Witness to a Mormon
Introduction: Two young Mormon missionaries came to my door and I talked with them for about an hour on my front porch. During a follow-up visit we discussed more of the Mormon theology, and I eventually lifted up Christ before them as the true and living God, and the Savior of whosoever believes, without regard to their own works. I gave each man an envelope with my seven-page response to the Mormon brochure and my gospel tracts. One of the young missionaries later mailed me a note, and the response I wrote is now the basis of this study. As recorded in several passages, Jesus said “come to me” or “come unto me” — and when we come, he is completely sufficient to save us from the penalty of sin.
A — Luke 14:25–27, 33 — Forsake All and Follow
Luke 14 “26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
Comments: Jesus does not ask us to bring anything to him — in fact he asks us to forsake everything we think we have, and come to him in complete trust and surrender, even to the point of forsaking all loving human relationships, and our own life, if to do less would deny him. Everything in this present world is temporal, and that which is eternal lies only in the hands of God. There are many stories of people who accepted Christ by faith and were then rejected by family and others who had formerly been their contacts and support system.
B — John 5:39–44 — Search the Scriptures
John 5 “39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?”
Comments: In this passage of historical documentation, Jesus was speaking to men who looked at him in the flesh and rejected the fact that he is Emmanuel, “God with us.” He has the power to give life eternal, and since his death, burial, and resurrection, men still have the opportunity to accept by faith his offer of eternal life. But how can you believe, if you receive honor one of another, and do not seek the honor that comes from God only?
C — John 6:37–47 — He That Believeth Has Everlasting Life
John 6 “37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
Comments: The Jews saw a man standing before them, and they were puzzled by his statement of coming down from heaven. Jesus pointed them to scripture for the answer, that God himself would teach man. Three times in this passage, Jesus said that he would perform the resurrection of men, which indicates that he is God himself. Jesus gives the Jews another bit of information about his nature as the God-man when he says, “Not that any man has seen the Father, except he who is of God, he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say unto you, He that believes on me has everlasting life.”
D — 2 Timothy 1:7–12 — I Know Whom I Have Believed
2 Timothy 1 “9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 12 For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
Comments: It is my desire now to let God use the power, and love, and soundness of mind given by him to me; without being at all ashamed of the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who saved and called me, not because of any works, but in accord with his own purpose and grace which was given in Christ Jesus before the world began. Despite the mocking and ridicule of an unbelieving world, his grace brings me to profess that I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
E — Three Verses for Contemplation
John 3 “36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
2 Corinthians 5 “17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 11 “3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Comments: I concluded my letter to the young missionary with those three verses above, which I believed would have an impact without comment, if the Holy Spirit is beginning to deal with him. Even though it can be very difficult to break through long-term indoctrination, the power of Scripture in tune with the call of God cannot be denied. I leave him with our Savior, and commend him to the prayers of any reading this.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus, my thoughts often carry me away from you and back to the world. Guide my spirit to draw closer each day to your Spirit, and to truly forsake all which is in the world. Thank you for access to the Holy Scriptures that declare your gospel, and for those individuals you have brought across my life’s path who have shared from their faith in Christ. I praise you Lord for the absolute security of my everlasting life, because since the Father has given me, I have come to you, and you will by no means cast me away. Thank you Lord, for not giving me the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Strengthen me Lord, so I will never be ashamed of your testimony. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him. Amen and Amen!
Published 31 May 2004; first issued 18 November 2000