someone like me
" Certainly those who say, "I'm doing the best I can," but then willfully break the commandments need to learn the difference between wanting righteousness and wishing they wanted righteousness. Though God may accept righteous intentions and desires in place of perfect performance, he takes no wooden nickels. He will not accpet in place of righteous intentions and desires mere wishes that we had some. The latter is not a commitment. It is not faithful. It does not meet the obligations of the gospel covenant--and it recieves no promise. For in these cases the individuals don't really hunger and thirst after righteousness but after sin, and they expect Jesus to tolerate it or even to subsidize it. These have broken their covenant. Doctrine and Covenants 50:7-8 says, "Verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have decieved some... But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will."
Individuals who commit the moral and doctrinal error of refusing to do what they could very well do seek to be saved in their sins rather than from their sins. But that can never happen. There is a vast difference between viewing my sins as enemies from which I'm trying with difficulty to escape and viewing my sins as comfortable old friends I'm reluctant to leave behind. There is a difference between being unable to conquer all my sins right now, in which case the covenant promises me hope, and being unwilling even to try, in whch case I am left to face justice alone. The covenant offers grace and forgiveness through ongoing repentance both to those who try and succeed and to those who try but fail yet try again. However, there is no forgiveness for those who will not try, or who try once or twice without success and then give up."
that's from Stephen E. Robinson's book Believing Christ, pages 86-87. i've been re-reading parts of it this morning. i like this part because sometimes i really really feel like a hypocrite, and i wonder where i stand because i feel like i willfully break commandments sometimes, like i know it's wrong, and i feel a warning, but i do it anyways. in another part of his book stephen says
" Above all else, God wants our hearts. Imperfect performance can be corrected, sins can be remited, mistakes can be erased--but God can do nothing with an unwilling and rebellious heart until it repents. Weakness can be saved; rebellion cannot. "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind." (D&C 64:34)
Another scripture that indicates how our sincere willingness and honest desire are acceptable to God in the absence of perfect performance is Doctrine and Covenants 46:9. this scripture deals with the gifts of the Spirit enjoyed by the Saints: "They are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments,..." The gifts of the Spirt are for those who love God and keep all his commandments? Oh, no--not all the commandments! I'll never qualify! But wait, there's a comma!"...and him that seeketh so to do (Italics added.) Thank God for what comes after the comma! Even those of us who aren't perfect may enjoy the gifts and blessings of the Spirit, as long as we are seeking to keep the commandments to the best of our ability.
Simiilarly, it is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price how the Holy Ghost confirmed to Adam "that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will." (Moses 5:9.) Notice that it doeesn't say "Even as many as are perfect." The point is clear: Adam is not perfect; Adam is imperfect and fallen (like you and me). That's why he needed a Saviour (like you and me). The promise is to as many as will (using "will" in the older sence of "to be willing")-- thus, to all those wh really want redemption from their imperfection. Another of the great promises of the new covenatn is that all those who really want and work for the kingdom of God with all their strength, however great or little their strength may be, will inherit that kingdom.
And that is good news." (pages 54--55).
ok, i don't mean to quote the whole book, but it's soo good. anways, although i have willfully sinned i feel like i can give God my heart, and i will keep on trying even though i've failed so many times. what else can i do, but try again? there is nothing else i want more than to be acceptable before God. so i feel like there might be hope for someone like me, and that is good news, as mr.robinson likes to say at the end of all his chapters.
Individuals who commit the moral and doctrinal error of refusing to do what they could very well do seek to be saved in their sins rather than from their sins. But that can never happen. There is a vast difference between viewing my sins as enemies from which I'm trying with difficulty to escape and viewing my sins as comfortable old friends I'm reluctant to leave behind. There is a difference between being unable to conquer all my sins right now, in which case the covenant promises me hope, and being unwilling even to try, in whch case I am left to face justice alone. The covenant offers grace and forgiveness through ongoing repentance both to those who try and succeed and to those who try but fail yet try again. However, there is no forgiveness for those who will not try, or who try once or twice without success and then give up."
that's from Stephen E. Robinson's book Believing Christ, pages 86-87. i've been re-reading parts of it this morning. i like this part because sometimes i really really feel like a hypocrite, and i wonder where i stand because i feel like i willfully break commandments sometimes, like i know it's wrong, and i feel a warning, but i do it anyways. in another part of his book stephen says
" Above all else, God wants our hearts. Imperfect performance can be corrected, sins can be remited, mistakes can be erased--but God can do nothing with an unwilling and rebellious heart until it repents. Weakness can be saved; rebellion cannot. "Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind." (D&C 64:34)
Another scripture that indicates how our sincere willingness and honest desire are acceptable to God in the absence of perfect performance is Doctrine and Covenants 46:9. this scripture deals with the gifts of the Spirit enjoyed by the Saints: "They are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments,..." The gifts of the Spirt are for those who love God and keep all his commandments? Oh, no--not all the commandments! I'll never qualify! But wait, there's a comma!"...and him that seeketh so to do (Italics added.) Thank God for what comes after the comma! Even those of us who aren't perfect may enjoy the gifts and blessings of the Spirit, as long as we are seeking to keep the commandments to the best of our ability.
Simiilarly, it is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price how the Holy Ghost confirmed to Adam "that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will." (Moses 5:9.) Notice that it doeesn't say "Even as many as are perfect." The point is clear: Adam is not perfect; Adam is imperfect and fallen (like you and me). That's why he needed a Saviour (like you and me). The promise is to as many as will (using "will" in the older sence of "to be willing")-- thus, to all those wh really want redemption from their imperfection. Another of the great promises of the new covenatn is that all those who really want and work for the kingdom of God with all their strength, however great or little their strength may be, will inherit that kingdom.
And that is good news." (pages 54--55).
ok, i don't mean to quote the whole book, but it's soo good. anways, although i have willfully sinned i feel like i can give God my heart, and i will keep on trying even though i've failed so many times. what else can i do, but try again? there is nothing else i want more than to be acceptable before God. so i feel like there might be hope for someone like me, and that is good news, as mr.robinson likes to say at the end of all his chapters.
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