When this remarkable declaration was issued to the world, the First Presidency (President Gordon B. Hinckley and his two counselors, James E. Faust and Thomas S. Monson) sent a letter of introduction to church leaders around the world which stated:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared: ‘The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.’ In that spirit, we add our witness to that of our predecessors...We encourage you to use this written testimony in helping to build the faith of our Heavenly Father’s children” (First Presidency letter, Dec. 10, 1999).
The
mere existence of this document is powerful evidence that we do indeed have a
living prophet and living apostles once more in our day. Much like the apostles and prophets of old, these
modern day apostles have been called to be special witnesses that Jesus is the Christ
and that He died for our sins and was resurrected on the third day.
If you are willing to study the remarkable claims and statements of belief made in The Living Christ, it will become clear to you that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has an understanding of Jesus Christ, His nature, His mission, and His atonement that is unique in the history of this world for its clarity and simplicity. Moreover, there are aspects of Christ's nature that ONLY the Latter-day Saints fully grasp and teach. Not only that, but The Living Christ helps to establish that Latter-day Saints truly do believe in the Christ of the Bible, and not "another Jesus." It also helps to show that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is Christ's Church in the latter days, and that it is led by a living and active Savior who directs the work for the good of the whole world.Acts 10:39-43 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
If The Living Christ proves anything, it is that the Latter-day Saint case for Christ is stronger than even most Latter-Day Saints understand. All of the scriptures testify of the truths taught in it, and it bears the testimony of prophets and apostles of God. The Living Christ is special (in part) because it is NOT another creed or formulation which tries to parse dry semantics or technical distinctions concerning Christ and his nature. It is powerful truth, derived from continuing revelation given to living prophets directly by God.
If we truly grasped the unique power and clarity of what we Latter-day Saints believe and teach and know about Jesus Christ we would realize that what we have is truly a "pearl of great price." To those many skeptics in this modern world, we know and can testify that Jesus did indeed live, and die, and then rise again, and we can explain why that matters. Our knowledge that He lives and that He is active in the world today has the power to change the world. The world needs to know that Christ's mission and ministry wasn't limited to a few years in Judea two thousand years ago. Instead, we know that His power (and His work) extends for all eternity; past, present, and future. On a more personal level, we know that each one of us can develop our own real, meaningful, and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is interested in our individual welfare and happiness, and He involves Himself in the lives of all those who will let Him in. Christ is not an incomprehensible mystery, or a remote and formless spirit. He lives, and He loves us, and we can know him for ourselves in a very real, and deeply profound way.
The Living Christ is a remarkable document for many reasons, and not least because the doctrines set forth within it do not depend, wholly or even substantially, on the so-called restoration scriptures (such as the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, or The Pearl of Great Price). In fact, as I studied “The Living Christ,” I was pleased to find that the major doctrinal points in it can be amply supported by scripture contained in the Bible. The Living Christ goes a long way towards demonstrating that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe in and teach of the genuine Christ of the Bible. What I mean by this is that Latter-day Saint beliefs and teachings concerning Christ can be supported wholly and directly from the Bible, with the added caveat that Latter-day Saints reject the innovations made in the creeds and councils that took place in the centuries since the death of the last of the Apostles.
Due
to our rejection of the creeds, Latter-day Saints are often accused of
“preaching a different Jesus” (see 2 Cor. 11:4) than the rest of
Christianity. Further, members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are often informed that their
beliefs are not biblical because they depart from the standards established by
the creeds (rather than the Bible alone). That is why this document is so valuable--even though we can rely on the "more sure word of prophecy" as the source for our claims about the Living Christ--it
demonstrates that we can also confidently point to the Bible to lend additional strength to those claims, and that while
we may choose to reject the creeds, this does not make our beliefs any less “biblical”
(in fact I would argue that our rejection of the creeds makes our beliefs more biblical in nature, also See 2 Peter 1:19).
It
is true that we have (or rather God has) added several books to the scriptural
canon that most Christians do not accept, and so those who accuse us of not
being Christian might well suspect that any declaration that we may make concerning
Jesus Christ must depend largely upon our own scriptures for substantiation, because surely we cannot support our beliefs biblically. On occasion I have noted that some Latter-day Saints also
tend to assume that we rely on the Book of Mormon (or other scriptures unique
to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in order to establish our version of things, and that the Bible
is only a secondary source for those beliefs.
In this regard The Living Christ is important because it demonstrates
these various assumptions to be entirely false, while simultaneously illustrating the
central role that the Bible plays in establishing our most basic doctrines and
beliefs.
The
Living Christ has great value as a missionary tool, and the truths contained within it have the power to change hearts and minds throughout the world, and to bring many to a personal knowledge of (and relationship with) their Savior. However, The Living Christ has
equal value as a teaching tool for each member of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints to use to learn exactly what it is that we believe and teach concerning
Jesus Christ. It is not enough that we know that we know these things. We need to be able to explain our doctrine to the rest of the world in a way that is meaningful, and which they can understand. That is why a deeper study of The Living Christ is important and necessary.
To the end of fostering a deeper study of this landmark document, as well as demonstrating the centrality of Jesus Christ and His atonement in Latter-day Saint beliefs, and demonstrating the importance of the Bible in establishing those beliefs, I have included my own breakdown of The Living Christ which highlights some of the more important statements contained in the document and presents a number of scriptures that can be used to support each assertion. Most of these scriptures, as you will see, come from the Bible but I have included scriptures from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants in order to further establish the truth of the statements made in The Living Christ as well as to show how well these scriptures harmonize with what is taught in the Bible.
The rest of this article focuses mainly on tying scripture references to the principles taught by the Prophet and the Apostles in The Living Christ. However, I have written extensively (and in great detail) elsewhere about practically every aspect of Jesus Christ, His nature, and His atonement. If you are interested in learning more about what Latter-day Saints believe and teach about the Savior and His atonement, I invite you to check out the following series of articles:
Why Only Jesus Could Be The Christ
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross?
Why Gethsemane is as Important as Calvary
Are You A Christian If You Don't Believe In The Trinity?
Is the Atonement of Jesus Christ Enough for All of Us?
Christ and the Healing Power of the Atonement
He is Risen! The Case For the Resurrection of Christ
The Atonement Defined I: Justification
The Atonement Defined II: Sanctification
You Are Never Beyond The Reach of God's Love
To the end of fostering a deeper study of this landmark document, as well as demonstrating the centrality of Jesus Christ and His atonement in Latter-day Saint beliefs, and demonstrating the importance of the Bible in establishing those beliefs, I have included my own breakdown of The Living Christ which highlights some of the more important statements contained in the document and presents a number of scriptures that can be used to support each assertion. Most of these scriptures, as you will see, come from the Bible but I have included scriptures from the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants in order to further establish the truth of the statements made in The Living Christ as well as to show how well these scriptures harmonize with what is taught in the Bible.
The rest of this article focuses mainly on tying scripture references to the principles taught by the Prophet and the Apostles in The Living Christ. However, I have written extensively (and in great detail) elsewhere about practically every aspect of Jesus Christ, His nature, and His atonement. If you are interested in learning more about what Latter-day Saints believe and teach about the Savior and His atonement, I invite you to check out the following series of articles:
Why Only Jesus Could Be The Christ
Why Did Jesus Have to Die on the Cross?
Why Gethsemane is as Important as Calvary
Are You A Christian If You Don't Believe In The Trinity?
Is the Atonement of Jesus Christ Enough for All of Us?
Christ and the Healing Power of the Atonement
He is Risen! The Case For the Resurrection of Christ
The Atonement Defined I: Justification
The Atonement Defined II: Sanctification
You Are Never Beyond The Reach of God's Love
The Living
Christ
1 1)
“He was the
Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New.”
Isaiah
43:1, 3, 10-12 But now thus saith the
LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:
for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of
Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my
servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand
that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after
me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside
me there is no saviour. I have declared,
and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you:
therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God.
Daniel
3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see
four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and
the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
John
8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced to
see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast
thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but
Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them,
and so passed by.
I
included the last verse about the people’s attempt to stone Christ after His
declaration that “Before Abraham was, I am” because it shows that the people understood
exactly what He was telling them; namely that He was the God of the Old
Testament, which statement they considered to be blasphemy and a thus a stoning
offense.
D&C 110:2-4 We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
D&C 110:2-4 We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber. His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying: am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.
Hebrews
1:1-2 GOD, who at sundry times and in
divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in
these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all
things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Colossians
1:16-17 (12-19) For by him were all
things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:
all things were created by him, and for him:
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Ephesians
3:9 And to make all men see what is the
fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid
in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
John
1:1-3 & 10 IN the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him
was not any thing made that was made. He
was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
D&C
76:23-24 For we saw him, even on the
right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only
Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are
and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters
unto God.
Hebrews
4:14-15 Seeing then that we have a great
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold
fast our profession. For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in
all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
D&C
20:22 He suffered temptations but gave
no heed unto them
1
Peter 2:21-22 For even hereunto were ye
called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Hebrews
9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second
time without sin unto salvation.
2
Nephi 31:6-7 And now, I would ask of
you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness
in being baptized by water? Know ye not
that he was holy? But notwithstanding he
being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he
humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he
would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
Hebrews
5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned
he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Romans
5:8-19 But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life. And not only
so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now
received the atonement. Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon
all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but
sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam
to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's
transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free
gift. For if through the offence of one
many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by
one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment
was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification. For if by one man's
offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace
and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of
one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of
one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans
3:24-31 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, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To
declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Where is boasting then? It is
excluded. By what law? of works?
Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore
we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one
God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through
faith. Do we then make void the law
through faith? God forbid: yea, we
establish the law.
Matthew
5:17-19 Think not that I am come to
destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all
be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall
break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be
called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach
them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
3
Nephi 15:4-10 Behold, I say unto you
that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses. Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am
he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled,
for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end. Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as
many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be
fulfilled. And because I said unto you
that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken
concerning things which are to come. For
behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but
the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me. Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye
shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal
life. Behold, I have given unto you the
commandments; therefore keep my commandments.
And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
John
3:14-17 And as Moses lifted up the
serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved.
1
John 4:9-10 In this was manifested the
love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the
world, that we might live through him. Herein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be
the propitiation for our sins.
Colossians
1:12-14; 20-22 Giving thanks unto the
Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the
saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: And, having made peace through
the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I
say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and
enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of
his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable
in his sight:
1
Peter 2:24-25 Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the
Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
1
Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Titus
2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Romans
5:8-11 But God commendeth his love
toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his
blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we
shall be saved by his life. And not only
so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now
received the atonement.
Colossians
1:15 Who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of every creature:
Psalms 89:26-27 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
John
1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
“Paul
refers to Christ as the firstborn in two different passages in chapter one of
Colossians. A review of the scriptures
reveals that Jesus is the firstborn in three very significant ways. (1) He is
the firstborn spirit son of God, the firstborn of all creation. (Col.
1:15) “His is the birthright and the
everlasting right of presidency,” wrote elder McConkie. As the firstborn, it
was Jehovah’s right to be chosen and foreordained as the Savior. It would also be his right, under the
direction of the Father, to create worlds without number. (Col. 1:16; see also Moses 1:33.) (2)
Jesus Christ is the literal son of God the Father. (1:3.) He is the Only begotten or firstborn of the
Father in the flesh (see John 1:14.)” (Williams,
C. J. (1987). The preeminence of christ
(colossians). In Millet, R. L. (Ed.)
(1987). Studies in Scripture: Volume six
acts to revelation (pp. 136-145). Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company.)
6)
“The Only Begotten Son in the flesh.”
John
1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father,) full of grace and truth.
John
3:16 For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
Alma
7:10 And behold, he shall be born of
Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a
precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power
of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.
D&C
76:23 For we saw him, even on the right
hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten
of the Father—
D&C
20:21 Wherefore, the Almighty God gave
his Only Begotten Son, as it is written in those scriptures which have been
given of him.
Hebrews
2:9-10, 14-17 But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every
man. For it became him, for whom are all
things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise
took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the
power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death
were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to
be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful
high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of
the people.
1
Corinthians 15:23 (3-4 & 12-23) For
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that
he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Now if Christ be
preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no
resurrection of the dead? But if there
be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not
risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God;
because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not
up, if so be that the dead rise not. For
if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised,
your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most miserable. But
now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that
slept. For since by man came death, by
man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the
firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
Colossians
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things
he might have the preeminence.
2
Nephi 2:6-9 Wherefore, redemption cometh
in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for
sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and
a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make
these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that
there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the
merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life
according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he
may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should
rise. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits
unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men;
and they that believe in him shall be saved.
1
John 2:1-2 My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not.
And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ
the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only,
but also for the sins of the whole world.
D&C
45:3-5 Listen to him who is the advocate
with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—Saying: Father, behold
the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased;
behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that
thyself might be glorified; Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that
believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
1
Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a
ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Hebrews
9:14-15 How much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator of the
new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the
promise of eternal inheritance.
Job
16:21 O that one might plead for a man
with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!
Isaiah
3:13 The LORD standeth up to plead, and
standeth to judge the people.
2
Nephi 2:9-10 Wherefore, he is the
firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the
children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. And because of the intercession for all, all
men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged
of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy
One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which
punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is
affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—
9)
“He lives!”
D&C
76:22-23 And now, after the many
testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all,
which we give of him: That he lives! For
we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing
record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—
1
Corinthians 15:3-4 & 12-23
Hebrews
13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and
to day, and for ever.
Psalms
102:24-27 I said, O my God, take me not away in the
midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the
earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure:
yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them,
and they shall be changed: But thou art
the same, and thy years shall have no end.
D&C
20:17 By these things we know that there
is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to
everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all
things which are in them;
10)
“We testify that He will someday return to earth.”
Acts
1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this
same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Hebrews
9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second
time without sin unto salvation.
1
Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not
have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye
sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are
asleep. For the Lord himself shall
descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the
trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these
words.
Acts
3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which
before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began.
11)
“He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of
His Father.”
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:21-23 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Hebrews 10:12-14 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Matthew 1:21-23 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Hebrews 10:12-14 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
D&C
20:24 (21-24) And ascended into heaven,
to sit down on the right hand of the Father, to reign with almighty power
according to the will of the Father;
Philippians
2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly
exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Acts
7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy
Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus
standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened,
and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Psalms
22:27-28 All the ends of the world shall
remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall
worship before thee. For the kingdom is
the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations.
Isaiah
9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name
shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of
his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and
upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with
justice from henceforth even for ever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
12) “Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.”
Isaiah
3:13-14 The LORD standeth up to plead,
and standeth to judge the people. The
LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes
thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your
houses.
John
5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but
hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Acts
10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto
the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the
Judge of quick and dead
Acts
24:15 And have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead,
both of the just and unjust.
John
5:26-30 For as the Father hath life in
himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given
him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,
in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come
forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that
have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear,
I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the
will of the Father which hath sent me.
3
Nephi 27:13-15 Behold I have given unto
you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came
into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted
up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I
might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should
men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their
works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—And for this cause have I
been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all
men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.
2
Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2
Nephi 2:9-10 Wherefore, he is the
firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the
children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved. And because of the intercession for all, all
men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged
of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy
One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which
punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is
affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—
13) “He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”
Acts
4:12 Neither is there salvation in any
other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we
must be saved.
Mosiah
3:17 And moreover, I say unto you, that
there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby
salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of
Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.
John
14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way,
the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Isaiah
25:8-9 He will swallow up death in
victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the
rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD
hath spoken it. And it shall be said in
that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us:
this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his
salvation.
1
Corinthians 15:54-58 So when this
corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is
swallowed up in victory. O death, where
is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory? The sting of death is sin; and the
strength of sin is the law. But thanks
be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye
stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye
know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Mosiah
16:6-10, 13 And now if Christ had not
come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already
come, there could have been no redemption.
And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of
death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no
sting, there could have been no resurrection.
But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and
the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless,
that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there
can be no more death. Even this mortal
shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and
shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according
to their works whether they be good or whether they be evil—And now, ought ye
not to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember that only in and through
Christ ye can be saved?
As I've been reading your articles over the years I'm reminded of the counsel of the Prophet that we use the tools available to us to share the gospel, our testimonies and our beliefs. I admire you greatly for your efforts on this blog, Mike. You are a great example and I thoroughly enjoy your insights and research on the topics of the gospel. Thank you sir.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brandon! That means a lot to me. The internet is a big place, but I try to put a little good out there in my own small way.
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