Another fine post! Here are some more:
Romans 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.For those who are interested, here is an allegory:
2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Lehi, while journeying from Jerusalem, saw a vision of a tree with most delightful fruit representing the love of God, a strait and narrow path leading to it, a rod of iron along the path representing the Word of God, mists of darkness representing the temptations of Satan, etc.
The general idea is that if we think we can just sit back and coast to the victory, we are likely to get derailed by a very cunning adversary. We need to love God with all our might, mind, and strength, overcome the world through faith in Christ, overcome temptation, forsake every evil way, be dedicated and devoted, hold tight to the Word of God, be faithful and not slothful servants, and so forth.
Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 8:19-24 (about 600 BC)Even after they had partaken of the love of God, another challenge awaited them:
19 And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood.
20 And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.
21 And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
22 And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
23 And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.
24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree.
25 And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.There were many who not only held on firmly to the Word of God, resisting temptation, until they reached the tree and partook of the love of God, but also gave no heed to the mockers and the scoffers, and thus did not fall away like the others.
26 And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.
27 And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
God does all of the saving. With man it is impossible. We are saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ. But that does not mean we sit back and do nothing. There are so many things God has commanded us to do, many people in need of our help, much love and charity to offer, many little everyday kindnesses to do consistently to bless the lives of others, much meekness and humility to learn, much righteousness we should be bringing to pass if our Lord would consider us to be devoted disciples of Christ in very deed, trying to be like Him, and not just professing.
Thank you so much for your input into this debate. Though not a Mormon myself, I find it interesting to see how the Chuch of LDS interprets scripture.
I think there is a very interesting, very intentional paradox between faith & works in the NT, and one could take either point to an extreme. My heart is not to favor one idea over the other, but to demonstrate that they are both complimentary, that faith and deeds must go together. I think it's a terrible mistake to preach one without balancing it with the other.
Faith without deeds is useless.
Deeds without faith is also useless.
But faith & deeds together is truly the message of the Kingdom of God.
God bless you White Mt., and have a wonderful summer!