Saints or Sinners

Live as Saints Should Live

1.    Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.” Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.

We need to be like Christ, loving, charitable, humble, meek.  We need to serve others and to follow the commandments.  Our salvation will be soon be here so we need to be doing what we are asked, just not in the end.

2.    In Romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation:

o       Romans 12:1:  We must be willing to to sacrifice what we have

                                      to be in the service of God.  

o       Romans 12:2:  We must live in the world, be not be of the world

o       Romans 12:9:  Love everyone and do no evil.

o       Romans 12:13: Give to those who have less or have a need

o       Romans 12:16: Be humble and treat others how we want to be

                                       treated.

o       Romans 12:21: Overcome evil with good

o       Romans 13:1:   Be willing to listen to God and his appointed

o       Romans 13:3    Be faithful and trust your leaders

o       Romans 13:8    Love one another

o       Romans 13:9    Keep the commandments

3.    Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3.

o       What cautions did Paul give about judging?

When we are judging others, we are holding ourselves back from progressing.

·                      People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

We are all here for the same purpose, we are all his children that are trying to find our way and make it back to live with Him.

o       What additional insight comes from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?

The Golden Rule:  treat others the way we want to be treated.

4.    Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the Church in his day.

SAINTS

Baptism

Romans 6. Baptism

What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must repent of our sins, and forsake them.

What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Romans 6:4

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

His death and his resurrection is symbolic of baptism, to leave a previous life and to start a new again.

Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?

It’s symbolic of a literally a new life, washing away of the previous person that we were, and now we are a disciple of Christ.  We are “clean” again from sin and our old lives.  Sprinkling would not wash the entire body.  Also Christ was baptized by immersion.

What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

To leave behind our old habits and live a repentive life and turn to Heavenly Father for guidance, not the world.  We try every day to become like Him by keeping our covenants, praying, taking callings, FHE, and temple attendance.  We also “refresh” our baptismal covenants each Sunday as we take of the Sacrament.

According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

We should let the “natural man” die at baptism.

Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We must decide who we serve.  We show who we serve by our actions and striving to be perfected through Christ. If we lapse and sin or get caught up in “worldliness” we need to recognize and stop (following the adversary) and repent and be freed. We are truly free from the chains of sin when we repent. We are free from pain and free to be happy.

2 Corinthians 2:1–11. Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 2:1–11

 1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

 2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

 5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm you rlove toward him.

 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

 10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

Matthew 6:14–15

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–10

9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

 10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

·         What were the people of Corinth commanded to do “if any have caused grief”?

The people were commanded to forgive those that caused them grief, but not only forgive them but give them comfort.   As we read in D&C 64:14-15 we are commanded to forgive everyone, and if we do not then we are the one who’s sin is greater.  We do not get to choose who we forgive, only the Lord can do this.

·         What blessings do we see if we forgive?

We learn in Matthew that the Lord will forgive our sins when we forgive the sins of others.  We will be able to let go of what the other did to us through the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

·         What is the danger in failing to forgive?

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We can live a great life, but if we cannot humble ourselves and forgive others then we will be found in judgement for our actions. Our sins will be greater than those who hurt or offended us.  Also if we cannot forgive it makes it easier for Satan to make us think that we are in the right and the other is in the wrong. 

The Impact of Example

The Impact of Example

According to 1 Corinthians 4:2 what is required of the servants of the Lord?

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be foundfaithful.

  So according to this scripture we must be “found faithful” we must be made into what the Lord desires of us.  If we have faith in him this will happen quickly and the Lords work can take place.  As we know faith is the first part and “works” is next.

Corinthians 4:9–17 Who are the group specifically selected to be examples?

How does being a good example apply to more than this group?

In 1 Corinthians 4:9-17, the group that has been specifically chosen to be examples are the apostles of Jesus Christ. Being a good example does apply to more than just the apostles because when we all strive to live worthily and follow the commandments, we are being good examples to others and showing them the way back to Christ. It is extremely important to always continue to listen to the words of our prophets and of course the teachings of our Apostles so that we can take those lessons that we learn and teach others the truth of the gospel as well.

Alma 39:11–12 explains why it is not enough just to know what is right.

11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.

12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me:Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities;

It is not good enough to just know what is right but we also need to do what is right. In verse 12 it specifically states that the spirit of the Lord said "Command thy children to do good… that ye refrain from your iniquities." We cannot just believe in what our church teaches and think that will be enough to get us back to our Heavenly Father.  As we said before faith without works is dead.  Faith is the first step, but we must continue to work and act upon this faith.  We need to take what we believe and apply it in our lives in a way that we are an example of the “believers.”

3 Nephi 8:1 tells what additional power comes to those who live what they know.

1 And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a justman who did keep the record—for he truly did manymiracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity—

The additional power that comes to those who live what they know is the power to perform miracles in the name of Jesus. This is so amazing to know and I truly believe that it is possible to perform miracles when we live and obey the commandments. We have heard and seen so many times that our faithful missionaries have been able to perform miracles because of their everyday focus on the Lord and their continuous desire to help and bring others back to our Father in Heaven.