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Authors >> Gilbert Scharffs >> The Truth About “The God Makers”
III. Scriptures Quoted Out of Context or Paraphrased Wrongly
What the book says |
What the book omits or adds |
| 1. “The biblical Christ . . . came to save sinners” the book quotes (I Tim. 1:15) to imply that Paul was saying no further works were needed (60:26). | Paul also said in the same letter, “Be rich in good works” (I Tim. 6:18). |
| 2. “There is not a just man. . . that doeth good and sinneth not” (Eccl. 7:20) the book cites to show man’s hopelessly evil condition (61:4). | This same biblical author also counsels to “keep the commandments”: “For this is the whole duty of man, for God shall bring every work into judgment” (Eccl. 12:13-14). |
| 3. The Bible teaches “that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28), the book quotes (136:30). | Reading the context shows that Paul is saying the old Jewish law is not enough for salvation. Paul is preaching Christ’s higher law here, which includes good works. |
| 4. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17) the book quotes in order to show that works are unnecessary (136:35-137:8). | However, John 3:21 also reads, “He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest.” |
| 5. The book quotes Romans 3:20 as saying, “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (136:35-137:8). | Paul correctly recognized that deeds alone do not bring eternal life, but he was not saying deeds are unnecessary, since he, in Romans 2:13, had said, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Paul was referring to some of the useless deeds that were being practiced by some Hebrews in his day. |
| 6. The authors paraphrase I John 5:13: “The moment -we open our hearts to Christ He comes in according to His promise and by the witness of the Holy Spirit within we ‘know that we have eternal life’ ” (178:last). | Verse 3 in the chapter says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” and verse 17 states that “all unrighteousness is sin.” |
| 7. “The moment we open our heart to Christ he comes in” (Rev. 3:20), the book loosely paraphrases (178:last). | The previous verse says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent” and the following verse says, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me.” The Bible does warn against misuse of signs, but does not speak against all signs, and mentions them (see Mark 16:17-18,20). |
| 8. The Bible says we are known by fruits, not by [LDS] magic signs, the book claims without giving any scriptural reference (191:10). | The previous verse says, “Be zealous therefore, and repent” and the following verse says, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me.” The Bible does warn against misuse of signs, but does not speak against all signs, and mentions them (see Mark 16:17-18,20). |
| 9. “The Melchizedek, or ‘High’ Priesthood, derives its name from the most mysterious figure in the Bible” (201:19) | Paul devotes an entire chapter talking about Melchizedek (Heb. 7; see also Gen. 14:18). With the LDS Restoration a more complete understanding of Melchizedek’s importance came to light. |