As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it is always very thrilling when someone decides that they want to join the church, but it has to be for the right reasons. I told her that she could always be a part of our community of preparedness, but if she joined the church it had to be for the right reasons. The strength of the saints, while a wonderful benefit, is not reason enough to be baptized.
Amanda has had missionaries visiting her home and teaching her family for some time, but told me that despite all their efforts she still had "Jesus issues". I asked her to explain what she meant, since most people build their faith on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Amanda went on to explain that she believes that God is perfectly loving and that too many religions overwhelm their members in unnecessary guilt. She didn't understand why we need a Savior at all. What was the point of His life? Wouldn't God love us enough to forgive us anyway?
So I started with the basics.
In the beginning Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden. They were in a state of innocence, not knowing good and evil. They were given two commandments:
1. Do not eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or you will die
2. Multiply and replenish the earth
The first commandment was an act of commission. They would have to actively choose to break this commandment. Also in the Garden of Eden was the Tree of Life which stood as a natural opposite to the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. In the beginning it didn't matter if they partook of the fruit of the Tree of Life because they were already immortal.
The second commandment was an act of omission. They could go hundreds of years in the Garden of Eden, never having children and still not have broken this commandment because technically it could still be kept at a future time. They were immortal beings and time was not a relevant factor at this point and the commandment did not have a due date.
Adam and Eve did partake of the fruit after being tempted by Satan. At that point they realized they were naked and because of their guilt they hid from God when they heard Him coming. By choosing to disobey God both death and sin were introduced into the world.
Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden and out of the presence of God. This is spiritual death. God also placed Cherubim and a flaming sword to block the way to the Tree of Life, otherwise Adam and Eve could have eaten of the fruit and lived forever in their sins and be forever cast out of God's presence.God was merciful. Adam didn't physically die immediately, but he immediately became mortal. He was given a probationary state. This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God (Alma 12:24). So Adam and Eve went into the lonely world. He wasn't left entirely on his own. God sent angels to Adam to teach him and give him further instruction.
"And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me." (Moses 5:6)
Adam was told to make sacrifices, which he did, but he didn't understand why. The angel explained that it was a similitude of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ who would come and be the great and last sacrifice.
"And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Moses 5:7-8)
From the beginning God wanted people to look to Jesus Christ as the means of their salvation. It was important to always be looking toward Him. It was not enough that He should perform the work, the people needed to look toward Him, believe in Him and accept His atoning sacrifice on their behalf.
So Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death, where the body separates from the spirit; and spiritual death, where we are removed from the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Christ's role as our Savior is to overcome BOTH types of death.
Jesus of Galilee laid three days in the tomb under Roman guard. On the morning of the third day He, by His own power, took up His body again. This reuniting of body and spirit in immortality is called resurrection.
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)
Because Christ was resurrected ALL who have ever lived will be rescued from the separation of death and be resurrected also. However, even though all mankind will be saved from physical death only those who chose to repent and call upon the name of Christ as their savior will be saved from their sins and spiritual death. It's an important distinction that Christ will save people FROM their sins not IN their sins.
"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink" (D&C19:16-18)
Physical death is not our fault, but rather a condition of being born into a fallen world. That's why resurrection is a free gift. Spiritual death, however IS our fault. We choose between right and wrong and everybody messes up. Everybody. What about little children? "Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy." (Moroni 8:19) Children who die before the age of accountability are saved regardless.
So what then is required of us? First faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Second repentance of all your sins. Third baptism by immersion for the remission of sins as a sign that you have entered a covenant with the Father to take upon yourself the name of Christ. Fourth the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. This gift is for the companionship of the Holy Ghost who is meant to be a guide and a comforter throughout one's life.
Repentance is an ongoing process throughout one's life as perfection is not achieved immediately, but is something we are constantly working on. So how do we stay on the right track? Prayer. Scripture study. Attending church. It's really that simple. But simple things are often disregarded because they aren't more complex.
Amanda's contention was that God is merciful and won't throw His children away just because of a few sins, which we were bound to commit anyway. Yes, we were all bound to make mistakes. But the way was provided whereby we could repent and find forgiveness. But we must repent. Mercy will not rob justice. If we do not claim the payment made on our behalf through repentance, we must pay that price ourselves.
"What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God." (Alma 42:25)
God is both merciful and just. We are extended mercy THROUGH the merits of Jesus Christ. Justice for OUR sins was satisfied through His atonement and death.
So in one aspect Amanda was right. God will not just throw His children away because of sins we were bound to commit anyway. Those children who died before the age of accountability (8 years old) are saved entirely on the merits of Jesus Christ. However, by the age of accountability we DO have some ability to recognize that a choice is wrong. We can feel sorrow and ask for forgiveness. We can commit to be better and not do it again. There is right. There is wrong. We can distinguish between the two and learn by our own experience to know the difference. We are also accountable before God. He has provided the way to gain mercy, but since He is a just God we are required to repent. Jesus Christ pays the price when we repent and our debt is settled.
To overcome physical and spiritual death. To claim mercy. That is why we need Jesus Christ.
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