"We believe the Bible to be the Word of God as far as it is translated correctly (Authorized Version is the only version accepted by Mormons); we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the Word of God. We believe all that God has revealed, and all that He does now reveal and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Joseph Smith’s ‘Articles of Faith’, 8,9)
Christians claim that the Bible is not incomplete but that it is “the only infallible rule for all human conduct, creeds and opinions.” Why do we believe this?
1) Bible
claims to be the finished product.
a) Individual
verses bring this out. Jude 3 speaks of the
faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. What Hebrews 1:1-4 says is crucial to
this. The fullness of God’s word to men
is tied to the incarnation. He spoke in
many ways at many times in previous days but in these last days He has spoken
to us by Son. There is no more to reveal if God has spoken through the One Who
fills all in all (Eph. 1:23). Jesus
promised the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all
truth (Jn. 16:13-15). Of
necessity Scripture came to an end with the death of the last Apostle. It makes sense that John, the last living
Apostle, at the conclusion of the last book of the New Testament, would issue a
warning about adding to or taking from that book we call The Revelation of
Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:18-19) and that reveals the fulfilling of the mystery
of God (Rev. 10:7).
b) Other
verses indicate the Bible alone is sufficient to bring us to salvation and
maturity (a finished person in Christ). Jesus
is the author and finisher of our faith and we are to look only to Him
(Heb. 12:1-2). If Peter could say that
God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pt. 1:3-4) then
how could we still need another entire book of supposed scripture? We have fullness in Christ (Col. 2:10). Paul indicated the gospel was complete in
Gal. 1:6-9 and that any other gospel would be anathema. It is the inspired Scriptures that can make
us perfect (2 Tim. 3:16-17), words which Paul spoke at the end of his life when
the work of the apostles was about finished, the work of recording the truth
that Jesus wanted them and that the Holy Spirit would bring to their minds
(John 16:13-15).
There is more to be said in answering this question. But for now we can already say that the Mormon idea of additional revelation, whether in their book or their apostle, is a serious breach of the Bible’s view of itself. Even the “prophet-for-hire” Balaam understood this. To go beyond what God says is foolish and stupid. You are just setting yourself up for disappointment because what God has not said has no authority.
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