Following Christ in Baptism

1.    Review Romans 6:1–13 and answer the following questions in writing: 

o       What must be done with sin before baptism can occur?

We must leave our sins behind. We vow to no longer serve our sins but to serve God. 

This is found in:

Romans 6:5-6

 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

o       What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?

Death and Resurrection

You can find this in Romans 6:4

 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

o       Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling? 

Christ was baptized by full emersion while he was alive. He also conquered death and sin during the Atonement (Taking on sin in the Garden of Gethsemane, Death and Resurrection) because of his example and sacrifice we are baptized by emersion. Sprinkling is not enough.

o       What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?

They teach us that we are able to overcome sin as long as we do not yield and as we follow Christ. We are triumphant in and through Jesus Christ.

 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

o       According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?

The Natural Man

Mosiah 3:19

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings 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.

2.    Study Romans 6:14–23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know whose we serve by what or whom we yield to. If we yield to sin and temptation we serve the devil and go unto death.  We should always serve God which is through obedience to him and his commandments. 

Like it says in verse 16-17:  16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

The true source of freedom is from obedience to God.

Forgiveness

2 Corinthians 2:1–11

1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

 3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

 4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

 7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

 8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 Matthew 6:14–15

 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–10

 9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

      What were the people of Corinth commanded to do “if any have caused grief”?

If they were the one who caused grief, they are to see the error in their ways and seek forgiveness of those they offended.

If they are the one who was offended they are to forgive those who wronged them.  If we forgive then we are forgiven but if we do not then we block our own progression.

      What blessings do we see if we forgive?

If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you

      What is the danger in failing to forgive?

If you do not forgive you “standeth condemned before the Lord” and you are in the greater sin.

The Power and Miracles of Being an Example of Faith

What is required for one to be an example of a believer?

This can be found in 1 Corinthians 4:2

 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Throughout my life I have come to realize that God desires us to go about serving others and to become instrumental in the occurrences of miracles.  Charity is the pure love of Christ. We literally can make miracles happen if we are willing to listen to the Holy Ghosts instructions. 

We are all called to be an example of the believer. The following is a group that I would consider to be an example to the examples:

                Apostles were great examples because they were humble enough to be obedient. They withstood much persecution because they were willing to stand for truth. They were willing to stand even unto death for the cause of building and maintaining the kingdom of God. They were made fools for Christ’s sake and because of this they were wise.  They would labor and serve with all their resources and strength, not for their glory but for our Father in Heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 4: 9-17 it reads:

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;

 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

 13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

This applies to more than just apostles. It applies to us as well, in more than one way.  First, because even in our lives now we can still go about the Lords work and bless the lives of everyone we come in contact with. Second, not only will a selfless attitude help everyone around us but it will also open up doors for us to grow spiritually.

Why is not enough to just know what is right and wrong? Why is action important?

In Alma 39: 11-12 you read:

11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.

 12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities;

I love these verses because they teach that we are to live the gospel rather than just believe in it. Faith is an action word and if we desire to become true examples of faith then we must live the gospel.  If we did not live it then who would believe us as we testify?

That additional power comes to those who live what they know?

This can be found in 3 Nephi 8: 1

 1 And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record—for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity—

If we live what we know then we will be powerful examples of the gospel and will bring about miracles in our lives as well as the lives of others.

Proper Authority and Ministering to the People

Proper Authority and Ministering to the People

Baptism is a wonderful expression of love and obedience.  When we are baptized we are partaking in a saving ordinance that is necessary for eternity.  Like it says in the scriptures “No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God”.  The following will teach and testify of the true order of baptism as taught by the Apostle Paul.  This is how we can truly follow Jesus Christ.

Study Acts 19:1–12; 20:7–12; and list five priesthood ordinances Paul performed. Answer the following questions in writing:

•             Baptism, with authority, in the name of Jesus Christ

•             Laying on of hand to give the gift of the Holy Ghost

•             Blessings unto the sick

•             Sacrament

•             Raised the Dead

1.            What did Paul do for the Corinthian saints because it hadn’t been done right the first time?

a.            He baptized them with proper authority in the name of Jesus Christ and then gave unto them the Holy Ghost.

2.            How does this help answer the question many nonmembers have about the need of being baptized when they have already been baptized?

a.            The expression of love and willingness to obey one shows is wonderful and I am sure is very pleasing unto God but what I love about these verses is that it teaches that there is specific instruction when being baptized (Mainly; being baptized by one who holds the priesthood authority to do so, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and then to receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands).

3.            In what way did Paul bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost?

a.            With authority and by the laying on of hands

4.            On what day of the week did the saints meet to break bread?

a.            On the first day of the week (Acts 20:7)

5.            What evidence is there in John 20:1, 19 for why the Sabbath day was changed?

a.            In John 20: 1 you learn that on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early… “when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre”

b.            Then in verse 19: “ the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”