Day 34; Alma 39-42
I am tackling the Book of Mormon in 60 days. My plan is to have the Book of Mormon studied by the end of 2011. During my challenge, I will post a daily blog of my reading, in this blog I will share with you... my thoughts, feelings, opinions and knowledge about the Book of Mormon. Do you have questions? Comments? Please... lets start a discussion. I would be more than happy to answer your questions, comments or concerns!
Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of
How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g
Scripture Thought (What I Learned):
Chapters 39-42 are the commandments that Alma gave to his son Corianton.
Chapter 39: Alma teaches Corianton about how sexual sin is an abomination. He tells us that God views sexual sin (fornication, adultery, etc) on the same level with murder and denying the holy ghost.
We learn that people who murder have a hard time obtaining forgiveness, but that is possible to be forgiven. (Alma 39:6), but denying the Holy Ghost after you have received it, is unpardonable (Alma 39:6)
He tells Corianton that he must confess his sins and repent, because in the last day you will not be able to hide your crimes before God. Everything that you try and hide will only become a witness against you.
"Seek not after riches nor the vain things of the world; for behold you cannot carry them with you." (Alma 39:14)
We also learn that our sinful nature, can effect others around us. If we are looked up to by anyone and then we sin, they will think it is ok. Therefore we are leading people to sin, and this will be on our heads.
Chapter 40: Alma teaches about the resurrection and what happens to us after we die.
"...there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but god knoweth the time which is appointed." (Alma 40:4) - I thought this was very interesting, of course we all know that we do not know the time of our death. But what is interesting, is that God DOES KNOW! This leads me to believe that destiny is something that is true. Yes we do have our agency, but some things are sort of laid out for us.
We learn about life after death...
"Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection - Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. And then shall it comes to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care and sorrow. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil- for behold, they had no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them- and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of death, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of the resurrection." (Alma 40:11-14)
Here we learn, that before the resurrection there has to be a time of waiting. Those who were good will wait in peace, and happiness. They will have time to rest from their troubles and be comforted. However those who chose evil works in this life, will have time to think about the evils that they had committed. Therefore you will have weeping, and wailing... gnashing of teeth... all because of their own iniquity. This will be spurred on by their remembrance of the things that they have done.
After this waiting period, when Jesus comes for a second time, the dead will arise from the graves and we will be resurrected beings brought forth to be judged by God in the flesh.
"The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame" (Alma 40:23)
We learn that the soul and body will be reunited one day, and that we will be perfect. Those who are born with defects, or with missing legs, arms... etc. Will have everything restored to their proper order.
Chapter 41: Alma continues to teach about salvation and the state of our souls and bodies after death.
Salvation comes from good works?
"And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good." (Alma 41:3)
So, saved by grace? No. We need both grace (the atonement of Jesus Christ - both the suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross, dying for all our sins) and good works. Jesus gave us the way, he opened the door... but it is up to us to go through the door and accept him and his commandments. If we have faith in Jesus Christ, we also follow his commandments... because he has commanded of us to follow his commandments. Therefore if we believe that we will be saved by faith alone, then we have failed. Because faith means putting your trust in something that is not seen, if we put our trust in Jesus Christ and do not follow his commandments... we are putting our trust in him... our faith in him is vain.
Alma even tells his son; "Do not suppose... that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." (Alma 41:10)
If we do evil works, we can only expect what we will receive from the kingdom of the devil. We cannot expect to do evil and then receive good... or do good and receive evil. It is very simple... good for good, and evil for evil. We have our agency, and the choice is ours. But through Jesus Christ he has given us away and has pleaded on our behalf to our Heavenly Father that we may also repent and do good.
Chapter 42: Mortality is a probationary state of man, wherein we are granted the opportunity to repent and better ourselves in this world. A time to prepare to meet God. Because of Adam and Eve and there fall, a temporal and spiritual death was brought before us. Because if Adam had partaken of the fruit of the tree of life with the knowledge of good and evil he would have lived forever. That is why God placed a cherubim to protect the tree so that Adam could have the chance in his mortal life to repent.(Genesis 3:24).
God gave men a conscience: "Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man" (Alma 42:18)
Alma explains that if there was no law given against sin, then men would not be afraid to sin. Therefore if God gives his mercy through the Atonement of his Son Jesus Christ, then a law is given,"... a punishment is affixed and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth... if not so the works of justice would be destoryed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law of justice" (Alma 42:22-23)
So we see, that the works of God are amazing, because of his great plan, we can one day return to live with him!
No comments:
Post a Comment