Tuesday, October 8, 2013

How We React to Words of Christ Determines Our Fate

There are multiple references in the scriptures that how we react to the words of Christ (or the word of God) will determine our fate. I want to list just a few of them here.




We are judged by the word of God. Christ said   "I am come a light unto the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believeth not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: that word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12: 46-50 emphasis added).

"Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words" (D&C 6:2). D&C 33:1 adds the words after joints and marrow, "soul and spirit; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  We learn here that His words will be a divider between those who accept them and those that do not.

"And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day" (D&C 45:56-57 emphasis added). What is the truth they have received? "The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (D&C 84:45).

The difference between the house of Israel (Jews, 10 Tribes and Lehi's descendants) receiving and believing the word of God and the Gentiles not believing and rejecting the word of God is found in the Savior's prophecies concerning the house of Israel and the Gentiles in the last days in 3 Nephi 20-21.

Nephi's discourse concerning those who enter and stay on the straight and narrow path focuses on the word of Christ.  "...after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31:19 emphasis added). Then he further admonishes us to "...press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20 emphasis added).

And further he tells us what it means to endure to the end: "Wherefore I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ, for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what he should do" (2 Nephi 32:3) emphasis added).

There are many other references to the receiving or the rejecting of His words and the consequences in doing so in Alma Chapters 5 & 12.  In fact by not receiving His words Alma tells us we are bound by the chains of hell. (Alma 12:11).

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