Romans 12-16 Live as Saints Should live

Review Romans 13:11 and look for what is “nearer.” Read Ezekiel 3:20; Doctrine and Covenants 14:7; and explain in writing what we must continue doing to work out our salvation.

-       Salvation is nearer than when we believe. To work out our salvation we must continue to repent, keep the commandments and endure to the end.

In romans 12-13 Paul gave much counsel that leads to salvation. Read each of the following verses and list what Paul taught would help lead to salvation.

-       Romans 12:1-present your bodies as a living sacrifice, to me this means to do all you can to work and labor in his kingdom

-       Romans 12:2- do not conform to the world. But keep renewing your mind and doing the things that are the will of God.

-       Romans 12:9- Love without dissimulation. Cleave to good things.

-       Romans 12:13- be hospitable, give

-       Romans 12:16- be of the same mind one towards another. Do not think that you are better than others. Do not be conceited.

-       Romans 12:21- do not be overcome of evil, overcome evil with good.

-       Romans 13:1-  Be subject to higher power (God)

-      Romans 13:3- do good things and you shall have praise

-      Romans 13:8- do not go in debt, love one another

-      Romans 13:9- do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not covet, and love thy neighbor.

Review Romans 14:1-13; 15:1-3. Then write answers to the following questions:

1)   What cautions did Paul give about judging?

a.   We all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, so why judge others? When we judge others we are creating a stumbling block for ourselves.

2)   People may have different opinions and practices, but what is most important to remember?

a.   It is important to remember that we all can have these different opinions. As long as we are one with the Lord we will be okay.

3)   What additional insights come from reading Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27?

a.   We should treat each person equally and treat them how we would want to be treated.

Review Romans 15:25-26, 31; 16:2, 15. Write the term Paul frequently used to refer to members of the church in his day.

Paul used the term Saints to refer to the members of the church in his day.

Romans 6. Baptism

Review Romans 6:1-13 and answer the following questions in writing:

1. What must be done with sin before baptism can occur? 
• We must repent and get rid of the sin that we have.   
2. What events from Christ’s life are symbolized in baptism?
• Being buried under the water symbolizes Christ’s death, then being raised up out of the water symbolizes Christ’s resurrection.
3. Considering this symbolism, why couldn’t someone be baptized by sprinkling?
• They couldn’t be baptized by sprinkling because it would not show the symbolism of Christ’s death.
4. What do these verses teach us about how we can maintain the “newness of life”?
• It teaches us that it is through Christ and through the covenants that we make that we can obtain the newness of life.
5. According to Mosiah 3:19, what part of us would ideally die at baptism?
• The natural man, the way of the world. Our desire for worldly things would ideally die at baptism.

Study Romans 6:14-23. Write a paragraph that describes how we know whose servant we are. Then write a statement identifying the true source of freedom.

We know whose servant we are by who we obey. If we are servants of the Lord we obey his word. We would be free from sin and become servants of righteousness. But if we are servants of Satan we obey his word. We will not obey the Lord and his teachings so we are free from righteousness and become servants of sin. In Romans 6:23 it says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The true source of Freedom is through righteousness and following our Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:1-11 Forgiveness

1. What were the people of Corinth commanded to do "if any have caused grief"?
• The people of Corinth where commanded to forgive them
2. What blessings do we see if we forgive?
• We see many blessings if we forgive. Others are more willing to forgive us as we forgive. If we forgive others, Heavenly Father will also forgive us.
3. What is the danger in failing to forgive?
• The danger in failing to forgive is that we will stand condemned before the Lord, and the Lord will not forgive us of our own trespasses.

1 Corinthians 12-14 Gifts of the Spirit

1. What is taught about members in 1 Corinthians 12:13-22 and Doctrine and covenants 84:109-110 that could help those who feel insignificant in their callings?
• The Lord’s church is made up of many people, and of many different callings. Each part is different. Some might be larger than others, but they are all important. In 1 Corinthians 12:11-22 it talks about how each part is needed. Verse 17 says, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?”. D&C 84:110 says, “Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect.” People with different talents and abilities are needed. We all have something that we can contribute.
2. Of all the spiritual gifts spoken of by Paul, which spiritual gift did he identify as “more excellent”?
• Charity is the gift that Paul identified as “more excellent”. In Corinthians 13:13 it says, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: But the greatest of these is charity.”
3. Charity is:
• Long suffering
• Kind
• Rejoice in truth
• Beareth all things
• Believeth all things
• Hopeth all things endureth all things
• Never fails
• And is the greatest.
4. Charity is not:
• Envious
• Vaunteth not in itself
• Puffed up
• Does not behave itself unseemingly
• Seeketh not her own
• Easily provoked
• Thinketh no evil
• Rejoicing in iniquity
5. I think one attribute of charity that I could develop more fully would be enduring all things. Sometimes I find it hard to endure things well. I find myself complaining and not having faith that things are all going to turn out. I think the biggest thing that I can do is focus on others and their problems and then my problems will just turn out better. So my plan would be to everyday try to serve another person, whether it is to write someone a thank you note, or give someone a ride. I think that helping someone else will help me focus on what is really important. In Moroni 7:47 it says that charity is the pure love of Christ. What better way to show his love through serving others.
6. Speaking in tongues:
• Do not speak in the gift of tongues without understanding it, or without interpretations. The devil can speak in tongues too. The purpose for the gift of tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost is for the benefit of the servants of God to preach to unbelievers. This reminds me of Missionaries and how they are given the gift of tongues to be able to communicate with others. There are definite cautions about the gift of tongues. Do not speak in tongues except there be an interpreter present. If you have a matter to reveal do it in your own tongue.

Counsel for Members

This topic is based off of 1 Thessalonians 3-5; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-6 & 11. During these passages Paul is counseling members to improve. I have composed a list of the attributes that he talked about.

• faith
• charity
• good remembrance
• good desires
• stand fast in the lord
• thankfulness
• joy
• prayer
• love
• chastity
• despiseth not man
• work
• honesty
• be watchful and sober
• comfort each other
• edify one another
• warn them that are unruly
• comfort the feeble minded
• support the weak
• be patient towards all men
• rejoice
• prove all things (put things to the test, examine)
• abstain from all appearance of evil
• have confidence in the Lord touching you

I selected three attributes from this list that I want to improve on.

1. Thankfulness - During this month especially we are turned to thinking about what we are thankful for and what we are blessed with. To improve in this area I am going to start a thankfulness journal. Everyday I am going to write in my journal something I am thankful for. I think that then I will be able to see the blessings in my life.
2. have confidence in the Lord - I think sometimes I have a hard time putting all of my confidence in the things that the Lord would like me to do. One way that I am going to improve on this is doing the little things to show that I want to follow him. I am going to go to the temple on a weekly basis. I am going to attend devotional every Tuesday. And I am going to read my scriptures and say my prayers.
3. prayer - I think that having meaningful prayers is another thing that I could improve on. Taking time to ponder and pray. To improve this I am going to try to make my prayers longer and try to make it more meaningful.