Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 48 - What it takes to be chosen

This week, our Come Follow Me curriculum brings us to 1 and 2 Peter.  We discuss why God gives trials, why many are called but few are chosen, and what is meant by the gospel being preached to the dead.  Study with me!

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-48-what-it-takes-to-be-chosen


Youtube:

Ward Preacher Podcast Ep 026 - A Quiet Victory

This week, the Come Follow Me curriculum focuses on the end of the Gospels, specifically the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Though there is no other event in history that affects more people than this... it took time before even his closest followers understood that Jesus beat death.  Study with me!

Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/user-961318159/ward-preacher-podcast-ep-026-a-quiet-victory

Youtube:

I can forgive you... as long as someone gets tortured and killed for what you did

The most fundamental aspect of Christianity is that Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world.  Because of his sacrifice, humanity can be redeemed.

The atonement of Christ is not a secret, and sects ranging from the most energetic protestants and evangelicals to the most stoic and reserved orthodox disciples are usually not shy about expressing their total reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus.

Scriptures from all periods of time have references to this doctrine.  Consider the following:

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed...
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:4-5,10-12)

The doctrine is confirmed in the New Testament as well:

"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" (1 Peter 3:18)

The Book of Mormon is also clear on the need for the atonement of Christ:

"And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." (Alma 42:15)

The concept was explained by Jesus himself in one of the most famous verses ever:

"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." (John 3:16)

Because of its familiarity, Christians tend to take it for granted, and the faithless tend to treat it as false, and the reasoning behind this event is lost.  It is worth closer inspection.

Our Heavenly Father has issued a series of laws, the violation of which condemns an individual to perpetual outcast from the presence of God (Alma 11:37).  To escape this condemnation, God extends mercy to the penitent, but only because his son was subjected to unspeakable torture and then subsequently brutally slain at Golgotha.

If God loved his children and wanted to pardon sins, why would his forgiving power require the savage torture and slaughter of someone else?

Of course, the problem with this assessment is that it is based on our perception that sin is little more than an error in judgement, and that the consequences of these actions do not produce unseen effects.
Consider the invention of the shoe-fitting flouroscope.  This device represented a new application for x-rays, and blasted the feet of the user with radiation so that the bones as well as the outline of the shoe were visible to promote better fitting shoes.  As more information about radiation was discovered, links between the use of such devices and bone cancer were discovered.  Though the immediate effects were not visible, over time and with increased understanding, the negative consequences were exposed.

Similarly, those who indulge in behaviors that contradict the commandments of God and the counsel of his prophets may not seem to have any immediate negative consequences, but our current inability to see and understand the spiritual aspects of human life make it impossible for us to understand the negative impact of sin on a spirit.

What we could not see or understand, Jesus Christ could.  Though angels attended him as he endured the cruel process by which he could heal the spiritual damage of sin, he prayed earnestly for another way to do it (Luke 22:42).  Blood oozed through his skin as he was subjected to pressures and pains beyond human comprehension (Luke 22:44).  Ultimately, he had to endure the pain on the cross without any help (Matthew 27:46).

Forgiveness of sins was never a matter of pretending like it did not happen... It involves repairing spiritual damage.  It requires restoring matter that, unlike mortal flesh and blood, is permanent.  This is not a cheap experience, and cannot be simply done on a whim.  It required a specific and deliberate process, that could only be performed by one person... the son of God himself.

"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him..."  "that he might bring us to God..." "to bring about the plan of mercy..." "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."

More than sparing himself excruciating pain, he wanted to help you, and I, and all of us realize our potential.  He paid the price to heal us.  Even now, he sends his prophets to plead with us to use his power.  For all those who come to him, he will give gift he purchased with such a great price... the miracle of forgiveness.

Mormons believe God sends prophets... but not always...

Frequently when the topic of lessons in Mormon Sunday School classes turns to revelation or to prophets, a part of President Hugh B. Brown's general conference talk in October 1967.  Sunday School manuals present the material as follows:


Before President Brown was called as a General Authority, he spent some time in England working as a barrister, or attorney. He befriended a prominent Englishman who was a member of the House of Commons and a former justice of the supreme court of Britain. The two men often discussed various subjects, including religion.

In 1939, when it appeared that World War II would soon break out, the English gentleman called Brother Brown into his office. He asked Brother Brown to defend his religious beliefs in the same way he would discuss a legal problem. In a general conference address, President Brown recalled part of their conversation:

“I began by asking, ‘May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that you are a Christian?’

“‘I am.’

“‘I assume that you believe in the Bible—the Old and New Testaments?’

“‘I do!’”

The English gentleman said that he believed the biblical accounts of the Lord speaking to prophets. However, he maintained that such communication had stopped soon after the Resurrection of Christ. The conversation continued with another question from Brother Brown: “Why do you think it stopped?”

“‘I can’t say.’

“‘You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?’

“‘Not to my knowledge.’

“‘May I suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken. Perhaps it is because he cannot. He has lost the power.’

“He said, ‘Of course that would be blasphemous.’

“‘Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps he doesn’t speak to men because he doesn’t love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.’

“‘No,’ he said, ‘God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.’

“‘Well, then, … the only other possible answer as I see it is that we don’t need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don’t need God any more.’

“And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, ‘Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn’t speak.’

“My answer was, ‘He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him’” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 117–18; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, 36–37)


This experience articulates the beliefs of members of the LDS church effectively.  Mormons believe the need for continuing revelation is obvious, and that it is consistent with the patterns and practices that God has always used.

As a member of the LDS church, I have always been surprised that the previously mentioned argument and associated train of thought has seemed to go unchallenged.  Not that there are flaws in the argument, but that the position of the Mormon church is not so very different from the judge with whom President Brown spoke.

A fundamental aspect of Mormon faith is that the line of authority and organization that existed in the days of Christ was taken from the earth.  Arguments that there is an unbroken line of authority mainly reside in the claims of Catholicism who maintain Papal authority was established with the Apostle Peter, however, the organization of apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers (see Ephesians 4:11-14) was obviously not maintained.

Protestants must accept that there was a falling away (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) because every one of their churches was established in protest of Papal authority.

Restorationists, such as Mormons, believe that the power of God was taken from the earth in the early centuries after Christ.  Apostles, prophets, and priests did not exist, or if they did, they did not act as they had in ages past under the authority of God.

The question then becomes this for Protestants and Mormons:

Why did God stop speaking to men?

Is it because God lost the power to do so in the dark ages?
Of course not; that would be blasphemous.

Is it because God did not love the people that lived in those times?  Is it possible that their lives had no purpose, and that he was unconcerned with the plagues, wars, and famines that afflicted them?
No.  God loves all men and he is no respecter of persons.

Is it because in the dark ages that humanity had made such rapid strides in education, science, technology, and life that they did not need God?  Is it possible that only as ages went on that God realized mankind again needed guidance, or that we have fallen from the superior state that we had in medieval times?
Certainly not.  Perhaps more so in the middle ages than in any other age, mankind needed the voice of God.

Then why did God stop speaking to men?  If continuing revelation is so critical to humanity, why did he withhold it for more than a thousand years?

Of course, the answer to the question emphasizes another fundamental belief in Mormonism: just because someone died without learning the truth, does not mean they are forever damned.

Jesus himself taught this:
"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." (Matthew 22:31-32)

Martha thought that Jesus was too late to heal her brother Lazarus because he had died:
"Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die..." (John 11:21-26)

The conclusion is powerful.  Not even death can separate God from blessing his beloved sons and daughters.  Simply because people lived a thousand years ago (or even many thousands of years ago) does not mean that they are out of God's reach.  The answer to the question why did God stop speaking to men? is that he didn't.

The Apostle Peter gave insight as to what Jesus did in the short time between his death and resurrection:
"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: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison... For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Peter 3:18-19, 4:6)

Modern revelation adds to this truth.  President Joseph F. Smith taught the following:
"But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead. And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel. Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (D&C 138:30-34)

As indicated above, vital ordinances that require a body can be performed vicariously for those who have died, that they too might have hope to take part in the resurrection of the saints:
"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:29)

Jesus will not let little things like thousands of years or death stand in his way of his work.  Though there was a lack organization and priesthood power on the earth during the great apostasy, the Lord continued to speak to people via missionaries in the spirit world, and offers to them today opportunity to show the signs of baptism, confirmation, priesthood, and other ordinances through the efforts of his followers today.

Christ has the power and the love to ensure that all people have access to his message.  God does send prophets, but not always: those that call themselves Christians also have the responsibility to help ourselves, our neighbors, and those that have gone before us.  Modern Christians can help the living and the dead so that when Christ returns, it will truly be to save us all.

He saved others; himself he could not save...

Easter 2013 video by yours truly:

 

 

Transcript:
“He saved others; himself he could not save…” (Matthew 27:42)
I cannot help but wonder if this phrase did not stick in the minds of those early disciples after Jesus died on the cross.
Some of his disciples had been with him for nearly his entire ministry, and believed almost as soon as they saw him.  Many went to their friends declaring that they had “found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write…” (John 1:45)
They were there when he boldly instructed multitudes, and quietly taught those that sought him by night.  These people were among those that were “…astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29)
They had seen him feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes.  They had seen him make lame men walk, deaf men hear, and blind men see.  They had followed him when others accused him of blasphemy, tried to kill him, or simply asked him to leave them alone.
Some of them had experienced the terror of being caught in a storm at sea and appealed to him saying “carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38)  In amazement they had watched as he commanded the winds and the waves to be at peace, and saved them.
They had listened to his thunderous condemnation of the scribes and hypocrites, and seen him overthrow the tables of money changers in the temple.  They had heard him compassionately stop to help those who desperately sought healing, and to mercifully promise peace and forgiveness even to those who had made poor decisions in their pasts.
They heard him command Lazarus to come out of his tomb, and had watched in shock and awe when he that had died came out alive and whole.
After he had been betrayed by Judas, some of them had seen as Pontius Pilate washed his hands and let his enemies torture him.  It had been too late to do anything when they watched the soldiers drive nails into his hands and feet.  Even as he died, his enemies declared those hurtful words, “…he saved others; himself he could not save…”
For some of his disciples, there was nothing left to do but pay respects.  The man they had believed to be the redeemer of the world had been killed.
After he died, several of the women who had believed in him went to the tomb in which he had been sealed, only to find the stone had been rolled away.  To their surprise, they saw two men in shining raiment near the entrance.  The men asked them “why seek ye the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen…” (Luke 24:5-6)
They might as well have asked “did you actually believe what those men said?  Did you think he could not save himself?” 
Most of the women went to tell the apostles, but Mary Magdalene wept near the tomb, perhaps thinking that an enemy had taken his body to further disgrace him.  In her grief, she perceived a man that asked her why she was weeping.  Thinking that he was the gardener, she asked to know where the body of Jesus had been taken.  As he called her by name, she turned and realized the truth.  Standing before her was Jesus Christ himself, alive and well.
Over time, many disciples saw him and came to the same understanding as Mary did on that first Easter morning.  The words of the enemies of Christ might have seemed convincing… “he saved others; himself he could not save…”  But the truth was that he did save himself.  Even death was not sufficiently strong to stop the Son of God.
Though centuries have come and gone, the man that beat death itself is as alive today as he was then.  His power has not waned with the passing of time.  Though skeptics and enemies of Christ would have Christians despair, especially on Easter, we would do well to remember that the champion of right has not yet completed his plan.  Jesus Christ lives… and he is coming to save us all.

Credits:
Narration and recording on a mediocre microphone, done by me.
Artwork:
Various
Video Music:
Epic moving hearfelt beautiful dramatic trailer score by Audiomachine - Helios! 'Like' their official page on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/audiomachine Title: Apollo's Triumph Artist: Audiomachine Composer: Paul Dinletir (ASCAP) Album: Helios Genre: Epic Beautiful Intense Dramatic Orchestral Trailer Score Image: http://dinesiac.deviantart.com/galler... Website: http://www.audiomachine.com/ Buy Audiomachine's public music here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/audiomachine http://itunes.apple.com/de/artist/aud... http://www.amazon.de/s?ie=UTF8&se...