Truth Magazine

By Joe R. Price

According to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, not only has Shakespeare been given a chance to become a Mormon, but so have many of the world’s renown statesmen, religious dignitaries and just plain folk who never heard of Joseph Smith, Jr. and the Book of Mormon. That is because they have been baptized by proxy in one of the 44 LDS temples throughout the world. If the Mormon doctrine of baptism for the dead is true, literally millions of dead sinners can be saved if a Mormon will be baptized for them.

Mormons are very committed to temple work for the dead. Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the LDS church, warned that “Those Saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at the peril of their own salvation” (History of the Church, IV:426; cited in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 193; see Doctrine & Covenants 128:15,18). On another occasion he taught that “the greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead” (History of the Church, VI:313). This is why the LDS Church operates the largest genealogical library in the world. Mormons are expected to research their ancestry at least four generations back so the names of their ancestors can be submitted for temple work for the dead. Several thousand baptisms for the dead are performed daily in Mormon temple ceremonies.

But, not every dead person can have a proxy baptism performed for them. According to Mormonism, those who did not have an opportunity to hear the “fulness of the gospel” in this life will have the gospel preached to them in the next life. Vicarious baptism provides these unfortunate souls with an opportunity to accept salvation for themselves. (It’s hard to imagine that a sinner who is experiencing torment for his sins would reject such an astonishing offer [read Lk. 16:24-25]!) Too bad if you had an opportunity to hear Mormonism’s message in this life and rejected it. You already had your chance. I wonder, why does the Mormon Church send 25,000 missionaries into the world to give people an opportunity to reject the “fulness of the gospel” and be lost forever? By rejecting the opportunity given them, these sinners will never get to progress to the “celestial kingdom!” The LDS Church should abandon its missionary program so that no one on earth will have an opportunity to reject the “fulness of the gospel.” That way, every dead person will want to be saved after experiencing the punishment of sin for a while!

Mormonism attempts to base its practice of baptizing for the dead upon several Bible passages (Mal. 4:5-6; Heb. 11:39-40; 1 Pet. 3:18-20; 4:6). The most apparent of these is 1 Corinthians 15:29:

Else, what shall they do that are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?

However, Mormonism’s effort to find its practice in this passage fails. The word “for” is the Greek word huper, and can properly carry the meaning “on account of” (cf. Acts 15:26; Rom. 1:5). Some people were being baptized on account of the dead ones (plural, a class of people – see vv. 13,15-16,18-20). The apostle raises the question: Why should they let the dead ones influence them to be baptized “if the dead are not raised at all?”

Paul’s whole context of the resurrection of the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 supports the conclusion that verse 29 does not teach proxy baptism. In this context where Paul affirms that the dead will be raised, he makes a progressive argument in verses 29-34. “If the dead are not raised at all, then:

1. Why be baptized (v. 29)? It is pointless.

2. Why stand in jeopardy every hour (vv. 30-32)? It is mad.

3. What profit is there in a God-fearing lifestyle (v. 32)? It is useless.

However, do not be deceived by evil companions who, through a lack of knowledge, deny the resurrection (vv. 33-34). You see, there will be a resurrection from the dead! Therefore:

1. Being influenced by the dead ones to be baptized is not pointless (v. 29).

2. Jeopardizing one’s life for Christ is not in vain (v. 30-32).

3. There is profit in a God-fearing life (v. 32).

Other Problems With Mormonism’s Baptism for the Dead

1. It ignores the individual nature of responsibility before God. “The soul that sinneth, it shall die . . . The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezek. 18:20).

Neither sin nor righteousness will be imputed from one person to another, including a family member. Nowhere in the Bible can you find a Christian’s obedience offered to a sinner to thereby save the sinner. It simply cannot and will not be done.

2. It ignores the fact that opportunity to obey God ends at death. “It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment” (Heb. 9:27). After death comes a judgment of how we lived in this life (2 Cor. 5:10), not a chance to obey the gospel in the spirit world. A “great gulf” is fixed separating the righteous and the wicked in the place of departed spirits, and it allows for no crossing over (Lk. 16:26). LDS baptism for the dead must wash away the “great gulf” before it can wash away any sins.

3. It adds another baptism to God’s divine plan. “There is . . . one baptism” (Eph. 4:4-5). The Great Commission baptism is for the living, it is personal and direct (on behalf of oneself), and it removes the participant’s sins (Mk. 16:15-16). LDS baptism for the dead is for dead people, it is substitutionary (on behalf of others), and it only gives one the choice of having his sins removed. One Mormon told me that these two baptisms are one and the same! Undoubtedly, one is biblical and the other is an addition of men. Care to guess which is which?

No, Shakespeare cannot become a Mormon. The LDS Church cannot save millions of souls who have already died by their practice of baptism for the dead. Christ is the only means of salvation, and his gospel must be preached to the living (Acts 4:12; Rom. 1:16). Use your opportunity in this life to be baptized and saved by Christ from your sins (2 Cor. 6:2; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27)!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 23, pp. 723-724
December 5, 1991

By William V. Beasley

Each of us ought to be troubled with lying. We should be troubled with the fact of it (all men do not “speak truth with his neighbor” – Eph. 4:25), the danger of falling into the practice of the devil (Jn. 8:44), and the eternal consequences of lying (“Without are . . . every one that loveth and maketh a life” – Rev. 22:15).

A member of the church was letting me know how little he thought of another preacher (from time to time I have wondered what he has said about me), when he said that the other preacher had admitted from the pulpit that he was “troubled with lying.” It became evident that he believed that the preacher in question had fought a losing battle against the sin of lying. I had met the other preacher, but really did not know him. I certainly did not have any reason to question his veracity.

A number of times since then (it was several years ago) I have thought about what my brother-preacher could have had in his mind when he purportedly said, “I am troubled with lying.” The first paragraph above shows that there could be more than one area of trouble with this problem. Because of his being a gospel preacher I am assuming that he was not an out-and-out habitual liar. I know that I am also “troubled with lying,” and I also know that I do not make a practice of lying. Now I do not believe that since a man preaches the gospel he is immune from the weaknesses of the flesh . . . even from the sin of lying. My wondering about my preacher-brother’s meaning is triggered by either a study of God’s word and/or my own thought processes.

More than once or twice it has, in a difficult situation, popped into my head, “I could say . . . ” (a lie), or “They would believe me if I said . . . ” (a lie). Happily I can say that the lies got no farther than the thinking stage. The thinking state is sufficient to let me know that, of a truth, “I am troubled with lying,” and unless I am most careful I could fall in this snare of the devil.

One of the reasons my thought processes trouble me is because of the teachings of God’s word: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7, KJV), and “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:23). I recognize, with a degree of fear and trembling, that I must “keep my heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23). This, a recognition of the need to control/master one’s thinking, just may have been what my fellow gospel preacher had in mind when he said, “I am troubled with lying.”

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 23, p. 718
December 5, 1991

By Randy Cavender

Not long ago I was watching Dr. Charles Stanley on television. He was speaking concerning salvation, and he made the statement that there was nothing to do in order to be saved. Then he proceeded to mention a few things that he thought would not save. He included in that list “baptism.” Thus, he believes and teaches that one does not have to be baptized in order to be saved! But Dr. Stanley is not the only preacher who teaches this. There are several preachers in our community who teach that baptism is not essential to salvation! I personally have heard denominational preachers affirm in public debate that one does not have to submit to baptism to be saved. The attitude that these men and others take toward the subject of baptism constantly amazes me. They are teaching people that it is not necessary to do what the Lord commanded. Is baptism essential to salvation?

Let us look at the commands Christ gave in his word. When speaking of salvation, people have the idea that there is only one thing that must be done, i.e., most folks believe in salvation by faith alone. (But this is not the case.) After reading James 2:24, one will find that is not a biblical doctrine. No one will ever be saved by anything alone. Yes, one must have faith, but he must also repent (Luke 13:3,5), confess his faith in Christ (Matt. 10:32) and be baptized (Mark 16:16). Each one of these commands is an act of obedience that Christ, the Son of God, gave us to do. I must obey all of these commands! I cannot remove one or more of them to suit my belief or teaching. But many seem to take baptism out of the plan of salvation. Why? Why not take away repentance? Can we remove confession of one’s faith? No, we cannot remove any of these commands, including baptism!

Let us look at what the Bible says concerning baptism. First of all, when Christ gave the Great Commission he said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:15-16). Jesus is teaching that the one who believes and is baptized will be saved! Now that is plain! In I Peter 3:21 we are also taught that, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) baptism “doth also now save us. ” I once heard a denominational preacher say that “baptism doth also not save us.” Who do you believe? Jesus and one of his apostles (Peter) or a denominational preacher? I’ll believe the Lord! The Bible plainly declares that baptism will save, and one cannot be saved without it!

In the book of Acts we also have many examples of how people became Christians! In Acts 2 we read Peter’s sermon and when asked what must be done to be saved, he answered, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). We read that this is exactly what the Jews did (v. 41), and the result was salvation (v. 47). In Acts 8, we read of Philip and the Samaritans. Philip preached Christ (Acts 8:5), and in so doing he preached what Christ taught, for the Samaritans “believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12). In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the gospel. There was an earthquake and as a result, the doors of the prison were opened. The jailor was about to kill himself, but Paul stopped him. He then asked what he must do to be saved! Paul’s answer was simple, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Now many people simply stop reading their Bibles at this point. If you believe that the jailor was saved at that point., (v. 31), then the context demands that he was saved without hearing God’s word (v. 32). If he was saved withoyt hearing the word of God, then he was saved without faith, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). When one reads the entire context, he will find that the jailor did hear the word of the Lord, was baptized the same hour of the night (v. 33), and “rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (v. 34). The jailor was referred to as a believer only after he had been baptized.

Kind friend, baptism is indeed essential for salvation. Surely you will not let this simple act of obedience stand between you and the forgiveness of sins. The Bible teaches us that those who do not obey the gospel will be punished (2 Thess. 1:7-9). “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 23, p. 714
December 5, 1991

By Dan King

I often wonder why so many people turn a deaf ear to the grace of God given so freely in Christ. While I recognize that they have their own individual reasons for turning down what is undoubtedly the most gracious offer ever made to mankind, yet it never ceases to amaze me! Think of it: God has extended forgiveness to man which is absolute. He forgives all our sins, clears the record, and permits us to begin all over again. It is as if we had never done wrong. As the old prophet told the people of Israel:

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isa. 1:18).

The problem then, as now, is the conditionality of this great offer of grace. God places conditions upon this complete clearing of accounts. He explained to Israel that she must meet the conditions to receive the gift of grace: “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (vv. 16, 17).

Things remain so today. The Lord expects us to respond to his loving offer of forgiveness with both a change of attitude and a change of life. The willingness of God to forgive sin (regardless of its particulars) is amazingly kind and merciful. But it is not at all surprising that he expects some change of attitude on our part. Nor is it shocking that he wants us to mend our ways. What is unbelievable to me is the fact that there are people who seem to fool themselves into believing that this alteration of attitude and action is somehow unnecessary, and that God extends his grace unconditionally.

Such folk rightly marvel at the forgiveness extended to man in the Bible. As Paul himself said: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1,2). Yet they seem to be blind to every demand for a change of attitude and action.

Let it suffice for us to quote John’s statement in 3:36 of his gospel: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him ” (NASB). Empty, fruitless faith is worthless in any attempt at receiving the grace of God. So says the Scripture. See also James 2:17,24.

While, in the current religious climate it is essential that we say what we have about the conditions attached to the grace of God, we must, to be true to our text, return to the main point. And that is this: God is perfectly willing to wipe the slate clean for you. No matter what you have done in the past – how awful your deeds may have been – your Father in heaven is anxious to forget all about it. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).

All God wants from you right now, is an indication that you are willing to accept his terms. Surely you would agree that he has come more than half-way!

Guardian of Truth XXXV: 24, pp. 738, 752
December 19, 1991