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Monday, April 27, 2015

John 12:47-50 - Does Christ judge us for our sins?

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

These verses stuck out to me today because I have been reminded many times recently of the power of Christ's Atonement. I was asked to offer a prayer yesterday with a group of women after we had each shared our simple testimonies of Jesus Christ. I don't believe I've ever offered a more thankful and sincere prayer. I have recently heard several examples of the enabling power of the Atonement changing people to become better. My testimony of the power to change has grown, and Christ's sacrifice has become more personal to me.

These verses teach me that Christ was never here to judge us. His purpose was never to condemn us for our sins. His purpose has always been to help us and save us from our sins. He was sent to earth simply to accomplish the will of His Father, which was to teach His word and help people know how to find everlasting life through Him. It is not Christ who judges us--it is the word of God. When we sin, God's law condemns us, but when we repent and keep His commandments, His law saves and renews us.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Shifting gears...

Up to this point, this blog has included posts about doctrinal insights I've gained from asking questions and seeking answers from the scriptures and words of church leaders. My posts have been formal and straightforward, without much personal experience or testimony. I've realized recently that one of the most effective ways to reach people is to share personal experiences, so my posts are going to become less formal and more conversational. I want to share why I've been led to certain questions and what personal insights I have gained through studying those questions. I will still post doctrinal insights and references, but I will include much more of my own voice!

To start off...I will say that I have a deep appreciation for the scriptures. I need to spend time in them every day, not to check it off my list of to-dos, but to keep myself grounded in the truth. It's too easy to get caught up in all the voices of the world, so I need that daily pickup from the scriptures to bring me back to God's simple truths. I can't tell you how many times I have read the scriptures and thought, "Wait, I don't remember reading this before!" It's like God is speaking to me in words that I'm not actually reading. He speaks to me between the lines.

I will never have all the answers, but what I DO know is enough. It's enough to know that Jesus Christ is my Savior, He makes up for all that I do wrong, He helps me become better, and there is always hope when I do my best to follow Him. The more I learn, the more I realize I don't know, and the more I see the need to depend on Him. I'm grateful every day for my Savior, and I hope through my studies I can come to know Him better.

I will try to post at least weekly, to keep myself accountable for what I study. If I don't post as often...it's because I'm so caught up in answering a question and there's too much to study in just a few days :) Feel free to comment or send me your own questions!