2 Nephi 25:23 says "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do"
but, 1 Nephi 3:7 says, "For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"?
1 Nephi 3:7 says, "For I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"
If God gives a way to obey EVERY command, how can you say you have done EVERYTHING YOU CAN if you have not obeyed a command?
I mean this with all respect and no argument is intended... It is something I have often wondered about.
How can you have hope of Eternal Life if you have ever sinned, when God has made a way for you to obey.
2007-11-27 08:39:33 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If GOd has made it possible to obey all commands, no one can ever say they have done "all they can do" and have even sinned once.
2007-11-27 08:40:45 · update #1
In 2 Nephi 25:23 It's not talking about following all the commandments, it's talking about spreading the word and doing good works.
The footnote's reference for that scripture is James 2:24.
Ye see then how that by aworks a man is bjustified, and not by faith only.
2007-11-27 08:52:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well all I can do doesn't mean I will be perfect. Far from it in fact. No matter what we do we are still saved by grace. But to truly follow Christ we are going to strive to do all that He has asked us to do. And we will always fall short. But that is okay. He wants us to be like him, and by loving and serving our fellow man we are on that path. Instead of focusing on all the little things I focus on the two great commandments. Love God and love everyone else. If I do that everything else falls in line. If we sit by and do nothing are we really accepting Christ as our Savior? I think not. That doesn't mean we are earning our way in. But there are also certain blessing for keeping certain commandments. And though I will never keep any of them perfectly, I will always try to be better today than I was yesterday. It's all about progress not perfection in this life. And lucky for us our growth doesn't have to end with this life. I hope this helps.
That is why we have the atonement. If I fall down I can pick myself up again. I can only be made perfect in Christ.
2007-12-01 12:36:50 · answer #2 · answered by plastik punk -Bottom Contributor 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To me 2Ne 25:23 says that I have to be proactive in trying to make the right decisions. I have to strive to do all I can do given my situation. There are certain things that are difficult if not impossible for each of us to overcome on our own. And yet God has provided a way (Christ's atonement) for us to return to Him even though we didn't overcome all things.
Yes, God has prepared a way for everything to be obeyed. That is Justice. Mercy is saying that even though I failed at this thing and Justice has claim on me for it, because of Mercy if I have done everything I can do given what I knew to do, and could do given my circumstances and life situation, Mercy can fulfill the claim of Justice.
It's important to remember that we believe that we will not know if we are saved until after we die physically, because it isn't until the "test" has ended that we can say for sure I won't be able to screw up anymore. It's a much different way of dealing with the concept of being saved than other Christians believe (case in point the "one saved always saved" view mixed with the "accepting Christ into your heart means you are saved" view.) It's also important to remember that we believe a person has to take all of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a whole, and not pull out one or two verses and say that they are all that is needed to understand what it takes to gain a heavenly reward.
2007-11-30 13:28:26 · answer #3 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, God gives us a way to obey His commandments. They doesn't mean we always do. I am not perfect.
I have been assigned as a visiting teacher to several sisters. Although a letter may be enough, I should see each one monthly. God has made it possible for me to do it. I have the time, the transportation, and all I need. He has done His part to enable me to obey. Still, I will fall short. When I fall short, I know He forgives me. He only has to forgive me for the portion, because I tried to do the rest. Should I do nothing, just because I know He forgive me even then?
2007-11-28 10:37:05 · answer #4 · answered by Isolde 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the Atonement takes care of that. "After all we can do" may refer more to how sincerely we repent and try to live our lives with integrity, and then the Atonement actually makes up for everything else. No one achieves exaltation on their own, in other words, and we are all on an individual path to learn and grow. Some of us may be required to sacrifice things and even people we would not have wanted to give up. I have hope that there is the law of compensation, and no father would want to cut all of His children off from His presence for eternity. He wants us back! And isn't that the mark of a truly great Father? Have a happy day, and I send you a gummy bear.
2007-11-27 18:25:34 · answer #5 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
"After all we can do" to me means that God won't just save us if we were lazy. We have to strive to live the commandments and follow Him. We won't get into Heaven hanging on someone else. We have to work for it ourself. 1 Nephi is talking about when God tells us to do something, He always has a way prepared for us to accomplish the task. We still have to work for it, and we might not always work hard enough, but they way is there. We just have to find it and walk it.
2007-11-27 17:14:31 · answer #6 · answered by . 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Interesting question. I can see that one could interpret "after all you can do," to mean, "after all it is possible for a person to do." And since it is theoretically possible to keep all the commandments, it should be possible to do everything. Which would almost lead you to believe that you don't really need a Savior. And that would be a false conclusion.
God knew before we were born that none of us, with the exception of Jesus Christ, would live a sinless life. Not that we can blame God for our sins; we sin deliberately, by choice, knowing there is a better way. God understood that we would have weaknesses and fail to obey Him, even though a way was prepared for us to obey Him.
Life is more than a test to see who is perfect. None but Jesus was completely perfect. Life is a chance to get back up after we have fallen. To grow in strength and determination and love of God. To overcome the world with the help of God that we so desperately need. I think God takes into account that we have weaknesses and we will fail, but He provides repentance and the atonement of Jesus Christ to make it possible for us to be saved. "After all you can do" takes into account that we are just so weak that we can't do everything right, even though a way has been prepared that we could, if we had the will to follow the way.
I believe, and I could be wrong about this, that as long as we are making progress in the right direction we will be eventually exalted. The more mistakes we make, the longer and more painful it will be to get to where we should be. We can not afford to be complacent, saying "All is well in Zion," but we do not need to get discouraged and feel overwhelmed by life's challenges. Have faith. Have courage. You are going to make it as long as you keep trying. You only fail when you fail to keep trying. As long as you allow Jesus to give you a hand to pick you back up each time.
Edit: Let me just add another thought. I don't want to leave the impression that we earn our way into heaven. Not even a little bit. Neither is it like we do things that merit salvation. We do NOT keep the commandments as "paying our dues." We do NOT work our way up by accumulating points in heaven. We are saved by grace.
I think the part "after all you can do" actually refers to getting your heart right. Getting your attitude right. Developing a willing heart and a loving nature. God gives us the commandments, not as work to do so we have earned a part of our salvation, but to help us surrender our will to God. God does not need anything we can give Him, He has given us everything we have, except our stubborn and rebellious agency. He is trying to help us become one with Him, and we must do all that we can do in that direction. It is very little, but it is everything we have.
Of course we will be baptized, pay tithing, keep all the commandments when we love God and have given our whole heart to Him. It doesn't happen all at once, with a once in a lifetime verbal acknowledgment, but gradually as we are sanctified by the atonement of Jesus. Those that claim to be saved by what they say, but willingly sin, show that they have not given their heart to God. Not really, not deep down. As such they have not yet done all that they can do. All we can do is to give our heart completely to God, which means following him with faith and strict obedience. And of course we will fail at times, needing the forgiveness and repentance that God in His foreknowledge provided for us, if we do all that we can do - if we keep calling on God and trying to get it right with the help of God.
Hope that helps. I'm still struggling to express myself.
2007-11-28 12:58:37 · answer #7 · answered by Doctor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thank goodness for repentance
2007-11-30 20:05:30 · answer #8 · answered by Senator John McClain 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because I have faith in Jesus Christ -- that His judgments are just and true.
I have faith that He will judge me fairly and He will apply the atonement to me as I have followed Him.
It is Faith in Jesus Christ that gives me hope.
D
2007-11-27 16:51:18 · answer #9 · answered by Dionysus 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋