Saved by Grace, or is it Works?

So I have to admit, for the longest time I have been trying to figure out the apparent paradox that exists between the view of the LDS Church and everyone else on the issue of salvation, namely the means to obtain it. I’m not about to say that I have pinned the thing down yet, nor do I think I am even remotely close. However, I would say that the difference between the two ’sides’ of the issue might not be as far apart as many think.

When searching the scriptures there are references to grace as well as works. With all of these things flying back and forth, one might be tempted to place an emphasis on one or the other. The fact of the matter is, the only way to get to heaven is through grace. There is no way to get around it. Without Christ, there is no salvation, bottom line. What is the deal with works then. What prompted the scripture “faith without works is dead?” Why do the Mormons stress works? Why does everyone else say forget the works?

Forgive me on the grounds of a possible oversimplification, but the arguments on each side of this Grand Canyon of a divide are really just different ways of saying the same thing. One guy says you need to have works to prove you are worthy for grace, and the next guy says that this in not even close. No amount of work done on the earth can compensate for mankind’s unworthiness.

What is a work? Well, according to James, it is simply an outward manifestation of faith. Therefore, if one believes in the grace of Christ, and then they believe that it is applicable to them, then they begin to show outward manifestations of their faith. They begin to do things better. This is just a natural occurrence, however, Mormons define this as works, and everyone else defines it as grace. Look at it folks, its the same thing.

Christ said that we are supposed to be perfect. What does that mean? Well, he was perfect, so we just need to be like him. Simple, just stop sinning. Easy as pie, right? Not really, but hey, his admonition can be taken a literal. Maybe its possible that someone’s faith is so strong that their outward, natural manifestations of that faith mirror perfection. However, does that make them any more worthy than the guy who accepted the grace of Christ five minutes ago? NO!!! It is simple, we are only saved by grace, and by nothing else.

I urge you all to increase your faith daily, and may your outward manifestations of your faith (your WORKS) continue to increase.

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How Firm a Foundation: Build upon the Rock

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”  Helaman 5:12

As I was teaching my gospel principles class this past Sunday, I had the opportunity to give the lesson on the life of Jesus Christ. What I found interesting was that in the very first paragraph of the teaching guide the phrase personal relationship was mentioned. The context was such that each person needs to develop a personal relationship with Christ.

I guess my question is posed as this. We are clearly supposed to build our testimony and faith on the rock of the redeemer, and this seems simple enough. Is it really that easy? I would say that with effort it is easy enough, because as long as you are building day by day, faith begins to take form. However, the effort that is involved in seriously trying to build on Christ consistently can seem like quite a daunting task.

Well, I chalk the entire building process up to simply creating a personal relationship with Christ. Without this personal relationship, how can we put our trust in him?

To put it another way: Christ has a very personal relationship with each of us. Somehow, some way, he was able to suffer for the sins of every generation of people to live on the earth. He knows, because he experienced it, each of our lives. He knows what mistakes we have made in the past, and what we will do in the future. I would wager to say that He know us better than we know ourselves. He indeed has a very personal relationship with us. I see from this that it is up to each person to develop a personal relationship with Christ. This is the only way anyone can build on his foundation.

On top of this, we owe it to Christ to have a personal relationship with him.

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The next project

I have been thinking hard about what to right my next series of blog entries, and I thought that it would be good to open it up to you. The point if this post is to determine the topics for a few, probably more, articles. So, give me your ideas, with the only stipulation being that it should at least have something to do with the LDS church. I will welcome anything. However, the stipulation here is that I have discression in choosing the topics that eventually get posted.

So please, let me know what you want to know. I am welcoming both LDS and non-LDS topical suggestions here.

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