top of page
  • Writer's pictureBible Brian

After all the Lord can do


In 2 Nephi 25:23, Mormons are told that we are saved by grace "after all we can do". This key phrase tells us that the Mormon "Gospel" is based, at least in part, on works. When we compare this to the "saved by grace" verse in the Bible, that being Ephesians 2:8-9, we see a very stark contrast. Here, rather than being saved "after all we can do", we are told very clearly "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."


As shown in this article, Ephesians 2:8-10 thoroughly destroys any so-called "Gospel" that tries to mix works with grace. Indeed, Romans 11:6 defines grace and works as being mutually exclusive. The moment you add works to grace, it ceases to be grace, for the same reason you cannot add a price tag to a "free" sample. If you charge so much as a penny, that so-called "free" sample ceases to be free. In the same way, when you add "after all we can do" to "it is by grace that we are saved", the grace that saves you ceases to be grace.


This situation is so dire that several places in scripture actually show that when you try to have both grace and works, you end up with only works. And of course, when God judges sinners by our works, the result is inevitably condemnation.


According to James 2:10, "...whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." This, of course, is not because all sin is equal, but because it's the same God giving the law. As a mug broken only in part is still considered broken, so also is the law, offended only in part, considered offended. Therefore, even if you have only one sin to account for, account for it you must!


But of course, one sin is extremely unrealistic. Every Mormon on this earth, first of all, is sinning just by being a Mormon. Obviously, no Mormon reading this will believe that (or at least admit to it), but it's true. Mormonism is a false religion invented by a very evil man, who is now trapped in Hades awaiting the day he will be cast into Hell. So that's just one sin Mormons commit almost every Sunday. Who knows what else they do? My Mormon friends, assess yourselves. Have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen? Have you ever looked at a woman with lust? There's nothing unusual about these sins. You've probably done them. You'll probably do them again.


So already, that's a lot of sin to account for. And the scary part? You can avoid it. Observe: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." These are the words of 1 Corinthians 10:13, and they clearly tell us that when we are tempted, God Himself gives us everything we need to make sure we do not sin. Yet, we still do. When you lied, you didn't have to lie. God gave you everything you needed. When you stole, you didn't have to steal. God gave you everything you needed. When you looked at a woman with lust, you didn't have to look at her with lust. God gave you everything you needed.


So what does this tell us? Put simply, it tells us that we don't actually do all we can do. If we're saved "after all we can do", none of us are saved. The standard of the Book of Mormon cannot be achieved.


But praise be to God, the Book of Mormon is not from Him. The book that comes from God tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works. It's right there on your screen. You can look up the verse on any Bible app or website. You can pick up your physical copy and turn to it. As clear as day, as solid as stone, the word of the Living God tells us that what we can do has nothing to do with receiving salvation. Rather, we are saved after all Jesus did.


Before the incarnation, Jesus already existed. Not as some spirit child born to one of the Father's many spirit wives, but as the eternal Son of God, from everlasting to everlasting. When He was born as a child, He began a life unlike any other. We sinned, but He knew no sin. No deceit was in His mouth, no lust was in His eyes, no envy was in His heart. Yet He received the death penalty. Why? Because there is deceit in your mouth. There is lust in your eyes. There is envy in your heart. Jesus went to the cross because you deserve the cross, after all you have done.


On judgement day, there are two people you can present to God. You can present yourself. "Father, I pray that you will save me by grace after all I can do." But God, with very little searching, will find iniquity in you, and announce "...I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:23b).


But the man (or woman) that you are can be nailed to that cross. You can therefore "...be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21). When God judges you, He can look at all Jesus did, and welcome you into His Kingdom.


It is an unfortunate fact that Joseph Smith never understood, nor accepted, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He took his impenitence to his grave, and sadly, a great many people have perished with him. But my Mormon friends, you do not have to. Seeing His grace displayed in the scriptures above, you now have everything you need to break free from Mormonism and come to know the real Jesus. Repent, confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead. If you do that, you will absolutely be saved, and you do not have to do anything.

12 views
bottom of page