FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Search for the Truth DVD:Who Is Jesus?"
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* [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/j/31 Jesus Christ, Creator]: LDS scriptures topical guide. | * [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/j/31 Jesus Christ, Creator]: LDS scriptures topical guide. | ||
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− | ! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Does Colossians 1:17 teach that Jesus created all things and even the angels ( | + | ! <h2 style="margin:0;background-color:#cedff2;font-size:120%;font-weight:bold;border:1px solid #a3b0bf;text-align:left;color:#000;padding:0.2em 0.4em;">Does Colossians 1:17 teach that Jesus created all things and even the angels (including Satan) out of nothing?</h2> |
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Latter-day Saints have no quarrel with the doctrine taught in Colossians. They emphatically believe that the Father created all things by Jesus Christ. The video is misleading to suggest otherwise. | Latter-day Saints have no quarrel with the doctrine taught in Colossians. They emphatically believe that the Father created all things by Jesus Christ. The video is misleading to suggest otherwise. | ||
− | As one author observed, the Greek text does not teach ''ex nihilo'' | + | As one author observed, the Greek text does not teach ''ex nihilo,'' but creation out of pre-existing raw materials, since the verb ''ktidzo'' "carried an architectural connotation...as in 'to build' or 'establish' a city.... Thus, the verb presupposes the presence of already existing material." |
One must not overlook {{s|2|Corinthians|4|18}}, which states that "the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"—suggesting that aspects of the created "unseen world" are ''eternal'', despite the exercise of God's creative power upon them. | One must not overlook {{s|2|Corinthians|4|18}}, which states that "the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"—suggesting that aspects of the created "unseen world" are ''eternal'', despite the exercise of God's creative power upon them. | ||
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LDS doctrine sees creation as an act of organizing pre-existing, eternal matter and intelligence. (See {{s||DC|93|29}}, {{s||DC|131|7}}.) | LDS doctrine sees creation as an act of organizing pre-existing, eternal matter and intelligence. (See {{s||DC|93|29}}, {{s||DC|131|7}}.) | ||
− | Thus, Jesus certainly participated in the creation of all created things—but He worked with preexisting chaotic materials. The angelic ranks of "thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers" were also created by Christ, for these beings did not assume their angelic status or form without divine creative power, even though some aspect of their "intelligence" pre-dated God's creative acts in their behalf. Thus, even Satan's premortal powers and status were due to the creative power and authority of God exercised through Jesus Christ—which may explain Satan's antipathy toward Jesus, and his desire to usurp the power and authority of God possessed by Christ (see {{s||Moses|4|1|3}}. | + | Thus, Jesus certainly participated in the creation of all created things—but He worked with preexisting chaotic materials. The angelic ranks of "thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers" were also created by Christ, for these beings did not assume their angelic status or form without divine creative power, even though some aspect of their "intelligence" pre-dated God's creative acts in their behalf. Thus, even Satan's premortal powers and status were due to the creative power and authority of God exercised through Jesus Christ—which may explain Satan's antipathy toward Jesus, and his desire to usurp the power and authority of God possessed by Christ (see {{s||Moses|4|1|3}}). |
The claim, then, that Jesus and Satan were merely peers, rather than "creator" versus "creature" misunderstands and misrepresents the LDS doctrine of creation, and Jesus' pre-eminent role in it. | The claim, then, that Jesus and Satan were merely peers, rather than "creator" versus "creature" misunderstands and misrepresents the LDS doctrine of creation, and Jesus' pre-eminent role in it. | ||
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The DVD opines that "there is an infinite chasm between Jesus Christ, creator God, and Satan, creature who has sinned." | The DVD opines that "there is an infinite chasm between Jesus Christ, creator God, and Satan, creature who has sinned." | ||
− | This conclusion reflects the creedal conviction that God is totally 'other'—i.e., He is completely different in all aspects from His creations | + | This conclusion reflects the creedal conviction that God is totally 'other'—i.e., He is completely different in all aspects from His creations, including humanity. However, the video does not explore the implications of the claim that God created Satan out of nothing. If God did, as claimed, create Satan ''ex nihilo,'' then God could have created Satan differently. Satan (and all mankind) could have been created with a nature that would not predispose him to commit sin. |
If God could have created Satan (or a mortal) in a different way, then in some sense God is responsible for their evil natures. The sins and evils committed by fallen beings become ''God's'' fault, because He could have made things differently, but did not. How is it then just to judge or punish a sinner for sin if the sinful nature was created by God out of nothing? | If God could have created Satan (or a mortal) in a different way, then in some sense God is responsible for their evil natures. The sins and evils committed by fallen beings become ''God's'' fault, because He could have made things differently, but did not. How is it then just to judge or punish a sinner for sin if the sinful nature was created by God out of nothing? | ||
− | This is a major philosophical problem for those who embrace ''creatio ex nihilo'' | + | This is a major philosophical problem for those who embrace ''creatio ex nihilo.'' The LDS view, in which God creates by ''organizing'' eternal matter and intelligence, avoids these problems. Satan sinned because of his eternal nature: he made free choices based on who he has always been. Likewise, mortals cannot blame God for their sins, because their core nature was not created by God. |
− | A Latter-day Saint Christian would argue that it does not lessen God for Him to allow other beings to make free choices and receive the consequences. Rather, they believe that there is a "vast gulf" between the loving God of the Bible | + | A Latter-day Saint Christian would argue that it does not lessen God for Him to allow other beings to make free choices and receive the consequences. Rather, they believe that there is a "vast gulf" between the loving God of the Bible and a belief that God wilfully creates degenerate, fallen, and sinful beings and then punishes them for natures which He gave them. |
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− | The video does not accurately portray all of the LDS ideas regarding the "council in heaven" which are necessary for understanding. The video correctly notes that two spirit children of God (Jesus and Satan) offered to play a role in God's plan for human happiness. However, it neglects to mention that Satan's offer was not welcome or anticipated. Accepting Satan's offer was never an option—God says that Jesus' role was determined from the beginning: "my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto | + | The video does not accurately portray all of the LDS ideas regarding the "council in heaven" which are necessary for full understanding. The video correctly notes that two spirit children of God (Jesus and Satan) offered to play a role in God's plan for human happiness. However, it neglects to mention that Satan's offer was not welcome or anticipated. Accepting Satan's offer was never an option—God says that Jesus' role was determined from the beginning: "my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever" ({{s||Moses|4|2}}). |
'''To read more:''' | '''To read more:''' |
Revision as of 15:37, 20 March 2007
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