MORMONS AND SALVATION- Introduction
Mormons claim that they believe in salvation by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  Sounds pretty Biblical!  But is it real?

MORMONS AND SALVATION- Clarifying Terms
When speaking to Mormons about salvation, it’s especially important to clarify terms from the very outset.  Mormons distinguish between two types of salvation — a stance entirely different from what the Bible reveals.

MORMONS AND SALVATION- Salvation by Grace
When Mormons talk about salvation by grace, they’re referring to what they themselves call “general salvation.”  By this, Mormons mean that everybody is going to be resurrected, after which they will be judged according to their works.  In other words, everybody gets an entrance pass to God’s courtroom, but once inside, they’re on their own!  This, of course, adds up to nothing more than salvation by works.

MORMONS AND SALVATION- Full Salvation
Another kind of salvation recognized by Mormons is what’s called “individual” or “full salvation.”  This type of salvation is available only to Mormons who have steadfastly obeyed the laws and ordinances of the Mormon church.  Well, you know what this means — once again, we end up with the doctrine of salvation by works.  In this case, we’re talking about the reward being an open path to “exaltation” or godhood.  Well, because Mormons strive to become gods and goddesses, and because they regard “individual salvation” as the only way to reach their goal, they believe that merely attaining “general salvation” is virtually equivalent to damnation.

MORMONS AND SALVATION- Scriptural Salvation
What does the Bible have to say?  We read in Titus 3:5 that salvation comes from God’s mercy and not from our righteousness, as Romans 11:6 states:  “If it were [by works], grace would no longer be grace.”  Additionally, Scripture doesn’t distinguish between two types of salvation; it offers only one (cf. Isa. 25:9; John 5:24; Acts 2:21; Rom. 8:1; 10:9).  And while Mormons claim that good works are necessary for salvation, Ephesians 2:8-10 declares just the opposite; namely, that good works result from being saved by grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it’s the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast.”  The bottom line is this — Mormonism’s idea of salvation makes a mockery of God’s grace and the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

On Mormons and salvation, that’s the CRI Perspective.  I’m Hank Hanegraaff.