NT Come Follow Me 34

NT Come Follow Me Lesson 34

Introduction:

““Overcome Evil with Good”

Romans 1:7–8 Our Christians today living faithful so that even now, our faith is being spoken throughout the whole world?

Those who have entered into the baptismal covenant are truly saints, and are beloved of God. Even though we need to be chastened and redirected many times, we have the assurance of God’s love for us, in the gift of His Son and through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 7:24 Like Nephi and Paul, we might sometimes feel our own wretchedness. But God sees more. We are His beloved sons and daughters.

Joseph Smith Translation, Romans 7:22–27 

Romans 12:21 With the Savior’s help, we can overcome evil with good.

Personal Study: Those who follow the Spirit can become “joint-heirs with Christ.”

Romans 6:4 Through baptism we can be raised to a newness of life.

Romans 7:23 How do we embrace the newness of life and put off the natural man?

Romans 7:23 How can we hold on to hope (along with faith and charity) even in this fallen world and in our own conflicts of desires?

Romas chapter 8: How did we strengthen our hope in being made joint-heirs with Christ to all that the Father has.

Romans 8:9 How are you blessed by having the Spirit of God dwelling in you?

What can you do to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost more fully in your life?

2 Nephi 4: Psalm of Nephi: Oh wretched man that I am.

Mosiah 3:19 The natural man is an enemy to God.

I did a ChatGPT study including verses in 2 Nephi 4 and Mosiah 3. It’s good, but I think I should have done more study sections first that might have been included.

 

Personal Study:  The gift of eternal glory far outweighs my trials on earth.

Romans 8:16–39 How can these verses help you as you face trials in your own life? Paul offered these words to the Romans to help the early saints with the horrific opposition they were facing.

Worthy of Our Promised Blessings Sister Linda S. Reeves: “I do not know why we have the many trials that we have, but it is my personal feeling that the reward is so great, so eternal and everlasting, so joyful and beyond our understanding that in that day of reward, we may feel to say to our merciful, loving Father, ‘Was that all that was required?’ I believe that if we could daily remember and recognize the depth of that love our Heavenly Father and our Savior have for us, we would be willing to do anything to be back in Their presence again, surrounded by Their love eternally. What will it matter … what we suffered here if, in the end, those trials are the very things which qualify us for eternal life and exaltation in the kingdom of God with our Father and Savior?”

How will you “daily remember and recognize” God’s love for you?

What are some current day trials people face that they think are just too great for them to handle, so they abandon their faith? How can you guard against that in your own life, and why would you want to?

Personal Study: What did Paul mean by “predestinate,” “election,” and “foreknow”?

Election: Foreordination: “before this life, God chose some of His children to be part of Israel, His covenant people. This meant they would receive special blessings and responsibilities so they could bless all the people of the world.”

Paul taught and it is taught in Christ’s church that all “God’s children can become His covenant people, and we all receive eternal life the same way—through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to His commandments.

Ephesians 1:3–4 We kept our first estate, and God has provided means for us to keep our estate here as well.

1 Peter 1:2 Whether we are born or adopted into the covenant line, the blessings will be the same, if we are faithful.

Alma 13:1–5 Some valiant people were foreordained to specific callings and for specific purposes in this life.

Foreordination

Personal Study: Paul invites me to become a true Saint and follower of Jesus Christ.

Please see the blog I wrote with the help of ChatGPT.

https://intelligentgospelstudy.blogspot.com/2023/08/practicing-principles-of-discipleship.html

Family Study: We are of Great Worth to God our Father

Romans 8:31–39 Our Heavenly Father prepared all things, and even gave His Son, so that we might choose Him and be successful.

How does Romans 8:31-39 illustrate that our Father’s love know no bounds? Please describe how both the Father and the Son have prepared all things for our happiness and salvation? Please use the King James version of the Bible.

https://intelligentgospelstudy.blogspot.com/2023/08/nothing-can-separate-us-from-gods-love.html

Family Study: How does faith help us experience the joy of the gospel? Romans 9:31–32 Why is it important for us to look to Christ in faith, rather than being overly concerned about attaining righteousness merely through our own efforts?

The Music of the Gospel Elder Wilford W. Andersen helps to illustrate what Paul teaches about the law, works, and faith.

Is it easier to dance with or without music? “The music of the gospel is [a] joyful spiritual feeling.”How does faith help us experience the joy of the gospel?

“The joy of the dance will only be experienced when we come to hear the music.”

We learn the dance steps with our minds, but we feel the music with our hearts.

Family Study: How does the word of God increase our faith?

Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(You could fill glasses, labeled with “scriptures”, “personal revelation”, “general conference”, etc.)

Why is it important to be doers of the word and not hearers only?

Family Study: How can I become a living sacrifice?

Romans 12 What does it mean to make ourselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God”?

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

So many of us think that we would die for our testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Heidi, what are you doing to live for Jesus Christ and the blessings of salvation He has bestowed upon you?

Family Study: Don’t judge and argue over personal preferences.

Romans 14:13–21

verse 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/7?lang=eng

The law of Moses is fulfilled in Christ—Paul delights in the law of God after the inward man.

Vs 14-23 In this life, we have the constant struggle of wanting to live God's laws and follow His commandments, and our human frailities and desires that can so easily make us turn from Him.

It is therefore important to keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ and to continually ask for and extend forgiveness. Without Him, there is no justification.

 

Vs 24-25 Did Paul and Nephi have access to an early account of someone saying "O wretched man that I am!"?

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/8?lang=eng

The law of Christ brings life and peace—Those adopted as children of God become joint heirs with Christ—God’s elect are foreordained to eternal life—Christ makes intercession for man.

Vs 1-5 Jesus, who overcame the world, has the power to help us do the same.

Vs 6 This is another scripture which is found in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Vs 7-11 This is why it is so important for us to partake of the Sacrament each week and keep our covenant to always remember Him. We can learn to live in the world, but be among those that the Father has given Jesus from out of the world.

Vs 14-18 When we are baptized and receive the Ghift of the Holy Ghost, if we are led by the Spirit of God, we become His sons and daughters. We are adopted into His family. As children of God, we are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to all that the Father has.

Vs 21-27 Our very spirituality is dependent upon our hope in Christ. The Spirit will teach us what we need to say and do, and even what to pray for.

Vs 28-30 God has always had a plan for us. We can have access to that in our lives as we follow His Son.

Vs 31-39 If God is for us, who can be against us. He prepared all things for our salvation, and the battle was won by Jesus. He continues to search us out and intercede for us.

[ Further reading: if I choose: 2 Nephi 4:14-35, and Mosiah 3:11-23 ]

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/9?lang=eng

Paul explains how the law of election (foreordination) operates—The people of Israel are chosen (foreordained) to receive the adoption, covenants, promises, and blessings of the gospel; yet they are not all Israel who are of Israel—They must seek their blessings by faith—The Gentiles also attain to righteousness and salvation by faith.

Vs 4-5 We are all adopted into the House of Israel when we are baptized. We receive the promises made to our fathers as we keep our covenants with God.

Vs 27-28 The righteous will be saved in this last day, and the Lord's work will soon be cut short in righteousness. It seems that He keeps giving us time to repent and be counted among the rightoues.

Vs 29 The world is as Sodom and Gomorrha even now. I am wondering was the evil of that day also linked to gender identity theft? It's interesting that this verse is placed right here. How can we help people remember and embrace the Father, and rely on His Son, and be saved from the evil of this day? It's our mission, I believe.

Vs 30-33 Salvation is only in and through Jesus Christ and placing our faith and hope in Him.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/10?lang=eng

Salvation comes through righteousness to those who believe in Christ—Faith comes by hearing the gospel taught by legal administrators sent of God.

Vs 1-4 How are you doing in your desire for Israel's salvation? What can you do to help teach and gather Israel? Is it your heart's desire that our Father's children might be saved? Are you praying for that.

Do you work on establishing the righteousness of God, or do you think your righteousness is good enough. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. It's important that we all believe on Him and have faith in Him.

Vs 8-13 Our salvation is found in Jesus. Do you confess Him with your mouth? Do you believe with all the heart that God raised Him from the dead? If you believe in Him, you won't be asahamed. (Though those in the world may shame you, your Father will not.) He loves all the peoples of the earth. He is Lord over all and merciful to all who call upon His name.

Vs 14-15 Missionaries are necessary. Accept the callings to teach that you are given, both tthrough the church and by the Spirit.

Vs 17 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Vs 21 The Lord is so patient with us. His arm is stretched out still. He is reaching out to where you are; reach to Him so He can draw you up.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/11?lang=eng

Israel was chosen (foreordained) according to the election of grace—But some harden their hearts against it—The Gentiles are adopted into the house of Israel—The gospel goes preferentially to the Gentiles until the fulness of the Gentiles.

Vs 13-17 The work of preservation and salvation is all one and the same. We are all of the same tree, and we all have the opportunity to be grafted in again and be blessed of God unto salvation through His Son.

Vs 21-24 Be thankful that God has allowed you to become part of Israel through adoption and grafting in. And desire that the natural branches (Israel) be grafted in again.

Vs 26 The Gentiles, who have received the gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation through HIm, now have a responsibility to take the gospel to all the earth, the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Jesus came to deliver us all.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/12?lang=eng

Paul counsels the Saints to present their bodies as a living sacrifice, to use their own grace-given gifts, and to live as Saints should live.

Vs 1-2 We need to give our hearts, our minds and our bodies, all our efforts to the Lord as a living sacrifice; being willing to serve for Him.

Vs 3-18 Paul likes the members of the church as one body. We each have different tasks and different gifts and blessings; all of which are to be used for the good of all, for individual and church progression.

Paul gives a good list of the responsibilities of saints in their several assignments and roles.

 

Vs 19-21 We should be concerned with how we are doing and not hold grudges over others for who they are doing or not doing. We are expected to love everyone, friend and foe, and treat them kindly. If Christians will live the first two great commandments, we can overcome evil with good.

 

Prompt to give ChatGPT

In Romans 12, King James Version, Paul addresses members of the Church concerning both their gifts and their duties. This chapter clearly reflects the Lord’s answer to which are the greatest commandments in the law: to love the Lord God with everything you have and are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, whether friend or foe.

Great responses. Much more in the document for that.

 

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/13?lang=eng

Paul counsels, Be subject unto God’s ministers; keep the commandments; love one another; righteousness leads to salvation.

Vs 1 No one has power to do anything, unless it is given or allowed by God.

Vs 6-8 Pay your debts. Be fair to your fellowman. Love one another.

Vs 9-10 Ten commandment summarized. The fulfilling of the law is found in loving our neighbor as ourself.

Vs 11-14 Jesus's coming is nigh at hand. The 12th hour is nearly passed. Put on the armour of light. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make ready.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/14?lang=eng

Avoid quarreling about opinions and making unrighteous judgment of each other—Every knee will bow to Christ—The kingdom of God embraces righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Vs 6-13 If you keep the statutes and the sayings of the Lord. If you keep the Sabbath day holy, you will be blessed. But don't judge others who do not worship or follow the same way you do. God loves them too. He rightly knows their strengths and weaknesses the same as He knows yours.

Vs 19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/15?lang=eng

True Saints fellowship one another—Paul recounts his diligence in preaching the gospel—The gifts of the Spirit are poured out upon the Gentiles.

Vs 1-3 Be willing to succor those who need it and even to bear some shame or blame unnecessarily. Seek your neighbor's best interests.

Vs 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Vs 14 It is nice when I congregation feels the confidence of their minister in them. With that, they can rise to the occasion. I've been a recipient of that.

Vs 30-33 Pray for our leaders in their ministries and journeyings.

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/16?lang=eng

Paul sends greetings to various Saints—He counsels the Saints to avoid those who cause divisions—The Saints should be wise concerning good and innocent concerning evil.

Vs 16 In the prior verses, Paul mentioned greetings to many fellow saints. Now he asks us to also salute one another, as the churches of Christ salute us. We are to cherish and love each other.

Also, many women are named above. Women have always been necessary in the building up of the kingdom.