Peter's teachings about False prophets

In 2 Peter, we learn about false teachers.  Some of the characteristics that Peter lists to describe false teachers are

-  They deny the Lord

-   They speak of truth as evil

-  Covetousness

-   walk after the flesh

- despise authority/government

-  Presumptuous

- Self-willed

- Not afraid to speak evil of dignities

-  Riot in the daytime

- speak vain words

- Wanton

- They preach liberty, but are the servants of corruption

- turn away from righteousness

One of the things that stood out to me as I read about these false teachers is that they had known the truth, yet they chose to return to the pollutions of the word.  If we never know the truth, then we can’t be condemned for what we don’t know.  I like the imagery used in Peter describing people who go back to sin after finding truth as a dog turning to his own vomit.

Lessons in James 1

In James 1, there are many lessons to be learned.  We see several phrases that encourage us to look to direction from God, even the one that encouraged Joseph Smith to inquire.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James reminds us that when we ask in faith, it needs to be unwavering so that we are not driven about like a wave of the sea.

James says that a ‘double minded man’ is unstable.  This is further reiterated in Matthew and 1 Kings which describe a man who cannot choose between serving God and worldly pleasures as a man who cannot really serve either.

We also learn to be better Disciples of Christ.  Here are some of the ways we learn about in the first chapter of James

• ·         Not giving into temptation
• ·         Abstain from lust
• ·         Develop and be grateful for our good gifts
• ·         Listen to people readily
• ·         Slow to speak and slow to anger
• ·         Be meek and humble
• ·         Rid ourselves of filthiness
• ·         Let the word of God implant on our hearts
• ·         Keep unspotted from the world
• ·         Minister unto the needy

Someone I think who exemplifies these traits is our prophet, Thomas S Monson.  As a young bishop he served in a ward of many widows who he still keeps in contact with today.

I also think of my mom, who drives several hours to complete her visiting teaching and writes thoughtful cards every month to the sisters in her relief society

I think of my family’s home teachers who reach out to us even when we don’t respond to their texts right away.

I think of my in-laws who have welcomed me into their family and I have never seen talk of anyone with malice or pride. They are always looking to help someone out.

Bruce R McConkie said that James 1:5-6 “had a greater impact ... upon mankind than any other” scripture. He said this because they led Joseph Smith to restoring the church. Also, they invite any other wandering soul to follow the same pattern of asking and receiving.

Lessons in Hebrews 13

There are several great principles we can learn by studying Hebrews 13.

One of the great counsels in this chapter is to remember those who are in prison or in other forms of bondage.  Since they are our brethren, we are to think of ourselves as bound with them.

Marriage is treated as honorable, and undefiled, and the only place for the full expression of love between a man and a woman.

In this chapter we are also warned against covetousness.  We should be content with what we have, because when we have the Atonement, we have all that we really need.  After all, our circumstances may change, but Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.  It is through Jesus Christ and his Atoning blood that we are able to be sanctified.

We are also counseled in this chapter to obey our church leaders and submit ourselves to those who are accountable for our souls.  As we sustain our church leaders, we should also pray for them that they may continue to live in honesty and in good conscience.

What other counsel do you find in Hebrews 13?

The priesthood of Melchezidek and Jesus Christ

For someone today to become a priesthood leader, they need to be ordained through the laying on of hands by someone who has the priesthood authority.  That is how we know who has authority in the church today. 

From reading the New Testament, we learn more about Melchezidek.  He was considered a type of Christ.  Melchezidek was the man that Abraham brought his tithes unto and ministered unto his people.  Because of these reasons and his righteousness, Melchezidek was considered a high priest.  Some of the miracles that Melchezidek performed included stopping the mouths of lions and quenching fires.  Melchezidek also bless Abraham.

In Doctrine and Covenants we learn that Melchizedek’s priesthood is higher than the Aaronic priesthood. Melchezidek’s priesthood is really the priesthood of Christ but is called Melchizedek to avoid overuse of Christ’s name. This is referenced in the Joseph Smith Translation of Hebrews 6, when Joseph Smith corrects it to say ‘not leaving behind the principles of the doctrine of Christ”.  It is important that these principles of faith, repentance, baptism and the Holy Ghost not be left behind because the priesthood is necessary to perform those ordinances.

When we deny the Holy Ghost, we are committing the unpardonable sin.  When we do that, we become sons of perdition.  This means that we must know truth and being receiving the blessings of the truth, and still choose to deny the Holy Ghost.  There is not repentance for that.

Now back to Melchizedek being a type of Christ.  They had many similarities like working miracles, being called kings, and being foreordained for their work.  Melchezidek was not really without father, mother or descent, but the order of the priesthood which he was ordained to was without father, mother or descent.

Paul taught in Hebrews a little bit more about the Priesthood.  The higher priesthood required an oath, but also allowed people to progress more toward perfection.

Life Answer's found in the Scriptures

In the Book of Philippians, we can find some great counsel about to find answers to some of our issues in life.

Here are some common problems, as well as the counsel found in the scriptures.

      1.       People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in chuch meetings or throughout the week

Counsel for this can be found in the second chapter of Philippians.  Paul counsels the people to be of one heart and one mind, not anyone esteeming themselves over another. This includes not murmuring or arguing with each other.   

2.  Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength

Counsel for this can also be found in Philippians 2.  Paul counsels for people to work out their own salvation, because no one else’s testimony can save you.

      3.      An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does

Counsel for this issue can be found in Philippians 3 and 4. Jesus also was rejected by many.  We should remember this and not deny Christ because we may be denied by others. This can also help us to gain appreciation for Jesus’s sacrifice.

We can find many answers to life’s questions throughout the scriptures. “Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”  These three scenarios are just a few examples of the help we can get from reading the scriptures.

Living as the Saints Live

Sometimes we think that once we are baptized that our salvation is secured.  This is not the case.  In Romans, and other places in the scriptures, we learn that we must continue to be righteous every day and endure to the end.

Paul teaches about several things that will help lead us to salvation in his epistle to the Romans

·         Romans 12:1-  Sanctify our bodies to serve the Lord

·         Romans 12:2-  Become spiritually reborn and cast off the world

·         Romans 12:9 –Hate evil and love good

·         Romans 12:13 – Practice hospitality

·         Romans 12:16- Be humble and beware of pride

·         Romans 12:21- Overcome evil with good

·         Romans 13:1 –Subject ourselves to God

·         Romans 13:3- Not be afraid

·         Romans 13:8 –Love one another

·         Romans 13:9 – Keep the commandments

Paul also cautioned against judging.  After all, it is Christ who will judge us.  We will also be judged for the judgments we make of other people.   Also, people may have different opinions and practices, but we are all alike under Christ.  He does not esteem us differently.  In Doctrine and Covenants this is further explained as God being our Heavenly Father who loves all his children equally.

With Christ came a new way of life, as well as a new name for his people. This name is ‘saints’. 

Baptism lessons from Romans 6

Before baptism can occur, we must be dead unto sin.

Christ’s burial and resurrection symbolizes baptism.  Just as Christ was able to overcome physical death and live again, through baptism we overcome spiritual death and our renewed with our sins forgiven. This is why we are baptized by immersion as opposed to other methods like sprinkling.  For us to be fully renewed and cleansed, we need to be completely immersed, or buried in the water.   In Paul’s epistle to the Romans, he counsels that for the people to maintain the ‘newness of life’ obtained through baptism, they need to continually cast off sin and follow the counsels of God.  Ideally, the ‘natural man’ part of us would die at baptism.

After baptism, we should strive to be the servants of God.  We know that we are serving God when we are being obedient to his commandments.   We are servants of sin when our lives are free from righteousness and we are disobedient.  When we are righteous, are lives are free from sin.   That is the true source of freedom. 

Forgiveness

      One of the greatest doctrines of the New Testament is that of forgiveness. No longer was the law 'eye for eye', or 'tooth for tooth'.  Now it is 'turn the other cheek', and 'judge not that ye be not judged'.
 
      The people of Corinth were told that 'if any have caused grief', that they should not condemn them, but comfort and forgive them, and confirm our love toward them.  This goes against many people's initial reaction to someone who has caused harm.  We need to remember that it is Christ who wants us to forgive, and Satan  who wants us to hold unto anger.

       When we forgive others, we are promised that we will be forgiven as well, perhaps not always by our fellow men, but our Father in Heaven.  Satan also will not be able to use anger to control us if we are not angry with someone else.


        When we don't forgive others, we have no right to ask that our sins be forgiven. In fact, we face a greater condemnation than those who had originally sinned against us.  One of the reasons that I think this is, is because if we absolutely refuse to forgive someone we see ourselves as a better person than them.  We are also saying that the Atonement is not enough to cover their sins.


2 Corinthians 2; Matthew 6; Doctrine and Covenants 64

The Sacrament

     Throughout the scriptures there are several descriptions of the Sacrament.  One of these accounts is in Luke 22 and another is in 3 Nephi, and another in Corinthians.  When Luke and Nephi they describe the sacrament, they explain that it has been given to the people, but Paul, in his letters to the Corinthians invites them to take the sacrament.  I am not sure why this difference is, but it is interesting to note
       Another difference between Paul's account of the sacrament and Nephi's, is when to not partake of the sacrament.  Paul says that everyone needs to examine themselves to see if they are worthy to take the sacrament.  Nephi says that we should forbid those unworthy to take the sacrament and minister unto them until they are worthy. I think that both of these counsels are important.  Today we have bishops who can help us determine our worthiness, and help us become worthy if we are not.  However, we still have a duty to not take the sacrament if we are not worthy.  Paul warns that when we partake of the sacrament we are drinking damnation to ourselves.

       I was wondering what I could to to make the sacrament more meaningful to me on Sunday and throughout the week.  The biggest thing that I could think of was preparing for the sacrament.  This can be done by coming to church early and listening to the prelude music or reading the scriptures, doing necessary repentance, and pondering how to be better next week.  We can also set goals for the next week.  One thing that I thought would be particularly helpful is to come to sacrament meetings with questions that you have been wondering about.  Sacrament is a great time to receive personal revelation.  Throughout the week, we can remember to keep the Savior in our hearts and try our best to exemplify him.

Paul and Priesthood Ordiances

        When Paul was among the Corinthians he performed the following priesthood ordinances:
1. Baptism by Immersion
2. Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost
3. Administering to the sick and afflicted
4. Casting out evil spirits
5. The Sacrament

        Even though many of the people in Corinth had been baptized by John the Baptist, it was important that they be baptized again now that Christ had come. When they had first been baptized, it was by the authority of John, not Christ.  Paul who had been ordained through the power of Jesus Christ had the authority necessary.  This is important because a baptism needs to be done by the proper authority to be complete.  This is why it is necessary for those who have been baptized in other faiths to be baptized again when they join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

       Today, we still perform the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and baptisms are still done by immersion.  However, one thing that has changed is the day of the Sabbath.  Traditionally, the Sabbath was the last day of the week, Saturday.  As noted in Acts 20, the sacrament was prepared on the first day of the week, Sunday.  This is possibly because the stone was taken away from Jesus' tomb on the first day of the week, and this was also the day that Jesus appeared unto the disciples after his resurrection.

Paul's Visit to Athens

The Importance of Scripture Study

When Paul visited Thessalonica, he entered into a synagogue and taught and conversed those there about Christ and the scriptures for three days.  Many of the ‘devout Greeks’ and ‘chief women’ believed what Paul had to day. However, the Jews that didn’t believe him engaged in lewd and base behavior, caused an uproar in the city.

     Paul and Silas then went to Berea to teach.  Those in Berea searched the scriptures daily to find if what they were being taught was true.  This helped them to be prepared to receive the gospel with readiness of mind. Many Greek men and women believed the message that Paul and Silas taught.   When the unbelieving Jews of Thessalonica heard that Paul and Silas were teaching in Berea, they came and engaged in their previous disruptive behavior.

In our own lives, daily scripture study can help us to be prepared for the messages that Heavenly Father sends us each day.  The scriptures are the words or Christ.  As we feast upon them, they become part of who we are and lead us in the directions that we should take, just as they did for the people in Berea. We can always find answers to lives smallest and biggest questions.

“…For the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do….” 2 Nephi 32:3

Ultimately, the disruptive behavior of the unbelieving Jews did not end stop anyone from believing the words of Paul and Silas.  Why not?  The answer can be found in Alma 31:5:

“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.”

The Pen is mightier than the sword.

Putting God First

Athenians were a people very interested in different philosophies.  Paul happened to encounter two popular groups of the time: the Epicureans and the Stoics.

The Epicureans believed that the world happened by chance without purpose and that men should follow practices that brought them the most enduring happiness while on earth. The Stoics believed that the universe was brought about by a ‘Divine Mind’ and that man should accept circumstances as they come to him, instead of trying to change them.

Athenians were aware of the Gods that had been traditionally worshipped in Greek Mythology as well as tangible idols that they worshiped.  They had Zeus but were unaware of the full doctrine of Heavenly Father, as indicated by the altar Paul mentioned with the inscription to the “Unknown God”.  The people of Athens were also very devout to their schools of logic and philosophy.  There is nothing wrong with being a logical person, as indicated in 2 Nephi 9:29, as long as you still hearken unto the counsels of God. Even today, people still decide to worship ‘false gods’.  A false god is anything that leads you to forget or deprioritize God in your own life.  These could even include good things that are not done in moderation such as making a living, getting an education, and leisure activities. I have seen a lot of people stop going to church or lose their testimony just because of what they thought other people would think of them.

The Premortal Existence

In Paul’s teaching there is also an important reference to the premortal existence that is often overlooked. He says “Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of bone blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”  What is the “time before appointed” that Paul speaks about? Judging from the context of the phrase it would have to be a time before men came to earth. These bounds of habitation could not be determined if there was nobody to put anywhere.

The Nature of God (And us)

Paul also makes some good points about the nature of God, and in doing so makes some points about the nature of mankind. He says that because we are the offspring of God, God cannot be made of gold or silver or anything else that man has made.  If God is a graven image, then we created God and not the other way around. For God to have offspring, he must also have a body like us.

Since we are God’s children, and not just his creations, then that means that we are capable of developing divine characteristics and we are as capable of being like our father as any child is of being like their father.

The Resurrection

One thing that many of the people of Athens were not receptive to was Paul’s teachings of the Resurrection.  While it was not unheard of at the time for someone to be brought back from the dead, such as Lazarus, it was unheard of for someone to die and then become immortal.  This was because Jesus Christ was the first to be resurrected (Acts 26:23).  Job had spoken of this resurrection when he said “And though, after my flesh worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”  The doctrine of resurrection is also taught in 2 Nephi 9:12 and in other verses throughout the Book of Mormon.

Sources: lds.org, New Testament Student Manual, KJV Bible, Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, The Book of Mormon

The Day of the Pentecost

Hello, I am a student at BYU-Idaho and am taking a class about the New Testament this year.  This blog will be where I will have the chance to record some of my learning and studying experiences.

First Entry

What was the Pentecost?

The Pentecost, meaning "fiftieth", was a celebration by Jews that   fifty days or seven weeks after the feast of the Passover.   This celebration was also referred to as the feast of the harvest and feast of the first fruits and was a time to give thanks and gratitude unto God.  I like to think of it as a Biblical Thanksgiving.
In Acts 2, the Spirit is poured out onto the apostles and others when they had gathered to celebrate the Pentecost.   Several began speaking and preaching in languages previously not known to the speakers.  Everyone was able to be taught in their own language.  Peter used this opportunity to teach about the Resurrection, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost. Peter also believed this to be part of the fulfillment of a prophecy found in Joel 2:28:

 28 ¶And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will ^apour out my^bspirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall^cprophesy, your ^dold men shall ^edream dreams, your young men shall see ^fvisions:

After this experience, many became converted and were baptized.

This day of Pentecost demonstrated several gifts of the spirit.  The obvious one being the gift of tongues. 

There was also the gift of believing the testimony of others and the gift of faith, as shown by the many conversions. 

I think that it was interesting that God chose the day of the Pentecost to provide his people with this experience. It might have been the closest thing they had to General Conference at this time. The wide range of people taught also allowed for more witnesses of the Gospel.

Sources:  LDS New Testament Student Manual and King James Bible