Question: Is it impossible to receive the grace of Jesus Christ so long as we are sinning?

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Questions

== Critics interpret Alma 11:37 to mean that we cannot receive the grace of Jesus Christ so long as we are sinning. Since we are all sinners, according to their argument, this would mean that nobody can receive the grace of Jesus Christ.

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

==

== This passage comes in the context of a debate that Amulek, a Nephite minister and companion of Alma, is having with a lawyer named Zeezrom. Zeezrom first tempts Amulek with money if Amulek will deny the existence of a "Supreme Being". Amulek refuses, and Zeezrom continues with various questions about God and his purpose with mankind.

At one point in their discussion Zeezrom asks the following question to Alma (Alma 11꞉34):

34 And Zeezrom said again: Shall he save his people in their sins? And Amulek answered and said unto him: I say unto you he shall not, for it is impossible for him to deny his word.

Later, in verse 37 Amulek makes it clear that he interprets Zeezrom's question to be whether a person can enter into heaven if they still are burdened down by sin. Amulek equates "saved" with "inherit the kingdom of heaven" in this passage. So, a person cannot be "saved", or, enter into God's kingdom, if they have not somehow been cleansed from their sins.

Alma 11꞉37 reads:

37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

Critics misinterpret the word "saved" in this passage by reading it through their fundamentalistic Protestant lenses. They assume that "saved" refers to the cleansing act of Christ's atonement. Thus, when they read this passage they interpret it to mean that a person cannot be cleansed by Christ's atonement so long as they are committing sin.

But that is not what the term "saved" means in Alma 11:37, as Amulek makes clear. Amulek has in mind the entering into God's kingdom. Nobody can enter into God's kingdom if they are burdened by the effects of sin. Something must be done in order to remove that taint. Amulek explains how in verse 40 (Alma 11꞉40):

40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

To enter into God's kingdom, or "eternal life", one must first be cleansed of transgression by believing on the name of Jesus Christ. That is the gospel of the LDS Church.

==

Answer

== Critics misuse this text by misinterpreting the word "saved" to mean something it does not. Amulek taught that we cannot be saved (enter into God's kingdom) in our sins. He then taught that we can be cleansed of our sins through Jesus Christ, and thereby be capable of being saved (entering into God's kingdom).

== Notes ==

Further reading

FairMormon Answers articles

Grace

FairMormon web site

Grace FairMormon articles on-line

• John A. Tvedtnes, "Salvation by Grace Alone?" off-site

External links

⍗

Learn more about grace

Key sources	Brad Wilcox, "Have You Been Saved By Grace?' How Do We Respond?," Proceedings of the 2018 FAIR Conference (August 2018). link David L. Paulsen and Cory G. Walker, "'Work, Worship, and Grace: Review of The Mormon Culture of Salvation: Force, Grace and Glory by Douglas J. Davies'," FARMS Review 18/2 (2006). [83–177] link
Online	David A. Bednar, "In The Strength of the Lord," Ensign (November 2004): 76. off-site Gene R. Cook, "Receiving Divine Assistance through the Grace of the Lord," Ensign (May 1993): 79.off-site Karen Lynn Davidson, "Toward a Mature Discipleship," Ensign (July 1984): 45.off-site Colin B. Douglas, "What I've Learned about Grace Since Coming Down from the Sycamore Tree," Ensign (April 1989): 13.off-site Bruce C. Hafen, "The Atonement: All for All," Ensign (May 2004): 97.off-site Bruce C. Hafen, "Grace," in Encyclopedia of Mormonism, 4 vols., edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, (New York, Macmillan Publishing, 1992), 2:560–562.off-site Jeff Lindsay, "Salvation by Charity Alone?", mormanity.blogspot.com, 21 September 2006.off-site Gerald N. Lund, "Salvation: By Grace or by Works?," Ensign (April 1981): 17.off-site Dallin H. Oaks, "Have You Been Saved?," Ensign (May 1998): 55. off-site Blake T. Ostler, "Bridging the Gulf (Review of How Wide the Divide? A Mormon and an Evangelical in Conversation)," FARMS Review of Books 11/2 (1999): 103–177. off-site Robert E. Parsons, "I Have A Question: What is the role of grace in LDS theology?," Ensign (July 1989): 59.off-site Robert E. Parsons, "I Have A Question: Will you explain these Bible references in view of the Latter-day Saint doctrine that works are necessary for salvation: Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:5; Romans 4:5?," Ensign (April 1986): 36.off-site Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks, "Comparing LDS Beliefs with First-Century Christianity, (Provo, Utah: FARMS, no date). off-site Stephen E. Robinson, "Enduring to the End," Ensign (October 1993): 12. off-site S. Michael Wilcox, "I Have A Question:I am confused by the gospel principle of justification by faith. Can you explain it to me?," Ensign (July 1991): 51.off-site David L. Paulsen and Cory G. Walker, "'Work, Worship, and Grace: Review of The Mormon Culture of Salvation: Force, Grace and Glory by Douglas J. Davies'," FARMS Review 18/2 (2006). [83–177] link
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Printed material

Grace printed materials

• David W. Bercot, Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up: A New Look at Today's Evangelical Church in the Light of Early Christianity, 3rd edition, (Tyler, Texas: Scroll Publishing Company, 1999[1989]), 56–68. ISBN 0924722002 (Key source)
• Matthew B. Brown, "Salvation and Grace," in The Plan of Salvation: Doctrinal Notes and Commentary (American Fork, UT: Covenant, 2002), 251–257. ISBN 1591560888. ISBN 978-1591560883.
• Roger R. Keller, Reformed Christians and Mormon Christians: Let's Talk! (Urbana, Ill.: Pryor Pettengill, 1986). ISBN 0933462069. ISBN 978-0933462069.
• Robert L. Millet, By Grace Are We Saved (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1989). ISBN 0884946940. ISBN 978-0884946946.