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Come Unto Christ

Come Unto Christ. Taking the. Ground. Higher. Elder Robert Giertz, July 2008. He receiveth of all people who Come unto Him  John 3:27 I.V.

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Come Unto Christ

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  1. Come Unto Christ Taking the Ground Higher Elder Robert Giertz, July 2008 He receiveth of all people who Come unto Him John 3:27 I.V.

  2. “Come Ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” – Mark 1:15A CASE STUDY FOR APPLYING the PRINCIPLES of “Come Unto Me” COME UNTO ME COMETH UNTO ME COME UNTO HIM COME UNTO CHRIST

  3. RelevantWord Searches • Come Unto Me – 69 occurrences 37 BOM [16 of the 37 in 3 Nephi], 29 Bible, 3 D&C • Come Unto Him – 20 occurrences 13 Bible, 7 BOM, 1 D&C • Come Unto Christ – 5 occurrences 4 BOM, 1 D&C • Cometh Unto Me – 5 occurrences 2 BOM, 2 D&C, 1 Bible

  4. Isaiah 55:3 & Matthew 11:29 The Promises & the Blessings • Incline your ear, and Come Unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; • And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. • Then spake Jesus, saying, Come Unto Me, and all ye that labor and are heavy laden, • And I will give you rest.

  5. 1 Nephi 1:13; 3:28 & Omni 1:47The Promise of Salvation • Thou art merciful, Thou wilt not suffer those who Come unto Thee, that they should perish. • And the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and Come unto Him. • Yea, Come Unto Him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto Him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth, ye will be saved.

  6. Alma 3:58Promise of the fruit of the Tree of Life • Yea, he saith, Come Unto Meandye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of Life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;

  7. Taking a Closer Look at COMING UNTO CHRIST Helaman 2:31 Your Hearts Your Hearts

  8. First be Reconciled1 to thy brother — 3 Nephi 5:71-72 • Therefore, if ye shall come unto Me, or shall desire to come unto Me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, • Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto Mewith full purpose of heart, and I will receive thee. [See D&C 42:23; Matthew 18:15-17] • Pahoron’s response to Moroni – Alma 28 Make certain that you know your brother’s heart before you censure him for iniquities you believe he has committed.

  9. Gift2 of the Holy Ghost Genesis 6:53 And he also said unto him, If thou wilt, turn unto me and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask it shall be given you.

  10. May Stand Spotless3 before Me! • 3 Nephi 12:33 Now this is the commandment, Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

  11. Numbered4 Among My People! • 3 Nephi 14:3 And come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people, who are of the house of Israel.

  12. Characteristics of “Being Numbered” • (Moroni 7:44) But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him, then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church. • (Mosiah 11:141) Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins, the same shall not be numbered among my people: andthis shall be observed from this time forward.

  13. Characteristics of “Being Numbered” • (Mosiah 11:145) And those that would not confess their sins and repent of their iniquity, the same were not numbered among the people of the church, and their names were blotted out. • (Moroni 6:8) And if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ; butas oft as they repented, and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.

  14. Characteristics of “Being Numbered” 4th slide of 4 • (Alma 3:99) And behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith, The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people. • (Alma 4:4) I mean those who were lifted up in the pride of their hearts; the same were rejected, and their names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the righteous; andthus they began to establish the order of the church in the city of Zarahemla.

  15. Build up5again My Church! • Mormon 1:65 And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me, Cry unto this people, Repent ye, and come unto me and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared. • 3 Nephi 12: 22 And if itso be that the church is built upon My gospel, then will the Father show forth His own works in it.

  16. And Be Saved6! • Alma 3:59 Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire; • 3 Nephi 4:52 Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.

  17. Net Benefits of “Come Unto Me” • Be reconciled with thy brother • Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost • May stand spotless before Me • Numbered among My people • Continue to repent and confess sins • Build up again My Church • Be saved

  18. NET LIABILITIES Who so Cometh not unto Meis under the bondage of sin. D&C 83:7g

  19. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD He rejoicethmoreover that which was lost, than over the ninety an nine which went not astray– Matthew 18:13

  20. We Must Be Like Christ! • Christ’s example shows us the straitness of the path • And the narrowness of the Gate • He having set the example before them • He saith unto the children of men: Follow thy Me • Wherefore can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?— 2 Nephi 13:11-13

  21. Jesus Christ is the Door • He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. • But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. • He goeth before them. • The sheep follow him; for they know his voice • I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go and out, and find pasture. — John 10:1-2,4,9 • Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all . . . . Helaman 2:25

  22. The Natural Man is an Enemy to God Old Man • Mosiah 1:119 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been, from the fall of Adam, and will be, for ever and ever; • Mosiah 1:120But if he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man, and becometh a saint, through the atonement of Christ, the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive1, meek2, humble3, patient4, full of love5, willing to submit6 to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. Hidden Traits of a child of God

  23. Natural man = Kingdom of the devilSpiritual man = Kingdom of God • The natural manreceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned – 1 Corinthians 2:14 • Neither canany natural manabide the presence of God; neither after the carnal mind; ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore continue in patienceuntil ye are perfected – D&C 67:3c

  24. New Man Come Unto Christ –The process of Being Born Again • Yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, • Becoming His sons and daughters, • And thus they become new creatures; • And unless they do this, they can in no wise inherit the kingdom of God – Mosiah 11:188 Spiritual Definition

  25. Coming Unto Christ is a part of our Covenant relationship! • Mosiah 3:6 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God? • To do His will and to be obedient to His commandments? • In all things that He shall command us? • All the remainder of our days? 4 Questions

  26. Answers Mosiah 9:39-41 Terms of our Covenant • Desirous to come unto the fold of God and to be called His people. • Willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. • Mourn with those that mourn, • Comfort those that stand in need of comfort. • Stand as witnessesof God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in, • Even unto death, [Endure to the End] • That you may be redeemed of God and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.

  27. I HAVE SET THE EXAMPLEBEFORE YOU! Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth! Come Unto Me! And be baptized in My name! That ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost . . . . 3 Nephi 12:33

  28. Mosiah 9:44Our Covenant - Authoritative Testimony • I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, • As a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve Him unto you are dead!

  29. Mosiah 9:175-177,179The Pattern of making a covenant • King Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and many of his people, to serve Him and keep His commandments. • King Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized, but there was one in the land that had authority from God; • They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts — • Nevertheless, they did prolong the time, For an account of their baptism see Mosiah 11:94-96

  30. D&C 17:7 Commandment given to the church for those received unto baptism • Humble1 themselves before God • Desire2to be baptized • Come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits3 • Witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins4 • Willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ5 • Having a determination to serve Him to the end6 • Truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins7 [Those so baptized receive H.G. by LOOH]

  31. Compare with Moroni 6:1-4Concerning Baptism • Were not baptized, save they brought forth fruitmeet that they were worthy of it1 [humility, desire in D&C 17:7] • Did not receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit2 • Witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins3 • Took upon them the name of Christ4 • Having a determination to serve Him to the end5 • After that they had been received unto baptism and were wrought upon and cleansed6by the power of the Holy Ghost, • They were numbered7 among the people of the church of Christ. [Not specifically mentioned in D&C]

  32. Coming Unto Christ is Amending our Ways— Jeremiah 7:3,5-6 Let the Wicked forsake his way, his thoughts [Isaiah 55:7- 9] • Amend your ways and doings . . . . • For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor. {Covenant Relationships} • If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and shed not innocent blood, neither walk after other gods . . . . .

  33. The key to the Plan of Redemption — Repentance • Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state – Alma 19:94 • This being the intent of this last sacrifice [Christ’s death]: to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, • And bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance – Alma 16:216

  34. The Definition of Repentance1 Dealing with the Erring, No. 3, Repentance by Charles Fry • “Repentance is the renouncement of a belief, practice, or act, from a conviction that it is wrong; and an acceptance of, and a determination to do, what is found to be right.”   • “True repentance is dependent upon a proper concept of the sinful nature of the thing to be repented of.”   • “So long as one thinks a given practice to be right there can be no repentance, but as soon as he is convinced that it is wrong, and that some other way is right, he has reason for repentance, and if he also has desire it will be accomplished.” • “From this it is apparent that there can be no repentance except men are instructed in the right, and hence the necessity of the gospel, in which is revealed the righteousness of God, being preached “to every creature,” that they may have opportunity to repent and enter the kingdom of God.”

  35. REPENTANCE2 L. Wayne Updike.  In his classic book: Whosoever Repenteth, page 15, He defined repentance as — “a conscious positive response to an ever-increasing Revelation of God." 

  36. Repentance3 according to the Apostle Paul — Romans 7 I.V. • Now that I am spiritual . . . That which I am commanded to do, I do; • And that which I am commanded not to allow, I allow not [Verse 15] • For what I know is not right, I would not do; for that which is sin, I hate [Verse 16] • Now then, it is no more I that do sin; but I seek to subdue that sin which dwelleth in me. [Verse 18]Note KJV reads differently

  37. Repentance4by Apostle John • Whoever is born of God doth not continue in sin— 1 John 3:9 • We know that whosoever is born of God continueth not in sin; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, that the wicked one overcometh him not — 1 John 5:18

  38. Bringing our Mind “unto Christ” • [2 Corinthians 10:5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; • [1 Corinthians 2:16] For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. HOW ?

  39. The Message of King BenjaminMosiah 1 – 3 The angel message • The Stewardship of our Coming Unto Christ!

  40. Highlights – King Benjamin • Mosiah 1:39 – You should hearken unto me and open your ears, that ye may hear, • And your hearts, that ye may understand, • And you minds, that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. • Mosiah 1:49 That we may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.

  41. Blessings, Conditions, Promises • Mosiah 1:55 – And behold, all that He requires of you is to keep His commandments. • Mosiah 1:58 – And secondly, He doth require that ye should do as He hath commanded you, for which, if ye do, He doth immediately bless you. • Mosiah 1:88 – Consider on the blessed and happy state of those keep the commandments of God.

  42. Always Retain a remission of your sins – Mosiah 2:19-22 • Or if ye have known of his goodness, and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceeding great joy in your souls, • Even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long suffering towards you unworthy creatures, • And humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel; • And behold, I say unto you, that if ye do this, ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins;

  43. Mosiah 2:25, 28-31Stewardship – Grace unto Generosity • And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due. • And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; • And ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish. • Perhaps thou shalt say, The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance, that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just. • But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this, the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done, he perisheth for ever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

  44. Mosiah 2:40-44Stewardship – Key to Retaining a Remission of Your Sins • And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts, that I give not because I have not; but if I had, I would give. • And now, if ye say this in your hearts, ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned, and your condemnation is just; for ye covet that which ye have not received. • And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you; that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God, • I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants, • And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order: for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.

  45. Stewardship is a part ofComing Unto Christ • Stewardship is voluntary – It is conditional on choice. It has never been, nor will it be compulsory. • Stewardship is using the things of this earth in the manner designed by God. • Stewardship is the recognition that we are stewards and not owners. • Stewardship is acknowledgement that stewards make an inventory (keep track) of all that God has given to them to be accountable for. • Stewardship is the paying of the tithe of our increase after our basic needs have been met and the recognition that any surplus is not just for us.

  46. Stewardship is the Beginning of Zion • Stewardship is notthe mathematical calculation of how much you owe, butthe demonstration, by your lives, that all things belong to God. • Stewardship is the discovery, accumulation, management, and distributionof all the gifts God has given us. • Stewardship is learning to be efficient – creating increase as well as surplus. • Stewardship is not what we give; It is what we keep! • Stewardship is a condition of our hearts – it measures our willingness to be obedient to the will of God today!

  47. There is a working relationship between our stewardship & our covenant • Remember the Lord thy God; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant – Deuteronomy 8:18 • “My covenant with Israel is not forgotten, nor is My will slow to perform; but to whom shall I speak, and by whom shall My counsel be observed? Behold I am wedded to My covenant and am jealous of My agreement with those who are there under.” Apostle Joseph Luff, March 31, 1906.

  48. Summarizing our Stewardship • Stewardship is learning that enough is sufficient and more than enough is surplus. • Stewardship is living simply, that others may simply live. • Stewardship is recognizing that our surplus should be returned so that those without sufficient will have enough. • Stewardship is the knowledge that having enough has little to do with the amount of money a person has and everything to do with a sense of the boundless provision that God provides. • Stewardship is being in the service of your fellow beings. • Stewardship benefits both the individual and the collective body.

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