Facing God on Judgement Day

[JohnOF123]

All theology aside, because we can all debate scripture until we are blue in the face... when it all boils down, my only concern is this. If I could give one piece of advise, it would be this one thing.

On the day that you face God at Judgement Day, and He asks for an account of your life, please don't dare think your works or "goodness" will be a means to your salvation. Completely, completely, completely have only faith in Jesus Christ on that day (and today).

Live like it and die like it, for Christ is our righteousness.

Watch the first 1 minute of this video for an example of what I'm saying.

Edited February 14, 2010 by JohnOF123

[john doe]

How do you show your faith in Christ?

[pam]

I would be careful about posting many videos on lds.net from Paul Washer. I found a couple that were specifically anti-Mormon. One even states "Mormons don't watch."

Edited February 14, 2010 by pam

[JohnOF123]

How do you show your faith in Christ?

Do you mean in every day life? Or do you mean me specifically?

{I'll keep an eye out for those Pam}

Edited February 14, 2010 by JohnOF123

[WillowTheWhisp]

How do you show your faith in Christ?

Won't Christ know you have faith in him without you needing to show him?

[pam]

So do you sit back and do absolutely nothing to show your faith?

[WillowTheWhisp]

I try to be obedient but fail miserably so perhaps that means I don't have enough faith. I don't sit back and do nothing but nothing I do seems to actually prove or acheive anything.

[JohnOF123]

I think we would all agree that we show faith in Christ by conforming to His image and being obedient to his words, but my point in the original thread was not to put our faith in that obedience, or any works done, but only faith in what Christ did. For instance, to think in our heart "God will accept me because I did this and that" or because "I" anything. But we should rather think in our heart "I am a sinner and Christ is my righteousness; my works are fruit that come out of this faith in Christ."

I am not trying to preach to the choir here, but if I was misunderstood I am only trying to lay out my perspective of what I mean to say.

When Christ was on the cross, all of my sin was imputed onto Him; He never sinned once but all of my sin was upon Him. On the last day, all of His righteousness can be imputed onto us, even though I'm not righteous. My works are like "filthy rags" before God. If I do anything "good" it only puts me further in debt with God since it is from Him those good works came. I dare not attempt to rob Him of His glory by claiming any righteousness apart from Christ.

Not ME 5% + Jesus 95% Righteousness

but instead

ME neg-99999999% and Jesus (Infinite) Righteousness

I only come with faith (and debt).

My ultimate point is that rather than spend effort in my life to debate people, this should really be my only worry. The core of it all.

Luke 18:10-14

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Edited February 14, 2010 by JohnOF123

[Idaho]

There is a video that perhaps explains the LDS perspective on this. It is called the mediator

This video gives a scenario that talks about justice and mercy and their interaction through a mediator. Christ is the mediator for us between justice and mercy. He is our new debtor and provides the way and power through which we can be cleansed from sin. The point isn't that we can earn anything of our selves. we are only saved by Christ. To him and the Father we owe all devotion. It is only through his contribution that we are saved. However, the Savior has said in Matthew 7:21 21 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." That in no way means that we are doing it by our selves. It means that only those who actively seek to do the Father's will and use the atonement of Christ to continually improve through his grace are those who are showing true faith. This is why in James 2 he talkes about faith without works is dead or you might say incomplete. he says in verse 24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only". Christ's sacrifice was not made to save us in spite of our sins, it was made to save us from our sins and to help us escape from them. I don't think that you necessarily disagree with this but i think that there was a misunderstanding as to what we believe. It sounded as if you thought that we believe that our contribution is huge. Your right our contribution is infinitly smaller than that of Christ's. Our contribution isn't big volume-wise but we believe that it is vitally important. Our effort in improving is how we accept the Savior. We do all we can and plead in prayer for his help. Little by little he works within us and changes us for the better. He will force no man to heaven, but he will lift those who seek his council and his path. I hope this helped.

[charity1]

I think I understand what you were trying to say in your origional post, and I do truly believe that we must have faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. I do believe though that our faith will be pronounced in our actions, and that we should do all that we can to demonstrate our faith in Jesus Christ. By doing this, our faith and our works become balanced. It is a never ending process; our faith must continue to grow, and our works will continually demonstrate our continuing faith.

[JZundel]

Won't Christ know you have faith in him without you needing to show him?

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:26

We do not have to be perfect in our faith. God expects us to show him our faith by the things we do.... it is a constant action. We must put our faith and trust in the Lord that if we do the things that He has asked of us, He will bless us accordingly. We all have different trials and things that we need to learn and experience as individuals, so we all show our faith in different ways. God needs us to exercise that faith in Him.

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." - Doctrine & Covenants 82:10

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" - Ephesians 1:13

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." - Hebrews 10:36

[pam]

Adorable picture JZ

[JessicaHarper]

So do you sit back and do absolutely nothing to show your faith?

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

And I just love the following verses, James 2:18-20: But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?

GOOD STUFF!