pre-mortal existence is part of an eternal progression that continues after death. This view stands in contrast to the biblical teaching of salvation by grace through faith in Christ’s atoning work (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible presents this life as a one-time opportunity to embrace God’s grace, after which comes judgment (Hebrews 9:27). There is no eternal progression or second chance after death.

In defending the biblical perspective against Mormonism, it is evident that the Bible teaches a linear view of human existence, beginning at conception and culminating in eternal life or judgment after death. The doctrine of pre-mortal existence as taught in Mormonism is not supported by Scripture. Instead, the Bible affirms that each human being is uniquely created by God, beginning with conception, and Jesus Christ alone pre-existed as the eternal Son of God.

Christians engaging with Mormons on this topic should emphasize the sufficiency of Scripture, the uniqueness of Christ, and the centrality of grace in salvation. While discussions on doctrinal differences should be respectful and gracious, they are essential for upholding the truth of the biblical message.

Welcome to part three in our Salvation 101 mini-series! Today we'll be asking and answering the question: How can you know if you’re really saved?

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The PursueGOD Truth podcast is the “easy button” for making disciples – whether you’re looking for resources to lead a family devotional, a small group at church, or a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Join us for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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Q. How Can You Know If You’re Really Saved?

• Part 19 in our Acts series!!
• Part 3 in our mini-series on “How Salvation Works”
• Two weeks ago: Is Anyone Too Far Gone for God? (Acts 8:26-40)
• Answer: No! God can reach you on the desert road to nowhere
• Last week: How Does Spiritual Conversion Actually Work?
• We’ll looked at the dramatic conversion story of Saul (Paul)
• – and what we can generalize from his experience.
• Today: How can you know if you’re really saved? (Acts 9:20-31)
• Paul went about preaching the gospel immediately
• The disciples in Jerusalem didn’t believe he was really saved!? After 3 years! 
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Even believers who have seen the power of God at work in their own lives can doubt God's ability to change others.
• The fancy term for this: “assurance of salvation”
• Can you have it for yourself?
• Some people “know that they know” they’re saved, no problems with this
• So many other people doubt their salvation and live in fear of judgment
• Here’s the thing: you can think you’re saved and NOT be saved
• False conversions are a thing. Jesus said:
• Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT) 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
• Ouch! One of the most frightening verses in the Bible!
• So, how can you know? We’ll get to that answer, but let’s start with our text…

Acts 9:19-20 (NLT) Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

• Wow! What a transformation in Saul’s life
• One moment he’s persecuting these messengers of Christianity
• Next moment he IS a messenger!
• Have you met anyone like this? Total transformation

Acts 9:21 (NLT) 21 All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”

Acts 9:22 (NLT) 22 Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. 

• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) When Luke says that Saul grew more and more powerful, the term he uses (enedynamouto) suggests the empowerment of the Spirit.
• Proving from OT, on which he was an expert (scales fell)

Acts 9:23 After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. 24 They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.

• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) This signifies the completion of a significant period in the narrative (cf. Lk. 9:51) and is consistent with the mention of a three-year gap between his conversion and his first journey to Jerusalem as a Christian:
• Galatians 1:15-18 (NLT) 15 But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him 16 to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. 
• When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being. 17 Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus. 18 Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.

Acts 9:26 (NLT) 26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!

• Now you know why this was our question of the day.
• Saul had been a Christian for 3 years, yet the Jerusalem believers doubted it
• They (all of them?) thought he was a false convert! (still afraid of him)
• Would YOU have? 
• Have YOU ever struggled to truly believe in the life-changing power of Jesus? 
• In someone else’s life
• In your own life

So, back to our question:

Q. How Can You Know If You’re Really Saved?

• Paul himself later raises this question to some “believers” in Corinth:
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT) 5 Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.
• This is Saul, now called Paul, writing to the Christian church in Corinth. It’s jacked up. There’s stuff going on there that’s not Christian at all. And there are two questions that must be answered to see if their faith would pass the test: 
• First, will they believe Paul’s message?
• They didn’t like what he was saying. They were even challenging his authority as an apostle. That was the test.
• It was Saul’s test, too, last week: When Jesus called out Saul and challenged his understanding, he shockingly submitted to him. 
• Now it was the Corinthians’ turn. Would they submit to the truth?
• Second, will they repent and turn from their own way?
• Remember last week: Christianity is a way, not just a set of beliefs.
• True conversion happens when you leave the way of death to follow the way of Jesus.
• These so-called believers were not following the way of Jesus
• Paul was calling them out on it, and their response would tell him if their faith was genuine. 
• 1 John 3:9-10 (ESV) 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Let’s finish the question for Saul:

Acts 9:27 (NLT) 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.

• We met this guy earlier. The encourager. Living up to his name.
• Ananias vouched for Saul in Damascus because he saw Jesus in a vision.
• Barnabus vouched for Saul in Jerusalem because he saw a changed life.

Acts 9:28 (NLT) 28 So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

• They realized he was a true believer, and he
• Stayed with them
• Preaching with them
• Saul’s story had a clear answer: he was saved, no doubt about it. 

What about you?

Three simple questions to know if you’re truly saved (full circle):

• Have you trusted Jesus for salvation? (nothing else can save, but it’s more than mere confession)
• Do you live your life to honor God? (practice righteousness vs practice sinning)
• Do you care enough to share with others? (make disciples)
• This might be the ultimate litmus test. 
• In the book of Acts, all of the believers did more than receive the message; they shared it.

Acts 9:31 (NLT) 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

In this episode, Pastor Bryan takes a deep into the Bible to answer the question "Do Mormons Hold the Keys to the Kingdom?".

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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.

Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.

Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.

Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at [email protected].

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The phrase "keys to the kingdom" is found in Matthew 16:19, where Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." This phrase has significant theological implications, especially in the context of how different Christian traditions interpret its meaning. While various denominations, including Roman Catholicism and Mormonism, have their own views on this passage, this article will focus on a biblical perspective of the "keys to the kingdom" and offer a critique of how it is understood in Mormon doctrine.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or Mormonism) teaches that the "keys to the kingdom" refer to the authority of the priesthood, which they believe was restored through Joseph Smith. In Mormon doctrine, the "keys" of the priesthood are held by Church leaders, specifically the president of the Church, who is considered a prophet, seer, and revelator. These keys are believed to include the authority to perform necessary ordinances for salvation, such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and other sacred rites.

Mormon teaching emphasizes that the priesthood keys are necessary for entering the celestial kingdom, the highest level of heaven in LDS theology. They believe that these keys were lost after the death of the original apostles and were restored through Joseph Smith during the early 19th century. In this view, the LDS Church is the only church that has the fullness of the priesthood keys necessary for salvation.

Matthew 16:15-19 (NLT) 15 Then Jesus asked his disciples, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

In Matthew 16:19, the "keys to the kingdom" symbolize authority, specifically spiritual authority in the context of the Church. The image of keys implies the power to open and close doors, which in this case represents the ability to grant or deny access to the kingdom of heaven. This authority is often understood to involve the power of teaching, guiding, and governing within the Church under Christ’s leadership.

• Authority to Bind and Loose: The terms "bind" and "loose" in first-century Jewish context referred to legal and religious rulings. To "bind" meant to forbid something, while to "loose" meant to permit something. This indicates that Peter, and by extension the apostles and the Church, were given the authority to make decisions in matters of faith, practice, and discipline. This is confirmed in Matthew 18:18, where Jesus extends this authority to the community of believers as a whole (in the context of a believer sinning).
• Matthew 18:18 (NLT) 18 “I tell you (plural) the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) To the church as a whole there is committed the responsibility of declaring what conduct is forbidden to the believer and what is permitted. This was very necessary in a situation where the Jewish Scriptures were accepted as the Scriptures of the believers, but where the Jewish interpretation was rejected, as were many Jewish practices that those who performed them alleged were based on Scripture. The church as a whole should decide such matters, Jesus is saying.
• Foundation of the Church: Jesus tells Peter, "On this rock, I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Some have interpreted this to mean that Peter himself is the foundation of the Church, while others view the "rock" as Peter’s confession of faith that Jesus is the Messiah. Either way, the authority of the apostles is firmly grounded in their role as witnesses to Christ and His resurrection (Ephesians 2:20). And it’s all about Jesus:

Throughout the New Testament, authority is a critical theme, and Jesus makes it clear that all authority comes from Him (Matthew 28:18). The "keys" given to Peter are not Peter's own personal authority but a stewardship of the authority of Christ. Pillar New Testament Commentary: “The early church knows nothing of a personal headship over the church possessed by Peter. He, together with John, was “sent” by the church (Acts 8:14), he is called by the church to give an account of himself (Acts 11:1-18), it is James, not Peter, who presides over the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15), and Paul rebukes him sharply (Gal. 2:11-14).”

Significantly, the "keys" do not represent unlimited or independent authority. Jesus, as the head of the Church (Colossians 1:18), remains the ultimate source of power. The authority to "bind and loose" is contingent upon faithfulness to Christ’s will, which is why the early apostles operated not as autonomous rulers but as humble servants of the Word (1 Corinthians 3:5-11).

• Colossians 1:18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body.
• 1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Moreover, this authority is always exercised in service to the Gospel. Peter and the other apostles are commissioned to preach, teach, and lead in a way that aligns with Christ's teachings (see Acts 2, 8, and 10 for the door opening to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles respectively). Contrast this with the Jewish leaders shutting the door on people (see Matthew 23:13)

• Matthew 23:13 (NLT) 13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.”

1. No Apostolic Succession of Keys in the Bible: While the Bible does speak of the apostles receiving authority from Christ, it does not suggest that this authority was passed down in a formal, institutionalized manner after their deaths. Ephesians 2:20 says that the Church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." This implies that the apostles’ unique role in establishing the Church was foundational and not something that would continue through future generations.
2. The Priesthood of All Believers: In the New Testament, the concept of priesthood shifts dramatically. 1 Peter 2:9 refers to all believers as a "royal priesthood," indicating that every Christian, through faith in Christ, has direct access to God. Hebrews 7:23-28 and Hebrews 10:19-22 emphasize that Jesus is the perfect and eternal High Priest, rendering any additional earthly priesthood unnecessary for salvation.
3. Christ’s Authority is Final and Complete: Jesus declares that "all authority in heaven and on earth" has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). The idea that the "keys" were lost and needed to be restored is not supported by Scripture – and it would make Jesus incompetent! After His resurrection, Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the apostles (John 20:22) to guide them, indicating that the Church was fully equipped for its mission. The New Testament gives no indication that there would be a need for additional restoration of authority.
4. Salvation is Through Faith, Not Ordinances: The New Testament consistently teaches that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), not through the performance of ordinances. While baptism, communion, and other practices are important expressions of faith, they are not prerequisites for salvation in the biblical sense. The idea that the "keys to the kingdom" involve controlling access to salvation through ordinances contradicts the teaching that faith in Christ alone is what saves (John 3:16, Romans 10:9).

The biblical understanding of the "keys to the kingdom" is that they represent the authority Christ gave to the apostles to lead the Church in faithfulness to His teachings. This authority is always under the lordship of Christ and serves the proclamation of the Gospel. The idea that the keys were lost and later restored through Joseph Smith, as taught in Mormonism, is not supported by the Bible. Rather, the Bible emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s authority and the priesthood of all believers, showing that access to the kingdom of God is granted through faith in Jesus Christ, not through institutionalized priesthood or restored keys.

Excerpt

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Notes

Mormons are taught that the Bible is true *as far as it's translated correctly. That's a big asterisk that causes most LDS folks to doubt it reliability or usefulness in life. But here are three reasons to believe the Bible is reliable.

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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

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Today we’ll look at the first part of Acts chapter 8. We’ll do a “threat assessment” on the early church as we answer this question: What Are the Church’s Greatest Threats?

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Q. What Are the Church’s Greatest Threats?

• (Alpine is 23 years old today!)
• First public service held Sept 9, 2001
• Two days later the twin towers fell and the world changed
• Threat of terrorism
• Threat of global war
• Threat of losing American way
• But Alpine continued to grow, and today…
• Eight campuses, and growing!
• Opening service at the Syracuse building
• Where will God take us in the next 23 years? 
• And what threats will we have to endure?
• Today we’ll look at three threats that the early church faced (persecution, power, and division) and one bonus threat that seems unique to us today (apathy). 
• We have a lot to cover, so let’s get straight to the text… 

Acts 8: (NLT) 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

Acts 8:1-3 (NLT) A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

• The External Threat
• Pay attention to the language here, and how different it is from what we’ve seen so far in our study of Acts
• First, let’s review the memories (honeymoon stage)
• Growth: Acts 2:41 (NLT) 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
• Miracles: Acts 3:7 (NLT) 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened.
• Community: Acts 4:32 (NLT) 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.
• Freedom: Acts 5:42 (NLT) 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
• Now we have all new language:
• “Great wave of persecution”
• I remember standing in the ocean with my kids when they were young, the power of the waves
• That’s nothing compared to the tsunami that hit Japan 
• March 11, 2011
• They call it “3/11”
• The church experienced this external threat
• A tsunami of persecution
• scary
• “all the believers … were scattered”
• So much for community!
• And then this:
• “Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church”
• This guy’s personal mission! 
• I’ve seen some of these guys on YouTube…
• Atheists
• Christian haters
• Deconstructionists

But here’s the thing with God: a threat is just an opportunity. 

Acts 8: (NLT) 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. 

• Don’t you love it!? 
• Genesis 50:20 (NLT) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. (Like the Esther story with Haman)
• In fact, this was God’s plan all along: that the next stop after Jerusalem would be Judea and Samaria. Let’s put some verses side-by-side:
• Acts 1:8 (NLT) 8 …And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
• Jesus’ final words before his ascension
• Acts 8:1 (NLT) …and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.
• Bad thing, right? Not quite…
• Acts 8:4 (NLT) But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
• What the enemy meant for evil….

Then Luke gives a specific example…

Acts 8:5 Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. 6 Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. 7 Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.

• How did all of this start? With persecution in Jerusalem.

And that’s where our bonus threat comes in…

Q. Does the church face the threat of persecution today?

• In some countries, yes. Ex: Iran
• Iran was number nine on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.
• Sheep Among Wolves Vol 2 documentary
• Incredible persecution among Christians in Iran
• Yet the church is growing, gospel is spreading 
• Underground!
• According to scholar Shay Khatiri of Johns Hopkins University, “Islam is the fastest shrinking religion in there [Iran], while Christianity is growing the fastest”, and in 2018 "up to half a million Iranians are Christian converts from Muslim families, and most of these Christians are evangelicals." He adds that "recent estimates claim that the number might have climbed up to somewhere between 1 million and 3 million".
• But what about America, where there is no true persecution?
• Iranian Christian couple was able to move to the US. But after being in US, wife began to plead with husband to take her back to Iran.
• “There’s a satanic lullaby here. All the Christians are sleepy, and I’m feeling sleepy.”
• Spiritual apathy is a greater threat than persecution.
• Lulled into our comfortable lives
• Not caring about the lost
• Not serious about our pursuit of God
• Because we feel like we don’t have to be

As we read on, Luke describes another threat in the early church, one that still exists today.

Acts 8:9-11 (NLT) 9 A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. 10 Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” 11 They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

• Think of him as a popular secular influencer

Acts 8:12-13 (NLT) 12 But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

• Simon had magic, Philip had miracles
• To the outside observer, might not have looked different
• Notice the similarities in the crowds reactions:
• Astounded with his magic
• Amazed by his miracles
• Even Simon the sorcerer is impressed
• He believed
• He was baptized
• Remember this as we hear the rest of the story…

Acts 8:14-17 (NLT) 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

• (New Bible Commentary) It is, of course, delightful that John, who once wanted to call down the fire of judgment on a Samaritan village (Lk. 9:54), was one of those who was now calling down the Holy Spirit!

But here’s where the threat comes in…

Acts 8:18-19 (NLT) 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19 “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

• Simon was thinking in terms of magic power and influence
• And he wanted to buy this influence
• This came to be known as “Simony” - named after this passage!
• Simony is the act of buying or selling spiritual things, particularly church offices or roles
• In medieval Europe, the church was often intertwined with the feudal system. This led to church positions being treated as hereditary titles, sometimes sold or exchanged for political support.
• The sale of indulgences, closely related to simony, became a central issue leading to the Protestant Reformation.
• Here’s what the threat might look like today: desire to be an “Apostle”
• Or bishop or prophet… or whatever you call it
• The person who holds the keys to the kingdom
• Making a claim to this kind of power when it’s not up for grabs 
• Mormon idea (and other groups like Catholics, New Apostolic Reformation): apostles still exist and authority is conferred by laying on of hands (apostolic succession)
• According to Joseph Smith's account, the first major instance of the laying on of hands took place on May 15, 1829. Joseph Smith and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, were translating the Book of Mormon when they had questions about baptism and authority. In response to their prayers, John the Baptist appeared to them as a resurrected being. John the Baptist laid his hands upon Joseph and Oliver, conferring upon them the Aaronic Priesthood, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, the gospel of repentance, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. John instructed them to baptize each other and gave them the authority to do so.
• Shortly after the conferral of the Aaronic Priesthood, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery reported that Peter, James, and John laid their hands upon Joseph and Oliver, conferring upon them the Melchizedek Priesthood. This higher priesthood includes the authority to lead the Church, bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, and perform other sacred ordinances. This priesthood is also believed to include the authority to administer the Church's sacraments and other spiritual gifts.
• But here’s the truth: We don’t have apostles anymore in the foundational sense (See Unveiling Mormonism Episode 70). Only offices in the church are elder or deacon (See two weeks ago in the Acts series).
• Maybe even more important to understand: even in the NT the apostles didn’t have exclusive rights to give the HS.
• In Acts 9, Ananias (not an apostle) laid hands on Saul and he received the HS
• In Acts 10 the HS was given to a group of Gentiles without the laying on of hands. Given directly by God
• In Acts 2 the same thing happened for the disciples - given directly by God, no laying on of hands (Jesus could’ve done it before his ascension if it was always a thing.)
• The point: HS is God’s gift to give, not man’s. He can give it through apostolic laying on of hands (Acts 8, 19) or not (Acts 2, 9, 10)
• (Expositor's Bible Commentary: Abridged Edition (2 Volumes)) Neither baptism nor the laying on of hands conveys any status or power of itself, though Simon with his shallow spiritual perception thought they could.
• Generally, the New Testament teaches that all who put their faith in Jesus receive the Holy Spirit (Galatians 3:2, Ephesians 1:13). This indwelling is not dependent on the physical laying on of hands but is the work of the Holy Spirit in response to faith.

So why did God wait to give his HS through Peter and John? Why not just do it himself without the involvement of the Jerusalem apostles? The reason: it could have created the threat of division. 

• (Zondervan Bible Commentary (1 Vol.)) Why did the Spirit not ‘fall upon’ the Samaritan believers as He did later on the Gentiles who received the word in Caesarea (10:44–48)? It must be remembered that the Samaritans had maintained a Jehovistic worship for centuries, divorced from Jewish witness, God’s channel of salvation (Jn 4:22). The believers ‘in the name’ might have desired to run their own show, carrying the schism over to the church.
• God wanted two things:
• To show the Samaritans that the apostles were the real deal.
• This was the foundation of one church
• To show the apostles that the Samaritans were the real deal.
• They were fully accepted by God, just like they had been
• They received the same HS!
• Were it not for this, there would be division in the church
• Remember: still mainly a Jewish thing
• In this chapter the door opens to the Samaritans
• Soon enough the door will open to the Gentiles

So what are the threats facing the church today?

• Persecution
• Apathy
• Power
• Division

And so many more - maybe you can make your own list with your family, small group, or mentor. But I think it would be good to end this section where Luke does:

Acts 8:25 (NLT) 25 After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

• Threats will come. Our job is to preach the Good News in every generation.
• Mat 16:18 (NLT) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

In this conversation, Bryan and Bo discuss the final three Articles of Faith in the LDS Church. They touch on the changing doctrines and teachings within Mormonism and the difficulty of finding accurate information outside of church-approved sources.

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The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday.

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Shownotes:

Find the official LDS Article of Faith at their website here. 

LDS:“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.”

LDS:“We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

LDS:“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”

• AC: “Sanctification” describes the maturing process, guided and enabled by the Holy Spirit, in a believer’s life. The standard for this process is derived from the Bible and informed and interpreted through reason, tradition, and experience. Where Scripture gives clear directives we submit ourselves wholly to its teachings. Where it is silent we extract timeless principles that apply to our situation and seek to live responsibly. We do not, however, bind the conscience of other believers in areas of spiritual or cultural ambiguity. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1:13-16; 1 Thess 4:1-8; Col. 3:17; Matt. 5:13-16; Eph. 2:10; Gal. 6:9-10).
• https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo?lang=eng

https://www.pursuegod.org/systheo/

Today we're beginning a new chapter in our Acts book series, as we uncover what chapter 6 has to say about organizing a church.

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Is there a right way to organize a church? 

• But seriously, lots of debate on this over the centuries
• Elders, deacons, pastors, bishops, etc.
• Are these different positions in the church?
• Today I’ll show you that there are only two “offices” in the church when it comes to positions of leadership
• But is there only one prescribed, God-ordained way to organize?

Acts 6:1 (NLT) 1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

• Church growth brings it challenges!
• Greek speaking vs. Hebrew speaking - Warning against cliques in the church, us vs. them mentality, contrary to the unity Jesus calls us to have and the unity that will show the world we are his disciples

Acts 6:2-4 (NLT) 2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”

• Division of labor
• Apostles weren’t discounting the importance of meeting physical needs. The apostles were teaching “everything they had seen and heard” ( We have seen this phrase used earlier in the book of Acts).  They couldn’t just pass that responsibility on to people who hadn’t walked with Jesus.  They didn’t have Bibles available for the average believer.  They were teaching what Jesus had taught them, both prior to his crucifixion and between his resurrection and ascension.  
• The church should be looking for opportunities to meet physical needs of others, particularly other believers. (1 John 3:17, James 2:15-16)
• Philosophy of ministry to have elders/pastors whose only role is teaching the Word of God. Teaching the Word of God is extremely important, but we do have a different context today.  Believers do have access to the Bible. They do have access to other believers, commentaries, etc.  
• Notice the requirements don’t mention anything about the charisma, wealth, talents of the individuals being put forth for consideration.  It is about their character, wisdom, and being Spirit filled. 
• Note also the importance of prayer.  The apostles were intentional about making room in their schedule for prayer.  This is critical in ministry.  Something I certainly fall short in at times. 

Acts 6:5-6 (NLT) 5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith). 6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

• Everyone liked this idea - maybe the biggest miracle in all of scripture!!
• Process: men selected from the people, presented to apostles who released them for ministry
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) In the history of exegesis and church government, Acts 6 with the appointment of Stephen and six others was always seen as relevant to diaconal definition and identity. But they are not actually called deacons using the Greek word diakonos. That word refers to a “servant” in various senses and capacities in Paul’s twenty-one uses of the word.

Let’s break down “diakonos” (servant, minister, deacon) in Paul’s writings:

• General uses: Not referring to official positions in a local church
• Rom 15:8 - Christ has become a servant
• 1 Cor 3:5 - Apollos and Paul are servants
• Col 1:7, 4:7 - Epaphras and Tychicus are ministers
• 2 Cor 11:15 - Satan has servants
• Office of deacon in local church: Only 3 times!
• Phil 1:1 (NLT) I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders and deacons.
• Philippians written around 60-62 AD
• 1 Tim 3:8-12 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity….
• 1 Timothy 62-66 AD
• Romans 16:1-2 (NLT) 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.
• Some people debate whether this is referring to an official role in the church or just a general statement like the earlier list.
• May be the first reference to the office of deacon. Was the concept even yet formalized in the early church or in the mind of Paul? We don’t know. 
• Romans written around 57–58 AD
• (Stephen selected 30-36 AD)
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Even if Acts 6 and the appointment of seven men to assist in serving widows is brought into the discussion, it may be surprising how little is known from the NT sources about specifics regarding the office of deacon. Much of what we think we know today likely stems from projecting back into early NT history the roles of deacons with which we are familiar from traditions that can be attested in full only much later. This does not mean contemporary discussion of deacons cannot make appeal to these (and other) Scriptures. It is simply to underscore that the explicit sources are quite limited. Applications made from them deserve to be careful and as modest as the amount of definite information available.

In summary, here’s what we can say for sure from the Bible:

• The office of overseer (elder, pastor) is different from the office of deacon (minister, servant). 
• Paul appointed overseers in churches (around 50 AD): Acts 14:23 (NLT) 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
• The office of overseer was open to men only. The office of deacon appeared to be open to both men and women.
• Some churches debate this
• Alpine is committed to this. Overseers, pastoral team is made up of godly men who carry the burden of spiritual authority in the church, to include church discipline, etc.
• Some overseers are already functioning in “pastoral care” roles, including hospital/prayer visits, baby dedications, and even performing weddings.
• Appointment to either of these offices was a serious thing, and both overseers and deacons were expected to be whole-hearted followers of Jesus. 
• We’ll see this with Stephen next week…
• 1 Timothy 3:9 (NLT) 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
• Stephen was, even died for his faith. Guess who was there witnessing it: Paul, the guy who later wrote 1 Timothy!
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Historians can only speculate on how this incident might still inform Paul’s thinking on the character of deacons decades later.
• However it’s organized, the church should proclaim and protect the gospel. (So it’s for Christians and non-Christians.)
• We’ve seen proclaim over and over in the book of Acts
• Soon we’ll see protect… as false teaching creep in
• That’s a major role of the overseers

The result of a well-organized church was growth!

Acts 6:7 (NLT) 7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

• Many of the Jewish priests were converted - Who would have guessed that during Jesus’ earthly ministry?  Who would have guessed it right after his resurrection?  It would have seemed hopeless.  They were the chief source of opposition.  They hung Jesus on the cross.  
• God is a God of miracles.  He brings dead things to life.  He makes beauty from ashes. 
• Who in your world have you given up on because you think it’s no use?  They’re a lost cause.  I hope this would encourage you to keep praying for them.  Keep witnessing to them.  Keep sharing the love of Christ with them. 
• The priests were mostly of Sadducean persuasion. They didn’t believe in a resurrection. What a turn around! 
• One of the things that helped God’s message to spread was winning as a team.  More people were getting involved in the work of the ministry (Ephesian 4:11-12, Core Value #3).