Reason 4 of 10
Saved by grace, not after all we can do
The Book of Mormon says it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do, and calls people to deny themselves of all ungodliness. The Bible says salvation is the free gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast.
What Latter-day Saints are taught
Latter-day Saint scripture links grace to effort. Nephi says we are saved by grace after all we can do. Moroni says that if we deny ourselves of all ungodliness, then God's grace is sufficient. The third Article of Faith says all may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. Exaltation in the highest heaven requires temple ordinances and lifelong faithfulness to covenants.
23For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
2 Nephi 25:23 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
32Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
Moroni 10:32 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
3We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
Articles of Faith 1:3 · read it at ChurchofJesusChrist.org
What the Bible says
Paul says salvation is by grace through faith, not of works. He says that to the person who does not work but believes in the One who justifies the ungodly, faith is counted as righteousness. Grace that waits until after all we can do is no longer grace: Paul says if it is by works, grace is no more grace.
Good works matter. They are the fruit of being saved, never the price of it. Ephesians 2:10 follows straight after verse 9.
8for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, that no one would boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (WEB) · context
4Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. 5But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
Romans 4:4-5 (WEB) · context
6And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
Romans 11:6 (WEB) · context
5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Titus 3:5 (WEB) · context
16yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.
Galatians 2:16 (WEB) · context
Who can do all they can do?
Many sincere Latter-day Saints describe the weight of never knowing whether they have done enough. Jesus offers rest to the weary, and John wrote so that believers may know they have eternal life now, not hope to qualify for it later.
28“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (WEB) · context
13These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1 John 5:13 (WEB) · context
24“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 5:24 (WEB) · context
What Latter-day Saints answer
Latter-day Saint leaders today often teach that after all we can do does not mean grace comes only after our effort, but that grace is present all along. They also cite James 2, faith without works is dead.
17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.
James 2:17 (WEB) · context
Why that answer falls short
James and Paul agree: a living faith produces works. James asks what kind of faith saves; Paul asks on what ground God declares a sinner righteous, and answers faith, not works. The Bible never makes our obedience the condition that unlocks grace, and that is the very thing Moroni 10:32 and the third Article of Faith do.
Sources
- 2 Nephi 25:23; Moroni 10:32; Articles of Faith 1:3 (churchofjesuschrist.org).