Better?

[JohnBirchSociety]

Got a question about the human condition.

All have sinned, and in so doing, cannot be saved, of themselves. We all require the intercession of the Atonement of Christ for our salvation.

That being said, I've never murdered, I've never stolen, I've never fornicated.

Am I better than those who have done such things in the eyes of GOD?

A follow-up would be; What is righteousness? Can we be righteous?

[Kirajo]

Hmm good questions!! I would say that God loves all of us equally, but with the belief that no unclean thing can dwell in the Kingdom of God with Him, those who have not commited those sins ( or who have and have repented), are not necessarily " better" but maybe more able or ready to reside in Celestial Glory. But then, that would go along with if someone had never learned of the gospel or repentance and commited such sins. Either way, no I don't think God sees others as "better." Did I make ANY sense? hahah.

Righteousness is possible with every one of us but as for what it IS exactly will vary depending on each persons childhood, teachings and experiences growing up in which they may or not be held accountable for on judgment day.

So there's my thoughts!

[Heavenguard]

You are better than those who have done such things in the eyes of men. We do still have a sense of morality, but since we all fall within that sin, we classify a spectrum of better and worse ones. However, God IS Holiness, he is entirely outside of the spectrum. And so whether you've killed a man, or whether you've only told fibs, you are still unholy.

Say we're like glasses of water. Those who have sinned greatly have many drops of ink dropped in, but those who have sinned little only have one drop. Would you still consider the glasses with only a drop of ink drinkable? There's only one drop, and there's certainly much less than the other, more polluted glasses, but it's still got that drop of ink in there.

You might think it's unfair, to be thrown by God into the same clout as murderers, thieves and schemers. But what does God owe you? His offer of forgiveness of all our wrongs, whether large or small, is extended to everyone alike.

Righteousness is being in line with God. We can't be righteous by our own power. An imperfect thing can't make itself more perfect, it's logically impossible. We can only be righteous with the forgiveness that Jesus brings us.

[Guest tomk]

Got a question about the human condition.

All have sinned, and in so doing, cannot be saved, of themselves. We all require the intercession of the Atonement of Christ for our salvation.

That being said, I've never murdered, I've never stolen, I've never fornicated.

Am I better than those who have done such things in the eyes of GOD?

A follow-up would be; What is righteousness? Can we be righteous?

Define "better than" ??

You are ALWAYS better-off for not having sinned!!!!

Mercifully, the Lord can forgive us of serious sin, and over a process of (usually) many years, heal us and make us clean. Those of us who have experienced this kind of love and mercy are forever grateful to the Lord for the GIFT, but none of us who obtain this forgiveness feel like we are somehow better-off for having sinned.

You are ALWAYS better-off for not having sinned. But you are not loved more. Nor have you somehow earned your exaltation more than a repentant sinner who has been cleansed of more serious sins.

But the least sin, even stealing a pack of gum, is enough to keep us forever outside the Celestial Kingdom. We need the Savior to make us clean.

But His role extends far beyond just bearing the burden for our sins. It's not just about making us clean. It's about transforming our hearts and our natures. This can only happen when we enter into a covenant relationship with Him.

If we are pleased with ourselves for "not needing the Atonement as much as so and so" then we are in the bonds of iniquity and sorely need to repent of that kind of thinking. All are beggars. All come short of the glory of God. As a friend of mine once said, "What part of ALL don't you understand?"

Through the covenant relationship, Jesus Christ levels the playing field. We are asked, by Jesus, to withhold our judging of other people, and instead to "forgive all men their trespasses."

Edited October 25, 2008 by tomk

[Guest tomk]

As to righteousness.

Yes, we can be righteous. But again, we need to qualify that.

God is the source of righteousness. We cannot muster it from some source inside ourselves, any more than we can forgive ourselves of our own sins by our own power. Thus, without God's intervention, we are all lost forever.

Righteousness comes through the covenant relatonship with Christ. There are many Latter-day Saints who have no idea what this means. They do not know how to talk to or communicate with Christ. The reason for this is because we are told to always pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Christ. And certainly our public prayers should be this way. But privately, we can counsel with Jesus Christ directly.

This is what Jesus meant when He said:

35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

37 Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

This is not Heavenly Father talking, but Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is the One who has been given to us by the Father to counsel with.

[bytor2112]

I wish I didn't have such regrets....alas...I do....so I think you are better off. Thankfully, we have the atonement....

Reminds me of a favorite scripture from Luke;ch.7

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

[Hemidakota]

John, which pleaseth GOD more - a man that is striving to live a obedient life or one who denies the very Son and given into the world and living the path of a natural man [sin] or the listening to the minions of the Earth?

[Hemidakota]

I wish I didn't have such regrets....alas...I do....so I think you are better off. Thankfully, we have the atonement....

Reminds me of a favorite scripture from Luke;ch.7

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Totally agree....we can thank the FATHER for the Atonement and for HIS only Begotten Son, which gives a chance to return home. I await that day to embrace them our Heavenly Parents and our Elder brother with many tears.

[bytor2112]

Totally agree....we can thank the FATHER for the Atonement and for HIS only Begotten Son, which gives a chance to return home. I await that day to embrace them our Heavenly Parents and our Elder brother with many tears.

Me too, Hemi....me too