Eternal Life God s Work & Glory

Transcription

1 : Eternal Life God s Work & Glory And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying for this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man. Doctrine & Covenants 22:23a,b

2 Meditation Thoughts The Strife is O er The strife is o er, the battle done; Now is the victor s triumph won; O let the song of praise be sung: Alleluia! Death s mightiest powers have done their worst, And Jesus hath his foes dispersed; Let shouts of praise and joy outburst: Alleluia! On the third morn he rose again, Glorious in majesty to reign; O let us swell and joyful strain: Alleluia! Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee, From death s dread sting thy servants free That we may live and sing to thee: Alleluia! The Strife is O er #192, THE HYMNAL, Copyright 1956, Ninth Printing, November, 1971, HERALD PUBLISHING HOUSE, Independence, Missouri. 2

3 Eternal Life God s Work & Glory Doctrine & Covenants 22:23a,b: And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying for this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man. Before we begin, please refer to page 7 in your lesson titled Put Off & Put On follow the instructions at the top of that page. The lesson will begin with a short review or sanopsas of the scriptures concerning the topic. Before the beginning of time upon this earth, God desired that His creation should reign with Him. His hope has not diminished through the ages of time, neither has His eternal love for mankind. Through Christ, He has provided the way for all mankind to live with Him. We face two choices: eternal life in the presence of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Spirit OR eternal separation from one or all of them. As we consider the lesson theme, first we will read several verses of Section 22, beginning with the Preface to the section. Revelation given to Joseph Smith, Jr., at Colesville, New York, in June 1830, but was not included in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants. It was first printed in "Times and Season" (4:71) and has been included in the Doctrine and Covenants sin of It was specifically approved by the 1970 World Conference. It is also printed in the forepart of the Inspired Version (pp. 7-9). [1] The words of God which he spake unto Moses, at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceeding high mountain, and he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence. [2] And God spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name, for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless? [3a] And behold, thou art my son, wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands, but not all; [3b] for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease; [3c] wherefore, no man can behold all my works except he behold all my glory; [3d] and no man can behold all my glory, and afterwards remain in the flesh, on the earth. [4a] And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and my Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; [4b] but there is no God beside me; and all things are present with me, for I know them all. [21c] And worlds without number have I created, and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. And the first man of all men have I called Adam, which is many. [21d] But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you; for behold there are many worlds which have passed away by the word of my power; [21e] and there are many also which now stand, and numberless are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me; for they are mine, and I know them. [22a] And it came to pass, that Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, [22b] Be merciful unto thy servant, O God, and tell me concerning this earth, and the inhabitants thereof; and also the heavens, and then thy servant will be content. [23a] And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying, The heavens, they are many and they can not be numbered unto man, but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine; and as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof, even so shall another come; [23b] and there is no end to my works, neither to my words; for this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality, and eternal life of man. 3

4 [25] These words were spoken unto Moses in the mount, the name of which shall not be known among the children of men. And now they are spoken unto you. Amen. As stated in verse 23a-b, the Lord God is the creator of the heavens and the earth; they are many and numbered unto Him and still there is not an end to His work. God has a purpose for all of His creation. His purpose is wrapped up in the declaration He made to Moses as recorded in verse 23b. His purpose is two part: it is His work and glory to bring to pass the, and of man. Part One ~ His Work: to bring to pass immortality In the beginning there was no separation between God and his creation, including Adam and Eve; He knew them and they walked and talked with Him. But because mankind, beginning with Adam, desired to not choose God but to choose his own lustful ways, mankind became separated from God spiritually. Death of the body is the physical result of that separation and mankind became mortal having a life that ended at the grave. We would have remained in that condition if it were not for God providing for all mankind a life after death and the grave, immortality, a life that is endless. His work was to bring to pass this change to take place, from a mortal state to immortality. Through the willingness of His Only Begotten to take upon himself our sins, He being sinless through His obedience to the Father in everything, suffered death of the mortal body. Because of His obedience and sacrifice, He had power to raise from the grave, thus breaking the chains of eternal death and providing all mankind immortality, an endless life. God s work was accomplished. [read: Genesis chapters 1-4, Doctrine & Covenants 28:12a-d, Romans 6:1-23, 1 Corinthians 15:35-57, Enos 1:32-46, Mosiah 27-12, Alma 3:27-53, Mormon 3:18-23]. The strife is o er, the battle done; Now is the victor s triumph won; O let the song of praise be sung: Alleluia! Death s mightiest powers have done their worst, And Jesus hath his foes dispersed; Let shouts of praise and joy outburst: Alleluia! Part 2 ~ His Glory: to bring to pass eternal life After death all mankind will be raised from the grave to stand before God and be judged of our life here upon this earth. For every person He provides a place, a kingdom or glory to dwell in for eternity. Our dwelling place, or glory, will depend upon the quality of life we lived upon the earth. Every kingdom [celestial, terrestrial, telestial, and no glory] have laws that are fixed. In this life (our life now) mankind is choosing which kingdom with its laws they are willing to obey. God being a just and merciful God will not require you to live in a kingdom (glory) where you will not be happy to keep the laws of that kingdom. [see Doctrine & Covenants76; 85:2a- 11b, Geneses 6:61-71] 4

5 In Doctrine & Covenants 85:6a-c states that the earth abides the law of the celestial kingdom. ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: How does the earth abide? What Happens to it? What happens After it Dies? and Who Inherits It and Why? [fill in the blanks in this scripture] How? [6a] The earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it the measure of its creation, and not the. What Happens? [6b] Wherefore, it shall be ; yea, notwithstanding it shall die it shall be again After it Dies? and shall the by which it is quickened, Who Inherits It-Why? and the shall inherit it: [6c] for, notwithstanding they die, they also shall rise again a spiritual body: they who are of a shall receive the same body, which was a natural body: even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that by which your bodies are quickened. In Doctrine & Covenants 85 the word quickened is used several times. To be quickened is to be made alive or return to life. Verses 4-5 explains that at the resurrection from the dead the spirit and the body [soul of man] will be quickeneth to a kingdom of glory: i.e. will be returned to the kingdom or laws by which they lived within upon the earth. Doctrine & Covenants 76 explains the differences in the kingdoms, who will abide in them according to the laws and the measure of their creation. The quality of life is your glory. Those who dwell in any glory and kingdom other than celestial glory will only receive a portion of God s glory, not His fullness. [v.6e] Warning: Also note in Section 85 verse 5b-c, he who does not live on earth by the laws of any kingdom of glory [celestial, terrestrial or telestial], he for all eternity [5c]... must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory. The words of Jesus in the book of John chapter 17 verses 1-4 explain what eternal life is, and by what power it is given. Look up the scripture and fill in the blanks below. [1] These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee; [2] As thou hast given him [the Son] power over all flesh, that he [the Son] should give to as many as thou[god] hast given him [the Son]. [3] And this is life eternal, that might thee the only true, and, whom thou hast sent. [4] I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. THINK ON THIS: To know God and Jesus Christ is to have an intimate relationship with them. It is God s glory [and desire] that we live upon this earth with the quality of life of the celestial kingdom so that we may abide eternity in His fullness. We must fulfill the measure of our creation, just as the earth did and does by abiding by the laws that God established for the celestial kingdom. Christ finished the work God had for Him to do; He fulfilled His measure of creation. Our measure of creation, the purpose for which we are created and the plan of salvation were clearly stated from the beginning as recorded in Geneses 6: Underline what the plan of salvation is [62, 64-65] and Highlight the purpose for which all things are created [66]. 5

6 [62] Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory. [63] For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified. [64] Therefore it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven, the Comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice and judgment. [65] And now, behold, I say unto you, This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time. [66] And, behold, all things have their likeness; and all things are created and made to bear record of me; We are given opportunity to fulfil the measure of our creation upon this earth. We are agents unto ourselves to choose to live within God s laws or man s. Alma chapter 9 explains the plan of salvation and the purpose of this temporal life [37-53]. When time allows, read the whole chapter. Verses provide the name and purpose of this temporal life or this space that has been granted. Look up the scripture and fill in the blanks. [40] And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might [41] Therefore this life became a state; a time to to meet ; a time to prepare for that, which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead. Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee, From death s dread sting thy servants free That we may live and sing to thee: Alleluia! Christ has provided for our immortality and He has prepared the way for us to choose eternal life right now. Through Him we will be able to fulfill our measure of creation. God s work and His glory is that we choose Him. Reflection: Ask yourself... Am I fulfilling the measure of my creation? In my everyday life do I bear record of God and Jesus Christ? How am I preparing to meet God? After some prayer time, follow instructions on the Put Off ~ Put On page 7, write down 1. how you will improve on fulfilling your measure of creation, [Put Off] 2. how you will bear record of Him [Put On] 3. what you are doing or will do to prepare to meet God? [PLAN OF ACTION] Suggestion: in a separate book keep a journal of your commitments and your progress. Remember: it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 6

7 Put Off & Put On ~ Christ is the Key Mosiah 1: : For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been, from the fall of Adam, and will be, for ever and ever; But if he yields to [chooses to obey] the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man, and becometh a saint, through the atonement of Christ, the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. DO THIS: As you read your lesson, identify [write down] those things that do not allow the enticings of the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. PUT OFF those habits of THE NATURAL MAN and PUT ON or yield to [obey] the enticings of the Holy Spirit, the attributes that becometh a saint [see scripture above]. Make a PLAN OF ACTION to become THE SPIRITUAL MAN IN CHRIST. THE NATURAL MAN Choose the Enticings of Holy Spirit THE SPIRITUAL MAN PUT OFF PUT ON PLAN OF ACTION 7

8 ~Notes~ 8