2 Nephi 25
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After reading verses 1 and 2, I didn't feel so bad for not getting Isaiah's prophecies totally--until I got to verse 4 and learned I didn't have the spirit of prophecy, and that's why I didn't fully understand.
But- here's my question to you: Are we, just regular disciples, capable of having the spirit of prophecy Nephi speaks of here? I mean, I know we can have the spirit of personal revelation in our studies, and in that way learn. But, specifically speaking to the 'spirit of prophecy' in verse four, do you think Nephi is saying that prophets understand Isaiah's words completely, but everyone else needs help?
I will echo the words of Nephi at the end of verse four: I too, delight in plainness! The simplicity of the gospel is beautiful!
I love how the Nephi refers to the restoration of the gospel as a marvelous work. When you look at God's plan in its entirety, you understand the joy that this must bring to the heavens and to men. This is the only time in all of earthly history where the gospel will not be taken from the earth again.
All of the keys are here. Temple work is being done for the dead. Missionary work is being done for the living. Miracles, revelation, scriptures, gifts of the Spirit . . . all are here to stay.
All of this is happening, as Nephi states in vv 16 and 18, so that ALL men can be convinced of the true Messiah and His Atonement. Not just the living, but the dead as well.
We certainly do live in exciting times!
Nephi's testimony is sweet : I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby men can be saved.
You can't get much plainer than that.
There is only one way. 1. Uno. Un. Einz. Jeden. واحد. Ichi. Il. Yek. один. Hana. Bir. 일. Kunye. Een. Um. Dwa. Eel. Ena. Yi. Unus. Yksi. En. Unu. Uma. One.
V. 24: Nephi tells us to do two things: Believe in God and be reconciled with Him. It isn't enough to just believe in Him, we must align our will to His, and DO what He wants us to do.
He speaks to this in verses 29 and 30, that we must worship Him with all our might, mind and strength, and our whole soul. And beyond that. we must keep the performances and ordinances of God. It is believing and doing.
And of course, we love verse 26...for me I love that the rejoicing in Christ comes with the talking and preaching of Him. That is where I find some of my greatest joy.
V. 28: THE RIGHT WAY IS TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST.
After reading verses 1 and 2, I didn't feel so bad for not getting Isaiah's prophecies totally--until I got to verse 4 and learned I didn't have the spirit of prophecy, and that's why I didn't fully understand.
But- here's my question to you: Are we, just regular disciples, capable of having the spirit of prophecy Nephi speaks of here? I mean, I know we can have the spirit of personal revelation in our studies, and in that way learn. But, specifically speaking to the 'spirit of prophecy' in verse four, do you think Nephi is saying that prophets understand Isaiah's words completely, but everyone else needs help?
I will echo the words of Nephi at the end of verse four: I too, delight in plainness! The simplicity of the gospel is beautiful!
I love how the Nephi refers to the restoration of the gospel as a marvelous work. When you look at God's plan in its entirety, you understand the joy that this must bring to the heavens and to men. This is the only time in all of earthly history where the gospel will not be taken from the earth again.
All of the keys are here. Temple work is being done for the dead. Missionary work is being done for the living. Miracles, revelation, scriptures, gifts of the Spirit . . . all are here to stay.
All of this is happening, as Nephi states in vv 16 and 18, so that ALL men can be convinced of the true Messiah and His Atonement. Not just the living, but the dead as well.
We certainly do live in exciting times!
Nephi's testimony is sweet : I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby men can be saved.
You can't get much plainer than that.
There is only one way. 1. Uno. Un. Einz. Jeden. واحد. Ichi. Il. Yek. один. Hana. Bir. 일. Kunye. Een. Um. Dwa. Eel. Ena. Yi. Unus. Yksi. En. Unu. Uma. One.
V. 24: Nephi tells us to do two things: Believe in God and be reconciled with Him. It isn't enough to just believe in Him, we must align our will to His, and DO what He wants us to do.
He speaks to this in verses 29 and 30, that we must worship Him with all our might, mind and strength, and our whole soul. And beyond that. we must keep the performances and ordinances of God. It is believing and doing.
And of course, we love verse 26...for me I love that the rejoicing in Christ comes with the talking and preaching of Him. That is where I find some of my greatest joy.
V. 28: THE RIGHT WAY IS TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST.
I believe the spirit of prophecy is in all of us. Not that we each have the right to prophecy for everyone else. But we can "see" things as they might happen for ourselves and our families. Plus, I think that the spirit of prophecy is more than seeing into the future, so to speak, it is being filled with the spirit to be able to understand prophecy. Do we not prophecy when we explain Christ is coming back? Prophecy is to witness.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Isaiah goes, I would think anyone who works hard at studying Isaiah, and asks for clarification would have the ability to understand. I don't think that is limited to the prophets because the scriptures are for each of us to learn from. With that said... I am mostly okay with understanding Isaiah through the voice of others because, quite frankly, sometimes Isaiah gives me a headache. =)
A sister made a comment in RS on Sunday about the Lord's grace. I was reminded of it by vs 23. She said that we are saved by grace after all *we* can do. We, meaning us and the Lord. And after all we can do together, He still makes up the difference. I really liked the way she put it and it was such a great "aha" moment for me. I love those moments when I get to see things from a different, or better, perspective.
I've heard it said this way too: "After all we can do, it is by graced we are saved."
DeleteHonestly our works have no part in saving us. The reason this is the case is once we sin once, we have no salvation. This is not to say that our works are not important, but they serve another purpose. They teach us and refine us. Our covenants bring us strength and give us direction. But the only thing that saves us is our humble repentance and Christ's atonement.
Remember what it says in Revelation 19:10 "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." I think we all have this.
ReplyDeleteThanks for both of your words about prophecy. You're totally right! I love it!
ReplyDeleteAng- I loved that comment, too, about after all 'we' can do. There's no 'I' in team, right?