Salvation And Exaltation

[St. Bookmark]

I was having a discussion and the topic of salvation came up, some said that there is a difference between salvation and exaltation.

Salvation is the free gift of eternal life

Exaltation is what we get when faithful.

I have always thought they were one and the same

Because of this quote "Salvation in its true and full meaning is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak” [bruce R. McConkie, Mormon

Doctrine, 2nd ed

What are the exception?

Also the gift of grace talk seems to support this.

[filovirus]

*I always understood it to mean that everyone gains salvation but only few will be exalted. Hence, all exaltation is salvation but not all salvation is exaltation.

*Except for sons of perdition.

[thesometimesaint]

Even the Sons of Perdition whom are born into mortality will get a type of salvation. They will get their bodies back. They will be "exalted"  over those that weren't.

[CV75]

What are the exception?

I would say in the context of the quote, any lesser degree of glory than exaltation.

[CV75]

*I always understood it to mean that everyone gains salvation but only few will be exalted. Hence, all exaltation is salvation but not all salvation is exaltation.

*Except for sons of perdition.

I take the view that any less than "all" are "few" or "too few," and that our agency determines wherether we are exalted, after all Christ has done for us. This is kind of a turn on the idea, "by grace we are saved, after all we can do." Christ has truly established exaltation for all who are in born into this world through His atonement, and it is only by our turning our agency to Him that we actually choose it, receive it and realize it.

[Bobbieaware]

I was having a discussion and the topic of salvation came up, some said that there is a difference between salvation and exaltation.

Salvation is the free gift of eternal life

Exaltation is what we get when faithful.

I have always thought they were one and the same

Because of this quote "Salvation in its true and full meaning is synonymous with exaltation or eternal life and consists in gaining an inheritance in the highest of the three heavens within the celestial kingdom. With few exceptions this is the salvation of which the scriptures speak” [bruce R. McConkie, Mormon

Doctrine, 2nd ed

What are the exception?

Also the gift of grace talk seems to support this.

Depending on the prophet and the context in which he is writing, the term salvation can either mean the fullness of exaltation in the celestial kingdom (as per McConkie's quote) or the attainment of a degree of glory in any of the three kingdoms of glory. The following verses from D&C 76 are an example of the term salvation being used to describe the future glory that will obtained by the inheritors of the telestial kingdom:

85 These (the inheritors of the telestial kingdom) are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work.

86 These are they WHO RECEIVE NOT OF HIS FULLNESS in the eternal world, but of the Holy Spirit through the ministration of the terrestrial;

87 And the terrestrial through the ministration of the celestial.

88 And also the telestial receive it of the administering of angels who are appointed to minister for them, or who are appointed to be ministering spirits for them; FOR THEY SHALL BE HEIRS OF SALVATION. (D&C 76)

[Bobbieaware]

Even the Sons of Perdition whom are born into mortality will get a type of salvation. They will get their bodies back. They will be "exalted" over those that weren't.

In light of the following quote from Abinadi, yours is a debatable assessment...

4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. THEREFORE HE IS AS THOUGH NO REDEMPTION HAD BEEN MADE, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16)

Being empowered to become a ruler in hell hardly seems to be an example the salvation wrought through Christ. Unless the power to rule tyrannically over beings who are utterly devoid of the Spirit of God can be considered to be some form of salvation.

Edited October 17, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[thesometimesaint]

In light of the following quote from Abinadi, yours is a debatable assessment...

4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. THEREFORE HE IS AS THOUGH NO REDEMPTION HAD BEEN MADE, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16)

Being empowered to become a ruler in hell hardly seems to be an example the salvation wrought through Christ. Unless the power to rule tyrannically over beings who are utterly devoid of the Spirit of God can be considered to be some form of salvation.

 

It is a type salvation. They do get their bodies back. So in that sense they are exalted over those that never had a mortal body. That being said it isn't a type of exaltation either you or I are after.

[Stargazer]

My understanding of this, without bringing in scriptures or GA quotes is this:

 

1. Salvation 1 : Everyone ever born on earth is saved from the Fall and gets resurrected,  receiving a perfect and immortal physical body.  This gift comes through the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a free gift to all.  Even Sons of Perdition get this -- just before they are cast into Outer Darkness.

 

2. Salvation 2 : Everyone who accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Savior, repents of their sins, and receives water and spirit baptisms is saved from their sins.  This means that they do not have to pay for their own sins because the suffering which Jesus suffered in Gethsemane and on the Cross is imputed to them, and they are forgiven.  Those who do not receive this Salvation must suffer for their sins, which suffering Christ said is very hard to bear.  Those who do not receive this inherit the Telestial Kingdom.

 

3. Exaltation 1 : This is what is called "Eternal LIfe".  It is not merely immortality, but it is the life that God lives.    These are they who were valiant in the Testimony of Christ, and who received and were faithful to the covenants made in the Temple of our Lord.  They who receive this inherit one of the three levels of the Celestial Kingdom. They who do not receive this but do receive Salvation 1 inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom.

 

4. Exaltation 2 : These are they who entered the New and Everlasting Covenant of Eternal Marriage and were faithful therein.  They who receive this dwell in the highest of the three levels of the Celestial Kingdom.  They who receive this receive all that the Father has, including eternal increase and worlds without number.

 

Now, I have heard complaints about this from our brothers and sisters in the Protestant and the Catholic Churches.  They insist that it is not necessary to receive any ordinances in any kind of a temple in order to be Saved from their sins.  If they accept the Lord Jesus Christ this is sufficient to be Saved.  And of course, from a certain point of view they are correct.  The Terrestrial Kingdom, which does not require the covenants made in the temple, is a place where Christ Himself ministers to the inhabitants.  This then is exactly what they expect from their concept of Heaven.  It is a place of great glory and unspeakable happiness and joy.  The Father has provided more, however, and those who inherit the Terrestrial do not receive that enhancement.

Edited October 17, 2015 by Stargazer

[coolrok7]

By revelation, our Savior made known again the plan of salvation and exaltation. Resurrection comes as a gift to every man through Jesus Christ, but the reward of the highest eternal opportunities you must earn. It is not just enough to believe in Jesus Christ. You must work and learn, search and pray, repent and improve, know his laws and live them. (YOUR PRE-EARTH LIFE pamphlet, p.10)

 

Thus, brothers and sisters, along with the great and free gift of the universal and personal resurrection there is also the personal possibility of meriting eternal life. (The Ensign, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, 1997, p.23)

                        

It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice. . .This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts. . . .(AFTER ALL WE CAN DO. . .GRACE WORKS, Robert L. Millet, p.18)

 

For contrast:

 

 

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

 

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (Titus 3:4-eight)

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

[thesometimesaint]

For contrast:

 

 

So let your works shine forth.

 

Faith without works is dead.

 

Sermon on the Mount.

 

Separating the sheep from the goats.

 

The devils believe but tremble.

 

I can, and will. use more of your Bible if you want more.

[Stargazer]

In light of the following quote from Abinadi, yours is a debatable assessment...

4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

5 But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. THEREFORE HE IS AS THOUGH NO REDEMPTION HAD BEEN MADE, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16)

Being empowered to become a ruler in hell hardly seems to be an example the salvation wrought through Christ. Unless the power to rule tyrannically over beings who are utterly devoid of the Spirit of God can be considered to be some form of salvation.

 

Redemption is to be redeemed from sin.  The Sons of Perdition don't get this, though they are resurrected, and they rule in Outer Darkness over Satan and his followers, who remain unembodied spirits for eternity.

[coolrok7]

I can too (no problem with the ones you provided but they each have a context) but the point is I quoted Biblical Scripture in contrast to what is not Biblical Scripture

[Stargazer]

For contrast:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (Titus 3:4-eight)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

I have no argument with this. The wages of unrepented sin is death, meaning permanent separation from God. Those who repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Savior, their wages are immortality and the permanent association with Christ. It is definitely by grace that we are saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is only through His merits that we are saved, for our own merits are as nothing compared to His.

[coolrok7]

Eternal life is not earned/merited/worked for.

[Stargazer]

I can too (no problem with the ones you provided but they each have a context) but the point is I quoted Biblical Scripture in contrast to what is not Biblical Scripture

Those who insist the Bible is the only scripture must deny that God has ever spoken a word outside the Bible. Is He not capable of it, or is it that he deigns not to?

We say that there was an apostasy from the Gospel, which lasted until the restoration foretold in the Bible itself, which brought new scripture, or in other words, more Word of God to mankind. You're free to deny both the Apostasy and Restoration, and insist that only the Bible is authoritative, but you're wrong. Your insistence doesn't change the truth.

[Stargazer]

Eternal life is not earned/merited/worked for.

Of course it is. It is immortality that is not earned/merited/worked for.

[VideoGameJunkie]

I can't imagine winding up lower than the top level of the Celestial Kingdom and being happy, knowing for eternity you could have had better. That is hell, spending eternity knowing you could have done better and experienced more joy, even if you're in the middle level of the Celestial Kingdom. Knowing you could have been at the top level and blew it.

[Stargazer]

For your benefit, Coolrok7, I should quote a scripture on that last point of mine.

1 Cor 15:21, 22:

21. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

 

The word ALL is pretty unequivocal, is it not?  Hence, Christ's resurrection causes the resurrection of all men, regardless of any other status, and is not earned because it's a free gift.

 

But even forgiveness of sin through the grace of Christ Jesus requires faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost.  Thus you must earn that forgiveness by those works.  But there's no boasting about it, since all have the same requirement.  You can use other scriptures to argue against that, if you want, but it amounts to finding contradictions in the scriptures, which doesn't really help your case any.

Edited October 17, 2015 by Stargazer

[Stargazer]

I can't imagine winding up lower than the top level of the Celestial Kingdom and being happy, knowing for eternity you could have had better. That is hell, spending eternity knowing you could have done better and experienced more joy, even if you're in the middle level of the Celestial Kingdom. Knowing you could have been at the top level and blew it.

 

May I gently suggest that you are wrong about this?  I suppose that you might regret that you were not valiant enough to merit the Celestial Kingdom, but the Father sees to it that what you do receive will make you happy beyond your wildest dreams.  Don't get discouraged.  And don't think of undervaluing what the Father and the Son will provide for you.  You will ultimately be content.

 

Think about this: Bill Gates is the richest man in the world.  He has 40 billion dollars to play with.  Nice!  What if you only end up with one billion dollars?  Are you going to fall onto the floor and kick and scream about it?  I bet you won't.

Edited October 17, 2015 by Stargazer

[coolrok7]

The term is "eternal life" (not earned/merited/worked for) when it comes to what is derived from God's grace through faith. Immortality is the state of the resurrected, glorified body all believers (the sheep) will inhabit at the Judgment Day at the Second Coming of Jesus.

 

There is also a resurrection to eternal judgment in hell that Jesus warned about:

 

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

 

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)

 

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: . . .Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . .And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)

 

[VideoGameJunkie]

Stargazer I'd love to be wrong, but I've always been told that only those in the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom will be with a spouse and an eternal family, and I know for a fact I won't be happy if I spend eternity without my family and God.

[Bobbieaware]

Eternal life is not earned/merited/worked for.

You are going to have a very difficult time persuading knowledgeable Latter-day Saints that all believers in Christ are equal in the enjoyment spiritual rewards in heaven, because there are so many verses in the New Testament like the following powerful words of exhortation to the saints from the Apostle Paul:

12 NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT: but I follow after, IF THAT I MAY APPREHEND that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, AND REACHING FORTH UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE,

14 I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 LET US THEREFORE, AS MANY BE PERFECT, BE THUS MINDED: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3)

If Paul, as a preeminent saved member of the Church of Christ, taught the Philippian saints that he had not yet obtained all the blessings of the atonement of Christ promised to the faithful, and that both he and those he was teaching needed to know God did not want them to rest comfortably on the laurels of their initial profession of faith, but that they all needed to diligently press toward the mark of THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS, why should the Latter-day Saints pay heed to your "all are equally rewarded in heaven" take on the gospel?

Edited October 17, 2015 by Bobbieaware

[Stargazer]

The term is "eternal life" (not earned/merited/worked for) when it comes to what is derived from God's grace through faith. Immortality is the state of the resurrected, glorified body all believers (the sheep) will inhabit at the Judgment Day at the Second Coming of Jesus.

There is also a resurrection to eternal judgment in hell that Jesus warned about:

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: . . .Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . .And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46)

I don't disagree with you, Coolrok7, except about the eternal life thing, and I have good reason for considering there to be two senses of "eternal" which of course you won't allow for, but for the sake of understanding where LDS doctrine is coming from, please regard this:

The two senses of eternal are "never ending" and "pertaining to God". This distinction may be available somewhere in the New Testament, but I will admit my study of the NT hasn't been sufficient to uncover it to this point. Not that I've been studying something else more, but because I've regrettably been rather complacent in my study of scripture for the past thirty years or so. A complacency that I have lately resolved to correct.

The Lord gave Joseph Smith a revelation which is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 19, which explains something important about the word "eternal". Now, I was about to go into depth over the first 20 verses of this section, but I fear that doing so might cause us to go off down multiple paths and dilute what I'm trying to tell you. So I will just stick with these few excerpted verses:

4 And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless.

5 Wherefore, I revoke not the judgments which I shall pass, but woes shall go forth, weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, yea, to those who are found on my left hand.

6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

I suppose you to be a well-studied man, so I'm sure you've read this before. I'm also sure you don't believe a word of it. But that is what I am trying to say about "eternal". There is the sense of eternal life which means life that never ends, i.e. immortality in a perfect and deathless physical body. And there is the sense of eternal life which means the punishment that God metes out, or the life that God lives.

From 1 Cor 15:21,22 we learn that everyone who ever lived gets resurrected. And as the scripture you quote says, some will be resurrected to damnation, and some to glory. It just happens that there is more than one glory. Paul writes of this in at least two places, and very clearly. So, it is possible that there is more than one damnation as well, isn't there?

Well, Paul and the Latter-day Saints have it that there are three degrees of glory (1 Cor 15:40,41 and DC 76). The lowest degree of glory might be said to be a glory of damnation, since those who go there are those who reject Christ and must suffer for their own sins, and who are forever shut out of the presence of the Father and the Son. The scriptures you quoted are not contradicted by this, rather it is enhanced and explained by this.

But I know I'm trying to argue with a stone, Coolrok7, for you reject the very idea that God could cause more of His word to be written.

[VideoGameJunkie]

Uchtdorf said the Telestial Kingdom is glorious beyond all comprehension, but how can that be if we can never see Heavenly Father or Jesus and have to remain single forever away from our families? I hope all the different degrees of glory aren't physical places separated, but instead states of mind and inner joy and peace and light. It'd be better if there was just one heaven with the people in it being at different spiritual levels like the earth is today. And right now on earth I have my body and my family, the best of 2 worlds, so I can't imagine a place being greater than all comprehension being worse than this earth life we can enjoy with all my different spiritual leveled friends too and pets.

Edited October 17, 2015 by VideoGameJunkie