And If Ye Be Christ's

Letter to My Friends and Family

Hi all. This letter is inspired by Paul's letter to the Galations, but its message is as timely today as it was in Paul's time, perhaps even more so. Let me begin by saying Grace (with a capital G) be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, with the reminder that Christ gave himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world which is Babylon.  He did so because it was the will of God His Father.

I worry that ye may be far removed from Him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another gospel, and that you may not be His. Even though you give lip service, you could have the cart before the horse and put religion and religious observances ahead of Jesus Christ. This is not really a falling away, but a perversion of His Gospel, as was prophesied to occur among us in these last days.

Can I remind you that though we, or an angel from heaven (clear that it is the message and not the messenger), preach any other gospel unto you than that which His servants have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Let me repeat: As I said before, if any man, or angel, or ecclesiastical authority preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received from Christ, let him be accursed. Nephi prophesied they (us) have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. And your test is--do you know the difference between the precepts of men and the word of God? 

My purpose is not to please you or to persuade you, because I do not seek to please men, because if that was my purpose, I would not be the servant of Christ. But I testify unto you that the gospel which I preach unto you is not of man. For neither did I receive it of man, and neither was I taught it except by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

Through His revelation to me I know that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but only by faith in Jesus Christ, which faith we develop by feasting upon what Christ has caused to be written. It is by faith in Christ that we are justified, and not by the works of the law or by religious observances, or by 'living the gospel.' He has made it clear that by the works of the law no flesh is justified.

But if, while we seek to be justified by faith in Christ, we still find that we sin, is Christ the minister of sin? No. Because of the law we sin. Why? Because no one is capable of keeping the law. It is because we cannot keep the law that we are brought to faith in Christ, and through our faith, He saves us from our sins.

We do not live our way into His presence,  but we die in Him that we might live. We are crucified with Christ when baptized, nevertheless we live; yet not us, but Christ lives in us: and the life which we now live in the flesh we live by faith in Christ, who loves us, and gave Himself for us.

Do not frustrate the Grace of God. For if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain, but righteousness comes through Christ, and we show our faith in Him through repentance. We are baptized unto repentance and have faith unto repentance. We become Christ's through repentance, not by performance. Through Christ we become Abraham’s seed, and partakers of the promise.

Now some of you are foolish and have put your trust in men, who have deceived you. You therefore do not obey the truth in Christ. This only then would I ask of you:  do you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish as to not look and live?

Do you not remember, or have you not read the scripture that says just because Abraham believed God, it was accounted to him for righteousness? It was not what he did or did not do, but because of his faith in God that was counted as righteousness. 

Know this then, that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify us through faith, preached the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with Abraham.

Do you not know that all of you who try to be justified by the works of the law are under the curse? For it is written that cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, for only the just shall live by faith.

Remember that Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, by taking upon Himself the punishments prescribed for breaking the law. This is so the blessing of Abraham might come to us, the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Even though I speak after the manner of men, the covenant made to Abraham was made by God and no man can take away or add anything to the promise.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made, but only to that seed which is in Christ. And the promise was not made to those who live the law, but to those who have faith in Christ. God gave it to Abraham by promise.

Why then do you continue to seek justification because of your works? You must recognize that such a course will only add to your transgressions? But with this knowledge put your faith in Christ who has paid for your transgressions, and who desires to make you His. Be perfected in Him! 

For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 

Wherefore the law is our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for we are all one in Christ Jesus.

And if we be Christ’s, then are we Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Like with us, Christ did not receive of the fulness at the first, but received Grace for Grace. And he continued from Grace to Grace, until he received a fulness. And thus He was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fulness at the first. And we receive not of the fulness at first but must continue from Grace to Grace until we receive of the fulness and become like Him. In others words we become like Him through Him, through His Grace.

To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.