The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy GhostRoberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Religion
The Seventy's Course in Theology, Fifth Year: Divine Immanence and the Holy Ghost
Roberts, B. H. (Brigham Henry)
Latter Day Saint churches -- Doctrines
[Footnote A: Eph. iv:4-6. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." "I
further believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of
hands. . . . . You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not
done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost.
Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without
the other half--that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost." (Joseph
Smith's Discourse at Nauvoo, July 9th, 1843, History of the Church,
Vol. V, p. 499.)]
Through water baptism is obtained a remission of past sins; but even
after the sins of the past are forgiven, the one so pardoned will
doubtless feel the force of sinful habits bearing heavily upon him.
He who has been guilty of habitual untruthfulness, will at times find
himself inclined, perhaps, to yield to that habit. He who has stolen
may be sorely tempted, when opportunity arises, to steal again. While
he who has indulged in licentious practices may again find himself
disposed to give way to the seductive influence of the siren. So with
drunkenness, malice, envy, covetousness, hatred, anger, and in short,
all the evil dispositions that flesh is heir to.
There is an absolute necessity for some additional sanctifying grace
that will strengthen poor human nature, not only to enable it to resist
temptation, but also to root out from the heart concupiscence--the
blind tendency or inclination to evil. The heart must be purified,
every passion, every propensity made submissive to the will, and the
will of man brought into subjection to the will of God.
_4. Insufficiency of Man's Strength--Need of God's Grace:_ Man's
natural powers are unequal to this task; so, I believe, all will
testify who have made the experiment. Mankind stand in some need
of a strength superior to any strength they possess of themselves
to accomplish this work of rendering pure our fallen nature. Such
strength, such power, such a sanctifying grace is conferred on man in
being born of the Spirit--in receiving the Holy Ghost. Such, among
other things, is its office, its work.
I do not draw such a conclusion directly from any one passage of
scripture, but from the whole tenor of the teachings of the servants of
God, in both ancient and modern times.
We have seen that it is this spirit which reproves the world of sin, of
righteousness, and judgment,[A] that guides into all truth, takes of
the things of the Father and reveals them unto the children of men,
and testifies that Jesus is the Christ. These things increase knowledge
and faith; and as the foundations of knowledge and faith are broadened
and deepened so are the powers to work righteousness increased.
[Footnote A: John xvi:8-11.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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