You are Worthy of God’s Love
Note: This article was originally posted August 10, 2018
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” -1 John 4:16b
Humanity seems to be searching for something. In general, people feel lost. As we accumulate more material wealth, it seems that the hole we are trying to fill just gets bigger. How do we fill this hole in our lives? These feelings of loss, of emptiness, of loneliness; they come from the depth of our souls.
Finding Your Identity in Christ
“If anyone be in Christ, they are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new; and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” -2 Corinthians 5:17-19
“Identity crisis.” We hear the term thrown around, some even saying it is not real. But everyone at some point asks the questions, “who am I?” and “why am I here?” This is not a new line of thought, as we see the even the people of the scriptures wrestled with these questions.
Building Homes for the Spiritually Homeless
“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” -Acts 5:42
In the early Jewish sect that would become Christianity, worship services took place mainly in homes, as we see described in the book of Acts and various epistles (see Acts 2:46, 5:42, 2020; Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15; and Philemon 1:2). It is clear that these brothers and sisters found fellowship and practiced their religion by walking closely in Christ together. Christianity grew and eventually dotted the lands with both simple and grand places of worship. Meanwhile, the Jewish people suffered a collective loss when the second Temple was destroyed, creating the Judaism we know today—a shadow of its former self.
Baptism or Tevilah?
“And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water to fulfill all righteousness, O, then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water.” -2 Nephi 13:7 RAV, 31:5 OPV
When reading the Book of Mormon, we see baptism mentioned repeatedly throughout the book. However, Nephi and others would not have understood this as we understand baptism today. They would have understood baptism as tevilah, a full body ritual washing for cleansing rather than absolution.
Contend Against No Church
“Condemn not other branches of the Church of Christ, for contention is not of me; but build bridges that all may come and worship the Father in my name.” – Doctrines of the Saints 14d:18
In June of 1829, Joseph Smith received a revelation for all those called to be Apostles in these last days. In part they were commanded not to contend against any “church, save it be the church of the devil” (Avahr 25:39, DoS 12a:35). But this commandment wasn’t new.
Not to Condemn the World
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” -John 3:17
John 3:16 may be the most popular and well known scripture in the world. And that is a good thing. It teaches the Doctrine of Christ. Summing this passage up, is says all who believe in the Son, Jesus, may be saved. And this is a beautiful truth! Unfortunately, we see too many rather vocal Christians then reject the very next verse, that Jesus was sent to save the world, not to condemn it. By ignoring this important truth we find a vocal Christian minority condemning anything and everything. As we preach and teach of Christ, we must be clear that love is the way.
When is it Time to Leave Your Church?
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” -1 Corinthians 1:10
All Christian churches, sects, or denominations have one thing in common: faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But once we get past this commonality, our shared religion begins to fracture. How then do we follow Paul’s advice that we “all speak the same thing?” (1 Corinthians 1:10). The answer is simple: the Lord has given us numerous congregations, sects, and denominations to choose from. The question isn’t about finding the one that is right, but the right one for you and your family.
The Doctrine of Christ
“…My doctrine is too simple for mankind to comprehend.” -Doctrines of the Saints 125:8
There is a difference between doctrine and theology. Many confuse these two terms, as they are similar. However, our understandings, theories, and ideas are not doctrines. These are theologies.
The Trial of Our Faith Part 6: The Next Steps
Peace, peace be unto you because of your faith in my well beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. -Helaman 2:112b RAV, 5:47 OPV
If you are here, we will presume that you are seeking to know God. You are not looking for someone to stand between you and God, you want that personal relationship that comes from being a disciple of Jesus Christ.
The Trial of Our Faith Part 5: The Second Question, What
A portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge and also power, according to my faith and desires which are in God. -Alma 12:113 RAV, 18:35 OPV
The second question I would like to ask is: What are you trying to discover? This is a key question because it paints the picture of where you are going next. Some are seeking answers, some are seeking a way out, some are not even sure what it is they are looking for.
The Trial of Our Faith Part 4: The First Question, In
For ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. -Mosiah 3:9b RAV, 5:7c OPV
The third key word: In. What is the basis of your faith? Where does it come from? In Hebrews 1:1 Paul tell us that “faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.” And there are many that would declare this means we must simply have faith with no proof, that asking God for proof is somehow a sin.
The Trial of Our Faith Part 3: The First Question, You
Ye have not come thus far, save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. -2 Nephi 13:28 RAV, 31:19b OPV
The second key word is: You. Once we know the What we must discover where this What comes from. Proverb 22: 6 tells us, “Teach a youth about the way they should go; even when they are old, they will not depart from it.” These are wise words indeed, yet how many children lean upon the faith of their parents?