Happy Easter! This past weekend was great! I was able to spend time with my family over the Easter Weekend. I hope you thought of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Resurrection. He gave His life that we might live. His resurrection was part of the God's plan, that through it, we may also be resurrected. I've been trying to finish up the New Testament. Here is what I've seen:
In the last two chapters of Acts, Paul travels to Rome. After some ship wrecks, snake bites, and other road blocks, Paul finally arrived. He “dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31). We learn Paul taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Rome for two years before he died. Some Christian traditions believe Paul had a second career. They believe Paul was released from prison, and he traveled to Spain to teach the word of Jesus Christ. After this second career of teaching, Paul was again arrested, taken to Rome, and then executed.
However, while Paul was in Rome, he wrote some letters to Timothy. In the second letter Paul wrote, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Tim 4:11). From this verse we learn that Luke was in Rome, and Timothy and Mark were soon going to be there also. Mark came to Rome and was Paul’s scribe until he died. But what did Mark do after?
In 1 Peter 5:13 we read, “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you
saluteth you and so doth Marcus my son.” It seems from this verse that Peter, writing to saints in Cappadocia, Asia, Galatia, Pontus, and Bithynia, was in Rome with Mark. Mark had become Peter’s scribe. From these verses, we see that Rome became the gathering place of the Apostles. Paul, Mark, and Peter at some point, all come to Rome. While there, Mark wrote letters for Paul and then the gospel for Peter.
So why is this important? Why does it matter that Paul, Peter, and Mark were in Rome? (Besides the fact that Rome is awesome and I would like to go there some day.) I believe it is important to notice how the early church leadership was moving from Jerusalem to Rome. They were no longer isolated in Judea or Jerusalem. The Apostles had traveled throughout the Mediterranean, and were now in the center of the Roman world. This not only affected the Apostles, but it also affected the Church. Peter probably struggled to communicate with the Eastern Church. The numbers of Christians in Rome were probably growing. The Apostles moving to Rome effected thousands of years of history.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Printing Museum
I went to the Crandall Printing Museum this week. It is on center street here in Provo. I've heard about it over and over again while I've attended BYU. I always wanted to go, and I finally went. Take a look at the website:
http://crandallmuseum.org/
In this museum they have three printing presses. They have a working replica of the Gutenberg press, Benjamin Franklin’s press, and a press that E.B. Grandin used to print the Book of Mormon.
We first watched a demonstration of Gutenberg’s press. Beginning with a demonstration on how he made his movable type. The museum explained that Gutenberg was a metallurgist. This is how he knew what metals to mix so that he could get a good metal combination to make his movable type. They printed a page from the Vulgate bible. I am a Latin student, not a very happy one after my test today, and it was interesting to see a replica of the Vulgate Bible. I’ve also taken a calligraphy class, and I understand what amount of work it takes to produce a illuminated bible. Printers makes my life so easy.
Next we moved to the Benjamin Franklin Room where the replica of Franklin’s press was located. There was also a replica of Franklin himself, one of the curators dressed up. They discussed the power that printing had in the colonies. Franklin was able to print some 500,000 copies of Paine's "Common Sense." When he did this, there were only two million colonists living in America. That means one out of every four colonists living in America had a copy of "Common Sense." I don’t know of any kind of literature today that would represent that type of dissemination. The Museum argued that without the press the American Revolution would have never occurred, saying that the printed word unified the colonists. After learning one in four Americans had a “Common Sense” I believe them.
Lastly, we saw a replica press that printed the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith went to the E.B. Grandin Print Shop which, as I learned, was the most modern printing press avaliable in the 1820's. For Joseph Smith to have such a modern press so close is remarkable. The museum showed us the entire process of printing the Book of Mormon-- from pressing the sheets, to hanging them, to stitching the binding together. The museum noted that E.B. Grandin, the printer, printed 5,000 books in seven months. This, I guess, was extremely fast for that time period because the printers reset a new page of the Book of Mormon every two minutes. It was incredible that they printed that many books that fast.
I was thinking how lucky I am to have books. Every day I read the newspaper, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I read things on the internet, about Roman history, about American history. I even am reading Livy. I read ALL the time. We take books and printed material for granted. But are we grateful for the chance to read?
My wife is a High School Teacher. When she began to teach, she was surprised that the reading comprehension of her students. She would say many basic words like synopsis and summary, and they did not know the meanings of these words. Howeever, when we learn to read it changes everything. We gain power because we control what we learn. We gain power because we can spread ideas, concepts, and principles. Without the ability to read and write, we wanderer through life.
http://crandallmuseum.org/
In this museum they have three printing presses. They have a working replica of the Gutenberg press, Benjamin Franklin’s press, and a press that E.B. Grandin used to print the Book of Mormon.
We first watched a demonstration of Gutenberg’s press. Beginning with a demonstration on how he made his movable type. The museum explained that Gutenberg was a metallurgist. This is how he knew what metals to mix so that he could get a good metal combination to make his movable type. They printed a page from the Vulgate bible. I am a Latin student, not a very happy one after my test today, and it was interesting to see a replica of the Vulgate Bible. I’ve also taken a calligraphy class, and I understand what amount of work it takes to produce a illuminated bible. Printers makes my life so easy.
Next we moved to the Benjamin Franklin Room where the replica of Franklin’s press was located. There was also a replica of Franklin himself, one of the curators dressed up. They discussed the power that printing had in the colonies. Franklin was able to print some 500,000 copies of Paine's "Common Sense." When he did this, there were only two million colonists living in America. That means one out of every four colonists living in America had a copy of "Common Sense." I don’t know of any kind of literature today that would represent that type of dissemination. The Museum argued that without the press the American Revolution would have never occurred, saying that the printed word unified the colonists. After learning one in four Americans had a “Common Sense” I believe them.
Lastly, we saw a replica press that printed the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith went to the E.B. Grandin Print Shop which, as I learned, was the most modern printing press avaliable in the 1820's. For Joseph Smith to have such a modern press so close is remarkable. The museum showed us the entire process of printing the Book of Mormon-- from pressing the sheets, to hanging them, to stitching the binding together. The museum noted that E.B. Grandin, the printer, printed 5,000 books in seven months. This, I guess, was extremely fast for that time period because the printers reset a new page of the Book of Mormon every two minutes. It was incredible that they printed that many books that fast.
I was thinking how lucky I am to have books. Every day I read the newspaper, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I read things on the internet, about Roman history, about American history. I even am reading Livy. I read ALL the time. We take books and printed material for granted. But are we grateful for the chance to read?
My wife is a High School Teacher. When she began to teach, she was surprised that the reading comprehension of her students. She would say many basic words like synopsis and summary, and they did not know the meanings of these words. Howeever, when we learn to read it changes everything. We gain power because we control what we learn. We gain power because we can spread ideas, concepts, and principles. Without the ability to read and write, we wanderer through life.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Why Acts?
As I’ve been studying this New Testament, we’ve learned that the Book of Acts was written by Luke. It is actually a continuation of his gospel. This is important to know because when we take the two books together we learn more about the ministry of Jesus Christ and his apostles. We can easily see that the purpose of Luke’s gospel is to testify of Jesus Christ. He focuses on what Christ did and said. But what is the purpose of the Book of Acts? How does it work with the Gospel of Luke?
In Acts chapter 9, we read of Paul’s conversion. The Lord Jesus Christ appears to him on the road to Damascus, and he is struck blind. Shortly after, the Lord appears to Ananias in a vision telling him of Paul. The Lord commands Ananias to seek Paul, and says “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentile and kings and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake (15, 16).” Ananias was afraid of Paul because Paul had power to through him in prison. But he goes to seek Paul anyway.
In these few words, I believe we get the purpose of why Luke is writing the Acts of the Apostles. Luke wanted people to know of this prophesy concerning Paul. He was a vessel of the Lord, and he was to bear Christ’s name to the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. The Book of Acts shows how Christ spread his gospel and how Christ prophesied of Paul’s mission. I believe Luke is pointing out that this was no accident.
Later in the Book of Acts we read of Paul teaching the gospel in Macedonia. He preached to the Gentiles, people who were not Jewish. In Acts, we also read of Paul preaching to the Jews throughout the western Mediterranean in places like Ephesus. When Paul was coming back to Jerusalem, he is arrested. After sometime, he was taken to Caesarea and preached to King Agrippa. As can be plainly seen, prophesy about Paul came true, and Luke wanted people to know how it came true.
Paul was a powerful missionary for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Luke writes about Christ’s life and then how it spread throughout the ancient world. As it says in Act 28:30-31“Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” He spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ his entire life.
In Acts chapter 9, we read of Paul’s conversion. The Lord Jesus Christ appears to him on the road to Damascus, and he is struck blind. Shortly after, the Lord appears to Ananias in a vision telling him of Paul. The Lord commands Ananias to seek Paul, and says “Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentile and kings and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake (15, 16).” Ananias was afraid of Paul because Paul had power to through him in prison. But he goes to seek Paul anyway.
In these few words, I believe we get the purpose of why Luke is writing the Acts of the Apostles. Luke wanted people to know of this prophesy concerning Paul. He was a vessel of the Lord, and he was to bear Christ’s name to the Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel. The Book of Acts shows how Christ spread his gospel and how Christ prophesied of Paul’s mission. I believe Luke is pointing out that this was no accident.
Later in the Book of Acts we read of Paul teaching the gospel in Macedonia. He preached to the Gentiles, people who were not Jewish. In Acts, we also read of Paul preaching to the Jews throughout the western Mediterranean in places like Ephesus. When Paul was coming back to Jerusalem, he is arrested. After sometime, he was taken to Caesarea and preached to King Agrippa. As can be plainly seen, prophesy about Paul came true, and Luke wanted people to know how it came true.
Paul was a powerful missionary for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Luke writes about Christ’s life and then how it spread throughout the ancient world. As it says in Act 28:30-31“Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” He spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ his entire life.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
What is the Apostasy?
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, I believe in something called the Apostasy. This is something that can be easily misunderstood. In fact, I don’t know a lot about the subject. I feel early Christianity is a very difficult subject which many people don’t know about. I’ve tried to learn more about it as I’ve been attending Brigham Young University but I still have much more.
LDS church doctrine states that God always calls prophets and apostles through whom He talks to man. We have many examples of this such as Moses, Abraham, and Isaiah. There have been periods of time when mankind listened to God’s prophets and time when mankind has not listened to them. When people don’t listen to God’s apostles and prophets, they reject them. This act of rejecting God’s messengers is called an Apostasy or a turning away from truth. Just like other periods of time when God’s children turned from the God, we believe that there was a great Apostasy after the death of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 20: 25, Paul is talking to the elders of Ephesus. He says, “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have done preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.” Paul knew that he was not going to be preaching the gospel any more to people in the Eastern Mediterranean. Shortly after Paul talked to the elders of Ephesus, enemies of Paul framed him and he was arrested and never preached the gospel among the people in the Eastern Roman Empire. However what is more startling than Paul’s confession is what he says in verses 28 through 31.
He says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall me arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
Paul says that wolves will enter the flock meaning evil men will enter the church “speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” Paul had even been teaching this for three years “night and day with tears.” Paul understood that the church would crumble in the first century. One may argue that this was only in Ephesus and not the entire church which the Apostles were directing. There were many more people throughout the empire who believed in “the Way” or in Jesus Christ.
If we look more carefully at the passage it says, “wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves…” What gives me pause is the “also.” It seems that one of the Elders stated, “No not us.” And Paul replied, “Also your own selves.”
But also in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Paul wrote about the same apostasy. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, no by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
The people of Thessalonica worried about the second coming of Jesus Christ. They wanted to know when it was going to happen. They wanted it to happen. Paul corrects them and says that it will not happen “except there come a falling away first.” This is the same apostasy that Paul taught later to the Ephesians. He really had told people night and day what was going to happen.
Thankfully, God and Jesus Christ established their church once again on the earth. They called a new prophet and more apostles to testify of Jesus Christ and to direct the church. I know that They called Joseph Smith to be a prophet and we can know that he was Their prophet by reading the Book of Mormon which Smith translated by the power of God. We can also know this is true by praying and asking God for ourselves what He did to save His children.
LDS church doctrine states that God always calls prophets and apostles through whom He talks to man. We have many examples of this such as Moses, Abraham, and Isaiah. There have been periods of time when mankind listened to God’s prophets and time when mankind has not listened to them. When people don’t listen to God’s apostles and prophets, they reject them. This act of rejecting God’s messengers is called an Apostasy or a turning away from truth. Just like other periods of time when God’s children turned from the God, we believe that there was a great Apostasy after the death of Jesus Christ.
In Acts 20: 25, Paul is talking to the elders of Ephesus. He says, “And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have done preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.” Paul knew that he was not going to be preaching the gospel any more to people in the Eastern Mediterranean. Shortly after Paul talked to the elders of Ephesus, enemies of Paul framed him and he was arrested and never preached the gospel among the people in the Eastern Roman Empire. However what is more startling than Paul’s confession is what he says in verses 28 through 31.
He says, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall me arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
Paul says that wolves will enter the flock meaning evil men will enter the church “speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them.” Paul had even been teaching this for three years “night and day with tears.” Paul understood that the church would crumble in the first century. One may argue that this was only in Ephesus and not the entire church which the Apostles were directing. There were many more people throughout the empire who believed in “the Way” or in Jesus Christ.
If we look more carefully at the passage it says, “wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves…” What gives me pause is the “also.” It seems that one of the Elders stated, “No not us.” And Paul replied, “Also your own selves.”
But also in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Paul wrote about the same apostasy. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, no by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”
The people of Thessalonica worried about the second coming of Jesus Christ. They wanted to know when it was going to happen. They wanted it to happen. Paul corrects them and says that it will not happen “except there come a falling away first.” This is the same apostasy that Paul taught later to the Ephesians. He really had told people night and day what was going to happen.
Thankfully, God and Jesus Christ established their church once again on the earth. They called a new prophet and more apostles to testify of Jesus Christ and to direct the church. I know that They called Joseph Smith to be a prophet and we can know that he was Their prophet by reading the Book of Mormon which Smith translated by the power of God. We can also know this is true by praying and asking God for ourselves what He did to save His children.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
MOA- BYU's Art Museum
Art. What is it?
There are so many different mediums for art: writing, music, clothing, paint, gardening, the list could go on. Sometimes I wish I was a more traditional artist expressing an idea through paint and sculpture, but I'm not. However, true art seems to convey an idea more poignantly than speaking. Certain art is better conveying one idea while another kind of art transfers another feeling better. But in the end, all art does the same thing; it communicates a feeling, a thought, a deed that should be remembered.
This week I went to the BYU Museum of Art to look at the religious collection exhibition entitled “Types and Shadows” I want to share three paintings that I saw.
This first one is entitled “Man of Sorrows” by Chris Young. I like the picture because it explains that the perfect man, Jesus Christ has carried us, the very imperfect cross. This painting seems to embody the mission of Jesus Christ. It produces gratitude in the viewer because we notice that the most perfect person has born our grief.
This second painting by Trevor Southey entitled “After Jesus and Mary. This is the moment after the resurrection of Christ. I like the colors of the painting because they give the painting an feeling. The painting seems to have been placed somewhere between the living and the dead, but also between the heavenly and the mundane. What would it have been like to really see Jesus after his resurrection? Have you ever truly thought about what it would have been like for Mary to see Jesus living? Even after she saw him die? I believe this painting captures this moment of unbelief and awkwardness. What a odd feeling Mary must have experienced.
This third piece is a sculpture entitled “Christ Bearing the Cross” by Sledz a polish folk artist. First, I like it because it is from Poland, but secondly I like the simplicity of the folk art. Folk art is not sophisticated. Usually anyone can understand folk art unlike other art forms. This particular peice is a snapshot of time, when all of heaven must have been watching Christ carrying his cross. How difficult it must have been to watch as he struggled and strained to finish that which God had commanded. I know that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and resurrected that we might live.
There are so many different mediums for art: writing, music, clothing, paint, gardening, the list could go on. Sometimes I wish I was a more traditional artist expressing an idea through paint and sculpture, but I'm not. However, true art seems to convey an idea more poignantly than speaking. Certain art is better conveying one idea while another kind of art transfers another feeling better. But in the end, all art does the same thing; it communicates a feeling, a thought, a deed that should be remembered.
This week I went to the BYU Museum of Art to look at the religious collection exhibition entitled “Types and Shadows” I want to share three paintings that I saw.
This first one is entitled “Man of Sorrows” by Chris Young. I like the picture because it explains that the perfect man, Jesus Christ has carried us, the very imperfect cross. This painting seems to embody the mission of Jesus Christ. It produces gratitude in the viewer because we notice that the most perfect person has born our grief.
This second painting by Trevor Southey entitled “After Jesus and Mary. This is the moment after the resurrection of Christ. I like the colors of the painting because they give the painting an feeling. The painting seems to have been placed somewhere between the living and the dead, but also between the heavenly and the mundane. What would it have been like to really see Jesus after his resurrection? Have you ever truly thought about what it would have been like for Mary to see Jesus living? Even after she saw him die? I believe this painting captures this moment of unbelief and awkwardness. What a odd feeling Mary must have experienced.
This third piece is a sculpture entitled “Christ Bearing the Cross” by Sledz a polish folk artist. First, I like it because it is from Poland, but secondly I like the simplicity of the folk art. Folk art is not sophisticated. Usually anyone can understand folk art unlike other art forms. This particular peice is a snapshot of time, when all of heaven must have been watching Christ carrying his cross. How difficult it must have been to watch as he struggled and strained to finish that which God had commanded. I know that Jesus Christ suffered, died, and resurrected that we might live.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How Christ Interceeds
2 Quick Facts about the Epistle to the Romans
1. Longest of the Pauline Epistles and therefore first in the New Testament
2. Scholars think it is the only book that is a word for word dictation
The first thing I found interesting in the Epistle to the Romans is in verse one of chapter one. It reads, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ…” I think it is interesting how Paul thought himself as a slave. In Exodus 19 verse 5 and 6 we read, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” and verse 6, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
When we obey the words of God we become his priests. In other words, when we are the servants of God we become priests or inherit the kingdom of God. What does it mean to be a servant of God? Paul served God by sharing the gospel. I think we can do the same.
I also really liked chapter 8 of Romans. In verse 31 through 35 we read, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared no his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
First I like that Paul says, “Christ… who also maketh intercession for us.” How does that work? What is it like for Christ to make intercession for us with God? I found this scripture in Doctrine and Covenants section 45 verses 3 through 5. It reads, “Listen to him [Christ] who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” Can you imagine standing in a court of law with God being the judge. God says you are condemned. Then Christ steps forward and says, “Behold the blood, suffering and death of me, save this soul.” How powerful! How wonderful!
Paul goes on to say, “Who will separate us from the Love of Christ?” The love is that moment when we are being judged, Christ will step forward and say, “Look at what I suffered.” “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword” hold us from that love or charity of Christ? No! We shall believe in him no matter what we pass through in this life.
1. Longest of the Pauline Epistles and therefore first in the New Testament
2. Scholars think it is the only book that is a word for word dictation
The first thing I found interesting in the Epistle to the Romans is in verse one of chapter one. It reads, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ…” I think it is interesting how Paul thought himself as a slave. In Exodus 19 verse 5 and 6 we read, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” and verse 6, “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
When we obey the words of God we become his priests. In other words, when we are the servants of God we become priests or inherit the kingdom of God. What does it mean to be a servant of God? Paul served God by sharing the gospel. I think we can do the same.
I also really liked chapter 8 of Romans. In verse 31 through 35 we read, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared no his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
First I like that Paul says, “Christ… who also maketh intercession for us.” How does that work? What is it like for Christ to make intercession for us with God? I found this scripture in Doctrine and Covenants section 45 verses 3 through 5. It reads, “Listen to him [Christ] who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.” Can you imagine standing in a court of law with God being the judge. God says you are condemned. Then Christ steps forward and says, “Behold the blood, suffering and death of me, save this soul.” How powerful! How wonderful!
Paul goes on to say, “Who will separate us from the Love of Christ?” The love is that moment when we are being judged, Christ will step forward and say, “Look at what I suffered.” “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril, or sword” hold us from that love or charity of Christ? No! We shall believe in him no matter what we pass through in this life.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Faith hope and charity are like the bread, butter, and jam of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. O.k., I know it's a terrible analogy, but why are these virtues so essential?
When we truly believe these virtues, they cause us to live differently. For example, when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we want to be baptized because of his commandment. When we have hope, we live life joyfully. When we have charity, we treat others kindly. These three virtues govern how we live our lives. If they don’t, we aren’t truly living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 we read this
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now bideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
Since faith, hope and charity are the bread and butter of the Gospel, why does Paul praise charity more than faith or hope? Are they not just as important?
In the Book of Mormon, a second testimony of Jesus Christ which we believe to be divinely given scripture, says “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him (Moroni 7:41).”
According to Moroni, Charity is the ‘pure love of Christ’ and it endures forever. This makes me reflect on the mission of the Savior of the World. Jesus Christ came to earth, he lived among men; preformed many miracles; completed the Atonement; died; resurrected; and lives again. In my mind, Christ’s greatest love was to perform the Atonement. The Atonement was when Christ took upon himself the sins of the world. It caused him so much pain that he dripped blood from every pour as we read in the bible. I’ve always wondered how it worked. Somehow, some way, he experienced pain—the pain that I would have to had suffered had I not believed in his Atonement.
This act freed men from the consequences of sin. When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we can repent and his pain makes up for our mistakes. Maybe this is why Charity greater than Faith and Hope. If Charity, the pure love of Christ or the Atonement had not happened, there would be nothing to have faith in. I’m grateful for my Savior—grateful He suffered for my sins that I may be saved.
When we truly believe these virtues, they cause us to live differently. For example, when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we want to be baptized because of his commandment. When we have hope, we live life joyfully. When we have charity, we treat others kindly. These three virtues govern how we live our lives. If they don’t, we aren’t truly living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1 Corinthians chapter 13 we read this
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass,
or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries,
and all knowledge; and though I have all faith,
so that I could remove mountains,
and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not;
charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own,
is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;
whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge,
it shall vanish away.
For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is perfect is come,
then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child,
I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:
now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now bideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
Since faith, hope and charity are the bread and butter of the Gospel, why does Paul praise charity more than faith or hope? Are they not just as important?
In the Book of Mormon, a second testimony of Jesus Christ which we believe to be divinely given scripture, says “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him (Moroni 7:41).”
According to Moroni, Charity is the ‘pure love of Christ’ and it endures forever. This makes me reflect on the mission of the Savior of the World. Jesus Christ came to earth, he lived among men; preformed many miracles; completed the Atonement; died; resurrected; and lives again. In my mind, Christ’s greatest love was to perform the Atonement. The Atonement was when Christ took upon himself the sins of the world. It caused him so much pain that he dripped blood from every pour as we read in the bible. I’ve always wondered how it worked. Somehow, some way, he experienced pain—the pain that I would have to had suffered had I not believed in his Atonement.
This act freed men from the consequences of sin. When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we can repent and his pain makes up for our mistakes. Maybe this is why Charity greater than Faith and Hope. If Charity, the pure love of Christ or the Atonement had not happened, there would be nothing to have faith in. I’m grateful for my Savior—grateful He suffered for my sins that I may be saved.
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