Episode 5: Defender Of The Faith - Vol 5 | By Dr. Bern Zumpano

Dr. Bern Zumpano continues the series on defending the Christian faith against cults by analyzing Mormonism. Previously, core doctrines—regarding God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit—were examined. In this session, the focus shifts to three additional doctrines: Original Sin, Salvation, and Atonement, concluding with the claim of biblical corruption put forth by the Mormon Church.

1. Original Sin
   Mormonism teaches that Adam’s sin was a necessary and beneficial part of God’s plan. Dr. Bern Zumpano rejects this, referencing Romans 5 to argue that sin brought condemnation and death, not blessing. Genesis 1 establishes that God’s covenant with humanity was already fulfilled before the fall, undermining the Mormon claim that Adam’s sin was required.
2. Salvation by Works
   The Mormon doctrine emphasizes obedience to church rituals for salvation. Dr. Bern Zumpano counters this with Ephesians 2:8–9, affirming that salvation comes by grace through faith—not by human effort or institutional compliance. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone, not any organization.
3. Atonement
   Mormon teaching suggests that Christ’s atonement benefits all people, regardless of belief, and needs to be supplemented by church rites. Dr. Bern Zumpano refutes this, citing John 3:36, 1 John 5:11–12, and Hebrews 9–10, which affirm that eternal life comes only through personal faith in Christ and the sufficiency of His sacrificial work. Claims that human actions contribute to atonement undermine the “finished” work of the cross and dishonor the Spirit of grace.
4. Corruption of the Bible
   The Mormon Church asserts that the Bible has been corrupted, missing “plain and precious parts,” and is incomplete. Dr. Bern Zumpano rebuts this with scriptural affirmations of the Bible’s sufficiency, permanence, and authority—citing John 17:17 (“Thy word is truth”), 2 Peter 1:21 (“living and abiding word of God”), and Ephesians 2:8–9 as a succinct statement of the complete gospel.

Conclusion:
Through seven core doctrines—three previously covered and four in this session—Dr. Bern Zumpano demonstrates, using Scripture, that Mormon teachings diverge fundamentally from biblical truth. He emphasizes that false doctrine equates to another gospel, warns of spiritual deception, and underscores the urgency of defending the faith with truth rooted in God’s Word alone. The session concludes with a call to continue in the next segment to further uphold biblical integrity.