Full Salvation: Leveling Up vs. Letting Go

In Mormonism, the goal of eternal life is like beating the ultimate video game—one where players must level up through obedience, ordinances, and personal effort to reach exaltation (2 Nephi 31:19-20; Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-20). Success depends on how well a person plays the game: making the right choices, improving over time, and proving their worthiness to advance to the next level.

The Bible, however, presents a completely different reality. Eternal life is not something we earn through grinding, skill, and persistent learning—it is a victory Christ has already won on our behalf (John 10:28; Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead of striving to be good enough, we are called to lay down the controller and trust in the finished work of Jesus. He has already achieved the perfect score, and in him, we are freely given the reward of eternal life (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Plan of Salvation as a Video Game: Why the Gospel Is Not About Leveling Up

At a Mormon funeral, a speaker reflected on the life of a young man who had tragically passed away. He noted how the deceased had been skilled at mastering video games, leveling up until he had perfected them. Then, with sadness, he said that in this life, the young man had failed to do the same—implying that he had significant work to do in the next life to reach his full potential.

This statement reflects a deeply ingrained perspective within Mormonism, where life is often viewed as a process of eternal progression—similar to a game where one must complete objectives, gain skills, and eventually reach exaltation. The “Plan of Salvation” is seen as the guidebook, offering instructions on how to level up, while Jesus is often portrayed as the big brother who has already beaten the game and now shows us how to do it ourselves.

In this framework, one doesn’t need to be perfect right now—just progressing. Like a player who starts at level one and eventually reaches mastery, a person in Mormonism is expected to work towards perfection over time, overcoming challenges and improving through effort and obedience. If they don’t quite make it in this life, the next life offers more opportunities to continue the journey. There are no “game-overs,” just more time to grind.

At first glance, this analogy may seem helpful. After all, doesn’t spiritual growth require effort? Doesn’t Jesus lead by example? While there are elements of truth in those ideas, this perspective ultimately distorts the biblical gospel. The Bible does not present salvation as a game of progression—it presents it as a finished work accomplished by Jesus alone.

Why the Video Game Analogy Fails

Progression vs. Perfection

Video games operate on the principle of incremental progress. Players start at a basic level, make choices, gain experience, and improve over time. The Mormon Plan of Salvation functions similarly, teaching that people can gradually work their way toward godhood by obedience to laws and ordinances.

But the Bible does not describe humanity as beginners who need practice. Instead, it says we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), utterly incapable of progressing toward God on our own. We don’t need improvement—we need resurrection. No amount of leveling up can change our standing before a perfectly holy God; only his grace can.

And here is the truly good news: in Christ, believers have already been given the perfection that is required. Hebrews 10:14 declares, “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” The goal is not for us to strive toward perfection through repeated attempts but to receive the righteousness of Christ as a gift (2 Corinthians 5:21). Where video games require endless improvement, the gospel proclaims that Jesus has already completed the necessary work. Those who trust in him are instantly credited with his perfect score—not as a result of their own skill or persistence, but because of his finished work on their behalf.

Jesus as an Example vs. Jesus as a Savior

In a video game model, Jesus is the ultimate player who has already mastered every level. He knows all the shortcuts and strategies and shows us how to follow in his footsteps. In this view, his main role is to help us become like him through our own effort.

But the Bible presents a much deeper reality: Jesus is not merely an example to follow—he is our substitute. While it is true that Jesus modeled a life of perfect righteousness, he did not come primarily to show us how to succeed; he came to take our failure upon himself. He lived the sinless life we could never live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to secure our victory (1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Mormonism teaches that Jesus provides the roadmap and encouragement for us to reach the goal of eternal life, but the Bible teaches that Jesus has already reached the goal on our behalf. He does not merely hand us a strategy guide—he hands us his own completed game, with every requirement fulfilled in our place. This is why the gospel is called “good news”—it is not an invitation to try harder but a proclamation that the work is already done.

The Biblical Law: No Extra Lives, No Resets

In the video game model, making mistakes isn’t a big deal. You can restart the level, respawn with another life, or use saved progress to try again. The Plan of Salvation follows this logic, teaching that people can continue improving until they eventually reach perfection, whether in this life or the next.

But the Bible teaches something very different. God’s law isn’t a game where mistakes can be undone. One failure makes you guilty of breaking the whole law (James 2:10). There is no respawning, no resetting, no “trying again.” If you sin once, you stand condemned.

Imagine playing a game where if you made one mistake—one mistimed jump, one wrong move—it was instant and permanent game over with no extra lives. That’s how the law of God works. The standard is absolute perfection (Matthew 5:48). The idea that you can keep retrying until you get it right ignores the biblical reality of sin’s consequences. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), not more practice rounds.

Grace as a Power-Up vs. Grace as the Source of Victory

A common Mormon idea is that grace is an enabling power, something akin to a consumable or power-up in a video game. You still have to play well, but grace provides a temporary boost—like a speed increase, extra strength, or an extra chance to complete a difficult level. This view suggests that grace supplements human effort, making progression possible where it would otherwise be too difficult.

But in the Bible, grace is not just a boost—it is the source of salvation itself. It does not simply empower us to try harder; it rescues us from spiritual death and makes us alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5). If grace were merely an aid to our efforts, salvation would still depend on our performance. Instead, the gospel declares that salvation is entirely a work of God (Titus 3:5), freely given apart from our striving.

Learning Heaven vs. Earning Heaven

A prominent contemporary Mormon idea is that we are “learning” heaven rather than earning it—that through experience and obedience, we are gradually becoming the kind of beings who can dwell in God’s presence. In this view, the afterlife is not a reward for meeting requirements but a continuation of the process of becoming celestial beings.

This perspective attempts to soften the works-based framework, but it still assumes that human effort plays a role in achieving eternal life. The Bible, however, teaches that heaven is not something we grow into—it is a gift given to those who trust in Christ (John 3:16). Instead of gradually adapting to divine life, believers are instantly made new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). Rather than trying to become fit for heaven, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness the moment we believe (Philippians 3:9).

Axe to the Grindstone vs. Resting in Christ

In video games, “grinding” refers to the repetitive, time-consuming process of performing the same tasks over and over to gain experience, improve skills, or earn rewards. Many games require players to grind in order to reach the next level, unlock better gear, or complete a difficult mission.

This concept mirrors the Mormon idea of “enduring to the end” (2 Nephi 31:20), where faithful members must persistently work, obey commandments, and perform ordinances to prove themselves worthy of eternal life. The pressure to keep grinding—through church service, temple work, and strict adherence to moral laws—can become exhausting.

However, the Bible presents a different message. Jesus does not call us to an endless cycle of striving—he calls us to rest (Matthew 11:28-30). The work required for eternal life has already been completed by Christ (John 19:30). Rather than tirelessly grinding for righteousness, we are invited to trust in the finished work of Jesus, who grants eternal life freely to all who believe in him (Hebrews 4:9-10).

The Illusion of Control vs. Trusting the True Sovereign

Video games offer players control. With a controller in hand, players dictate their character’s actions, deciding where to go, what to do, and how to win. This aligns with the Mormon emphasis on agency—on making the right choices to shape one’s eternal destiny.

But the gospel presents a radically different picture. The idea that we are in control of our eternal fate is an illusion. The Bible teaches that, apart from Christ, we are not in control at all—we are enslaved to sin (John 8:34), dead in our trespasses (Ephesians 2:1), and utterly incapable of saving ourselves (Romans 5:6). The good news is that salvation does not depend on our grip on the controller; it depends on Christ, who has already secured victory for us.

Instead of clinging to the dream of personal mastery, the gospel calls us to surrender—to let go of the illusion of control and trust in the One who has already completed the game perfectly on our behalf. True freedom is not found in trying to steer our own destiny but in resting in the hands of the sovereign, loving Savior who has done it all.

Stop Playing the Wrong Game

If salvation were like a video game, we would always be wondering if we had leveled up enough. Have we completed all the necessary tasks? Have we performed well enough? But this is not the freedom Jesus offers. The gospel is not about leveling up—it is about laying down our pride and trusting in the One who already won the victory.

Jesus doesn’t just show us how to win—he is our victory. Instead of striving for exaltation, he calls us to rest in his finished work. The question is not, “Have I done enough?” but “Will I trust in what Christ has already done?”

And here’s the greatest comfort of all: in Christ, we are not anxiously trying to achieve the perfect score—he has already achieved it for us. He hands us his flawless record, his righteousness, and his victory, declaring, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Rest in him, for he has won the game, and in him, we are already victorious.