the flow of the blood is eternal and continual, that our sins are remembered NO MORE. The problem for the sinner is not sin, it is the decision to avoid God and, hence, His solution. The problem is already solved.
Blaine's words appear ahead of mine on the above post from Jon. I am not surprised at Blaine's works salvantionist position. I know that Perry does a good job showing the inaccuracies with Mormon claims -- but the single most devastating teaching, striking at the very heart of Mormonism, is the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace through faith apart from obedience to a system of commandments. If we are saved by grace, there is no for the "right church."
Central to the biblical doctrine of grace is the very obvious reality that man is a sinner. Tons of bible on this. I Jo 1:8 makes a statement in greek, a present tense statement: "if we say that we are having no sin, the truth is not within us." When I sat in first year greek and read that, understanding the impact of continuous linear action ("are having no") I was stunned. My mind did not race to figure out how to escape the implications of this verse. Implications? I mean I as sitting in greek class, for crying out loud studying "the Word of God.' Not smoking. Not drinking. Not lusting. No t ... well you get it. AND STARING ME IN THE FACE, RIGHT THERE IN GREEK 101, WAS A VERSE THAT SAID I WAS HAVING SIN RIGHT THEN. Bummer.
Since that first shock, I have come to realize that sin exists in, at least, two quantitative forms: time/space (historical sins such as drinking, lying, and the like --- things that last for a relatively brief period of time; things I can hide; things that often do not define who I am) and sins of character -- like envy, jealousy, hatred, bitterness, anger, slothfulness -- all those things that lay the foundation for historical sin. One murders because one is filled with hate or some type of perversion. This is exactly why Paul says that "all have sinned and are falling short of the glory of God." Grace people recognize the fact that sin is ever upon us, inescapable, often intentional, always disastrous and deserving of death. Works are commanded, they are necessary, but they are never accomplished by those who are righteous on their merits -- never. So God substitutes our faith for our supposed righteousness and refuses to consider our sins.
Much too long.
John
