I hate when people go inactive or leave the church. Even though I have done it myself. Perhaps its the whisperings that we hear when we put off going to the gym. A slow leaving of the church is more common than a quick dissent.
We are always growing and going in one direction or another.
Often in the Christian world you'll hear stories of salvation coming from a single prayer of devotion. Which is good but not entirely the recipe for salvation. So many times throughout the scriptures the Lord tells us to keep the commandments and repent of our sins. The Lord makes it clear that He wants all that we can give Him, not just a few breaths of prayer. But, even if a few sincere breaths of prayer is all you can give Him then He'll take it and redeem you.
To gain salvation we have to remember that we are on a downward escalator and must walk up it. If we stop then we slowly go down. If we just take a few steps here and there then we might remain stagnate but eventually will succumb to going down. If we are mindful of our position on the downward escalator then we should not hesitate to see what else we can do to walk up or in other words continually repenting and seeking ways to be more like Christ. Salvation is always 6 inches in front of your face and we have to keep striving to get it. We have to continually be willing to give up something as a sacrifice to the Lord as He may ask for it. For it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23).
Showing posts with label atonement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label atonement. Show all posts
19.12.09
What the Atonement and Faith in Jesus Christ Mean
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven."
-Math 5:48
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory."
-Rom 3:23
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."
-Moroni 10:32
First the Lord commands us to be perfect. Then we learn that no one is perfect but Him and God. Then we learn that through Him we are perfected.
Is anyone perfect though? No, even with faith in Jesus Christ we are still prone to forget or put at naught God and His commandments from time to time. Thus, it is our duty to always strive to look to God, remember His word, and repent of our sins to be saved with God. Its not a weekend retreat or here and there belief. We can't pick and choose the times. Narrow is the road and straight is the way. Having faith in Jesus Christ means remembering Him and His greatness and our own nothingness, as King Benjamin puts it-
For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
Atonement means Christ's suffering for our sins so that we won't have to but be perfected by our faith in Him. Its like if we bought something we couldn't afford and instead of going into bankruptcy we turned to someone who had enough wealth and paid for us. We sin, He pays. No one else can pay, for all have sinned and all are in debt.
Two great scripture stories to illustrate our need to depend on Christ more than ourselves or the world-
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
-John 8:3-11
In the story, we can easily put ourselves in the place of the sinner. Satan wants us to pay for our own sins because then we are in his power. Christ makes the point that we are only to believe in Him and sin no more to be free of the chains of our sins.
If we believe in Him and strive to sin no more then He will not condemn us. So, what we can do is strive to sin no more but also realize that we aren't perfect without Him. Then, we will be perfected in Him. Satan wishes only to throw rocks at us.
Isn't it interesting as well, that He who had no sin had all the rocks throw on Him? Wherein then are we ever justified to doubt or be ungrateful to God?
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
-Numbers 21:5-9
Once again we can easily place ourselves in the role of the sinner. But, this time the Lord sent fiery serpents to the sinners. Was that punishment? Yes, but it wasn't eternal punishment. All God wanted to do was remind us that it is through Him that we are healed and delivered from our state of uncleanliness. God can easily prove that He is right and we are wrong but what would be the point? He would rather us be righteous with Him than punish us, for our sins. Thus, He gives us this time to repent and look to God for our salvation. Notice that all the people had to do was look at the Serpent to live. Obviously, the Serpent represented Jesus Christ.
"And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal."
-Helaman 8:15
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."
-Alma 37:46
-Math 5:48
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory."
-Rom 3:23
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him."
-Moroni 10:32
First the Lord commands us to be perfect. Then we learn that no one is perfect but Him and God. Then we learn that through Him we are perfected.
Is anyone perfect though? No, even with faith in Jesus Christ we are still prone to forget or put at naught God and His commandments from time to time. Thus, it is our duty to always strive to look to God, remember His word, and repent of our sins to be saved with God. Its not a weekend retreat or here and there belief. We can't pick and choose the times. Narrow is the road and straight is the way. Having faith in Jesus Christ means remembering Him and His greatness and our own nothingness, as King Benjamin puts it-
For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state—
I say unto you, if ye have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
I say, that this is the man who receiveth salvation, through the atonement which was prepared from the foundation of the world for all mankind, which ever were since the fall of Adam, or who are, or who ever shall be, even unto the end of the world.
And this is the means whereby salvation cometh. And there is none other salvation save this which hath been spoken of; neither are there any conditions whereby man can be saved except the conditions which I have told you.
Atonement means Christ's suffering for our sins so that we won't have to but be perfected by our faith in Him. Its like if we bought something we couldn't afford and instead of going into bankruptcy we turned to someone who had enough wealth and paid for us. We sin, He pays. No one else can pay, for all have sinned and all are in debt.
Two great scripture stories to illustrate our need to depend on Christ more than ourselves or the world-
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
-John 8:3-11
In the story, we can easily put ourselves in the place of the sinner. Satan wants us to pay for our own sins because then we are in his power. Christ makes the point that we are only to believe in Him and sin no more to be free of the chains of our sins.
If we believe in Him and strive to sin no more then He will not condemn us. So, what we can do is strive to sin no more but also realize that we aren't perfect without Him. Then, we will be perfected in Him. Satan wishes only to throw rocks at us.
Isn't it interesting as well, that He who had no sin had all the rocks throw on Him? Wherein then are we ever justified to doubt or be ungrateful to God?
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
-Numbers 21:5-9
Once again we can easily place ourselves in the role of the sinner. But, this time the Lord sent fiery serpents to the sinners. Was that punishment? Yes, but it wasn't eternal punishment. All God wanted to do was remind us that it is through Him that we are healed and delivered from our state of uncleanliness. God can easily prove that He is right and we are wrong but what would be the point? He would rather us be righteous with Him than punish us, for our sins. Thus, He gives us this time to repent and look to God for our salvation. Notice that all the people had to do was look at the Serpent to live. Obviously, the Serpent represented Jesus Christ.
"And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal."
-Helaman 8:15
"O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."
-Alma 37:46
17.11.09
Heroine
I have a friend who is on Heroin. It never occurred to me that the name also means the feminine hero. What a strange name for a drug. But, drugs are strange. She was a missionary. She taught the gospel. She lived a pure life. She has tons of friends and loves life. Heroin is threatening to take away all the things that are important in life. She has a real good friend. My wife. They were companions and served will all their heart, might, mind and strength. Right now she needs to do that more than anything to fight Heroin. How sad. How unbelievably unfortunate. Heroin never quits. Once it has you, it won't ever let go. All a person can do (in my humble, educated opinion) is grow stronger than the addiction.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who is stronger and needed in a time of weakness or vulnerability. What is Heroin? Its a life sucking villain that eats your fabric of sanity away with each barrier you try to shield yourself from it.
I'm so sad. She was brilliant last night as we had Family Home Evening. She was laughing and looked like a lot of fun but I know on the inside there was this beast, that couldn't wait to get her away from her loving friends and punish her soul by stretching the hole that heroin has punched. This beast is Satan. I feel no need to differentiate the two- Heroin and Satan. For they are one in purpose- to ravish and destroy all that is sacred and good in your life and replace it with an unquenchable fire of despair and pain.
Tonight my friend is in withdrawals. I can see on her face that these are not simple cravings. The look on her face says she is drowning, burning, choking, crying, dying, stinging, harrowing and losing. Why did she fall? That doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to catch her. We love her. I imagine God thinking the same things about our (although minor in comparison but gigantic when compared to divinity) missteps and tumbles. He probably sees the future of our behavior on a scale more defined then we ever could and it penetrates His heart all the more. "If only they'd look to the Savior" He says. If only we'd look to the arms that are continually stretched forth before us. Then we'd understand.
Its no use to condemn the sins of others unless we can help the sinner. What do we gain by the sins of others? There is not a clean conscience in the convicting of another. There is not time for the blame game if you love them. Its not a time to point fingers but to stretch out hands in love and friendship. As we strive to help others, we are bettering ourselves. As we try to blame others, we are only diminishing ourselves. I don't blame my friend for doing drugs, although it would've been easier for her if she didn't, but that doesn't matter now that she is on the ropes and getting kidnapped by her addiction. I don't wish to walk away with clean hands and a cold shoulder. Think of the parables the Savior taught- How many good samaritans were there? Just one, out of how many that just passed the dying soul on the ground? Or what about the Prodigal son, whose father welcomed him home from running away, with open arms? In both cases, the person who was righteous didn't care how or why the person was in the condition they were in. They only thought to love and restore them to life. Is it not the same with God? Is it not the same with you?
The thing that most amazes me about this whole ordeal is that my friend ran away for so long from dealing with the addiction. When we run away from a problem, we feed the problem. She has tried so many times before and lost everytime. The addiction whipped her butt. It will continue to whip her butt. But, she has decided to face it. Its going to keep beating her but she can be sustained, she can endure and she will triumph. She will. Heroin has only got her physically. Tonight, she showed that it doesn't quite have her spiritually, because she has faced the biggest opponent that everybody has to fight sooner or later- PRIDE. If we let pride grow it will be all the harder to knock out but if we continue to humble ourselves we won't have to wait until our whole life is on the line to keep pride in it's place.
Her name isn't important because we all are similar to her in this battle. We all have to face our pride and our sins. Its the same fight. Its easier to win if we decide to train for it beforehand. If we wait till its too late we might not make it. I know my friend will make it. She is a hero. A real heroine.
Update: After a few more ravenous events and hardships she has gone through rehab and by all accounts is getting better everyday.
What is a hero? A hero is someone who is stronger and needed in a time of weakness or vulnerability. What is Heroin? Its a life sucking villain that eats your fabric of sanity away with each barrier you try to shield yourself from it.
I'm so sad. She was brilliant last night as we had Family Home Evening. She was laughing and looked like a lot of fun but I know on the inside there was this beast, that couldn't wait to get her away from her loving friends and punish her soul by stretching the hole that heroin has punched. This beast is Satan. I feel no need to differentiate the two- Heroin and Satan. For they are one in purpose- to ravish and destroy all that is sacred and good in your life and replace it with an unquenchable fire of despair and pain.
Tonight my friend is in withdrawals. I can see on her face that these are not simple cravings. The look on her face says she is drowning, burning, choking, crying, dying, stinging, harrowing and losing. Why did she fall? That doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to catch her. We love her. I imagine God thinking the same things about our (although minor in comparison but gigantic when compared to divinity) missteps and tumbles. He probably sees the future of our behavior on a scale more defined then we ever could and it penetrates His heart all the more. "If only they'd look to the Savior" He says. If only we'd look to the arms that are continually stretched forth before us. Then we'd understand.
Its no use to condemn the sins of others unless we can help the sinner. What do we gain by the sins of others? There is not a clean conscience in the convicting of another. There is not time for the blame game if you love them. Its not a time to point fingers but to stretch out hands in love and friendship. As we strive to help others, we are bettering ourselves. As we try to blame others, we are only diminishing ourselves. I don't blame my friend for doing drugs, although it would've been easier for her if she didn't, but that doesn't matter now that she is on the ropes and getting kidnapped by her addiction. I don't wish to walk away with clean hands and a cold shoulder. Think of the parables the Savior taught- How many good samaritans were there? Just one, out of how many that just passed the dying soul on the ground? Or what about the Prodigal son, whose father welcomed him home from running away, with open arms? In both cases, the person who was righteous didn't care how or why the person was in the condition they were in. They only thought to love and restore them to life. Is it not the same with God? Is it not the same with you?
The thing that most amazes me about this whole ordeal is that my friend ran away for so long from dealing with the addiction. When we run away from a problem, we feed the problem. She has tried so many times before and lost everytime. The addiction whipped her butt. It will continue to whip her butt. But, she has decided to face it. Its going to keep beating her but she can be sustained, she can endure and she will triumph. She will. Heroin has only got her physically. Tonight, she showed that it doesn't quite have her spiritually, because she has faced the biggest opponent that everybody has to fight sooner or later- PRIDE. If we let pride grow it will be all the harder to knock out but if we continue to humble ourselves we won't have to wait until our whole life is on the line to keep pride in it's place.
Her name isn't important because we all are similar to her in this battle. We all have to face our pride and our sins. Its the same fight. Its easier to win if we decide to train for it beforehand. If we wait till its too late we might not make it. I know my friend will make it. She is a hero. A real heroine.
Update: After a few more ravenous events and hardships she has gone through rehab and by all accounts is getting better everyday.
9.10.09
Victims Cause Contentions
If you've ever heard the stories of those on Judge Judy or those that need marriage counseling or those that just fight you will quickly realize that both sides feel they are the victims. Its my thought that only those that have a victim mentality will cause contentions.
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
Christ spoke out against contentions-
3 Nephi 11:29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
The Savior came to earth to unite us with Him and His Father. That was His divine mission and purpose for living, dying, and resurrecting. A common word for this is Atonement. At-one-ment.
John 17:20-21
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be cone in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
There are so many scriptures to illustrate the point of God wanting us to be united and at one even as He is with His Christ. To do this we must be forgiving, humble, loving, giving, etc. Which means not submitting to our natural reactions of revenge, hate, jealousy, and any other secondary inferior emotions.
Here is a good scripture for that too-
Mosiah 3:19
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Now, we see that the Gospel is an open invitation to let go of your fear, doubt, hate, pride and smallness of soul for something stronger and open. When we are feeling wronged we must remember that a perfect man walked the earth and was condemned and trampled under our feet. We must remember that He went below everything to rise above all His enemies. He is the Savior and we must be like Him to be with Him and be at one.
One more scripture-
Isaiah 53
1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
11He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
In conclusion-
We are not victims to anything but our pride, our selfishness, our hate. When we act out on others we are hurting ourselves, because we are the ones committing the sin. When others act out on us we are not victims if we forgive, if we love, if we give, if we are humble, if we are Christ like and at one with Him.
Be not a victim.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)