Saturday, July 9, 2011

Choice 4: 1 John 1-3. That Ye May Have Fellowship with Us and with God

Paul desires for the people to become members of the Church and come unto God and Jesus Christ. He says that their joy will become full once they fellowships with God and Christ.
Our joy can become full when:
  • We confess our sins
  • Keep his commandments
  • We love our brother (love one another)
  • We do not love the things of the world
  • We have the Holy Ghost with us
  • We allow the atonement to work in our lives
Keeping his commandments is a principle that I can better implement in my life. Sometimes I may justify why I don't always follow certain commandments. But if I can remember all of the commandments I have committed to keep, then I know that I will try my best to keep all of them.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Choice 2 James 2: Faith Without Works is Dead

James explains that even if we don't commit one sin, but we do commit another, we are still sinful in the eyes of God. That means that even if we have faith, but we commit sin, then we are still sinful. James gives the example of Abraham and Isaac--Abraham showed his faith in God by offering his son up as a sacrifice. If a prophet had to do something so drastic like that, then should we not also show our faith by our works? Abraham surely had faith, but God asked him to show his faith--this illustrates how important it is that without works, our faith is dead in the sight of God. Looking at Romans 2:5-6, Paul also supports what James is saying.
Not every person will enter the kingdom of God. We are asked to do his will just like the Savior did and the prophets. They did his will and will inherit the kingdom of God. We must also do his will in order to be entitled to the same thing.