What is The Atonement in Mormonism vs. Christianity?

What is Mormonism’s view of the Atonement, and how does it differ from an evangelical understanding of atonement?

Even beyond disagreements about where the atonement occurred—the Garden of Gethsemane vs. the Cross—there are actually significant disagreements about what Jesus’ Atonement actually accomplished. The LDS Church teaches that part of the atonement is universally applied to all people, while another part only applies to those who walk the covenant path. Evangelicals have historically seen Christ’s atonement as all-or-nothing, it either completely applies to you, or doesn’t at all.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taught a variety of different things regarding Christ’s atonement over the years, but what does the Bible actually say? Did the atonement occur in the Garden of Gethsemane? Did it occur on the Cross at Calvary? What did Jesus’ Atonement actually accomplish?

Romans 5:9-10 – “Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

 

Are There Really Three Kingdoms of Glory?

Mormonism and Christianity teach vastly different things about where we go after we die. The LDS Church teaches that all mankind is saved through the atonement of Christ, and will be resurrected into one of three different Kingdoms of Glory.

Christianity has historically taught that there are only two potential destinations for mankind: Heaven, or hell. So, where do Christians get their understanding of heaven and hell? What will heaven be like?

In this video, we explain the LDS beliefs about different levels of heaven, and where Mormonism’s teaching diverges from historic Christian understandings about eternity. We’ll also consider what the Bible has to say about where we go after we die.

The Bible speaks to this issue plainly and consistently—if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we will dwell with God for all eternity in heaven. If we do not, we will be judged for our works, and be condemned to the eternal Lake of Fire.

Why “Baptism for the Dead” is NOT a Christian Practice

According to the Mormon practice of “Baptism for the Dead”, those who have already died can have proxy baptisms performed on their behalf by living Latter-Day Saints. 1 Corinthians 15:29 is often cited as a proof text for this practice, but is LDS Baptism for the dead actually a Biblical practice? Can we find Mormonism’s practice of proxy works anywhere in the Bible?

Here’s what the Bible says, “Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?” (1 Corinthians 15:29).

What did Paul mean in this verse? Should Christians be performing baptisms for those who have died? We don’t think so, and are going to explain in this video why the Mormon practice of proxy baptism is actually unbiblical.

When we consider what the Bible teaches, we need to substantially consider what the text is and is not saying. Just because a practice is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:29 does not mean that Christians are commanded to do that practice.

Do we still need Mormon Temples?

One of the most notable differences between Mormonism and Christianity is the way we view temples. Latter-day Saints often wonder why Christians don’t participate in Mormon temple practices today. The Bible addresses this exact issue. So what does the Bible teach us about our need for Mormon temples today?

First: God instructed his people to build a sanctuary that He…“may dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8).

But because of their sin, God’s people were prohibited from entering into His presence. So God commanded that the sanctuary be divided by a floor-to-ceiling curtain which served as a physical reminder of the spiritual separation between us and God.

Second: God also intended that the Temple would serve as the center of the Old TestamenT sacrificial system.

Forgiveness of sins was dependent upon regular sacrifices being offered there. The Bible says that,

“…under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). 

It was impossible for a man to be seen as right before God apart from these regular blood sacrifices. The presence of a Temple epitomized our separation from God, and our need for continual sacrifice.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Christ’s death changed everything! 

The entire OT Temple System was designed to point us to our need for Jesus! The Bible tells us that

“…in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins…But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God…For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:3-14).

When Jesus went to the cross, He was offering himself up as our ultimate, fully-sufficient sacrifice. When Christ died, the Bible tells us,

“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51).

In His crucifixion, Christ not only fulfilled our need for sacrifice, but also provided a way for us to have access to God. The Bible tells us that we can now, 

“…have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-20).

This is why Christians do not engage in Temple worship any longer.

Instead we celebrate how Jesus replaced the Old Covenant (with its temple practices) with a New and better one!

“In speaking of a new covenant he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).

The Bible teaches that we no longer need a physical Temple because the  purpose of the Temple is now fully and finally satisfied in Jesus.

Is “Original Sin” Biblical?

The doctrine of original sin might seem like a minor difference between Mormons & Christians, but it affects much of how we understand salvation. Mormonism and Christianity have differing views on the nature of sin, and disagree whether or not mankind is basically good—meaning Latter-day Saints and Christians tend to have a different view on what salvation accomplishes.

Latter-day Saints tend to believe that men are either morally neutral or good. But Original Sin teaches that mankind is broken, evil, and hopelessly sinful. Because of this sinful nature—Christians believe that we need to be saved from ourselves and the wrath of God that comes upon our sinfulness. But Latter-day Saints tend to believe that God’s salvation is moreso establishing our ability to follow the covenant path.

In this video, I explain some of these differences, explain why understanding this doctrine is important, and explain why I, as a Christian, believe in the doctrine of original sin. It’s not because I’m a pessimist, but rather because it’s what the Bible teaches.

“Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:18-19).

What is Faith?

Both Mormons and Evangelical Christians agree that faith is vitally important to our spiritual lives, but we tend to differ on what faith means. Latter-day Saints believe that true faith includes works as a part of its definition, but Christians believe that faith is a simple trusting in Jesus.

This discussion matters tremendously because the Bible teaches that faith leads to eternal life. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church) and Evangelical Christians must rightly grasp the Bible’s definition of faith if we are to obey the commands to believe in Jesus.

In this video, we explore Jesus’ teaching on faith in John 3. Jesus spoke about the story of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness as an example of the kind of faith we’re to have. That story gives us a paradigm for genuine saving faith. As Christians, we don’t believe in a faith that includes works as a part of its definition, but rather in a faith which produces works.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why I can’t trust the Joseph Smith Translation

There’s a problem with the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) version of Romans 4. Mormons claim that Joseph Smith received direct revelation for the JST, and that’s why there’s no Biblical manuscript record of any of the JST’s changes. But in the case of Romans 4, the JST directly flips the meaning of the Biblical text in a way that doesn’t make sense for the surrounding context.

If Joseph’s change to Romans 4:5 really is a problem, then it demonstrates that Joseph wasn’t receiving divine revelation for the JST. And if Joseph wasn’t receiving divine revelation for the JST, then he’s a false prophet.

In this video, I explain why Joseph Smith’s version of Romans 4 doesn’t match with the surrounding context of Romans, and completely flips Paul’s intended meaning on its head.

ROMANS 1-5 PODCAST LINK: https://youtu.be/7o43E9081nY

ROMANS 6-8 PODCAST LINK: https://youtu.be/kzTN5gCK2gg

Why We’re Not All Children of God

Did you know that Christians don’t believe that we’re all children of God? This may be shocking, as a significant number of people just assume that we’re all children of God. But, not so! Not us Christians.

While that may seem harsh, we don’t reject the idea because we’re trying to be mean…but because the Bible actually teaches this! God Himself has told us—in no uncertain terms—none of us are inherently children of God.

In this video, I’m going to explain where the Bible teaches this, how Scripture says we can “become children of God,” and why this profound difference between Mormons and Christians matters so much.

Don’t Some Verses Say We’re All Children?

Latter-day Saints often quote two verses in support of us all being God’s literal children. But before I look at those verses, I want you to first consider these statements in the New Testament:

1. The Apostle Paul calls a false prophet a “…son of the devil” (Acts 13:10)
2. The book of 1 John tells us that our works make it “evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil” (1 John 3:10).
3. Jesus even says something similar to the religious leaders of His day. He proclaimed, “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s will” (John 8:43-44)

The Bible uses shocking language like this; language that says that the devil is the father of some people!

I bring these verses up because they should help us understand that the language of “fathering” and “sonship” in the Bible doesn’t necessarily refer to a literal begetting as spirit children.

Jesus wasn’t trying to indicate that the Pharisees were the literal begotten spirit children of the devil when he said they were “of their father, the devil.”

With that in mind, let’s look at 2 of the verses from the Bible that Latter-day Saints use to argue that we’re all children of God. First, Hebrews 12

“Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” (Hebrews 12:9)

Hebrews 12 compares the discipline of our earthly Fathers to the discipline of our “Heavenly Father.” He’s speaks to Christians in recognition that God is the creator of our spirits. Kind of like how Steve Jobs “fathered” the iPhone; God “fathered” our spirits.

The second verse is in Acts 17:

“…as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.” (Acts 17:28-29)

In this test, Paul quotes a pagan poet…he’s using the language of that poet to prove his point, that idolatry is absurd—even within their pagan framework!

Now, there is a sense in which we are the “offspring” of God; we are in His image, we are His creation—but note that this quote from a non-Christian poet is the only time we find the language of being God’s offspring in the entire New Testament. He’s using the term “offspring” because it’s language the Athenians were familiar with that could best make his point!

We can become Children of God

Now, in and of itself, those reasons wouldn’t be enough to prove that we’re not all the literal children of God…but let’s now examine this point: the Bible teaches that Christians become children of God. Consider these super-clear verses in the book of John:

“…But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Notice the word “become” in this verse. You can’t become something that you already are! I can’t become human—I’m already human! I can’t become a son of my dad; I’m already His son! So when John says that by faith, we may “become” children of God—He means to say that we’re not inherently children of God!

Instead, followers of God are those who have adopted by Him. Galatians 4:4-5 says

“…God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”(Galatians 4:4-5).

Ephesians 1:5 says, “In love, (God) predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” If I’m an adopted son of God, then I wasn’t born as God’s spirit child! And how can we be adopted to become a child of God? Galatians 3 says

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.” (Galatians 3:26). 

It is “through faith” that we are sons of God, not “through spiritual begetting in the premortal life.”

Romans 8, often quoted by Latter-day Saints about this issue, also proves this same point:

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…” (Romans 8:14-17)

If we are to be “co-heirs with Christ,” it must be because we’ve been adopted as Sons, and thus we receive an inheritance…the inheritance that Christ receives in His humanity—an inheritance of physically glorified bodies, a future perfected earth, and eternal life. 

Why does this matter?

So what? Why is this important? Well, in part, because our being children of God is foundational for the Mormon doctrine of exaltation.

If we’re not begotten as children of God, but instead are adopted—that removes the grounds for exaltation! How can we become just like God if we’re not His species? If God hasn’t physically begotten us in a preexistence, then Scripture’s teaching on the uniqueness of God makes sense! There really is no one like God—including us!

So many Mormons have used the example of human children to illustrate exaltation; don’t I want my children to be just like me? Well, of course…but my son is the same species as me! We’re not expecting my adopted guinea pig to become like me!

Adoption is also important because the Mormon doctrine of being “children of God” affects how people see eternal judgment in hell.

Lots of people think: how could God be so cruel to His children as to punish them for eternity? If God is our Father, then surely has an “obligation” towards us! But if God is not the Father of all mankind, He has no such obligation. In other words, not one of God’s children will be judged for eternity in Hell…but not all of mankind are children of God.

I leave you then with the words of the Holy Spirit found from John 1:12 –

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

7 Verses that Prove the Existence of Hell

> “What a barbaric and outdated belief!”

>“That idiotic doctrine came from merging Greek philosophy with Christianity!”

> “It was an invented doctrine to control the people.”

> “It was just referencing a garbage dump near Jerusalem—just to show how hellish this life can be if we don’t live like Jesus said to”

These are just some of the lines people give when talking about Hell. The doctrine of Hell has fallen out of favor with large swaths of people in our modern era—from liberal denominations to the LDS Church: many people who claim to be Christians say hell is a laughably unbiblical notion.

So, are wacko theologically conservative Christians (like ourselves) totally wrong? Is hell simply a combination of outdated philosophy and Scripture taken out of context?

Today, we’re going to take a look at 7 verses that definitively demonstrate that hell is not an invented doctrine, but is, in fact, a BIBLICAL doctrine.

#1 – the Sheep and the Goats: Matthew 25

After speaking about the “signs of the end of the age” in Matthew 24, Jesus goes into more detail about the coming of the “Son of man” and future “coming judgment”…

He says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”  (Matthew 25:31-33,41, 46)

You have two groups here: the sheep, and the goats. The cursed goats will depart into “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” which is aptly named “eternal punishment.” These are the two options Jesus gives for humanity….eternal punishment, or eternal life!

I’m not sure how much more overt the language could be here…I mean, he’s clearly referring to hell. Not much more to say about that one!

 

#2 – Tormented Forever and Ever: Revelation 14

Revelation actually has a LOT of verses that reference the idea of hell, but we’re only going to focus on a couple for this video:

 

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”  (Revelation 14:9-11)

Just before these verses, John wrote that, once again, there are only two groups of people: those that have been sealed by the mark of the Lamb, and those who worship the “beast and its image.” Those who are the Lamb’s are written in His Book of Life, those who are the beasts will suffer the “wine of God’s wrath,” and the language here is…intense!

God’s wrath poured full strength into the cup of his anger, tormented with fire and sulfur forever and ever with no rest, day and night…And before you say that this is referencing the demons, or something like that – read the Book of Revelation: this group of people are the humans on earth who REFUSE to repent of their sins.

Latter-day Saints – you have to DO something with this verse…this can’t simply be talking about spirit prison, because of the language of “forever and ever.” This has a mark of finality to it, that simply wouldn’t apply to Spirit prison.

Let’s move on—

#3 – The Example of Sodom and Gomorrah: Jude 1

This one is interesting because it traces a pattern of God’s actions towards sin through the Old Testament and lets that point us towards his attitude at final judgment towards sin. Verse 4 says

“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 1:4)

Then Jude speaks of Jesus destroying those in Egypt who didn’t believe, angels who sinned, and then Sodom and Gomorrah:

“just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)

He goes on to continue citing examples of God’s judgment, but Sodom and Gomorrah specifically serve as an EXAMPLE, their destruction was one that inaugurated “eternal fire” for the people on account of the sexual immorality. Not only were they destroyed physically, that destruction was meant to show the utter and eternal destruction that WILL come upon these “ungodly people” who “pervert the grace of God” back in verse 4.

#4 – The Vengeance of Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10

These verses talk about what will happen when Jesus returns…actually, the entire BOOK kind of talks about what will happen when Jesus returns. 2 Thessalonians is all about Paul correcting a false teaching that was being spread around—that Christ had already returned…he’s trying to be as CLEAR as possible about what is going to happen. He writes:

“when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thess. 1:7-10)

When Jesus returns, he’s inflicting vengeance on those who don’t know God or His Gospel…these people SUFFER punishment AWAY from all the goodness and mercy of God….for all eternity. Take this alongside all the other texts that speak about Christ’s return, and we start to get a fairly clear image about what happens to those who don’t know God at Jesus’ return.

#5 – Their Worm Shall Not Die: Isaiah 66

This is the very last verse of Isaiah. The last couple chapters of the book are epic—they predict the gloriousness of the eternal state for God’s people: the New Heavens and New Earth. But the last verse ends on an ominous note: what happens to those NOT in the New Heavens and New Earth?

“And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24)

This gives us a bit of description about the “second death,” those who are there are like worms who don’t die, and their fire will NEVER go out. The sight is so awful, that it’s an “abhorrence” to everyone who sees it. Not the kind of place you want to be in…and it’s eternal! The POINT is that their torment never ends, which has been a recurring theme throughout these verses.

#6 – Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth: Matthew 13

Anyone who’s read the Gospels knows that Jesus OFTEN speaks about the place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Now, Mormons say that many of these statements are either referencing Spirit Prison, OR (perhaps) Outer Darkness—a place where virtually no one will go. But we can’t isolate Jesus’ statements from one another, NOR can we isolate them from the OTHER verses that use the same kind of language. Matthew 13 records Jesus saying:

“So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49-50)

And again in verse 30,

“Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:30)

Jesus is really clear throughout his parables, that the HARVEST is the time of his return…when ALL the other verses in the New Testament take place. You have to do some MAJOR twisting to make all these references point to something OTHER than eternal destiny after Jesus’ return and final judgment.

#7 – Final Judgment: Revelation 20

Last, but not least, is the text that speaks about final judgment in Revelation. After this text, the “New Heavens and New Earth” is consummated—and God’s people will dwell with Him for eternity. But…for those who are NOT God’s people, here’s what happens at judgment:

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)

Chapter 21:8 says,

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (Rev. 21:8)

This is strikingly clear — when God judges the world, there are only two options: those who dwell with him in the New Heavens and Earth, and those who are cast into the “Lake of Fire,” the “Second Death.” This is exactly what we’ve seen in all the other verses on this list: and eternal state of judgment and torment that serves to punish the wickedness of God’s enemies—those humans who refused to repent of their sins.

So What?

Now, why do we bring all this up? Because you—dear viewer—are in the crosshairs of God’s weighty and terrible judgment on account of your sin. At ANY MOMENT, the Lord may see fit to take your life. You could die. Tonight, even. And then this would be your state for all eternity. 

But though you are “by nature [a child] of wrath, like the rest of mankind” (Eph 2:3), God is rich in mercy…This “lake of fire” NEED not be your sure and certain destiny! Ephesians 2 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:4, 8-9)

God gave His son so that WHOEVER believes in Him shall not perish—shall NOT be subject to the second death, but will have eternal life (John 3:16).

If you think that your good deeds (your adherence to laws and ordinances) will make you right with God, know that He has declared that ALL your righteous deeds are filthy rags before Him. He accepts NONE of those deeds as pleasing in his eyes. None of them can give you peace with God!

If your hope is laws and ordinances, then you’ll NEVER be righteous enough to be accepted in His eyes—and this second death is barreling towards you.

What you need is the mercy of God, for the forgiveness of Christ to fall on you—and the MEANS God has chosen for accepting this is FAITH, and faith alone.

So turn to Christ in faith, forsake all your worthless deeds and all your strivings—believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved from the wrath to come.

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36)

Do You Have Peace With God?

After attending the G3 Conference in Atlanta, Bradley gives some of his thoughts about the importance of trusting Scripture, the person and work of Jesus, and the need for us to have peace with God.

If the Bible is really “God-breathed,” then we are obligated to build our lives and theology around it. Studying Scripture verse-by-verse is the bread and butter of faithful Christian practice. We just want to trust what the Bible says—even if it disagrees with what we’ve previously thought!

The conference was focused on what the Bible teaches about the person and work of Jesus. Jesus is the center of Christianity. He is God incarnate—the second person of the trinity. Jesus didn’t just secure a way for us to go back to Heavenly Father, but fully secured our place in God’s eternal kingdom. Through the work of Christ in His atoning sacrifice on the cross, we can have peace with God.

We NEED to have peace with God—but the Bible teaches that we DON’T (by nature) have peace with God! We are subject to the just judgment of God, and will be condemned on Day of the Lord if we do NOT turn in faith and repentance. But if we DO have faith, the Bible teaches that we can be justified—or declared righteous. If we are justified, we will certainly be glorified (Romans 8:30), and will dwell with God in His Kingdom for all eternity.

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)