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Contents, 5
Introduction, 11
1. Pagan Gods and Divine Potential, 15
Trinity: A Non-Biblical God, 16
Contrasting Concepts of God, 20
Table I, 20
Physical Attributes of God, 21
God as Invisible Spirit, 22
God as a Glorified Physical Being, 23
Anthropomorphism, 24
The Oneness of God, 27
Separate and Distinct Beings, One God, 29
Monotheism and Worshiping God, 31
Biblical Evidence of Multiple God-beings, 33
The Divine Potential of Man, 36
Responding to Charges of Blasphemy, 36
No Other Gods, One God-nature, 37
I>Christ: An Example of Progressing to Godhood, 39
Man: Potential Joint-heirs With Christ, 41
Clarifying The Sin of Lucifer, 43
God's Desires for His Children, 44
A Modem Prophet Reveals the True God, 46
2. Saving Grace and Good Works, 48
Controversy Among Protestant Factions, 48
Different Positions: Requirements for Salvation, 50
Points of Agreement Among Christians, 52
Core Differences in Doctrine, 54
Table 2, 54
Entering Into God's Kingdom, 55
Sudden Grace: The Thief on the Cross, 55
Other Grace Experiences in the Bible, 57
Baptism: The Door, 57
Biblical Pattern of Requiring Baptism, 61
Baptism and "Meritorious Works", 63 T
The Nature of God's Promises, 64<
Unconditional Guarantees, 65
Making One's Election Sure, 67
A Fall From Grace, 70
The Role of Good Works, 73
Christ: Good Works Essential for Salvation, 76
Apostles and Prophets: Good Works Required for Salvation, 79
The Bible Commends Righteous Striving, 81
All Prerequisites Specified in Scripture Necessary, 83
Reconciling Paul and James Regarding Faith and Good Works, 85
3. God's Plan For His Children, 89
Where Did I Come From?, 90
Traditional Christians: Ex Nihilo Creation, 90
Latter-day Saints: A
Pre-mortal State, 91<
Which Teachings Are Non-Biblical?, 92
A Pre-mortal State Clearly Taught in the Bible, 93
Identifying Those Present in the Pre-mortal State, 94
Accounting for Angels, 96
God's Foreknowledge of His Children in Pre-mortality, 97
God's Children and His Only Begotten Son, 97
Where Will I Go After I Die?, 99
Contrasting Views of the After-life, 99
Table 3, 99
Protestants: No Intermediate Sphere, 101
Catholic Purgatory, 102
Latter-day Saints: The Spirit World, 103
Comparing Purgatory and the Spirit World, 104
Biblical Evidence of an Intermediate Sphere, 106
The Dead Hear the Gospel, 106
The Dead Receive Saving Ordinances, 108
Only LDS Teachings Quiet Secular Critics of Christianity, 109
Different Concepts of Heaven, Hell and Final Judgment, 111
Heaven Consists of Three Kingdoms of Glory, 111
Proportion of Souls Consigned to Hell, 113<
Satan and His Angels: Those Spending Eternity in Hell, 115
Thou Wilt Not Leave My Soul in Hell, 118
Contrasting LDS Teachings and Reincarnation, 119
Why Am I Here on Earth?, 120
Grappling With Human Suffering and Inequality, 121
The Inadequacy of Traditional Christian Responses, 122
All Things Shall Be for Thy Good, 124
4. Priesthood Authority and Divine Organization, 127
Christ Organized His Church, 128
Christ Delegated Priesthood Power, 129
Christ's Church Continued After His Ascension, 130
Three Divergent Explanations, Two Points of Variance, 131
Apostasy and Restoration Foretold in the Bible, 133
A General Apostasy Prophesied, 133
A Restoration of All Things Promised, 136
Evidence of Apostasy and a Need for Restoration, 139
Priesthood Authority in Christ's Church, 141
Protestant All-believers' Priesthood, 141
Problems With the Protestant Position, 144
The Biblical Pattern for Conferring Priesthood, 145
Unauthorized Exercise of Priesthood in the Bible, 147
Ecumenical Recognition of Priesthood Not Sufficient, 148
The Body of Christ, 149
Unity Through Divine Organization of Christ's Church, 150
Living Apostles Intended to Be Permanent, 152
Continuing, Revelation Necessary in Christ's Church, 152
Personal Revelation Insufficient to Lead Christ's Church, 154
The Keys of the Kingdom Held by Apostles, 154
The Foundation: Living Apostles and Prophets, 156
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism, 158
The Restoration of All Things Rolling Forth, 159
5. The Bible and Other Revelation, 161
Stature of the Bible, 161
Reasons for Criticizing the LDS Position, 163
Inerrancy and Different Translations of the Bible, 164
Irreconcilable Inconsistencies in the Bible, 167
Prominent Reformers: Reservations About the Bible, 169
Lack of Agreement on Biblical Inerrancy, 170<
A Closed Canon of Scripture Not Supported in the Bible, 171
Different Bibles, Which One Is Complete?, 173
Prophecies Concerning Other Books To Come Forth, 174
The Real Issue: Living Prophets and Modern Revelation, 176
Appropriate Role of Scriptures and Ongoing Revelation, 177
False Prophets and True Prophets, 179
Attacks on the Character of the Lord's Anointed, 180
Fulfillment of Prophecies Documented, 182
Unfulfilled Prophecies and Growing From Grace To Grace, 183
By Thier Fruits: The Testimony of Jesus Christ, 187
Witnesses Testify of a True Prophet, 190
Common Sense Testifies of a True Prophet, 192
The Spirit Testifies of a True Prophet, 198
Author's Epilogue, 201
Appendix One: Materials Given to Marianne Besty, 204
Appendix Two: My Letter to Marianne and Her Christian Friends, 207
Bibliography, 214
Index, 222
Scripture Reference List, 232
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