Before we begin this series, “Jesus, is He God?” I would like to share why I was inspired to write this. I have been working with young adults for many years and this has been the most commonly asked question.
As we explore and address different world views of Christology, I would like to urge you to look to what the scripture says, as some critics who call themselves “Christians” continue to twist the truth about Jesus Christ. They make false claims that appear to be true to those who do not know the Word of God. Some claim that they have more knowledge or revelation about who Jesus is than any original Apostles of the New Testament; in result, they put themselves above the written Word of God. While others teach false doctrine out of ignorance or lack of knowledge, others do so for financial or personal gain. Whatever reason it may be, the Word of God warns us:
“Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”
– 2 Corinthians 11:13
MORMONISM:
“Jesus is God’s Son, but He does not have a unique essence that makes him unique from other human beings. Jesus was only one of many spirit sons of God, as was His brother Lucifer.”
Who is Jesus in Mormonism doctrine?
The official doctrine of the Church is that Jesus is the literal offspring of God. He’s got 46 chromosomes; 23 came from Mary, 23 came from God the eternal Father.
BYU Professor Stephen E. Robinson (1)
- The Mormon Jesus is a separate god from the Father (Elohim).
- He was not unique in His humanity or His deity. Jesus was only one of many spirit sons of God, as was His spirit-brother Lucifer. (2)
- His body was created through a sexual union between Elohim and Mary(3)
- He was married. (4)
- His death on the cross does not provide full atonement for all sin but does provide everyone with resurrection. (5)
Read Joseph Smith’s exact words:
“I will go back to the beginning before the world was, to show what kind of a being God is.… God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man.”
“I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see.
“He was once a man like us; … God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did.… Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all gods have done before you.…”
This foundational teaching of the Latter Day Saints actually conflicts with their own authoritative holy books.
“For I know that god is not a partial God, neither a changeable being, but He is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.”
~ Moroni 8:18
RESPONSE: Jesus is the unique Son of God, fully God and fully man.
Christianity has historically taught that Jesus, as the very God, took upon Himself the form of a man. This is not to say that at any time His Godhood was diminished in any degree after His physical appearance on earth (His incarnation)(6). Jesus was, and is, both divine and human: 100 percent God and 100 percent man. He was conceived through the agency of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 1:18–25; Luke 1:35); He lived a sinless life while subjected to human temptations (John 5:19; Heb. 2:18; 4:15); He died a real death and rose again bodily from the dead to conquer sin (Rom. 5:6–10; 1 Cor. 15:3–4); He will return to judge all humanity (John 5:22); He sent the Holy Spirit to empower the believers (John 14–16; Acts 1:8); and He can be prayed to (Acts 7:59). Finally, He is deserving to receive honor, love, faith, and worship as the Father (Matt. 10:37; John 5:23; 14:1; Heb. 1:6). At the same time, He shares attributes with the Father because Jesus is also God.
Regardless of the claims that a man can become a god by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Bible says, Bible:
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” – Psalm 90:2
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
(1) The Mormon Puzzle, the Southern Baptist Convention (Alpharetta, GA: North American Mission Board, 1997)
(2) Hunter, The Gospel Through the Ages, 15.
(3) Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints
(4) Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, ed. Watt, 13:309.
(5) The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles Instructor’s Manual: Religion 211–212. (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1978), 14.
(6) The doctrine of kenosis (“empty”) as described in Philippians 2:5–11 states that Jesus voluntarily gave up the exercise of those attributes while here on earth.
Ryrie, C. C. Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth
