The Gospel: An Exposition of its First Principles: Revised and Enlarged Edition — John Shaqi
The Gospel: An Exposition of its First Principles: Revised and Enlarged EditionRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Gospel: An Exposition of its First Principles: Revised and Enlarged Edition
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches
From other scriptures, to be considered presently, we shall see that
Paul could not have meant a mere intellectual assent to the truth of
the several principles composing the Gospel, but an active, living
faith in them--a belief which accepts them, not in theory only, but
in practice also--a belief which leads up to an implicit obedience to
the ordinances and precepts of the Gospel. It is only such a belief
that can make the Gospel the power of God unto salvation. In proof of
this I call attention to the following scriptures: "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 * * * Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken
him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every
one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be
likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it."[B]
[Footnote B: Matt. vii: 21, 24-27.]
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and
receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your
souls. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your
own selves."[C]
[Footnote C: James i: 21,22]
And now to come to a passage which must set at rest forever all
controversy on the question. In speaking of Jesus, the writer of the
book of Hebrews says: "Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience
through the things which he suffered, and being made perfect, he became
the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him."[D] Not to
those who do not obey him.
[Footnote D: Heb. v: 8,9.]
From these scriptures we deduce the following definition: The Gospel is
the power of God unto salvation unto every one who believes and obeys
it.
CHAPTER II.
GENERAL SALVATION.
Having defined what the Gospel is, it is my purpose now, for
convenience, to separate the subject into two grand divisions. These I
shall call respectively: General Salvation, and Individual Salvation.
By General Salvation, I mean a salvation that is as universal as the
race of man; that will extend to the sinner as well as to the saint;
to the unbeliever, as well as to him who believes; to the impenitent,
as well as to the penitent; in short, a salvation that is secured to
every son and daughter of Adam, irrespective of his or her belief or
unbelief, obedience or disobedience.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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