The First Step in Christian Discipleship

I have to ask you a question.  Are you trying integrate your traditional discipleship with the doctrine of becoming as a little child and being born again?  Is that the issue everyone I talk to is having?  That what we have been taught is different from what the scriptures tell us to do?  The mandates given by the Church leaders can be followed by everyone on the spectrum regardless of whether they have been born again.  I have wondered, though, if there is an assumption by many Church leaders that we all have been born again.  Until I was born again I would put into practice the program of the Church with very limited success.  My view of everything changed after I felt the redeeming love my Savior.

Maybe we should stop ‘trying to live the gospel of Jesus Christ’ and just live it.  Just live it with all our failings, faults, sins and offensive behavior.  Maybe, if we did this, letting go of our shame, humbling ourselves, realizing that we need someone to rescue us today (not tomorrow – we work on today’s evil), we would realize that Christ’s grace is sufficient for all those who come unto him today.  And, we no longer say in our minds, ‘I’ll do better tomorrow’.  We no longer postpone our life in Christ.  As we choose to be meek and lowly of heart we will find how impossible it really is.  We turn to our Savior crying for help, acknowledging that we can’t do it on our own (not get angry, turn the other cheek, not lust in our hearts, etc., etc.).  The scriptures call this ‘coming unto Christ’.  This realization that we will never be perfect trying to obey ‘the law’, BUT we can be perfect in Christ.  When we come to this realization, frustrated, in anguish, worthless, - this is when we are ready to be baptized by fire and of the Holy Ghost and have our sins remitted.  And, Christ comes to us sooner than we ever would have expected.  Surrendering (the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit) always comes first.  What I mean by ‘first’ is it is the thing we do, it is all that we can do, there is nothing else we can do but repent and turn to the Savior believing (the faith part is to turn) that He CAN HEAL US.

I believe discipleship begins here.  What we do in the meantime is designed to get us here.  A school master.  It is also designed to move the Church forward.  But, moving the Church forward doesn’t SAVE us.  What saves us is knowing Christ and He knowing us.  To know Christ is to suffer with Christ.  His teachings will cause us to ‘suffer’ (at first) until we realize that His way is the right way (forgiving others of their trespasses, turning the other cheek, being longsuffering, caring, etc.).  We then are filled with His love, are perfected in Him, and are sanctified by His blood.  Christ becomes precious to us.  We no longer want to sin but we do.  We improve slowly walking hand in hand with Christ relying only on His merits.  Christ becomes the author of our faith.  We become his children.  The demands of justice are satisfied.  Our past, present, and future sins (weaknesses) are covered by Jesus.  As long as we don’t rebel.   I fall from grace all the time but repent and come back and am filled with His love once again.  We then move from grace to grace, offering a grace for a grace.  Our inner man begins to change.  The image of Christ starts appearing in our countenance.

Well, this is a grand first step!

Scott

Why does Peter say that newborn babe taste of the Lord's graciousness?

Regarding babes, I start by referencing these verses of scripture in 1 Peter 2:

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God byJesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay inSion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth onhim shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to themwhich stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

See also Alma 36:24, 26; JST, Hebrews 6:4-5; Mosiah 4:11.

When a person is received unto baptism, fulfilling the prerequisites (broken heart, contrite spirit, repenting of all their sins, taking upon themselves the name of Christ, etc.), this person is wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost and is numbered among the people of the church of Christ (Moroni 6:1-4).  Christ is the author of that person’s salvation.  This person has tasted of the graciousness of the Lord.  He has been baptized by fire.  This is a taste.  This person is a babe in Christ.  Living in Christ is new to this person. Christ is precious to this person.  But, to those that are offended by this doctrine, the doctrine of Christ, the stone (Christ) becomes a stone of stumbling and Christ becomes a rock of offence. They stumble at the word.

A babe is the little child that Jesus speaks of, the only group to inherit the kingdom of God (3 Nephi 10).  This new member has decided to put all his trust in the merits of Christ (Moroni 6:4).  He is now perfect in Christ.  As he continues in Christ he will always rejoice in Christ and always be filled with his love (Mosiah 4:12).  This person is Christ’s seed (see Abinadi’s discourse in Mosiah).  This person knows that Christ paid for his past sins, present sins, and future sins as long as he continues to walk hand in hand in Christ.  This is what makes Christ so precious.  This person feels to always rejoice in what Christ has done. He continues to develop a deeper trust, a deeper knowledge, a deeper love for his Savior.  He is just a babe at first. 

All this begs the question: where do we, as lifelong members fit?  If we haven’t moved to the higher law yet, don’t feel in our hearts that Christ is precious, haven’t received the promise of the Father (baptism of fire), then where are we on the spiritual timeline?  I suppose that this particular person isn’t even a babe.  He’s still in the birth canal struggling to be born (again).

This kind of thinking rubs the average latter-day saint wrong.  They think, since I am an active member it is obvious that I have been born again. My leader told me so.  And, for me, I DO NOT JUDGE the matter.  God will work with each of us, helping us from where we are at.

What are the works I will be judged for?

My faith in Jesus Christ produces a certain kind of work (behavior, deeds, action). One of these 'works' is the change of my inner self. Without grace this is impossible. Read Mosiah 4:1-12. The fruits of the Spirit are my 'works'. They include meekness, humility, a broken heart, acknowledging my nothingness and God's greatness, charity, etc. Since I believe in grace for grace (Helaman 12:24), I must offer up to God something (a grace) to receive a grace from Him. The first grace or offering was a broken heart and contrite spirit. I surrendered. This is a great 'work'. All external works flow from this inner change. This (knowing Christ and He knowing you) is what we will be judged for at the divine tribunal (or not judged as I am encircled in the arms of safety, mercy satisfying the demands of justice) Alma 34:15-16).

Worthiness vs. Worthiness

I have been thinking about worthiness vs. worthiness.  It is minor thing but worth exploring.

The Church’s modern definition of worthiness has to do with a standard that has been set that we can compare ourselves against.  For example, if I am temple worthy I have stated that I meet a certain standard set by the Church.

On the other hand, the word ‘worthy’ in ancient times is sometimes used differently.  They would still compare themselves to a standard but would always find themselves coming up short.  Alma the Younger taught his son, Shiblon, the following:

Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. (Alma 38:14).

So, we members of the Church, these days, say that we are worthy members of the Church and Alma teaches to always acknowledge our unworthiness before God at all times.  Why is there an apparent discrepancy?  Or, is there?

The obvious answer is that we are talking about two different things.  One is a standard set by the Church and the other is a set by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Although this is true, it can be confusing.  If I am worthy before the Church, why am I unworthy before God? Shouldn’t I be worthy before God?

We will always be imperfect creatures.  Even if we were to get pretty close to perfection (completion) we still have sinned and do sin.  Without Christ’s atonement those sins can never be washed away.   We can never go it alone in this life.  Does this make us unworthy?  Yes, because we all require Christ’s infinite atonement to make it back. Without Him we are nothing.  We are less than the dust of the earth. (Helaman 12:7-8, Moses 1:10)

The fact is that we all sin.  So, what can we become perfect at?  We can become perfect in our faith in Jesus Christ (Jacob 9:23).  To develop faith, a main requirement is to be meek and lowly in heart (Moroni 7:39, 43).  Being humble and acknowledging our unworthiness before God at all times go hand in hand. Other prophets describe perfect faith as unshaken faith in Christ, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is might to save (2 Nephi 31:19).  Others describe this faith in Christ as “relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith. (Moroni 6:4).  And humility is always the prerequisite (see v.2).

It is very humbling to know that you are nothing without Jesus Christ.  Even with Christ, we can't say we are something since everything we are and everything we may become is a gift from Christ.  This may even go against modern thought.  Here’s the kicker: when we are connected to Christ, we become perfect in Christ (Moroni 10:32), even in our unworthy state.  What a gift!  Of course, we love the Lord for what He has done for us, and we love His ways, and we want to change.  This is all implied in our Christian discipleship.

Do not make sin and shame the center of your life.  Make Christ and His merits and His grace your center.  We will always be unworthy, imperfect creatures.  That is not the focus.  Letting our lives be lit up by Christ (the Light) will show our sins in the right perspective.

Being Church worthy is a wonderful first step on the path of being a humble follower of Christ.

Believing in Christ - My Thoughts

My perspective is:



1. Inviting a person to believe in Christ has the potential of having power behind the words.

2. Why? Because Deity has promised to confirm the message of the messenger.

3. So, I believe that coming unto Christ is more important than any other principle.

4. Unless we learn to put all of our trust in our God and rely solely on Him, all the other things we do are like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.

5. This means to acknowledge and recognize that you are nothing. Nothing in this context mean powerless.  It also means that everything is a gift.  You didn't earn it.

6. Until a person can believe this and do it with real intent and all sincerity, that person hasn’t come to know God.

7. When our hearts are changed and we are filled with peace, love and joy, we finally understand. We are filled with light.

8. Our service, works and deeds are now backed by the power of God.

9. Then God may tell this person to live one principle and then another one.

10. This person wants to obey His mighty God because he loves Him. He loves Him for what He has done for him and to him.

11. This is when change really begins to occur.

12. This is what is meant by receiving grace for grace.

I believe this is the most important thing to teach others.


What do you mean?  You can't do anything until you do what I stated above?


It is not ‘until’. What I said isn’t ‘static’. It is right now and a continual process throughout your life. But, the process begins with doing what I said above. It takes a very short time to humble yourself and believe. He, Jesus, decides when you receive a change of heart. All putting Christ first in your life does (rather than putting the law first) is that it changes your perspective of things. You start doing what the Apostles say, out of love. I still do all those things the Apostles say! My heart has been changing because I put Christ first and foremost. This is exactly what the Apostles want. If your heart is not changed and you are filled with malice, hate, un-forgiveness, lust, fear, anger, mean spiritedness, short suffering, etc.,, then you begin your path back by doing what I said below. The key is humility and meekness. It is very hard to have all those natural man feelings when you humble yourself.



I will never go back to my old beliefs of obedience to the law without the foundation of heartfelt, sincere, wholly relying on my Jesus – as the foundation. Obedience to laws without Christ or just giving lip service to Him or just giving intellectual assent to Him – and it is missing the point or our existence on this earth.



I obey the laws and principles of the Church and Gospel (two different things) with Christ. Grace gave the law. The law is not separate from Grace. Sin hijacks the law when we separate it from Grace.



I feel happier doing it this way. I am nothing without Christ. I declare my unworthiness before the Lord at all times. I am worthy at all times to go to the temple. Do you see the difference? I am Church worthy yet I am always a beggar (unworthy) before God. Being unworthy in this way brings me peace. God is now in control of my life. I have given my will over to Him (Maxwell). I gladly stop worrying about everything and cast all my burdens on Him.



I do this every day. I put my trust in Him every day. This is the foundation. Obedience is built on this foundation.



In fact, get on your knees and declare your belief and trust in God and Jesus right now. Cast all your burdens (all of them) upon Christ (this means you stop worrying about them – you have given them to God). Think about and feel His wonderful grace and mercy. Have His joy, peace and love permeate your soul. Start your day working on this every day. You will immediately (once you are sincere and doing it with real intent) fill His love. This is all I am talking about. It is the foundation. You will begin to rely only on the merits of Christ who is might to save. It feels great!



You will then have tears taking the sacrament.

Letter to my son. How I view Grace

I have been praying for meekness, lowliness of heart, virtue and greater confidence.  I suppose that confidence may be a result of virtue.  I also noticed in the scriptures that meekness and lowliness of heart are precursors to the other spiritual gifts.  But, it might not matter where a person starts on their inward change journey.

For me, I want to be aware and present enough to be able to respond the way God wants me to respond when I am confronted with a new stimulus.  I don’t want have a knee jerk reaction which could be retaliation or reviling.  This is where meekness and lowliness of heart comes into play.  I show my faith in Jesus Christ when I, with intention, try, in my weakness, to be humble and meek as Jesus would.  This shows God that I want it.  Not just lip service.  Not just giving intellectual assent to Jesus’ atonement.

When I get down or frustrated I systematically write down each frustration.  I then determine if anything can be done with each item.  If not, I leave it on God’s hands.  I surrender it.  This is a prayer.  If I believe I can do or should do something about it, I write down what is to be done and put a date next to it.  It then put all the dates in my calendar.  This process lets my unconscious know that I am serious and the frustration goes away.  If I don’t get things done by the date specified, no worries.

I am very glad that you are working on you own process.  I will continue to pray for you and Sara.  We are in this together. 

Here’s what I recently wrote Doug: “I have been trying to view my earth life from the perspective of grace rather than from the perspective of my weaknesses.  When I let grace shine on me, it reveals my sins in a different way.  My old way is feeling ashamed or frustrated. This new way says: that obviously wasn’t the best way be, I think I will change that (with Christ’s help).  If it takes me an eternity to change (a 1000 times) so be it.  I am not in rebellion.  I am under grace and love being under grace.”

I am practicing taking this different perspective.  Heavenly Father’s has graced us with many things.  I view life in this light.

Love,

Dad

A few things I have learned

Back in June, 2016 I wrote: I have learned a few things this past year.  1. Don’t judge (just don’t) 2. Ego is pride (diminishing it brings you closer to Christ. 3. The Law without Grace produces Sin.  4. Waiting on the Lord is good.  5. Love is more important than all other things. 6. Our country is denying the Christ (Trumpism (Ego and bigotry) and Socialism (the desire for the government (transfer payments) to take care you since you don’t BELIEVE that God will help you). 7. Meekness brings power.