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Purpose of a Saviour
A plain wooden cross symbolizing Christianity Many of us in our daily lives we often feel unworthy of God’s love and compassion, we often judge ourselves harshly because of our sinful nature, don’t get me wrong it’s good to feel guilty of our sins as this convicton will lead us to repentance but that should not make us question our worthiness in the Lord’s eyes. With this kind of mindset we often block heaven’s blessings because of our long held unbeliefs which often make us feel so unwothy of his presence.
As I was pondering on this subject I came across a revelation I received some years ago about this particular subject and how the Lord sees it. However I would advise that you seek your own confirmation on the subject.
This is what the Lord revealed to me “This is why I came down from heaven, to save my people so that I can qualify the unqualified and restore feelings of wothiness to those who feel unworthy, I the Lord make them worthy, not the world and definetly not by themselves”
Can we come before his throne and ask for forgiveness and allow him to cleanse us and make us worthy of him through his great sacrifice? I hope this can ignite hope and courage in your heart to seek after him despite your feelings of unworthiness he will surely receive you.
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Stand in Holy Places!
With all the tensions and wars going on around us, don’t you ever wonder if these might be the signs the Lord warned us to watch for, so we might prepare for his coming?
He told us that when we see the signs he mentioned, we must stand in holy places and prepare for His return.
Lately, I have been studying Matt 24 (Jst). The tribulation spoken about in the chapter details events that will happen specifically to the Jews in Jerusalem, which made me wonder how these things will occur?
What will cause so much anger against Israel that countries will lay siege against the people of God in Israel?
Matthew 24 :4 And Jesus left them, and went upon the Mount of Olives. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be which thou hast said concerning the destruction of the temple, and the Jews; and what is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world, or the destruction of the wicked, which is the end of the world?
5 And Jesus answered, and said unto them: Take heed that no man deceive you;
6 For many shall come in my name, saying—I am Christ—and shall deceive many;
7 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations, for my name’s sake;{More specific to his apostles}
8 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another;{Satan will corrupt the hearts of men}
9 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many;
10 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold;
11 But he that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved.{He who remains faithful to Lord shall stand the testing times}
12 When you, therefore, shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, then you shall stand in the holy place; whoso readeth let him understand.{what’s soon to come upon Jerusalem}
13 Then let them who are in Judea flee into the mountains;
14 Let him who is on the housetop flee, and not return to take anything out of his house;
15 Neither let him who is in the field return back to take his clothes;
16 And wo unto them that are with child, and unto them that give suck in those days;{More like the warning given by Samuel the Lamanite in Helaman 15, six years before the appearance of the Lord to the Nephites}
17 Therefore, pray ye the Lord that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day;
18 For then, in those days, shall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel.[Currently Israel is the most hated country and is surrounded by its enemies who seek its destruction]
19 All things which have befallen them are only the beginning of the sorrows which shall come upon them.[All things- from the punishments of God because of their disobedience in the Old Testament to them being scattered throughout the world and their severe persecution under the Hitler regime (2 Neph 25:16 ) were just but the beginning of their sorrows nothing compares to what they will endure during the days of tribulation]
20 And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake, according to the covenant, those days shall be shortened.[There shall be a quickening of events for the elect’s sake or none would survive]
21 Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews; and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall come upon Jerusalem, if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there, believe him not;
22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.[ There shall be a false appearance of a powerful figure who will claim to be the Messiah, showing signs and wonders, who seems to be working with the false prophet—2 Neph 25:18]
23 Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet.[ I know wars have been around for centuries, but this seems specific to the time of these events]
24 Behold, I have told you before;
25 Wherefore, if they shall say unto you: Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: Behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not;{This false Messiah shall appear in certain places, and people shall marvel at his appearance}
26 For as the light of the morning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, and covereth the whole earth, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.{The coming of the Lord will be glorious!}
27 And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be gathered together; so likewise shall mine elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth.
28 And they shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars.{A repeat of verse 23]
29 Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.{The whole world shall be in commotion; the earth itself shall be groaning because of sin}
30 And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold; but he that shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved.[The adversary shall flood the hearts of man]
31 And again, this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked;[ Everyone will be presented with an opportunity to choose Christ]
32 And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.
33 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
34 Verily, I say unto you, this generation, in which these things shall be shown forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled.
35 Although, the days will come, that heaven and earth shall pass away; yet my words shall not pass away, but all shall be fulfilled.
36 And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory;[ Great man of the world will be fearful and try to hide themselves in caves, for the glory of the Lord shall terrify them]
37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.{These angels shall gather the Lord’s elect from the four quarters of the world. They will also be the ones who preach the doctrine of Christ, which is the Gospel, for the last time}
38 Now learn a parable of the fig tree—When its branches are yet tender, and it begins to put forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh at hand;
39 So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors;
40 But of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only.
41 But as it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man;
42 For it shall be with them, as it was in the days which were before the flood; for until the day that Noah entered into the ark they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage;
43 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.
44 Then shall be fulfilled that which is written, that in the last days, two shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
45 Two shall be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left;
46 And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
Let us be wise and faithful servants ;and watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.
47 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready.
48 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.
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Doctrine of Christ
This is probably the most important “Gospel” lesson you can learn about on this Earth, nothing is more important than this in your probationary state because it has far more eternal consequences . It unpacks the very way in which a person can receive salvation and become a son or daughter of Christ.
What is the Doctrine of Christ?
In clear and simple English this can be written as “ The way of Christ “ or “Way to Christ “ this is the Gospel. I shall expound it using the very exact words of Jesus contained in :
3 Nephi 11 : 31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32 And this is[who’s doctrine]my [Christs] doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
33 And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.
34 And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.
35 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and I bear record of it from the Father; and whoso believeth in me believeth in the Father also; and unto him will the Father bear record of me, for he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.[A promise of what the Father will do if you believe in his Son]
36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one[with same purpose and will].
37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.[Receive what exactly?]
38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.[The emphasis from the Lord! You can’t receive these blessings without being like a child,repenting and getting baptised]
So basically the Lord is asking us to believe in him[Faith] then Repent and be Baptised with fire and the Holy Ghost.
So in simple the Doctrine of Christ is Faith, Repentance, baptism of Water and by Fire and then reception of the Holy Ghost.
Let’s first explain each concept contained in the above statement.
Faith: According to the lectures on faith, faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen, and the principle of action in intelligent beings.
Application: As you begin to believe and seek more about the Lord[action upon belief] you start to hope and trust that you can be saved and receive his spirit and become his daughter or son. Faith is what drives you to seek more of him and want to learn more about his ways. It’s the principle by which we act as beings of intelligence. There’s a very good reason as to why this is the first pillar of this doctrine because it empowers the “why” in all your actions, through faith you obtain all the blessings promised and what follows after having faith is a result of action to your belief which then results to the blesssings which were first hoped for but not yet seen[Gift of the Holy Spirit].Repentance: To fully forsake your sins and put your trust in the Lord because you recognise you are in desperate need of him[Complete broken heart]. A perfect example of this is found in the book of Alma as King Lamoni cries unto the Lord in desperation because he recognised how he needed him.
Alma 18:40 And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words.41 And he began to cry unto the Lord[A complete broken heart], saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people.
Be willing to be honest and open with him[Lord] so he can help you in your struggles to overcome and forsake sin.
Baptism of water: Here things get serious, it’s basically our way of showing the Lord about how serious we are in seeking him and becoming his follower. Here we witness to him that we are willing to take upon us his name meaning we clearly vow to represent him in all places in which we shall be in and that we enter into a covenant with him that we shall follow him until our last breath, that’s how big and serious it is. It’s literally a contrite spirit which means to be willing to do anything he commands us to do no matter how uncomfortable or unconventional it may be, but we will DO IT.
After all this comes the Baptism of fire and the Gift of the Holy Ghost which are a testament that you have sufficiently offered an acceptable sacrifice unto him which sacrifice unto him is a broken heart and a contrite spirit which then he fulfills his promise and baptizes us with fire which literally cleanses our spirits and prepares us for the Gift of the Holy Ghost normally referred to as the “mighty change of heart “ from here onwards an individual is no longer the same the heart is literally changed, desires are unto the Lord an individual strives and delights in pleasing the Lord and in doing good continually. Lamoni’s father experienced this as he asked for the Lord to uproot his wicked heart see Alma 22 : 18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. Verse 23 And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his wholehousehold were converted unto the Lord.
In previous verses before 18 the king was pleading his case before the Lord, that the Lord might uproot his wicked heart and later on in verse 23 he starts preaching to show that he had a mighty change of heart[Gift of the Holy Ghost]. You see how literal and real this doctrine is? It’s all over the scriptures where we see ordinary people seeking after the Lord and going through the same process to receive him. This is and was the gospel from the beginning. Adam, Enoch and Noah taught this gospel, it’s the only way we can be saved there’s absolutely no other besides following his doctrine. Will you ponder these words and do as they compel you to do.
TRUTH SEEKER 