Spiritual Freedom through Absolute Dependency

In discussions with Mormons over the doctrine of perseverance, more than one has cited Matthew 10:22 in response: "The one who endures to the end will be saved." And those are, indeed, the words of Jesus. But these Mormons never stop to ask, How does he endure to the end? As a hardcore Pelagian religion. Mormonism presupposes that it is their temple ceremonies and obeying the commandments that will enable them to endure. And that presupposition is based on their denial of total depravity. If I cite Isaiah 64:6 or Jeremiah 17:9, for example, they claim that my understanding of those verses is erroneous. Of course, when they make that assertion, they never show how my understanding is wrong. I guess that to assert is to prove.

However, the Bible tells us that man is helpless to sustain himself. As demonstrated by the fall of Adam and Eve, man, left to his own power will fall. And they were without the corruption of the sin nature!

Thank God that the Bible tells us differently! My heart responds, not to Mormon Pelagianism, but to the faithful God to whom Jude addressed this doxology: "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 1:24-25).

This is the biblical truth, the proof, not just assertion: "You are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 1:7-8). The biblical Christian is sustained by Jesus, not by church ceremonies or obeying commandments or any other human effort. He cannot be! Rather, he is sustained only by the hand of Jesus Christ, like the toddler who is enabled to walk by Mommy's sustaining grip.

I understand why Mormonism hates the doctrine of perseverance, as do all Pelagian religions (Jehovah's Witnesses, Catholicism, Pentecostalism, etc.). When the believer receives the biblical truth of his security in Christ, he can eschew any dependence on ceremonies or priests or edifices. Those organizations (I do not call them churches) lose their power over that man forever. He is rescued from their spiritual bondage, and they are deprived of his money and adoration. 

So my answer to those Mormons is, The one who endures is the one whom Jesus sustains!