Exmo-Robertson
July 5th 2003, 03:21 PM
The Miracle of Forgiveness
THUS SAITH THE LORD...
gift\'gift \noun: Something that is bestowed voluntarily, freely, and without payment...
D&C 14v6-7 "Keep my commandments in all things. And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
grace\'grãs \noun: God's undeserved, unmerited favor.
D&C 130v20-21 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
gospel\'gäs-pél \noun: Good news; glad tidings.
D&C 42v59-60 "Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; And he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue."
The entrance requirements for the celestial kingdom and forever families:
D&C 18v46 "And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father."
D&C 25v15 "Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come."
1 Nephi 3v7 "...for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
What is destruction? How many will receive it?
Matthew 7v13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Jacob 6v10-11 "...for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment. O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life." (Outer darkness vs. eternal life?)
Perfection required now.
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.286: "...we are commanded to be supermen. Said the Lord, 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' (Matt. 5v48) We are gods in embryo, and the Lord demands perfection of us."
James 2v10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.2: "To this end [eternal life, not mere immortality] God created man to live in mortality and endowed him with the potential to perpetuate the race, to subdue the earth, to perfect himself and to become as God, omniscient and omnipotent."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.16: "And let us not suppose that in calling people to repentance the prophets are concerned only with the more grievous sins such as murder, adultery, stealing, and so on, nor only with those persons who have not accepted the gospel ordinances. All transgressions must be cleansed, all weaknesses must be overcome, before a person can attain perfection and godhood."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.8: "The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself."
Repentance required for forgiveness...
D&C 19v3-4 "...the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless." (Repent or suffer)
D&C 58v42-43 "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (To stop sinning)
What does "repent" mean?
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness (LDS tract): "If the sinner neglects his tithing, misses his meetings, breaks the Sabbath, or fails in his prayers and other responsibilities, he is not completely repentant."
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness "The forsaking of sin must be a permanent one. True repentance does not permit making the same mistake again."
D&C 82v7 "Go yours ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 164: "Trying is not sufficient. Nor is repentance complete when one merely tries to abandon sin."
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "The Lord and his church can forgive, but not easily... There is forgiveness if you totally repent." (Which means there is forgiveness only if you totally stop sinning.)
How we know if we have truly stopped sinning...
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of forgiveness, p. 95,97: "Shirking of responsibility in the kingdom, brings inevitable condemnation... Declining to serve when called may constitute a sin of omission... if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it..." (Can you ever know when you've stopped missing every opportunity to do good works--sins of omission?)
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "The repenting person must start on the never-ending task of keeping the commandments of the Lord. Obviously this can hardly be done in a day, a week, a month, or a year, but must go on all one's life." (No length of time will ever make us sure that we have really stopped sinning.)
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 325: "it depends upon you whether or not you are forgiven, and when. It could be weeks, it could be years, it could be centuries before that happy day when you have the positive assurance that the Lord has forgiven you. That depends on your humility, your sincerity, your works, your attitudes."
2 Nephi 25v23 "It is by grace that we are saved, after all you can do." (First we must do all we can do.)
Moroni 10v32-33 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be prefect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot." (Cleansing from sin comes only after you stop all ungodliness (sinning), and keep the first and greatest commandment, which includes the entire law of God. This is "all we can do.")
Matthew 5v20, 27-30 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven... Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offended thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Have you plucked out your eye and cut off your hand yet? You still have something more you can do.)
Matthew 19v21 "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Have you sold all your possessions and given the money to the poor to follow Jesus? You still have something more you can do.)
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "Remember that to obtain forgiveness from the Lord and his Church one must: (1) realize the seriousness of the sin and pray in great humility and sorrow, (2) forsake the sin and not repeat it, (3) confess the sin to the bishop or other Church authority, (4) restore as far as possible that which was damaged, and (5) live all the commandments of the Lord. And when he has fasted enough, suffered enough, and when his heart is right, he may expect that forgiveness will come..." (Have you ever come close to actually fulfilling steps 2 & 5 to obtain forgiveness?)
If Christ returned today, are you ready? Have you sufficiently repented and perfected yourself to escape God's wrath and enter the celestial kingdom?
Alma 5v27-32 "Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!"
Do you fear the second coming, or look forward to it?
Titus 2v13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
2 Timothy 4v8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
There is another way to attain legal perfection.
Hebrews 10v14-17 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (It is the new covenant in His blood. He perfects us for all time!)
Romans 3v20-25 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..."
Colossians 2v9-10, 13-14 "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete [perfect] in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ...And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Do you believe Jesus Christ?
John 6v47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (LDS footnote says this promise refers to exaltation.)
There is a better hope (It's a person, not a church!)
Luke 7v37-50 "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgive them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sin, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven; the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Quite a contrast from the hopelessness of President Kimball's Five Steps.)
gift\'gift\ noun: Something that is bestowed voluntarily, freely, and without payment...
Romans 4v4-5; 6v23 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness... For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
A gift is free, or it is not a gift. Imagine that your dearest friend was leaving for a time, and offered you an expensive and very sentimental and meaningful gift, like his grandfather's ring. First, it is important to remember that such a gift is never forced, but offered. It must be received willingly or it cannot be yours. Secondly, you would not consider diving into your wallet to find a few dollars to help defray part of the cost of the ring. It would be the highest of insults to your dear friend. Thirdly, if it had such high sentimental value you would not cheapen his gift by immediately hocking it for cash, or throwing it on the ground.
So it is with the greatest gift that Heavenly Father could offer: the gift of a full pardon, a legal declaration of righteousness, and eternal life in His presence in the celestial kingdom. Though it is offered freely, it is not cheap, for it cost Him the life blood of our precious Savior in order to offer it. It does not give license to sin, but on the contrary moves us to keep the first and all-encompassing command, to love God, without even trying to muster it.
What shall I do to do the works of God?
John 6v28-29 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
John 1v12-13 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Romans 10v8-13 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Again, do you believe Jesus Christ?
John 6v47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
1 John 5v13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life."
Reprinted from my web site, the article can be found at: http://exmormon.8m.com/forgive.html
THUS SAITH THE LORD...
gift\'gift \noun: Something that is bestowed voluntarily, freely, and without payment...
D&C 14v6-7 "Keep my commandments in all things. And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God."
grace\'grãs \noun: God's undeserved, unmerited favor.
D&C 130v20-21 "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
gospel\'gäs-pél \noun: Good news; glad tidings.
D&C 42v59-60 "Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law, to be my law to govern my church; And he that doeth according to these things shall be saved, and he that doeth them not shall be damned if he so continue."
The entrance requirements for the celestial kingdom and forever families:
D&C 18v46 "And after that you have received this, if you keep not my commandments you cannot be saved in the kingdom of my Father."
D&C 25v15 "Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come."
1 Nephi 3v7 "...for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
What is destruction? How many will receive it?
Matthew 7v13-14 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Jacob 6v10-11 "...for justice cannot be denied, ye must go away into that lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever, which lake of fire and brimstone is endless torment. O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life." (Outer darkness vs. eternal life?)
Perfection required now.
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.286: "...we are commanded to be supermen. Said the Lord, 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.' (Matt. 5v48) We are gods in embryo, and the Lord demands perfection of us."
James 2v10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.2: "To this end [eternal life, not mere immortality] God created man to live in mortality and endowed him with the potential to perpetuate the race, to subdue the earth, to perfect himself and to become as God, omniscient and omnipotent."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.16: "And let us not suppose that in calling people to repentance the prophets are concerned only with the more grievous sins such as murder, adultery, stealing, and so on, nor only with those persons who have not accepted the gospel ordinances. All transgressions must be cleansed, all weaknesses must be overcome, before a person can attain perfection and godhood."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p.8: "The Lord will not translate one's good hopes and desires and intentions into works. Each of us must do that for himself."
Repentance required for forgiveness...
D&C 19v3-4 "...the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless." (Repent or suffer)
D&C 58v42-43 "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins--behold, he will confess them and forsake them." (To stop sinning)
What does "repent" mean?
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness (LDS tract): "If the sinner neglects his tithing, misses his meetings, breaks the Sabbath, or fails in his prayers and other responsibilities, he is not completely repentant."
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness "The forsaking of sin must be a permanent one. True repentance does not permit making the same mistake again."
D&C 82v7 "Go yours ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God."
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 164: "Trying is not sufficient. Nor is repentance complete when one merely tries to abandon sin."
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "The Lord and his church can forgive, but not easily... There is forgiveness if you totally repent." (Which means there is forgiveness only if you totally stop sinning.)
How we know if we have truly stopped sinning...
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of forgiveness, p. 95,97: "Shirking of responsibility in the kingdom, brings inevitable condemnation... Declining to serve when called may constitute a sin of omission... if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it..." (Can you ever know when you've stopped missing every opportunity to do good works--sins of omission?)
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "The repenting person must start on the never-ending task of keeping the commandments of the Lord. Obviously this can hardly be done in a day, a week, a month, or a year, but must go on all one's life." (No length of time will ever make us sure that we have really stopped sinning.)
Spencer W. Kimball, Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 325: "it depends upon you whether or not you are forgiven, and when. It could be weeks, it could be years, it could be centuries before that happy day when you have the positive assurance that the Lord has forgiven you. That depends on your humility, your sincerity, your works, your attitudes."
2 Nephi 25v23 "It is by grace that we are saved, after all you can do." (First we must do all we can do.)
Moroni 10v32-33 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be prefect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot." (Cleansing from sin comes only after you stop all ungodliness (sinning), and keep the first and greatest commandment, which includes the entire law of God. This is "all we can do.")
Matthew 5v20, 27-30 "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven... Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offended thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Have you plucked out your eye and cut off your hand yet? You still have something more you can do.)
Matthew 19v21 "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Have you sold all your possessions and given the money to the poor to follow Jesus? You still have something more you can do.)
Spencer W. Kimball, Repentance Brings Forgiveness: "Remember that to obtain forgiveness from the Lord and his Church one must: (1) realize the seriousness of the sin and pray in great humility and sorrow, (2) forsake the sin and not repeat it, (3) confess the sin to the bishop or other Church authority, (4) restore as far as possible that which was damaged, and (5) live all the commandments of the Lord. And when he has fasted enough, suffered enough, and when his heart is right, he may expect that forgiveness will come..." (Have you ever come close to actually fulfilling steps 2 & 5 to obtain forgiveness?)
If Christ returned today, are you ready? Have you sufficiently repented and perfected yourself to escape God's wrath and enter the celestial kingdom?
Alma 5v27-32 "Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless. And again I say unto you, is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions? Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved! Yea, even wo unto all ye workers of iniquity; repent, repent, for the Lord God hath spoken it!"
Do you fear the second coming, or look forward to it?
Titus 2v13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
2 Timothy 4v8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
There is another way to attain legal perfection.
Hebrews 10v14-17 "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." (It is the new covenant in His blood. He perfects us for all time!)
Romans 3v20-25 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall be flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood..."
Colossians 2v9-10, 13-14 "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete [perfect] in him, which is the head of all principality and power: ...And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Do you believe Jesus Christ?
John 6v47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." (LDS footnote says this promise refers to exaltation.)
There is a better hope (It's a person, not a church!)
Luke 7v37-50 "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgive them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sin, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven; the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (Quite a contrast from the hopelessness of President Kimball's Five Steps.)
gift\'gift\ noun: Something that is bestowed voluntarily, freely, and without payment...
Romans 4v4-5; 6v23 "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness... For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
A gift is free, or it is not a gift. Imagine that your dearest friend was leaving for a time, and offered you an expensive and very sentimental and meaningful gift, like his grandfather's ring. First, it is important to remember that such a gift is never forced, but offered. It must be received willingly or it cannot be yours. Secondly, you would not consider diving into your wallet to find a few dollars to help defray part of the cost of the ring. It would be the highest of insults to your dear friend. Thirdly, if it had such high sentimental value you would not cheapen his gift by immediately hocking it for cash, or throwing it on the ground.
So it is with the greatest gift that Heavenly Father could offer: the gift of a full pardon, a legal declaration of righteousness, and eternal life in His presence in the celestial kingdom. Though it is offered freely, it is not cheap, for it cost Him the life blood of our precious Savior in order to offer it. It does not give license to sin, but on the contrary moves us to keep the first and all-encompassing command, to love God, without even trying to muster it.
What shall I do to do the works of God?
John 6v28-29 "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."
John 1v12-13 "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Romans 10v8-13 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved . For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Again, do you believe Jesus Christ?
John 6v47 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
1 John 5v13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life."
Reprinted from my web site, the article can be found at: http://exmormon.8m.com/forgive.html