5. If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?

Naturally a Mormon would say yes to this question.You got a good idea why in the previous question. This is a good time to understand Mormon salvation.

First, there is a general salvation for all -- this is what Mormons call "salvation by grace". This will guarantee your resurrection and a spot in heaven, but which one? The second salvation is the individual salvation and determines which heaven you will go to.

The Mormon salvation is based completely on works. They will tell you that the first step in salvation is faith in Christ, but it is obvious that they feel He had little to do with our salvation. Joseph Smith said that mankind is damned by the faith alone doctrine. Heber Kimball said "I have the power to save myself, and if I do not save myself, who will save me"?

The Mormon way to salvation is based on Mormon baptism, keeping the commandments and doing good works. After my second visit by the Mormon missionaries, they asked me to be baptized. I never indicated a commitment to Christ, nor any remorse or repentance for my sins. The Mormons base their baptism on the teachings of Joseph Smith who said John the Baptist appeared to him. They base this on the book of Mormon and on a misunderstanding of the Bible. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:10-16, men of this world have the spirit of this world, they don't have an understanding of God or His Word. The man of God has the Spirit of God and has the mind of Christ.

The Mormon will base baptism by water claims by Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:3-6, and 1 Peter 3:21 where Peter says baptism saves us. John the Baptist and Jesus made it very clear that our baptism would be by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5, 11:16.

The Mormons also push baptism for the dead. They claim (based on 1 Corinthians 15:29) that Paul commanded this. This practice is unbiblical and research will show that Paul was referring to a pagan practice of baptism for the dead. It was a purification practice so there would be no agony in the next life. Read about the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:26 " And besides all this, between us and you is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us". Nothing can be done on behalf of the dead.

Concerning the commandments and works. As born again believers we should attempt to keep the commandments because of our love for Christ, not for salvation (John 14:15). We are given the commandments to show us what sin is (Romans 7:7). To base our salvation on keeping the commandments is to "nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly" (Galations 2:21).

The Bible clearly teaches that a person is saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and that all we can do is believe. Some defense: Isaiah 53:3, 10, 12, John 3:3-8, 16-18, 5:24, 20:31, Acts 2:21,4:12,15:11, 16:31, Romans 3:21-31, 4:2, 5:1, 8, 6:23, 10:9, 10:13, 11:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:15-21, Ephesians 1:13, 2:8-9, 1 Peter 1:1-4, 1 John 5:13.