A reader writes: "In the Bible, John 10:16, it says, 'And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.' The Book of Mormon is a record of this other fold spoken of in John. It tells of the coming of Jesus Christ and his visitation to this people after his resurrection. It is 'another testament of Jesus Christ,' that he lives."
The church had not yet been established when Jesus made that statement. The other "sheep" not of "this fold" were the Gentiles. Jesus repeatedly made it clear that he came into the world not to maintain and to preserve the Jewish religion. He was looking a few months ahead when the "middle wall of partition" (Eph. 2:14) will be broken down and the Gentiles will be led into the "one fold."
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph. 2:15-16). Jesus did not speak of another fold as if there were then another body to be merged with "this fold," and so to maintain the Jewish system. It was not intended that the Gentiles be led into the "fold" of Judaism. The Old Covenant was intended exclusively for the Hebrews (Deut. 5:1-3; Rom. 3:19; Eph. 2:11-18).
When Jesus said "I have," it is not implied that they were then his friends but that they would be. He was saying there were others for whom it was his purpose and intention to call to the blessings of the gospel of salvation. The purpose was so sure, and the fact that they would believe on him was so certain, that he could use the present tense as if they were already his own.
Paul stated: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain" (Rom. 1:16; I Cor. 15:1-2).
Paul said the power to save is the gospel. He didn't say the "power" to save is gospel and the Book of Mormon. He also said he had "preached" (past tense) the gospel unto them. In Acts 20: 27, he states: "For I have not shunned to declare unto you ALL the counsel of God."
The Book of Mormon is not the gospel. But Paul said the gospel is the power to save. If the gospel is "the power to save," then it is not possible that there is another power to save, such as the Book of Mormon! But Paul said to the church in Corinth, that it is the gospel, "by which also ye are saved." Question: If the gospel saved them in the first century, and it is declared the power to save us today, where is the need for the Book of Mormon?
Paul stated that we should, "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). The term "once delivered," literally means in the Greek, the once and for all time having been delivered faith. Therefore it is to never be repeated. The term "the faith" has reference to the gospel.
If the Bible is the word of God, (as you claim) and we know and can prove that it is, then it is not possible that the Book of Mormon is also the word of God!!! But on the other hand, if the book of Mormon is true, then the Bible is false. There is no middle ground.
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet. 4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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