Two Gospels, One Truth

The gospel of Jesus Christ is too precious, too essential, and too clear in the Bible to allow it to be confused with the teachings of the Book of Mormon. The gospel is not just any message; it is the power of God for salvation. It is not something to be tampered with, reinvented, or diluted by new revelations or works-based theology. And yet that is exactly what Mormonism does—subtly at times, but undeniably.

At its core, the biblical gospel proclaims that salvation is by grace through faith, and not by works. Ephesians 2:8–9 spells this out plainly: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” This message is consistent throughout the New Testament—whether in Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16, or the words of Jesus Himself in John 3:16. Salvation is not something we earn by doing all we can; it is something we receive by trusting in what Christ has already done. The Book of Mormon, however, offers a different version. In 2 Nephi 25:23 it says, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” That’s not grace. That’s a reward. And Romans 11:6 directly rebukes that kind of thinking: “And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.”

But the problems go deeper. The Bible tells us that God is eternal and unchanging (Malachi 3:6), that Jesus is God from the beginning (John 1:1), and that there is only one true God (Isaiah 43:10). Mormonism, on the other hand, teaches that God was once a man and that human beings can become gods themselves. These are not minor theological differences—they’re completely different religions. One teaches worship of the eternal Creator; the other promotes a system where the creature evolves into godhood. That is exactly the lie the serpent told in the garden: “You will be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

Furthermore, the Bible is clear that the gospel is complete. The Scriptures are sufficient and we are warned not to add to them (Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18–19). Yet the Book of Mormon claims to be “Another Testament of Jesus Christ” and introduces different doctrines, additional scripture, and a new prophet—Joseph Smith—whose teachings have routinely contradicted the Bible. No matter how sincere or moral a person may seem, if they teach another gospel, Paul says, “Let God’s curse fall on them” (Galatians 1:8). That is not unkindness. That is the seriousness of protecting the truth.

Jesus did not die on the cross to offer us a religious system of temple rituals, priesthoods, and endless striving. He offered Himself. He finished the work. He rose again. And He calls all people to repent and believe in Him—not in church membership, not in personal worthiness, not in a latter-day prophet, but in Christ alone. Romans 5:8 reminds us of this glorious truth: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” This is the gospel: Jesus saves sinners by grace alone.

So, no, the gospel taught in the Book of Mormon is not just another version of Christianity. It is a fundamentally different gospel. It contradicts the Bible at every key point: the nature of God, the way of salvation, the authority of Scripture, and the identity of Jesus Christ. If we care about truth—and if we love our neighbors—we cannot pretend these differences don’t matter. They matter eternally. And the Bible’s message remains as bold and beautiful as ever: “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Not after all you can do. But because of everything He has already done.