Faith and Repentance
Article of Faith 4--We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are (1) Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (2) Repentance; (3) Baptism by immersion for the forgiveness of sins.
Nature of:
Full confidence and trust in the being, purposes, and words of God. Removes all doubt concerning things accomplished or promised of God, even if not understandable.
Paul says: It is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen. In order to fully understand FAITH we must know something about BELIEVE and Knowledge. They are not identical.
BELIEF, FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE--Not identical. Belief may consist intellectual assent, while faith implies such confidence and conviction as will impel to action.
- Belief passive, mental agreement
- Faith positive
- May believe and still lack faith Faith in Godhead
- is requisite to salvation
The Apostle James in his general epistle (to) the Saints chided his brethren for certain empty professions. He said in effect: You take pride and satisfaction in declaring your belief in God; you boast of being distinguished from the idolaters and the heathen because you accept one God, you do well to so profess, and so believe; but, remember, others do likewise; even the devils believe; and so firmly that they tremble at the thought of the fat which that belief makes plain to them.
Devils Believe But Lack Faith:
Yes, even the devils believe but they do not have faith. Call to mind during the Master's ministry the case of the man possessed by evil spirits, in the land of Gadarenes; a man so grievously tormented as to be a terror to all who came near him; people were afraid to approach him; yet when he saw Christ, he ran to Him and worshipped, and the wicked spirit within him begged for mercy at the hands of that Righteous One, calling Him "Jesus, Son of the Most High God."
Devils in the Multitude Believe:
And then, we are told that Christ was once followed by a multitude, among them were many who were possessed of evil spirits, and these, when they saw Him fell down in the attitude of worship, exclaiming: "Thou art the Son of God."
Satan Knows God and Christ:
Satan the evil one knows God and Christ, remembers perchance, somewhat concerning the position which he once occupied as Son of the Morning; yet with all such knowledge he is Satan still. He believed that God was God that Jesus Christ was His Son. The devils who saw Christ who he was they believed, they had the knowledge. But neither belief or knowledge is sufficient to save, for neither of these is faith. They failed their first estate. Why, because they had not faith.
Apostle James Faith With Works:
The Apostle James tells us faith without works is dead. In other words if there is no work there is no faith.
Faith is active, potent, moving, impelling, powerful, it carries one beyond his own abilities. It motivates, it inspires, it brings out the God in man, it saves.
It is the psychology of man that he just, so much as believes. Then he adds a little knowledge, he adds to this a little faith, then more knowledge and his faith gets stronger.
Epidemic of Cholera:
An epidemic of cholera in a large city. Scientific man finds it is caused from water supply. People are warned and saved through faith. They did not drink the water, they had faith. It was matter of knowledge to the scientist. He had actually seen under the microscope, the death-dealing germs in the water. Nevertheless, in a moment of forgetfulness drank of the unpurified water. Knowledge did not save him. He believed he had knowledge but it did not save him. He had knowledge but was he wise? Knowledge is to wisdom what belief is to faith. No possession merely, but the proper use of knowledge constitutes wisdom. Of belief compared with faith it may be said, as it has been taught of knowledge and wisdom.
Alma on Belief and Knowledge:
FAITH: Chap 32--Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things: Therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.
Start with Belief. God is merciful unto all who believe on his name; therefore he desireth, in the first place, that ye should believe, yea, even His word.
Imparts His Words by Angels to Men, Women, and Even Little Children"
And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also, No this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times which confound the wise and the learned.
Faith Even as With His Words You Can Not Know of Assurety at First:
Now as I said concerning faith--that it was not a perfect knowledge--even so it is with my words. Ye cannot know of surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is perfect knowledge.
Arouse Your Faculties Experiment Upon My Words:
"But behold, if ye will awaken and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until you believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."
Take a seed, liken this to belief. Plant it. give it a little rain, a little sunshine, fertilize a little, and nourish it. It was planted in fertile soil it will sprout. It takes quit a while. You have to keep caring for it so that it gets enough water. After awhile the tree is grown and you are rewarded with the fruit of the tree. That is the way with believe, knowledge and faith. You cannot, you will not receive your fruit or reward without faith.
This may be just what kind of tree so you need other fruits. Likewise, your faith may become perfect in one thing. But you must become faithful in all things so you have to plant other seeds and nourish them. "Now we will compare the word to a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that he will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you fell these swelling motions, yet will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."
This man says, I can plant some good seeds and see that they are nourished. I can go about doing good and be a good Christian.
That's fine, but his soil is somewhat barren he is not going to enjoy the sweet fruit he could have enjoyed.
The 76th second of the Doctrine and Covenants says concerning the Terrestrial Glory, which is the one lower than the Celestial, "These are the good men of the earth blinded by the craftiness of men." In order to gain exaltation he must keep all the commandments. The Doctrine and Covenants tells us to "meet together often and partake of the Sacrament." This that we may renew our covenants, that we do always remember him, and then we have the promise that he will always be with us. Where a few are gathered together in my name, there I will be also. So we go to church to partake of his spirit.
The organization of the church teaches us to work harmoniously with each other. In each Ward if I am not mistaken it takes 255 workers to fill all the jobs. When we take on responsibilities we learn much about our own makeup.
This is important if we are going to improve, Sometimes we get our nose bumped. We get some of the rough corners taken off.
I would like to tell you a little story that may help some of us when things are not going just as we would like them to. There was a little boy attempting to teach a small girl to ride his bicycle. She kept falling down and trying again. Finally, after the last fall, she looked up at him and said, "you know it takes a lot of brains to be as dumb as I am."
There is a lesson in this little story. She did the best she could but because she was not about to ride the bicycle she didn't let it cause her to be frustrated. She just kept trying to do the best she could and in effect laughed at herself when she couldn't make it.
There is another important reason why we should go to church and that is to bear our testimony. This helps to build our faith.
When we have faith we keep the commandments of God, we receive the fruit from that good tree. We meet together to study the Gospel. Then if we apply this knowledge this strengthens our faith.
I was in New York several years ago for several months and my family was in the West. As I did some sightseeing I kept wishing Sister Derrick and the children were there so that we could enjoy it together. It was not nearly so enjoyable without them. When we find something good we like to share it with others.
Well Mister you are missing a lot. You may be a good man but the fruit is much sweeter in this side of the fence.
Would Increase Your Faith But Not Perfect Knowledge Yet:
Now behold, would not this increase you faith? I say unto you, yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge. Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away. Now behold because you have tried this experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
Knowledge Perfect In That Thing:
Now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, Your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
Oh, then, is not this real? I say unto you. Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernable, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect.
Behold I say unto you, Nay neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
Tree Grows, Nourish It:
And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grown up, and bring forth fruit. But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scourcheth it, because it had no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out. Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
Fruit Thereof Likened to Benefits of Keeping Commandments:
And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. But if ye will nourish the word, yea nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith and with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life. And ye shall reap the rewards of your belief which hath grown into faith.
Other Ways of Planting the Seeds of Faith:
Romans 10:17--So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Paul says "So faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the words of God."
Prophet Joseph Smith Jr.
Faith comes by hearing the word of God, through the testimony of the servants of God; that testimony is always attended by the spirit of prophecy and revelation.
President John Taylor: Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. It plants the seed which we have to nourish.
Can and Man Staying At Home Build Faith?
A man once said to me, "I can be as good a man by staying home as I can by going to church."
I thought to myself, maybe you can but good for what? Modern day and prophets tell us that the way to build faith is by hearing, and hearing the word of God.
Now where is the best place to hear the word of God? Why at church naturally.
Well, this man might say I can stay home and read the word of God. I believe in God I believe in Jesus Christ. I am a Christian. That is good for the scriptures say, "He that believeth in him is not condemned but that he that believeth not is condemned already. He is not condemned for believing but is belief enough?
Jesus to Nicodemus:
It is true as the master said when talking to Nicodemus "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
He believeth on Him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Reflect Again on James:
Faith without works is dead
George Albert Smith: Faith is a gift of God; it is the fruitage of righteous living. It does not come to us by our command but is the result of doing the will of our Heavenly Father.
What is the Will of Our Father in Heaven?
That we keep his commandments: that we partake of the Sacrament often, that we attend our Priesthood meetings, that we do those things we are asked to by his representatives. Those who are in authority to minister in the Gospel ordinances.
Church Organization For Growth of Saints:
What we find: 3300 church units, that is, Branches, Wards, etc. takes 200 to 300 people to man, fully organized. or 600000 workers in Church. membership 1300000. Exclude children, and those unable to work, and you see what we have. Do our leaders think it is important for us to be "workers."
Examples of Faith:
Matt 17:14-21 - And when they were come to the multitude there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatick, and sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to me.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and shall not be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
2 Cor. 5:7 - For we walk by faith not by sight.
By faith Enoch and his people were translated.
Moses led children of Israel through the Red Sea when the waters parted by faith.
The Master walked on the water by faith.
Walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about seven days by faith.
Story of Joseph Smith, James 1:5-6, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given.
Story - early spring 1820 beautiful day in sacred grove. First attempt at praying vocally.
Truth of Book of Mormon known through faith. Moroni 10:4
So we now know the mortal body returns to mother earth, but every fundamental element of it is reanimated with the spirit at the time of the resurrection and not so much as a hair of the head is lost.
What else can we say about the body, that is the natural man?
Adam partook of the forbidden fruit and became fallen man. We inherited some of his attributes. We inherited the weaknesses of the flesh.
True they may not all rise to clear focus in the man's mind during his lifetime, but nevertheless, they are still there by reason of his physical nature.Let's find out what some of these weaknesses are--included in the phrase carnality, sensuality, and devilishness--for these corruptible qualities cannot bear the presence of God; with these elements in our own systems we are spiritually dead.
Adam was cast out, becoming spiritually dead, and all of his posterity took part of his nature.
Alright, Mosiah 3:19 gives us some information on this--"For the natural man is an enemy of God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticing 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, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."
That is very potent: "Natural man is an enemy of god." Have you ever thought about that? We're natural men. We're enemies of God, unless something happens, We don't think of ourselves as enemies of God, but in our natural state, subject to all that the flesh is heir to, we are actually enemies of God--as it states right here--unless we use our initiative to make it otherwise.Let's see again what we find...Mosiah 16:3-4 "For they are carnal and devilish and the devil has power over them; yea, even the old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall, which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil. Thus all mankind were lost; and behold they would have endlessly been lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state. But remember he that persists in his own
Who Is Fit
"And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Not All Is Understood
When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and soit is with the principles of the gospel--you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave. --Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 348.
Faith Without Works
The belief in Christ which is taught by modern Christian sects is thus condemned by the Apostle James: "But wilt thoug know, O vain man, that fiath without works is dead. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith ithout works is dead also." James ii:20, 24, 26
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