Lesson Four: Personal Journal

Outwardly DOING What I Inwardly BELIEVE

This week I learned a lot about the symbolism in the New Testament, specifically in Romans 7. I learned that the husband is Christ and the wife is the church. In a nutshell, we should be "married" to Christ always because He is risen and if we are "married" to anyone else (meaning a different church/religion) we will be committing "adultery". We must be true and faithful to Christ. In addition, we must be outwardly doing what we inwardly believe. For it is by our faith AND our works that we are saved. It is not enough to just have one and not the other and expect to be saved. We can't merely be baptized and think that is all we have to do. We have to continually be living a life converted to the Lord, to His Church and His gospel.  

 

I also learned in Romans7 that they were released from the law when the husband (or Christ) died. Perhaps that refers to the law of Moses ending once Christ died. The members were then released from that law to begin the new law.

 

I loved reading 2 Nephi 4:17-35, too, because it helped me see that even a prophet of God feels the weight of mortality. But he rejoiced in Christ and that's what helped him forgive himself and others. The answers to all our troubles in life can be found through and in Christ. He is our hope. He is our Redeemer. He is our Savior. He is our Salvation. It is because of Him we are who we are. 

Lesson Four: Teaching Activity

Romans 9-11.Righteousness and Faith






+Review Romans 2:13-15, 28-29; 9:6-8, 21-25. Explain how Paul used these verses to teach that it is not enough to be born into the Church or into the seed of Abraham to receive exaltation. How does 2 Nephi 30:2; Alma 5:14, 19, 26 help you understand Paul's teachings? How do we become children of the promise?
You can't just to do the outward acts and expect to be saved. Conversion has to be an inward thing. To become children of the promise you have to become truly converted.  

+Review Romans 9:9-13 Esau was born through the righteous lineage of Abraham and Isaac. Describe how Paul used the example of Jacob and Esau to teach the doctrine of election or foreordination.
God has His plan, and it will go through no matter what. Even though normally the eldest son gets the birthright, in this case God told Sara that she would have two sons and the elder son would serve the younger son...meaning the younger son would receive the birthright. Jacob was called to this, or foreordained, before he was even born. 

+Select a recent General Conference talk which teaches the principles found in Romans 9-11, and write a summary of how they compliment each other. 
Salvation comes through righteousness to those who believe. You don't have to be born into the gospel to receive it--anybody can receive it. But being converted has to be an inward thing and a constant thing. Elder Donald L. Hallstrom (of the Presidency of the Seventy) said in last general conference that we must be converted to the Lord's gospel through His church; meaning that "the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel." He further said that "we need the gospel and the Church. In fact, the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel." He then suggested "three fundamental ways to have the gospel be our foundation: 1. Deepen our understanding of Deity. 2. Focus on the ordinances and covenants. 3. Unite the gospel with the Church." I agree with Elder Hallstrom when he testifies that "the Lord wants the members of His Church to be fully converted to His gospel. This is the only sure way to have spiritual safety now and happiness forever."


+Share and Report:
After doing this assignment, I shared it with my husband. We agreed that it is by our faith AND our works that we are saved. It is not enough to just have one and expect to be saved. We have to be outwardly doing what we inwardly believe. We can't merely be baptized and think that is all we have to do. We have to continually be living a life converted to the Lord, to His Church and His gospel. We loved reading the conference talk, too. It was a testimony builder to read words from the apostle Paul in the New Testament and from Elder Hallstrom in his conference talk. I love seeing olden day revelation relate and confirm modern day revelation. It testifies to me that the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.