Maintaining
Mormon speaks of those who have "obtained a sufficient hope by which [they] can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until [they] shall rest with him in heaven"
Signs of Maintaining
They are "the peaceable followers of Christ" and can be know by their "peaceable walk with the children of men."
I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness. (v. 39).
Faith is also signaled by the presence of miracles and angelic visitations, and their lack indicates a lack of Faith sufficient to save (v. 37-38). Angelic visitations may not be to you personally, however (v. 31, 32).
"none is acceptable before God save the meek and lowly in heart" v. 44
"this love [charity] which he [the Father] hath bestowed upon all those who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ" v. 48
Intentions
It's not a matter of building up points by doing good things to earn an eternal reward. It's about becoming one who will belong and feel comfortable in your eternal destination. This means you can't go through the motions. Your intentions and desires mold you every bit as much as your words and your actions.
"if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly, wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift;"
"....if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart...it profiteth him nothing" (v 8, 9).
In the long term you can't split your loyalties
"a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil" (v. 11).
The Two influences
"That which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and inticeth to to sin, and to do that which is evil continually" (v. 12).
"Whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him and serve not God, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil" (v.17).
"...that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do Good continually; wherefore everything which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God" (v.13)
"every thing which invited to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ (v. 16)
Judgment
"For behold my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil....
And now, my brethren, seeing that you know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
Wherefore I beseech of you brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (v. 15 - 18).
And How can we lay hold of every good thing?
1) Faith
Men are fallen, and no good thing could come to them except through Christ through whom all good things come (v. 24). Men lay hold upon the blessings of Christ through faith. That faith might be had God has sends angels, speaks by prophets and "did manifest things unto the children of men" through "diverse ways" (v. 22-24).
Christ atonement has given him the "rights of mercy" towards us (v.27) and he now advocates "the cause of the children of men" (v. 28). He sends out an invitation to all mankind -
"Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved."
Men began to exercise faith in Christ and began to lay hold of every good thing (v. 25), they cleave unto every good thing (v. 28) and were saved (v. 26) and became the sons of god (v. 26). To them was made the promise that whatever they asked for (which was good) they would receive (v.26).
This life is a place of answered prayers, of miracles and of angelic visitation. These help lay the groundwork for men to repent (v. 31) and have faith in Jesus Christ (v. 32) and receive the Holy Ghost. The power of the Holy Ghost is not withheld from us (v. 36).
2) Hope
Having hope is necessary to gain faith (v. 40)
But the hope that is a sign of our new life is a covenant Hope, the fruit of our Faith (v. 41) - "hope in Him according to the promise" and "through the atonement of Christ" of Life Eternal.
3) Humility
"meek and lowly of heart" (v. 43-44)
4) Charity
As faith seems to be foundational in coming unto Christ, Charity seems to be the keystone. We "must needs have" it (v. 44). If not, we "are nothing" (v. 46).
Charity is "the pure love of Christ" (v. 47) and has the following characteristics (v. 45)
- suffereth long
- is kind
- envieth not
- is not puffed up
- seeketh not her own
- is not easily provoked
- thinketh no evil
- rejoiceth not in iniquity
- beareth all things
- believeth all things
- hopeth all things
- endureth all things
- It endures forever (all things fail except for it).
- It will be well at the last day with those who possess it.
- It is bestowed on those who are true followers of Jesus Christ.
- Charity helps us become the sons of God
- We will become like Christ
- We gain a hope that we will become purified as Christ is pure.
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