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.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Marvelous Work
“Now behold, a marvelous work is about to come forth among the children of men.” Doctrine and Covenants 4:1.
In the revelations to Joseph Smith, the Lord repeats this sentence many times. At a glance, I saw four different sections that started with this sentence. Why is it so important?
As we’ve been discussing in one of my religion classes, “the marvelous work which” was “about to come forth” was the Book of Mormon. Many people find it wrong that we, being Christians, read the Book of Mormon. They feel that since we have the Book of Mormon, we ignore the Bible, but that simply isn’t true. We read both of them. Here are some reasons why I read and cherish the Book of Mormon along with the Bible.
1. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ.
a. Have you ever wondered if Christ really lived? Was he really the Son of God? When you read the Book of Mormon along with the Bible, you discover that Christ really lived. You learn that He is the Savior of the World. You come to understand His Atonement, and it allows you to feel it in your life today. The Book of Mormon as I have read it with the Bible has strengthened my personal testimony of Jesus Christ. It has helped me understand him and his mission. If you are struggling to understand Jesus Christ, his mission, or if we even need him, read the Book of Mormon and you will discover that he truly lives.
2. The Book of Mormon helps us determine if Joseph Smith was a prophet.
a. If God were to have a man on the earth that filled the role of a prophet like Moses, or Isaiah, or Jeremiah, would it not be important to have a way to determine if he was true or not? Luckily, God has provided such a way to determine if Joseph Smith was a prophet. If we read the Book of Mormon, with “real intent” meaning with sincere desire to understand its message of Christ, and if we pray sincerely asking God if it is true, he will tell us if it is a true book. If it is a true book, Joseph Smith was a true prophet and God established His church through him. It is imperative that people read for themselves with sincerity the Book of Mormon in order to discover if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Without true intent reading the Book of Mormon is wasted energy. But if you truly want to know, if you sincerely ask God, you will get an answer. Also if Joseph Smith was a prophet, it means that we have a prophet today. It means that God speaks to men today, just as he spoke to Moses. If that isn’t important, I don’t know what is.
3. The Book of Mormon helps me see what is important.
a. Just as there are many stories in the Bible from which we can gain personal application, the Book of Mormon too contains stories that help us in our lives today. One of my favorite may be Abinadai. He was chosen by God, to preach to a wicked King. He testified of Christ and of the King’s need to repent. The king burned him at the stake for his words. I like this story because of Abinadi’s personal character. It has taught me to be faithful to God and my morals in any situation. I’m thankful for the Bible and the Book of Mormon stories.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
God in Everyday Life
I had an interesting week this past week. A lot happened which I knew was going to happen but I wasn't quiet prepared for it to happen. And yes, I am trying to be ambiguous as possible. I just want to say that it was such a week that you feel that three months were packed into three days. But I survived and I feel stronger for it.
I want to write about this because I felt the power of God in my life during the last couple of days. He gave me little presents for which I'm very grateful. You know, those things that happen and they only happen because there is a God. It is unmistakable where such little things come from because they just don't happen. Something greater than us mortals on Earth has to make them happen. I hadn't talked to anyone about what was thinking or going through and yet God sent people to me that helped me through the last couple of days.
All that I can say is that God knows who I am. He has told me that I am of great worth. He cared enough about me to sent me people to me to help me because I prayed and asked for help. It is that simple!
The semester is going to end soon. I have about three weeks left. It is incredible how quickly time goes. I feel just yesterday, I was complaining because it was the middle of the semester and I had so much time left. Everyday is a new day. We can have a new beginning every day. We just have to wake up and say, it is a new day, lets see what I cam make of it. There is hope because God sent his son Jesus Christ. What a perfect plan.
I want to write about this because I felt the power of God in my life during the last couple of days. He gave me little presents for which I'm very grateful. You know, those things that happen and they only happen because there is a God. It is unmistakable where such little things come from because they just don't happen. Something greater than us mortals on Earth has to make them happen. I hadn't talked to anyone about what was thinking or going through and yet God sent people to me that helped me through the last couple of days.
All that I can say is that God knows who I am. He has told me that I am of great worth. He cared enough about me to sent me people to me to help me because I prayed and asked for help. It is that simple!
The semester is going to end soon. I have about three weeks left. It is incredible how quickly time goes. I feel just yesterday, I was complaining because it was the middle of the semester and I had so much time left. Everyday is a new day. We can have a new beginning every day. We just have to wake up and say, it is a new day, lets see what I cam make of it. There is hope because God sent his son Jesus Christ. What a perfect plan.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Trials of Life
Life is full of problems. I've seen many in my life. I've seen friends addicted to alchohol. I've had friends get pregnant in high school. I've seen get sick and die. There is no shortage of hard things in life.
In one of my classes, we've been talking about genocide. What causes people to murder others? Does that mean that God doesn't exsist? Does life get so bad that it is not worth it?
I would say God does exsist and life is always worth it. Unfortunately terrrible things happen, but we have a decision to make. We can use a bad situation to become bitter or we can grow and become better. Luckily, We have the Savior Jesus Christ, who is able to help us through our problems. We only have to pray to him. In the end, when we rely on Jesus Christ and pray to our Father in Heaven, we come to know them better. We can develop a true relationship with them. But like I said, we must first try and pray to them.
In one of my classes, we've been talking about genocide. What causes people to murder others? Does that mean that God doesn't exsist? Does life get so bad that it is not worth it?
I would say God does exsist and life is always worth it. Unfortunately terrrible things happen, but we have a decision to make. We can use a bad situation to become bitter or we can grow and become better. Luckily, We have the Savior Jesus Christ, who is able to help us through our problems. We only have to pray to him. In the end, when we rely on Jesus Christ and pray to our Father in Heaven, we come to know them better. We can develop a true relationship with them. But like I said, we must first try and pray to them.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Joseph in Jail
First, I must say that this has been an awesome weekend. Valentine's day was perfect, I did go out with that special someone and I didn't have school on Monday. Let me just say it was hard to go to school this morning.
This past week, we have been discussing Joseph Smith's experience in Liberty Jail. He was incarcerated for about five months. He was being held on faulty charges. It was a very trying time for him, and for all the members of the early church. There is one passage which I would like to quote.
"If the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on they way,, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannont pass... fear not what man can do for God shall be with you forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9)
God was comforting Joseph in a time when Joseph felt nothing was going right. We too must have faith and trust in God. Only then will we be able to make it though, because we are linked with God by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
This past week, we have been discussing Joseph Smith's experience in Liberty Jail. He was incarcerated for about five months. He was being held on faulty charges. It was a very trying time for him, and for all the members of the early church. There is one passage which I would like to quote.
"If the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good. The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he? Therefore, hold on they way,, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannont pass... fear not what man can do for God shall be with you forever and ever." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9)
God was comforting Joseph in a time when Joseph felt nothing was going right. We too must have faith and trust in God. Only then will we be able to make it though, because we are linked with God by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
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