Take Up Your "Garden" and Follow Christ

Did the Atonement of Jesus for our sins happened in Garden of Gethsemane?

The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints does not view the atonement of Christ in the biblical and historical Christian manner. Instead of the atonement occurring on the cross, Mormonism teaches that the atonement occurred primarily in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus shed His blood. Please consider the following quotes from a BYU professor and the Mormon apostle Bruce McConkie.

•BYU professor Robert J. Matthews, who on page 282 of his book, A Bible! A Bible!, wrote, "It was in Gethsemane, on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, that Jesus made his perfect atonement by the shedding of his blood-more so than on the cross."
•Mormon Apostle Bruce McConkie, stated, "Where and under what circumstances was the atoning sacrifice of the Son of God made? Was it on the Cross of Calvary or in the Garden of Gethsemane? It is to the Cross of Christ that most Christians look when centering their attention upon the infinite and eternal atonement. And certainly the sacrifice of our Lord was completed when he was lifted up by men; also, that part of his life and suffering is more dramatic and, perhaps, more soul stirring. But in reality the pain and suffering, the triumph and grandeur, of the atonement took place primarily in Gethsemane," (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, vol. 1, p. 774).

This whole line of thinking diminishes the actual Atonement of Jesus on the Cross of little or none effect.  I've had Mormons say the reason you'll never see a cross on an LDS church building is because thinking the Atonement happened on the Cross is "rather foolish."  Could such a statement be what the Apostle Paul was referring to in I Corinthians 1:18 when he stated, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."  This would certainly mean that anyone thinking the Cross is of little or no affect in the Atonement is no only missing salvation, but does not know the power of God and is perishing spiritually.

So what did happen in the Garden of Gethsemane? The narrative is found in Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42 and Luke 22:39-46. John's gospel mentions a garden (John 18:1), but only mentions that the arrest of Jesus took place there. Only Matthew and Mark identify the garden as Gethsemane. Only Luke tells us that His perspiration fell "as it were" great drops of blood. In the original Greek text the word for "as it were" is "hosei" which means "appearing similar to." In other words, the great drops of sweat falling from His brow would be just as heavy as if he had some kind of flesh wound, perhaps in the head, and heavy drops of blood were falling. But it was sweat, not blood. He did not bleed in the garden, much less bleed for our sins there. How do we know this? Luke has the answer.

Luke was a doctor, a physician specifically (Colossians 4:14). He would certainly know the difference between sweat and bleeding. Admittedly, there is a condition in which one can actually sweat blood. It is called "Hematidrosis." It is a medical condition that is very rare, but still documented in ancient times and Dr. Luke would definitely be familiar with it. "Hematidrosis" is also a Greek word that was available to Luke (who was Greek himself). Luke, in his role as Biblical historian, continually in Scripture is careful to use the most exacting terms and descriptions, but he did not use "hematidrosis," but instead used the word "hidros" -- sweat (without the "hema" -- or blood). Luke is very careful here to tell us that Jesus perspired in the garden, but did not sweat blood there. That's because the cross is the place where he shed his blood for our sins -- regardless of the Latter-day Saints telling us just the opposite.  Perhaps that's why the Cross is not seen on any Mormon building and you won't find "The Old Rugged Cross" or "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" in there hymnbook.  The Cross is perhaps foolish to them.  It is the reason that the Apostle Paul wrote, "The preaching of the cross is foolishness to them who are perishing."  In other words, the LDS are spiritually dying and only what Jesus did on the Cross can save them.

Hell is for Real (Jesus said so)

A best-selling book and recent motion picture told the story of Colton Burpo, a four-year old boy who supposedly died and went to Heaven during surgery.  While am a dubious of all NDEs (Near Death Experiences) I hear about (most do not line up with Biblical theology), Colton's story particularly struck a nerve with me due to the fact that most of his story was more "Wesleyan" than straight Bible.  His father is a Wesleyan pastor, and I have always had my suspicions the boy was "coached" in telling his story, much in the way very young children are coached in the Mormon church in giving their "testimony" that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church, the Book of Mormon is the word of God and Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God.

In light of this, I began to search the Bible, expecially the words of Jesus -- mostly from the four Gospels -- to see exactly what Our Lord and Savior had to say on the subject of Heaven and discovered He actually said a lot more about Hell!  This is significant, in that most people absolutely don't believe in Hell and that includes many Christians (mostly liberal ones) who feel that references to Hell in the Bible are actually metaphors.

Believing that something doesn't exist, however, doesn't make it go away.  If I were arrested, I could tell the officer who "busted" me, "You can't take me to jail because I don't believe jail exists.  I've never seen a jail, never been there, in fact I've never known anyone who has been to jail, therefore I know jail does not exist!"  Once I was tossed into the "clink" and the big door slammed, I would probably quickly understand thatwhat I previously thought about jail didn't matter make jail non-existant.

It is the same for Hell.  Just because a person refuses to believe in Hell doesn't make it go away.  It's there, it's a real place, and all who do not put their faith and trust in Jesus to same them are headed for that final destination -- a sobering thought indeed!

Jesus certainly believed in Hell and made 32 specific statements concerning it.  He was not speaing metaphorically and he wasn't calling it a "state of mind."  It is a real place.  And if Jesus, who was God Almighty come in human form and was sinless (which includes never telling a lie), was convinced "Hell is for real," I think we'd better wake up and take notice of all he said about the subject.

These are the 32 statements Jesus made, and where they occur in the Bible:
1.  Jesus said it is a wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7)
2.  Jesus said those not bringing forth good fruit would be cast into the fire (Mt. 3: 10)
3.  Jesus said the chaff would be burned up with UNQUENCHABLE fire (Mt. 3: 12
4.  Jesus said anyone calling his brother a fool was in danger of Hell fire (Mt. 5: 23)
5.  Jesus said it was better to have a body part perish than be cast into Hell (Mt. 5: 29, 30)
6.  Jesus said the way to destruction was broad (Mt. 7: 13)
7.  Jesus said it was a place of outer darkness (Mt. 8: 12)
8.  Jesus said it was a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 8: 12)
9.  Jesus said to fear God who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell (Mt. 10: 28)
10.  Jesus said it was a place where tares (weeds) would be burned up (Mt. 13: 30, 38)
11.  Jesus said it was a furnace of fire (Mt. 13: 42)
12.  Jesus said it was worse than having a millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the sea (Mt. 18:6)
13.  Jesus said it was a place of everlasting fire (Mt. 18: 8)
14.  Jesus said it was a place where those who made light of His marriage to the Bride (Church) would be burned up (Mt. 22: 5, 7)
15.  Jesus said it was a place of damnation (Mt. 23: 33)
16.  Jesus said it was a place prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25: 41)
17.  Jesus said it was a place of EVERLASTING punishment (Mt. 25: 46)

(Note:  Revelation 20: 10 tells us that those whose names are not found in the book of life will be tormented along with the beast, the false prophet and the devil, "day and night FOREVER AND EVER.")

18.  Jesus said it was a place where one's soul would be lost (Mk. 8: 36)
19.  Jesus said it was a place of shame (Mk. 8:36)
20.  Jesus said it was a place where no one would cease to exist (Mk. 9: 46) [note:  "Worm" in

the orginal greek refers to a constant eating away of a dead body]
21.  Jesus is was better not to be born than to go there (Mk. 14: 21)
22.  Jesus said he who does not believe would be condemned there (Mk. 16: 16)
23.  Jesus said it was a place of mourning (Lk. 6:25)
24.  Jesus said it was a place where one would be lost and cast away (Lk. 9: 25)
25.  Jesus said there would be those who would be thrust down there (Lk. 10: 15)
26.  Jesus said it was a place where the unrepentant would perish (Lk. 13: 5)
27.  Jesus said it was a place of flames and torments (Lk. 16: 23-25)

(Note:  I've heard liberals, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists and others dismiss Luke 16 as being only a parable.  First of all it's not a parable.  When Jesus told parables, he never used anyone's name.  But here he uses Lazarus' name, because Lazarus is a real person. And this is a real event.  And even if it were a parable, let me ask you this:  Would Jesus tell a parable that had wrong theology?  No.  Indeed, Jesus used parables to explain correct theology about the Kingdom of God.  You will also notice here also that the rich man was suffering even BEFORE the final Judgement, which is yet to occur.)

28.  Jesus said those in Hell would recognize the righteous dead (Lk. 16: 23)
29.  Jesus said there was a great gulf fixed between Hell and Heaven that could not be traversed (Lk. 16: 26)
30.  Jesus said the unbelieving in Hell would never see life (Jn. 3: 36)
31.  Jesus said Hell was where the unbeliever would have the wrath of God abiding on him (Jn. 3: 36)
32.  Jesus said it was a place of resurrection (the unrighteous dead would experience existance) (Jn. 5: 29)

Jesus' statements on Hell are backed up by Psalm 88 in the Old Testament which gives us an
excellent description of Hell:

Verse 5 says it is a place with people who God no longer cares to remember -- who are cut off from His care.
Verse 8 describes the distancing between the righteous and the lost (see ##28 & #29 above).
Verse 8 also says those who are there, are repulsive to the righteous.
Verse 8 also says no one can leave there (#30 above).
Verse 9 describes the crying there (see #8 above).
Verse 14 describes God's rejection.
Verse 15 describes the horrors.
Verse 16 also describes the terrors (also verse 17).
Verse 18 speaks of the great gulf (#29 above).
Verse 18 also speaks of the outer darkness Jesus referred to (#7 above).

Unlike Colton Burpo, the words of Our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ can be "taken to the bank" with 100% guarantee.  There is indeed a Hell.  It is a real place.  And you don't want to go there and suffer for all eternity.  The only way to avoid this eternal damnation is trust in Jesus with all your heart.  He will save you from Hell by His grace, something you cannot do for yourself by your good works (Ephesians 2: 8,9; Titus 3: 5).  Hell is a coming torment which culminates God's wrath poured out upon sin (which a perfect God cannot tolerate in His site).  All people whoever lived or who now live with either, upon dead, go to one of two places -- Heaven or Hell.  You can avoid Hell and live an eternity of bliss with Jesus by following the simple prescription laid out by the Apostle Paul in Romans 10: 9-13:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Better than an attorney -- the LDS write great escape clauses!

     When Joseph Smith (or possibly Sidney Rigdon or Oliver Cowdery) put together the Book of Mormon, it was apparently intended that when Jesus spoke of "other sheep" (John 10:16) he was speaking of the Nephites and Lamanites who supposedly migrated from Jerusalem to the western hemisphere around 600 B.C.
     Then somebody (perhaps Smith, Rigdon, Cowdery or others) said, "Oops!  Christians will say Jesus was speaking of the Gentiles (non-Jews).  We need to stick something in here to counter that notion!"
     Therefore, three verses were added to III Nephi 15 (vv. 21-23):   "And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: 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.  And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.  And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice -- that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost."       Now the argument can be (falsely) made by the LDS that since Jesus never spoke to a Gentile (ridiculous, since Jesus spoke to a Roman centurian (Matthew 8:5-13), the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), the Syrophonecian woman (Mark 7:25-30; Matthew 15:21-28) and others), the Gentiles would have to hear him through the Holy Spirit.  So Jesus must have been talking about some other people group (which the LDS claim were the descendants of Lehi in the New World).
     To say it another way, "Let's squelch their (Christian) arguments before they can make them!"  In terms of writing legal documents, this is called an "escape clause."  And if that doesn't work, use the "Great Mormon Escape Clause," Article 8 of the Articles of Faith:  "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly."  In other words, Jesus may have never mentioned "other sheep" in the first place!
     Because of "escape clauses," twisting Scripture, re-writing history and downright religious dishonesty, Latter-day Saints can win any and every argument.  The sad thing is that although they win the argument, they have lost their souls for all eternity.