Jesus Christ and Satan Brothers?
A theological aspect of Mormonism that grabs just about anybody, believer and non believer alike, is the Mormon doctrine that teaches Satan and Jesus Christ are brothers.
Biblical Christians believe for good reasons, that this teaching is strictly not true, considering that Jesus is the creator of ALL things, including angels (Colossians 1:15-20). We Evangelicals likewise believe that Jesus’ strict eternal status as the creator of all things is relevant to His ability to provide us with salvation by grace through faith.
Due to connections between doctrines of God and the doctrines of salvation, a different Jesus also infers that Mormonism has a non-Christian way of salvation.
This ‘Lucifer and Jesus’ of Mormonism hinges upon the LDS grand doctrinal world view called “Eternal Progression” And again I stress this Eternal Progression is not found with in the Book of Mormon, but is a later teaching of Mormonism founders.
Eternal Progression is the Mormon idea that spirit beings are born to a God named "Elohim." These spirit siblings mature in the spirit world to continue moving forward and progress toward godhood by being born on Earth to gain a physical body. As the cosmic journey continues these spirits progress through death, resurrection, judgments, followed by various heavenly rewards. Eternal Progression is a Mormon paradigm that influences all its doctrines of salvation. It is a dogma that teaches ideas contrary to the Bible on the nature and origin of God, and the ultimate destiny of mankind in a universe that it teaches existed before the gods were gods. In this Mormon idea, Lucifer and Jesus are peers, both started out as equal siblings of Elohim, on their cosmic journeys toward godhood. (Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, pages 238-239)-- It is notable that the Lucifer of Mormonism was also a candidate to be our Savior, if elected by the Heavenly Counsel of God. (Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, Page 164)
In the Biblical worldview of understanding God and Salvation, certain conditions are understood necessary provide human salvation. One of these conditions is related to Jesus’ eternal status in the Godhead (Rom 1:20) . This difference between worldviews should naturally lead any thinking person to see that if Eternal Progression were to be true then Christian salvation is lost. This difference in views can be quickly expressed and summarized in the catch phrase “ In Mormonism Jesus and Lucifer are Spirit Brothers!”
We should also note that if Bible teaches that Jesus is strictly Eternal-- always in the Power of the Godhead. (Romans 1:20) knowing this alone makes Eternal Progression a Biblical impossibility. This is impossible because if eternal is strictly ‘eternal’ then progression in eternity is an oxymoron. This all has to do with eternal strictly meaning ‘timeless’, and time is required for progression.
Evangelicals view the Mormon Jesus is a lesser category of god-being than the Biblical Jesus. This is a big deal because the Mormon Jesus appears to be marginalized in power and lordship down to the point where he would not have the ability to save souls ( that is, directly connect human souls with the Father ) at least how the Biblical Jesus can save by Faith and Grace (John 14:6). This difference in the abilities of the Mormon savior in Mormonism, is of course offset by the good works of Mormons in gaining entrance to the Celestial Kingdom (D&C section 88).
With these musing of mine said, let me move on and outline the basis for Evangelical Christians saying that LDS have a differing Jesus:
My Assertion: Jehovah/Jesus is the creator or 'Father' of all the Angels-- not their Brother.
By the way, at the same time I call upon Mormon apologists to prove their case:
A different god- being with the name of 'Elohim" is in the manner of fatherhood, both the Father of Jesus, and likewise, the Father of all of the angels, making Jesus and Lucifer Spirit Brothers.
I insist because Mormons may attempt to discredit what is written here. Diluting what is written does not forward the Mormon cause because one needs to consider that Mormons claim to have the exclusive truth, power, and authority of God. Mormons claims are so grand that, therefore they rightly should be able to prove their doctrines as rational or we will be just in rejecting them out of hand. ( As they claim in Doctrine and Covenants section 71)
The Word of the Lord, from the Prophet Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together...
Mormon Doctrine since 1916 agrees that 'the Lord' in the Old Testament is Christ/Jesus/Jehovah. (Mormon Doctrine page 392)
It is written in the Bible, of the Sons of God, the Angels, and Satan in the Old Testament scriptures:
Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Did this "Lord"- make these "sons of God"? That is Jesus/Jehovah the Father and the Angels his Sons? This "Lord" of Job has been identified as Jehovah-- and both Mormons and Evangelicals agree that this God of the Old Testament is Jehovah/Jesus.
Here is another Old Testament passage declaring Jehovah, His role and place in the universe:
Nehemiah 9:6 Thou, even thou, art LORD (Jehovah/Jesus) alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
In this passage we see revealed that the host of heaven who worship God in Heaven are the angels who inhabit heaven, the so called sons of God-- The God they worship is Jehovah/Jesus (not Elohim who Mormons claim is the Father in Heaven)
This passage is declaring that that Jehovah/Jesus is even the creator or the Father of the Angels that is 'the sons of God'.
This idea is further developed and verified by the New Testament as Jesus/Jehovah is identified as the creator of even the angels-- Satan included.
The New Testament Book of Colossians 1:16 For by him(Jehovah/Jesus) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him(Jehovah/Jesus), and for him(Jehovah/Jesus):
These powers, thrones, dominions and principalities are said to be categories of created angel beings-- or in other words the ‘sons of God’ as in Job 1:6.
The Job account is consistent with the Nehemiah teaching and the New Testament idea after the Father was revealed-- that is-- that Jesus/Jehovah is the very highest God. It thus follows that Jehovah is the Father of the Spirits who live in Heaven ( not the Mormon god with the personal name of “Elohim”). It also follows that Jesus is the Father of the Angel Lucifer and thus not the Brother of Lucifer/Satan.
Even if these powers and etc are not angels-- the New Testament passage agrees with the Old Testament-- Jehovah/Jesus created everything for himself-- Jehovah is the ultimate God creator of the Hosts who do worship the highest God (Jehovah) in Heaven.
The Colossians passage of creation seems to be a reflection the God’s exclusive possession of His created beings. There also seems to be a division between these created beings, that is angels and humans, as seen in Isaiah, yet both are exclusively worship Him alone.
Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD (Jehovah): that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,..43:7 Even every one that is called by my name(Jehovah): for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
There are other significant Biblical teachings showing the difference between Jesus Christ, Angels, and Human souls. These are important to mention in passing, because of the LDS the claim that Jesus and the Angels, including the Angel once named ‘ Lucifer ‘are all Brothers is very weak position. This futher weakens the pattern of thought that insists that human beings also have souls that pre-existed as angels--
The New Testament Gospel of John 7.28-29: Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, "Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."
Notice: this statement again highlights the uniqueness of Jesus relationship with the Father--HE ALONE knows the Father, because He is FROM HIM.
Being from God is unique because in the Jewish teaching of hierarchies of angels, even the highest angels were not in direct contact with God—they were in proximity to God, Close to God, not “from God”. (See Luke 1:19)
The New Testament book of Hebrews draws further distinctions between Men, Angels and God/Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 2: 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,
Note that Jesus is called ‘brethren’ to men as a man in the flesh, but nowhere in the Bible is called a brother of the angels.
After death when human believers go to heaven, it is revealed that angels and men are two categories of creatures—two distinct groups.
Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Note here in Hebrews 12 that “angels” and the “sprits of men” are two distinct groups.
Beside this argument, it is noteworthy that this New Testament teaching is not in accord with the LDS view and order of heaven in the afterlife. Look at the New Testament situation with angels and the just spirits found together. This situation differs in the Mormon teaching of the afterlife, that divides ranks beings into different spheres. These heavenly divisions are described in the Mormon 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C).
In Biblical teachings, humans do not originate first as spirits in the a spiritual pre-existence- but only after earth life become spiritual creatures- (as spirits of Just men made perfect in Hebrews 12)
1 Corinthians 15: 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
So the LDS idea and position that Jesus, Angels, and Men are all the same category of Spirit Children “Sons” of God and/or Spirit Children, is a bankrupt argument. The Biblical teaching makes it impossible for the real Biblical Jesus and Lucifer to be “brothers” as portrayed in Mormon Eternal Progression.
