Jesus Our Redeemer

Novmber 27, 2015

Helaman 5:9 “Jesus, the Only Sure foundation”

The only way we can be saved in one of God’s kingdoms forever is through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and our constant repentance. There is no other way.

Jesus is the only life foundation upon which we can build and have a sure and dependable foundation. We cannot fall or fail if we build our lives upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Knowing Jesus and obeying His teachings and commandments is like building a house upon a rock. The winds,, waves, and the rains may come, but the house will not fall. Christ is the rock upon which we must build; otherwise, we are built upon sand.

November 26, 2015

Alma 42:23  “The Atonement of Jesus Christ”

The atonement of Jesus Christ allows the Law of Mercy to be in effect. God is a just and a merciful being; however, justice cannot rob mercy, and mercy cannot substitute for justice when each has its place in the Lord’s purposes. His purposes, ways, and works are always right and true.

Jesus’ atonement brings men back into the presence of God. Jesus’ infinite atonement saves us from sin and death. The atoning blood of Christ is applied to us as we repent. His blood cleanses and sanctifies us. If we continue to repent always, we can become spotless, clean, pure, and white, cleansed from the blood and sins of this generation.

The atonement reconciles us to God the Father, since Jesus is our Mediator between us and the father. Christ’s atonement started in Gethsemane, continued on the cross, and culminated with His resurrection.

November 24, 2015

Alma 34:14 “Jesus Christ, the Great and Last Sacrifice”

A great and last sacrifice was essential for the salvation and exaltation of all living people and things. Jesus sacrificed himself as the greatest sacrifice ever-He was the sacrifice, and it was the last sacrifice that required the shedding of blood. Jesus’ great and last sacrifice was the ultimate sacrifice, the pinnacle sacrifice, the zenith and apex of all sacrifices, the final sacrifice of blood. Now the Law of Moses was fulfilled insomuch that the sacrificing of blood terminated. All sacrifices and the entire Law of Moses pointed to the savior and His great and last sacrifice. His was the sacrifice of all sacrifices.

Jesus was without blemish. There was no sin in Him; hence, he was the only person qualified to make this great and last sacrifice possible. No person or thing could substitute in His behalf. He was the only person who could give His life for the sins of another. Besides Him, there is no other Savior.

Jesus Christ: The Rock of Heaven-Broad as Eternity

Moses 7:53

And the Lord said: Blessed is he through whose seed Messiah shall come; for he saith—I am Messiah, the King of Zion, the Rock of Heaven, which is broad as eternity; whoso cometh in at the gate and climbeth up by me shall never fall; wherefore, blessed are they of whom I have spoken, for they shall come forth with songs of everlasting joy.

JESUS CHRIST is the Rock of Heaven. Look upward and see Him. If you enter the gate of baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, then you are in the strait and narrow path leading to exaltation and eternal life, and you will obtain this ultimate desire of Heavenly Father if you remain true and faithful and endure to the end of mortality, if you keep climbing upward, looking up to Christ at the top.

Faith in Jesus Christ will keep you in the strait and narrow path of obedience and freedom. The more obedient you are, the more freedom you have and will experience. Jesus is all-encompassing. He is the light and life of the world. He extends  out His hands and holds in His hands all His creations without end. Jesus’ power and influence is ‘broad as eternity.’ His knowledge is all-inclusive.

“O how great is the holiness of our God, for He knoweth all things; for there is not anything save He knows it” (2 Nephi 9:20).

Jesus is like the perfect watchman on the Celestial Tower, the tower of heaven. He stands at the top looking downward upon all people and all His creations, desiring for all people everywhere to:

1. Look upward to Him
2. Believe in Him
3. Keep their eyes on Him
4. Remember Him
5. Follow Him
6. Seek to be like Him
7. Praise Him
8. Climb upward toward Him
9. Acknowledge Him
10. Obey Him

We become what we focus on the most. Look upward to the top of the tower and see our Savior and Redeemer, even the Rock of Heaven.

The Rock of Christ: The Sure Foundation

Helaman 5:12

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

JESUS CHRIST, the Son of God, is the Rock upon which we must build our life’s foundation. There is no other foundation we can build upon that will be 100% dependable and lasting. All other foundations will eventually falter and crumble-they will not endure. Some will last a while, others  longer, but as time diminishes in the sunset of existence, these foundations will also lessen and eventually abate and disappear and be replaced with another foundation. The Rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, is the only SURE upon which we can build that will be everlasting, never faltering, never wavering, never weakening, never losing ground. Christ will always be with us and guide us if but choose Him as our irreplaceable, personal life’s foundation.

Choosing the Rock of Christ as our life’s foundation is the starting point to our having a rock-solid mortal experience. This choice qualifies as the most important choice you will ever make because all other choices will be build upon your life’s foundation, and having Christ as your foundation, you will not falter and fall, you will never lose ground, but you will forever move forward and upward becoming more Christ-like and preparing yourself for eternal life in the highest heaven of the Celestial world, if you but endure to the end of mortal life. Enduring to the end is to continue living each day with Christ as your life’s foundation, never replacing Him with another foundation.

Start each day the perfect way, and the perfect way is to build each day on the Rock of Christ. This is done FIRST AND EARLY EACH DAY through mighty prayer, sincere and humble scripture study, deep meditation and pondering on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ until you feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. You start the day by putting Christ first. This makes Him your life’s foundation. If you put Him first, then you will have a successful day, then week, then month, then 12 months, then year, and then a lifetime Put Christ first, make Him your life’s foundation, and you will overcome temptation and experience peace and joy every day of your life.

Jesus Christ: My Rock My Choice My Salvation

1 Nephi 13:36

And in them (The Golden Plates, Book of Mormon) shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.

We need to make THE CHOICE by choosing Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as our Rock, so that each of us can say and claim that He is MY ROCK. It is then that we have ownership of the Rock of our Salvation. Put Him first. Make Him your top priority. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” Jesus said. He also commanded us to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

God’s plan gives each of us individual agency, to choose and act for ourselves. He does not and cannot force us to choose the right or the wrong. We have complete control of our choices, but we do not have control or any say so over consequences of our choices. But we know that when we put God and Christ first and obey them by choosing the right, then we can rest assured that God will keep His promise and bless us with all the things we need. When we make Christ our Rock, our personal and family Rock, we cannot go astray or wrong; He won’t let us because of the Rock upon which we are built. If we choose Him as our Rock and endure to the end of our mortal lives with Him as Our Rock, then we will gain salvation and eternal life.

A good motto or axiom to live by is “Jesus Christ: My Rock My Choice My Salvation.”

Jesus Christ: Our Spiritual Rock

1 Corinthians 10:4

1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Jesus Christ is the spiritual Rock from which the living waters originate and flow. The children of Israel were fed spiritual and temporal food while in the wilderness, and they also drank spiritual and temporal drink. Christ follow them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. He provided them the spiritual guidance and nourishment needed to survive in the wilderness and throughout their journey to the Promised Land, Canaan. Jesus is the “Rock of Our Salvation.” (See hymn by Joseph Townsend)

Lyrics: Click for Music

• 1. O thou Rock of our salvation,
• Jesus, Savior of the world,
• In our poor and lowly station
• We thy banner have unfurled.
• (Chorus)
• Gather round the standard bearer;
• Gather round in strength of youth.
• Ev'ry day the prospect's fairer
• While we're battling for the truth.
• 2. We a war 'gainst sin are waging;
• We're contending for the right.
• Ev'ry day the battle's raging;
• Help us, Lord, to win the fight.
• 3. Onward, onward, we'll be singing
• As we're marching firm and true,
• Each succeeding battle ringing,
• Earnest of what we can do.
• 4. When for all that we've contended,
• When the fight of faith we've won,
• When the strife and battle's ended,
• And our labor here is done,
• (Chorus after fourth verse)
• Then, O Rock of our salvation,
• Jesus, Savior of the world,
• Take us from our lowly station;
• Let our flag with thee be furled.
• Text: Joseph L. Townsend, 1849-1942
• Music: William Clayson, 1840-1887

If we build our lives upon the Rock of Christ, the only sure and solid foundation, we will not fall, regardless of what we must pass through.

Helaman taught his sons Nephi and Lehi: And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

May we always seek to construct our lives upon the Rock of our Redeemer, who  is Christ, the Son of God. He is our Spiritual Rock from whence our spiritual thirst is quenched, for He is everlasting living water.

Jesus: Look-Seek-Follow

Isaiah 51:1

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

JESUS is the Rock from which we are to be molded after. We are created in His image; therefore, we have the capacity to become as He is in personal perfection. He is the perfect example for us to follow and seek to become like. We can become more like Him if we (1) Look to Him, (2) Seek the Lord, and (3) Follow after righteousness.

1. Look to Him:  Always remember Him and His Spirit will be with us. Look to Him in every thought, word, deed, motive, and action. Look at all the marvelous creations, and realize that He is God, the Almighty.
2. Seek the Lord: Try to find the Lord through faith and prayer, through scripture study and fasting, through meditating and pondering. Search His commandments and live them.
3. Follow after righteousness: Obey all His commandments, for therein is peace and security. He is the exemplar of righteousness, and the more obedient we are the more righteous we become. Following Him is following righteous, for He is righteous.

Herein lies the formula for happy, successful living in this lifetime, and it will continue throughout eternity. Look-Seek-Follow our Savior Jesus Christ, and He will bless you forever.

Attitude of Gratitude

Isaiah 17:10

Thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength.”

Jesus is the God of our salvation, redemption, deliverance, and reclamation. He is the one true and saintly Savior and Redeemer of mankind. He is the Rock of our strength, our energy, our existence, our being, even our all. He is the light within each of us, all who enter the world through birth. He is the Light of Christ that lighteth all in all. He is the light of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and of the all-inclusive universe.

We give thanks and gratitude to Him for His countless and undeniable blessings, for His patience and longsuffering towards the children of men.  The commandment is, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:7). ‘Thou shalt’ makes it a strict commandment that we must heed or punishment be at our door. We need to cultivate an “Attitude of Gratitude,” as counseled by Thomas S. Monson, prophet, seer, and revelator for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pour Out Your Hearts to God

Psalms 62:6

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength,and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

JESUS is our Rock and we must commit to be firm at putting no other god before Him and the Father. We must not be moved from our devotion to Him first. Putting God first is the key to happy and successful living. He is our salvation and glory. He gives us strength to withstand Satan and to perform our daily labors. We find refuge in Him. Refuge is safety or shelter from danger or trouble, and Jesus provides us His armour.

We can always trust Him and depend on Him. He always lifts, and never lets us down. Sometimes our faith in Him falls, but we are the doers.

Pour out your hearts to God,  and

He will refill it full to overflowing.

He is the giver of life, peace, and happiness. We just need to build our lives upon the Rock of Christ, and His blessings will be ours. Our lives will be overflowing with ‘milk and honey.’

Jesus Christ: Higher Than I

Psalms 61:2

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Jesus Christ is our Higher Rock. No one, save the Father (Elohim) only, is higher than our Savior, and no one else will ever ascend above them. When our souls are rejoicing in Christ due to our successes and self-fulfillment, we will cry unto Him for gratitude and our indebtedness to Him. When our hearts are filled with sorrow and hurt, we will weep and pour out our souls to Him for mercy and grace. We can look upward to Him at any time of need, and He will be there for us, to comfort us and strengthen us. As we pray to the Father, both the Father and Christ hear our cries, and will be answered according to our faith and as they see fit. Our prayers will not go unattended. Jesus said, “Ask, and ye shall receive.”

Rejoice in Christ

2 Nephi 4:30

Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

Rejoice in Christ. Joy, peace, and happiness are found in Christ. He is our God and the Rock of our Salvation. The more we praise and sing to Him, the more rejoicing we experience. Moments while in the presence of Jesus Christ are delightful, times of gladness for He is the source of true happiness. We can succeed each day if we turn to Christ and rejoice in Him.

Each day can be a jubilation if we cry unto Him and then go about obeying God’s  commandments with exactness. Joy can come in the morning, noon, and at night as we rejoice in Christ. Praise God with all your heart, might, mind, and soul. Immerse yourself in His love and peace.

Serving others opens the door for knowledge and acceptance. “While serving others, we find Christ” (Harold Clyde).

Obeying God + serving others = Rejoicing in Christ

Jesus Christ: The Perfect Leader

2 Samuel 23:3

The Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear (reverence) of God.

Jesus Christ was and is the perfect leader. He spoke and  communicated with  mankind in the past and continues to speak to us today. He informs us that leaders must be righteous people, that they must be just and true, acting with no hypocrisy nor guile. “When the wicked rule, the people mourn.” Wicked leaders make wicked laws; therefore, leading souls to sin and personal destruction. Wicked leaders will be held in strict accountability for the evil laws they make and pass that lead people to sin. “Right is right, even if everyone is against it. Wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it” (William Penn).

Jesus was the perfect leader, and we must strive to follow His leadership example regardless of the leadership position we are in, whether it be husband, wife, president, secretary, supervisor, teacher, doctor, sargent, policeman, coach, senator, or any other lead role. Wicked leaders must be replaced with good and upright souls in order to follow the command or our Lord and Savior; otherwise, these wicked leaders will perish.

A leader, political or religious or any other,  must believe in God, be honorable and moral,  and live by His commandments best he can. There is no place for the unbelieving leader. Satan possesses many leaders’ hearts to get them to sin and lead others astray, and he is succeeding.

May we seek to be just and moral, virtuous and noble leaders to pattern our leadership after Christ, the ideal leader. If we are anything less than that, then we are falling short and will suffer in the short and long run. Lead and succeed in helping others come unto Christ and be saved in eternal exaltation with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, family and friends.

Messiah: My Merciful Mentor

2 Samuel 22:2-3

2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Jesus is ready and available and willing to help us at anytime, if we are but  worthy and solicit His divine assistance. He is our personal guide, confidant, and friend. He is my:

1. Rock-I can build upon His teachings and make Him the Rock foundation of my life.
2. Fortress-He surrounds me and protects me from the wiles of mine enemy, satan and his followers. He gives me strength and power to resist evil and to do right.
3. Deliver-He delivers me from sadness and sorrow when I am experiencing life in the low valley. He delivers me from evil and corruption, from mediocrity and failure when I look to Him.
4. Shield-He is the protective armour that protects my heart from hatred and anger. He keeps dishonorable and sinful thoughts and temptations from creeping into my soul and staying there when I discipline myself to turn my thoughts and feelings to Him.
5. The Horn of my Salvation-His voice sounds out softly and loudly like a trumpet. It is up to me to determine the pitch of His voice. If I am humble and meeking, then His voice is soft and mile. If I am hard and proud, then His voice needs to get loud before I will hear Him and abide by His voice of warning.
6. High Tower-I must look up to Him in all things, for He is at the top while I dwell at the bottom.
7. Refuge-He calms me from the storms of life and gives me peace and serenity.
8. Savior-He is my and everyone’s personal Savior. He is the only one who can atone for the sins of the world and see that everyone receives a just and righteous judgment.

Jesus is everything to us. I need to praise and obey Him with my our heart, for He is My Merciful Mentor.

Jesus Christ: There is No Other

1 Samuel 2:2

There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

Jesus, like His Father, is holy. No one can match the Savior of the world in glory, honor, awe and righteousness. There is no other savior besides Him. No rock exists compared to Him, for He is mightier than all. Many rocks subsist, but there is only one Rock of our Salvation, and that is “Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King.”

Jesus: The Rock of Our Salvation

Deut. 32:4

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. He it the Rock we need to build our lives upon rather than sand. Rock is firm and solid; whereas, sand will wash away when the rain and storms come our way. Jesus will never let us down. We build our lives upon Him by learning, living, and abiding by His teachings, His commandments, covenants, and principles of righteousness and truth. He is fair and absolute, possessing all knowledge and wisdom, love and patience, understanding and foresight. Jesus is the foundation stone that will never veer to the right or to the left, but will remain constant amid change in society. You can trust Him 100%. Turn to Him. Look to Him. Believe in Him. Believe Him. Remember Him. Follow Him.

Jesus Christ: Our All

2 Samuel 22:2

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Jesus is everything to us. Without Him we are as nothing. We would eventually become as satan and live in misery forever were it not for Christ, our Brother.

Jesus is my:

1. Rock
2. Fortress
3. Deliverer
4. Shield
5. Salvation Horn
6. High Tower
7. Refuge
8. Savior

Jesus is the Rock upon which we might build and have a sure foundation, a foundation that never falls or would fail us. He is my Fortress, my stronghold and fortification against sin and temptation, against all the evil wiles ploys of the world. He is my Deliverer, for He delivers me from the world and allows me to find true peace and serenity. He is my Shield, for He protects my heart and mind by withstanding and reversing all evils of the world that try to enter and inflict my soul. He is my Salvation Horn, for salvation is found only in and through His name. He is my High Tower, for I can look up to Him and receive solutions, answers, guidance, and direction for a happy and successful life. He is my Refuge, for in Him is safety, shelter, and defense from danger or trouble. He is my Savior, for He it is who will save me at the end though His love after I have done all that I can do to live a righteous life.