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 "Jesus Christ/Brother of Satan"
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==Response== | ==Response== | ||
| − | The | + | LDS doctrine does not subscribe to traditional creedal trinitarianism. That is, the LDS do not believe the extra-biblical doctrines which surround many Christian's ideas about God, such as expressed by the Nicean Creed. Specifically, the LDS do not accept the proposition that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are ontologically one. |
| + | |||
| + | Rather, LDS doctrine teaches that God the Father is personally and numerically distinct from Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son. The Father is understood to be the literal father of His spirit children. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Chief, and preeminent, among these was Jesus Christ. Christ was unique in several respects from all other spirit children of God: | ||
| + | * Jesus was God; the other children were not (See ). | ||
| + | * Jesus was the Creator (See Mosiah 3:3, Helaman 14:12). | ||
| + | * Jesus was perfect (See ). | ||
| + | * Jesus obeyed the Father in all things (See ). | ||
| + | * Jesus was chosen and foreordained to be the Redeemer (See 3 Nephi 9:15). | ||
| + | * Jesus was "the Only Begotten in the flesh"--only He, of all God's children, had a physical inheritance in His body from God the Father. All other mortals have two mortal parents, and Satan and his followers never receive physical bodies. (See ) | ||
| + | |||
| + | God the Father also had many other spirit children, created in His image and that of His Only Begotten. These children include all humans born on the earth. Some of God's children rebelled against Him, and contested the choice of Jesus as Savior. The leader of these children was Lucifer, or Satan. Those spirit children of God who followed Satan in his rebellion against Christ are sometimes referred to as "demons," or "devils." | ||
| + | |||
| + | Thus, it is technically true to say that Jesus and Satan are "brothers," in the sense that both have the same spiritual parent, God the Father. | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, critics do not provide the context for this doctrine. Cain and Abel were also brothers, and yet no Bible reader believes that they are spiritual equals or equally admirable. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Finally, while it is true that all mortals share a spiritual parent with Jesus (and Satan, and every other spiritual child of God), we now have a different, more important relationship with Jesus. All of God's children, save Jesus, have renounced our divine heritage and inheritance through sin. Only through Jesus can we return home to God the Father. This is possible via adoption through Christ, who becomes the spiritual father to those whom He redeems. | ||
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| + | As Elder M. Russell Ballard explained: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :QUOTE | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
| − | + | Jesus, Satan, and all humanity share God the Father as their spiritual sire. However, moral agency led Jesus to obey God perfectly and share Godhead with Him. The same agency led Satan to renounce God, fight Jesus, and doom himself to eternal damnation. The remainder of God's children—all of us—have the choice to follow the route chosen by Satan, or the path to which Christ invites us and shows the way. | |
| + | |||
| + | Parenthood gives all children of God potential; Christ maximized that potential, and Satan squandered it. | ||
| + | |||
| + | To choose the gospel of Jesus Christ and the grace that attends it will lead us home again. If we choose to follow Satan's example, and refuse to accept the gift of God's Only Begotten Son, our spiritual parentage cannot help us, just as it cannot help dignify or enoble Satan. | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
Revision as of 22:36, 31 May 2006
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
Critics claim that the LDS consider Jesus and Satan to be "brothers," thus lowering the stature of Christ, or elevating Satan. Some go so far as to imply that the LDS "really" worship or revere Satan.
Source(s) of the Criticism
Response
LDS doctrine does not subscribe to traditional creedal trinitarianism. That is, the LDS do not believe the extra-biblical doctrines which surround many Christian's ideas about God, such as expressed by the Nicean Creed. Specifically, the LDS do not accept the proposition that God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are ontologically one.
Rather, LDS doctrine teaches that God the Father is personally and numerically distinct from Jesus Christ, His Only Begotten Son. The Father is understood to be the literal father of His spirit children.
Chief, and preeminent, among these was Jesus Christ. Christ was unique in several respects from all other spirit children of God:
- Jesus was God; the other children were not (See ).
- Jesus was the Creator (See Mosiah 3:3, Helaman 14:12).
- Jesus was perfect (See ).
- Jesus obeyed the Father in all things (See ).
- Jesus was chosen and foreordained to be the Redeemer (See 3 Nephi 9:15).
- Jesus was "the Only Begotten in the flesh"--only He, of all God's children, had a physical inheritance in His body from God the Father. All other mortals have two mortal parents, and Satan and his followers never receive physical bodies. (See )
God the Father also had many other spirit children, created in His image and that of His Only Begotten. These children include all humans born on the earth. Some of God's children rebelled against Him, and contested the choice of Jesus as Savior. The leader of these children was Lucifer, or Satan. Those spirit children of God who followed Satan in his rebellion against Christ are sometimes referred to as "demons," or "devils."
Thus, it is technically true to say that Jesus and Satan are "brothers," in the sense that both have the same spiritual parent, God the Father.
However, critics do not provide the context for this doctrine. Cain and Abel were also brothers, and yet no Bible reader believes that they are spiritual equals or equally admirable.
Finally, while it is true that all mortals share a spiritual parent with Jesus (and Satan, and every other spiritual child of God), we now have a different, more important relationship with Jesus. All of God's children, save Jesus, have renounced our divine heritage and inheritance through sin. Only through Jesus can we return home to God the Father. This is possible via adoption through Christ, who becomes the spiritual father to those whom He redeems.
As Elder M. Russell Ballard explained:
- QUOTE
Conclusion
Jesus, Satan, and all humanity share God the Father as their spiritual sire. However, moral agency led Jesus to obey God perfectly and share Godhead with Him. The same agency led Satan to renounce God, fight Jesus, and doom himself to eternal damnation. The remainder of God's children—all of us—have the choice to follow the route chosen by Satan, or the path to which Christ invites us and shows the way.
Parenthood gives all children of God potential; Christ maximized that potential, and Satan squandered it.
To choose the gospel of Jesus Christ and the grace that attends it will lead us home again. If we choose to follow Satan's example, and refuse to accept the gift of God's Only Begotten Son, our spiritual parentage cannot help us, just as it cannot help dignify or enoble Satan.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide:
- Michael Reed, Lucifer, the Brother of Jesus?, FAIR Brochure.
External links
- Stephen R. Gibson, Is Lucifer the Brother of Jesus*
Printed material
- Printed resources whose text is not available online