Posted on 09/04/2009 12:54:49 PM PDT by Colofornian
Followers of Emanuel can be saved by grace through an investment in obedience which determines the willingness and desire to live back within the presence of God.
In 2 Nephi 25:23 it states: “for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
This commonly referenced scripture was the basis for Brad Wilcox’s Tuesday lecture, “After All We Can Do,“ from the series “Using the Atonement to Turn Weakness into Strengths.”
“This is a source of discouragement if not understood,” said Wilcox, an associate professor of teacher education at BYU.
Wilcox focused on each individual word in the latter part of the scripture and examined its definition alone and within its context.
He said the inflection put on a particular word in a sentence changes the meaning of how someone understands the concept.
Wilcox said he once felt he had to do it all before he could qualify for grace to make up the difference. But he saw that Paul and Alma the Younger did nothing first to qualify yet received many great blessings.
Then he replaced “after” with “in spite of” and found that grace was given unconditionally when he put the verse in the context of the chapter, which is focused on the mission of the Messiah and the magnitude of his great blessings.
In fact, he said, the Savior’s gift is not limited in time.
“[The Atonement] is not a booster engine when we run out of steam, it is a source of strength,” Wilcox said. “I need him here and now.”
Don’t wait for the blessings of grace because it’s not just given after the condition is completed, that it is after all we can do that grace then fills in the gaps.
“Light is all round Him, not just at the end of the tunnel,” Wilcox said.
He said that it’s tricky to do all we can do.
“In this world of mixed messages, I can’t get away from the nagging thought if only I could do more,” Wilcox said. “If only.”
He made the suggestion that those participating ask the Lord what is acceptable and not dwell on what more could have been done. The greatest comfort can be found in this principle, he said.
“Any effort is pleasing to God, even if He and I know that it’s far from my best,” Wilcox said. “God accepts it, nonetheless, because … He is more concerned with the offerer than the offering.”
Wilcox advised that people recognize their efforts are moving in the right direction instead of feeling bad that it isn’t all done.
People’s motivation should not be to impress God with their sacrifices, but let that which is sacrificed leave impressions within.
“‘After all we can do’ is dependent upon Christ’s enabling power,” Wilcox said. People, he proposes, are nothing, which literally means, powerless without God.
“It would be like a jockey saying he could win without his horse,” Wilcox said.
“After all we can do” would imply that there is a checklist before people can return to heaven, but he said it’s the willingness to get to heaven through being heavenly.
Because it’s not the work that earns a person’s admittance into heaven, but the worth in how it shapes them.
“Learn where to turn for help,” Wilcox said, “instead of lowering expectations to meet expectations.”
Wilcox said those who come unto Christ can be perfected because He has already filled in the gaps and it’s in the principle of obedience that determines where we stand with God.
“Jesus paid,” Wilcox said. “Justice is done.”
However, the condition to become perfected is one’s willingness since it’s the internalization of improvement that allows people to return to God.
“When we do finally pass the veil, it will not be as individuals who have done our part,” Wilcox said. “But literally holding hands with Jesus.”
He closed the lecture by suggesting that Christ doesn’t love us because we are good, He loves us because He is good.
“Jesus’ love is not something we earn, it earns us.”
Ah, the very heart of the Mormon false gospel.
From the article: Then he replaced “after” with “in spite of” and found that grace was given unconditionally when he put the verse in the context of the chapter, which is focused on the mission of the Messiah and the magnitude of his great blessings.
Why how nice. If you don't like what Joseph "the seer" saw, just sow a seed of a different color: Just change it! (Can we do that, too, and edit the Book of Mormon as we'd like to see it?)
From the article: “This is a source of discouragement if not understood,” said Wilcox, an associate professor of teacher education at BYU.
(Well, now we know why Wilcox was motivated to edit Mormon "Scripture" -- 'cause its very "gospel" is 100% discouraging! It's a failing grade offered by the professors of Mormonism right up front!)
From the article: “After all we can do” would imply that there is a checklist before people can return to heaven..
Well, Brad, it's a bit more than just an implication. [I know you don't want to come face-to-face with the implications of that little word, "all" -- I know it's just a wee bit too "all-inclusive" -- "all" means every Mormon better break down every aspect of life (emotionally, socially, relationally, physically, spiritually, etc.) and comply with your "do" checklist.]
From the article: “In this world of mixed messages, I can’t get away from the nagging thought if only I could do more,” Wilcox said. “If only.”
Well, this is the precise problem: The Mormon church itself is the biggest source of "mixed messages" for its people. They may read in the Bible that heaven is a free gift from God's gracious Hand (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9), but then past "prophets" like Spencer W. Kimball & others then stress that you have to earn forgiveness -- Kimball even had a chapter in a book entitled, "Keeping God's Commandments Brings Forgiveness."
From the article: “Jesus’ love is not something we earn, it earns us.”
Well, yes, how nice. Except it's not Mormon teaching. It's not Mormon "scripture." Mormon "scripture" is more like:
That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins... D&C 76:52
In the Mormon church, obedience is ground zero.
Even before faith -- obedience earns you faith (so said Lds "prophet" Joseph F. Smith)
Even before forgiveness -- obedience earns you forgiveness (so says Lds "prophet" Spencer W. Kimball)
Even before being able to be washed & cleansed from sins -- obedience must be earned (so said founding "prophet" Joseph Smith)
Even before grace -- restoration "grace for grace" only comes to Mormons "according to their works" (Helaman 12:24, Book of Mormon)
So here, the article is stressing grace now and grace later. Instead, the Mormon gospel is obedience not only now and later -- but before anything:
Faith,
forgiveness,
washing or cleansing from sin
grace
None of it kicks in for the Mormon until all the obedient works are racked up! That, my friends, is a false gospel through and through!
Good article. At the risk of over-using the word “all”, this is precisely why the Mormon “gospel” is not the gospel at all. There is no self-help for those dead in their trespasses and sins. Were it not for the Rescuer, Who blows life into these dead souls, we would perish as Lazarus. But, He said “Rise”, and we found life from the dead. Many groups, Catholic, Mormon, and many modern Evangelical groups, are stuck in age-old synergism.
Yes, 'Boy you hit it right on the head. More than perhaps any religion, Mormonism is the "all-self" religion. I mean, this BYU prof tries to paint a different portrait when he said:
From the article:“When we do finally pass the veil, it will not be as individuals who have done our part,” Wilcox said. “But literally holding hands with Jesus.”
Well, what would the person they named Wilcox' university say to that? "I am the only person that can possibly save myself." -- Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 390 (1941)
Another later lds "prophet": "I am living for my own salvation now and hereafter..." Joseph F. Smith Life of JFS p. 454
How pathetically sad self-saviordom is.
Ping
Past Lds "prophet" David O. McKay said: The true purpose in life is the perfection of humanity through individual effort, under the guidance of God's inspiration." (1963 Lds Conference Report, p. 7)
McKay hardly sounds like he's just focusing on some "improvement" tactics!
From the article: Because it’s not the work that earns a person’s admittance into heaven, but the worth in how it shapes them.
Alright, let's translate this "Mormonese": He says, essentially, it's NOT your work projects, but just your worthiness? Well, according to Mormon writings, what makes you "worthy?" Your perfection (3 Nephi 12:48; Mt. 5:48)
[Whereas, in contrast, a good definition of a "Christian" is someone already perfect in the Father's eyes thru Jesus sacrificial death (Heb. 10:14) -- where His perfect righteousness is substituted for our imperfect righteousness. (1 Cor. 1:30). Heb. 10:14 ...because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.]
Just to be sure, I looked up "worthiness" (a key Lds concept) in the 1977 "Topical Guide to the Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" published by church-owned Deseret Publishers.
I found verses like Doctrine & Covenants 59:4: "And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time--they that are faithful and diligent before me."
"Commandments not a few"? -- sounds like a long checklist to me.
I then looked at the 1979 "Topical Guide" in the Lds version of its KJV -- and turned to the "worthiness" entry there: It tells me right up top its related to the concept of "qualifying for" & then proceeds to verses like D&C 31:5: "Therefore, thrust in your sickle with all your soul, and your sins are forgiven you, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your back, for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live."
So it sounds like the Mormon god wants plenty of soul labor -- paid labor -- earned labor for salvation. No free gifts here. No grace here.
Not too different from John Piper’s teachings:
http://www.svchapel.org/resources/book-reviews/4-christian-living/127-future-grace-by-john-piper
Compare to:
John 6:27-2927. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."
28. Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"
29. Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."
I heard something recently that perfectly describes the differences between the LDS and Christians.
The LDS believe they can be forgiven because (or if) they are obedient.
Christians are obedient because they have ALREADY been forgiven.
This guy sounds like a motivational speaker on lsd (lds). Great ‘flexibility’ to redefine the bom to make it sound better.
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