Justification
JST Romans 4:5; “But to him that seeketh not to be justified by the law of works, but believeth on him who justifieth not the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
KJV Romans 4:5; “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
JST = Joseph Smith’s Translation
Joseph’s insertion of the word “not” in the highlighted text above completely changes the meaning of what Paul told us almost 2,000 years ago. Smith’s version denounces justification by faith and puts us back to living under the Law.
The Hebrew word for justification is dikaioô meaning to render just or innocent. How can it be that God would condemn those who believe in His Son? Justification means you believe in Jesus’ efficacious work exclusively with no other “maybes” included.
Melissa sent me a quote from a book she’s reading by Pastor John Washer. Here’s the quote she sent me from the book and then her insight.
“Pastor John Washer said in his book, “The Gospel’s Power and Message (Recovering the Gospel”,
“To receive the gospel is not merely to pray a prayer asking Jesus to come into one’s heart, but it is to put away the world and embrace the fullness of the claims of Christ. Secondly, a man who receives the gospel trusts exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ as the only way of right standing before God.”
That’s a far cry from what I believed as a Mormon; embracing Jesus, trusting that he alone is the only way I can stand before God and not be cast into hell were foreign concepts to me. What a difference it is to receive the gospel as a Mormon and to receive it as a Christian.”
Joseph Smith’s version of the gospel isn’t good news at all for those who buy into his theory. This is the worst news you could ever receive because there’s no way on this side of heaven that you’ll ever live up to fulfilling all the Law required for salvation.
FYI: Mormons have been told and many believe that Joseph Smith was killed before he was able to finish his rendition of the Bible.
This isn’t true. He rewrote the entire Bible before his death and the copyright is owned by the RLDS Church (Reformed LDS Church) now known as the Church of Christ. At the time of his death his wife Emma held the copyright and she subsequently gave it to her son Joseph Smith, III. He and the others that didn’t follow Brigham Young into Utah stayed behind in Nauvoo for some time before moving to Independence, Missouri and starting the RLDS Church.
Because the LDS Church in Salt Lake doesn’t own the copyright of the JST, the RLDS Church forbade them from publishing it in whole.
Today Mormons can purchase copies of the completed Joseph Smith Translation (JST) and use it in their studies via the computer.
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