We need (all of us) to depend on God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Why? It is because of the Father we exist. It is because of the Father that we are even here on earth. And because he provided a way for us to return to Him, we honestly owe Him everything. Looking at Christ's role in my life and the lives of every person on this earth:
In Luke, chapter 9, Christ asks the disciples who the people think he is. Some are convinced he is John the baptist risen from the dead. Others think he is old of the prophets of old, returned to teach the people. After Christ listens to their answers, he asks, "But whom say ye that I am?"
Peter responds, "The Christ of God." (9)
Do we take the time to individually know Christ's role in our lives individually? Do we take the time to understand his role as our personal savior and the savior of the world? Do we obtain our answers through the spirit or do we let the world influence our knowledge?
In the Bible Dictionary, the title of Christ says: The anointed (Greek) or Messiah (Hebrew).
His full title is Jesus, the Christ. Not just Jesus Christ, but Jesus THE Christ. He was the only one called and set apart to fulfill the role as savior of the world. Only he has the ability to cleanse us of our sins, heal us from our suffering, and enable us to overcome our weaknesses and trials while we are here in mortality, and grant us each the ability to overcome physical death. Only through his sacrifice are we able to both return to the presence of the Father, and if we live according to his gospel, live in their presence for eternity.
What are the conditions by which we may live with both Christ and the Father and not just stand in their presence on judgement day?
- Believe that Christ is the savior of the world and ACT according to that belief
- (FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD)
- Exercise faith in Christ unto repentance
- A change of heart, mind, and behavior
- Making covenants (baptism, temple covenants, etc)
- Shows our willingness to change, strengthens our faith, etc.
- Receive the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost
- Endure to the end WELL!
- Continue exercising our faith, repenting, making and keeping covenants
The phrase keeps coming to my mind, "Bring forth fruit unto repentance"
What does that mean to me?
Fruit= evidence of my willingness to change
-can be a resolve to more fully live the commandments
-can be willingness to make and keep covenants (special promises with God)
-outward evidence (actions, behavior) of inward change/commitment
ex: "The first fruits of repentance is baptism"
-outward evidence (actions, behavior) of inward change/commitment
ex: "The first fruits of repentance is baptism"
"Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation, and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea behold, the day of this life is the say for men to perform their labors." (Alma 34:31-32)
The Father is the one that sets the conditions for us to receive full forgiveness for what we've done. Christ upholds the will of the Father and enforces the standards that He has set in order for us to fully receive Christ's sacrifice in our lives.
"And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have patience, and that ye bear with all manner of afflictions; that ye do not revile against those [who do you wrong] lest ye become sinners like unto them;
But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions." (40-41)
Sometimes it feels like it'll take forever while we are waiting for ourselves or someone else to change. But as we remember the simplicity of the gospel, just doing our best as we believe in Christ and his atonement, show our willingness to repent by living the commandments more fully, more fully keeping our covenants, and doing all we can to welcome and listen to the spirit as we strive to endure mortality well, we will be given the peace and patience we need to continue forward in our progress. Change can be hard. It can be painful. But no matter what, as we focus on why we are striving to improve, and the goodness and mercy of God through it all, we will be filled with joy, patience, and the capacity to help others along the way.
I know that the gospel of Christ is so wonderfully simple, that sometimes, I forget to apply the basic principles as I work on new areas of my life. As I proceed forward with faith in christ and his atonement, I know I will have ability to repent of my mistakes along the way, learn from those experiences, and be even more resolved to continue making and keeping promises with God as I seek to progress while here on earth.
I love you oh so much!
Emily
Love you!
Emily
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