Faith vs Works: Christianity vs Mormonism

As early as the first book in the Bible, Genesis, we see that it is by faith God counts a person as righteous:

And [Abram] believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6

In the New Testament, Paul gives us clarification that faith is not a work; i.e. meritorious:

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast

Ephesians 2:8-9

The Apostle Paul gives us the example of the unbelieving Jewish population of the first century in Romans to show us that those working towards righteousness have not obtained it (nor can they):

What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 9:29-30

This is because, as Paul mentioned earlier in Romans, works cannot justify someone before God because we all have sinned:

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 3:20

The Bible teaches that because we all sinned, we all deserve death. But, God freely gives us salvation through believing in Jesus:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

God can give us this free gift because Jesus, the perfect and sinless sacrifice, took on the sin of the world so that those who believe in Him would gain the righteousness of God; Jesus' righteousness:

For [the Father] hath made [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

We know that Paul differentiates between works and faith. works cannot save someone, but faith can. Faith is the means God credits righteousness:

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Romans 4:5

in fact, Paul stated that if we could earn righteousness, Christ died for no reason:

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 2:21

Even when Jesus was asked what the works of God are, he responded that the work (singular) is belief:

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

John 6:29

wHAT dOES mORMONISM tEACH?

Contrary to this separation of faith and works, the Book of Mormon is riddled with verses about God's grace and salvation being applied after one has worked to their utmost.

The most infamous example here is 2 Nephi 25:23:

...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

2 Nephi 25:23

all i can do is all i can do?

Some Latter-day Saints may argue this 'all you can do' phraseology might mean "in spite of all we do" or it could be a hyperbole. This being that one should just try their best to do all they can do because God knows the heart. But, the LDS bible dictionary clarifies exactly what is meant by this verse:

"However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient. Hence the explanation, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Ne. 25:23)."

"Grace", LDS Bible Dictionary; lds.org

if, then, when?

Another verse that is cross referenced often with 2 Nephi 25:23 is Moroni 10:32, which states the following:

yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.

Moroni 10:32

Notice the "if, then" statement. Imagine your mother said, "If you do your chores, then you can get ice cream," Doing your chores is the condition for getting ice cream. Here, the condition for sufficient grace is works.

who has bewitched you?

In Paul's letter to the Galatians, he attacks the idea that the keeping of the law or any works are part of our growth with God, let alone salvation:

O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth... Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galatianss 3:1, 3

The reason Paul was outraged was because the Galatians were adding one law to the gospel message. This law was circumcision. Scripture tells us that if you break one law, you've broken the whole law.* Paul was not worried about his law keeping because he knew:

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:4

*For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all - (James 2:10). If the law must be kept at all, all the law must be kept.

perfect paul?

We know Paul struggled with sin:

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

Romans 7:19, 24

Paul didn't sound like he emptied himself of all ungodliness; yet, he was confident he would be with Christ in the next life.* Maybe it's because he knew:

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

Galatians 3:13

Jesus atoned for our sin on the cross and took our curse. believe in Jesus and have your curse taken away too.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:47

*"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better" - Apostle Paul (Philippians 1:23)