1. WHO IS CHRIST? Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – WHO IS CHRIST????

In the past 30 years that I have personally been studying Scriptures and especially the last 3 years that we have been studying scriptures as part of Come Follow Me program, I have noticed a vast discrepancy between what a majority of LDS people say about Who Christ is and how the Scriptures describe Christ through His various names and titles. The Prophet Joseph Smith made it very clear that:

“This is Life Eternal, to KNOW the ONLY True God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent” (John 17:3). Then he made this observation:

“If any man does not know God, and inquires what kind of being He Is – if he will search diligently his own heart – if the declaration of Jesus and the Apostles be true, he will realize that he has NOT Eternal life; for there can be eternal life on NO OTHER principle. Ask yourselves, turn your thoughts to your hearts, and say if any of you have seen, heard, or communed with Him. This is a question that may occupy your attention for a long time. What kind of a being is God? Does any man or woman know? Have any of you seen Him, heard Him, or communed with Him?

If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves. I am going to inquire after God, for I want you all to KNOW HIM, and to be familiar with Him. It is the FIRST principle of the Gospel (Glad Tidings of Christ) to know for a Certainty the Character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another. Here, then is Eternal Life – to KNOW the ONLY wise and true God!!!” Having a knowledge OF God we know how to approach Him and He begins to come (be re-unveiled) to us. (Teachings of Prophet JosSmith pg 343- 346)

Lets go to D&C 132 and learn further about what this means. When we read the scriptures as revealed, we have an opportunity to sincerely choose to understand every word spoken by the Voice of the Lord:

22 For strait is the “Gate”, and narrow the “Way” that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye Re-ceive Me not in the world neither do ye know Me.

23 But if ye Re-ceive Me in the world, then shall ye know Me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.

24 This is Eternal lives—to KNOW the ONLY wise and true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. I am He. Receive (Me, therefore).

So KNOWING Him comes by Re-Ceiving Him. What does the word RE-Ceive mean? The Prefix RE means “again”. The root “Ceive” is used in Con-ceive and Per-Ceive – it means to “Embrace within”. If we are to RE-Ceive Him, it is to Embrace Him within again!

Here is more scriptural basis about what or WHO the “Gate” and the “Way” is:

2 Nephi 9:41 O then, my beloved, Come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that His paths are righteous. Behold, the Way for man is narrow, but it lies in a straight course before Him, and the keeper of the Gate is the Holy One of Israel; and He employs no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the “Gate”; for He cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is His NAME.”

Joseph Smith said: “Reading the experience of others or the revelations given to them can NEVER give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God. Could we read and comprehend all that has been written from the days of Adam on the relation of man to God and angels in a future state we should know little about it. Could you gaze in heaven five minutes you would know more than you possibly can know by reading all that ever was written on the subject. We are only capable of comprehending that certain things exist which we may acquire by certain fixed principles. Knowledge of these things CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY EXPERIENCE IN THESE THINGS.

“Truth in reference to these matters, can, and may be known through the revelations of God in answer to prayer. The Hebrew Church "came unto the spirits of Just men made perfect and unto an innumerable company of angels, and unto God the Father of all and to Jesus Christ the Mediator of the new Covenant." (Prophet Joseph Smith, Oct 9, 1843 Gen. James Adams Funeral Sermon, printed in Times & Seasons)

“The first Grand Key is : What is the Knowledge of God? Knowledge IS THE principle of salvation. Woe to you who preach that knowledge is not necessary unto life and salvation. Knowledge is REVELATION! Without Knowledge (KNOWING CHRIST) NONE could be given Life and Godliness. Knowledge is the power of God unto salvation.

Knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ IS THE GRAND KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE GLORIES AND MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

Prophet Joseph Smith, May 21,1843, See TJPS, History of the Church, Joseph Smith Diary

2 Peter 1:1 To them that have obtained precious faith through the Righteousness OF (possessed by) God and our Savior Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace (is) multiplied unto you through the Knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 His divine power hath given unto us ALL things that pertain unto (Eternal) Life

and Godliness, through the (personal) Knowledge of Him that hath called us to Glory and Virtue (Virtue in Hebrew means “LIGHT”, Life, Holy Spirit).

So if we do not KNOW Christ, then we cannot even understand or comprehend who we are. Therefore the phrase “Know Thyself”, must of necessity follow KNOWING intimately and personally The ONLY True God. And “To thine own self be true” must also follow: “To The Truth, the Way, and the Life and Light and Creator of All Things be true”. If we do not Know Him and are not being True to, and full of Faith in Him, then there is no “Way” to even know our self and to which of our two “self”s” we must be true to. In Chapter 5 we will discuss our Dual Nature and how our Natural man keeps us from Him and His Love and Presence - which is a fullness of Rest and Eternal Life IN His Presence and Glory.

Having perused the many scriptures which testify of Christ, including the one which says: “All Things testify of Me” (Christ), we find a greater understanding of Who Christ is, and Where Christ is.

One thing is for sure: There is no scripture that states that Christ is our brother, and just a man like ourselves who came here and lived a perfect sinless life and did a good deed for us all – by suffering and being killed by the Jerusalem priesthood leaders. The following few scriptures are key in helping us to understand WHO Christ is;

Mosiah 5:15 Christ is God above all, the Lord Omnipotent (ALL powerful)

D&C 93: 2-39 2 And that I am the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;

3 And that I am IN the Father, and the Father IN Me, and the Father and I are One.

4 The Father because He gave Me of His Fullness, and the Son because I (came into) the world and made flesh my tabernacle (space suit), and dwelt among the sons of men.

5 I was in the world and received of My Father, and the works of Him were plainly manifest.

6 And John saw and bore record of the Fullness of My Glory,

7 And he bore record, saying: I saw His Glory, that He was in The Beginning, before the world was;

8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for He was The “Word”, even the Messenger of salvation—

9 The Light and the Redeemer of the world; The Spirit of Truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by Him, and in Him was the Life of men and the Light of men.

10 The worlds were made by Him; men were made by Him; all things were made by Him, and through Him, and OF Him. (What does it mean that ALL the worlds in existence were made OF Him?)

11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld His Glory as the Glory of the Only Begotten of the Father (in Flesh), full of grace and truth, even The Spirit of Truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us.

17 And He received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the Glory of the Father was with Him, for (It) dwelt IN Him.

19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what (and WHO) you worship, that you may come unto the Father IN My NAME, and in due time receive of His Fullness.

20 For if you keep My commendments (original spelling) you shall receive of His Fullness, and be Glorified IN Me as I am in the Father.

21 I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn (of all creation);

22 And all those who are begotten through Me (Re-Ceive) of the Glory of the same, and ARE the church of the Firstborn. (What does it mean to be Begotten through Christ? – see Moses 6: 59-63)

23 Ye were also in the Beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of Truth;

26 The Spirit of Truth is of God. I am the Spirit of Truth,

27 And no man receiveth a FULLNESS unless he keeps His commendments.

28 He that keepeth His commendments receives Truth and LIGHT, until he is Glorified IN Truth and knoweth all things.

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence or the Light of Truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be. (This leads us to understand that we were NOT created, but existed from the beginning with God and are part of God)

30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.

31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the Light (within them, Christ).

32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the Light is under condemnation.

33 For man is (Eternal) Spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a Fullness of joy;

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a Fullness of joy.

35 The elements are the Tabernacle of God; yea, man is the Tabernacle of God, even Temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.

36 The Glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, Light and Truth.

37 Light and Truth forsake that evil one.

38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and GOD having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.

39 And that wicked one cometh and takes away light and truth, through dis-obedience, from the children of men, and because of the traditions of their fathers.

D&C 88:3-13 Christ is OmniPresent (Present everywhere in the Universe, The “Word”, The Son of God when in a flesh tabernacle.

D&C 88:50 Christ is the True Light IN us and we are IN Him, otherwise we could not exist or thrive or abound.

D&C 88: 3-13 Christ is The Comforter, the Glory of the Celestial Kingdom, The Spirit of Truth, that Light which is IN the SUN, Moon, Earth, Stars and also the Power of which ALL THINGS are made and exist.

11 And (Christ is) the Light which shineth, which giveth you Light, Him who enlighteneth your eyes, the same Light that quickeneth your understandings;

12 Which Light proceedeth forth from the Presence of God to fill the immensity of space—

13 The Light which is in All Things, which giveth (physical and Spiritual) LIFE to all things, who is The LAW by which all things are governed, and is even the Power of God who sitteth upon His throne, and Who is IN the bosom of eternity, and Who is IN the midst of All Things. (Who is in the Midst of ALL THINGS? CHRIST!!!)

D&C 88:41 Christ comprehendeth All things, and All things are before Him, and All things are round about Him; and He is above all things, and IN all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by Him, and OF Him, even God, forever and ever. (That pretty much sums it all up: Christ is All Things and ALL things are OF and BY Him in this vast Uni-verse. Our God, Christ our Lord and Creator is a GREAT BIG GOD, and yet so personable as to be always with and talk with us individually).

John 15: 1-5 I (Christ) am the (Universal) VINE, and ye are the branches IN (and OF) Me.

Mosiah 15: 1-8 God himself shall come down and redeem His People – He is Father in the Spirit, and the Son when He comes among us in the flesh.

Mosiah 7: 26-28 Abindai said “Christ is God, the Father of ALL THINGS, who came down in the “image” of man. (Man is made in the Image of God, male AND Female.)

Alma 42:15 God Himself Atoneth for the sins of His people

D&C 19: 15-18 I, God, Suffered ALL THINGS

2 Cor 3:17 Christ The Lord is that Spirit of Liberty

Mosiah 5:2 CHrist is the Lord GOD Omnipotent, who created All things in Heaven and Earth, who is GOD ABOVE ALL, the ONLY Name under which ye can be made ‘Free”.

Mosiah 3:5 The Lord God Ominpotent shall come down among His People

Mosiah 3:8-21 Jesus Christ, Father of Heaven and Earth, Creator of ALL THINGS, THE Lord Omnipotent

Mosiah 3: 27; Alma 11: 38 Christ IS God, the Father of ALL THINGS

1 Nephi 9:16, 26 Knowest thou the Condesencion of God

Mosiah 13:28 God Himself shall make At-One-ment

Mosiah 16:15 Christ is the VERY Eternal Father.

Alma 34; 11, 14 No man can make At-One-ment for sins.

Helaman 14:12; Ether 4:7 CHrist is the Father of Heaven and Earth

Ephesians 6:17 Spirit is the WORD of God

John 1: 1-14 IN the Beginning was The “Word” of God, and the Word of God was with God and Was God, and came down and dwelth among us in the Flesh.

Moses 6: 59-68 59 By reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and The spirit, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be BORN AGAIN into the kingdom of Heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the Word of Eternal life in this world, and eternal Life in the world to come, even immortal Glory;

60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit, ye are justified, and by the Blood ye are sanctified;

61 Therefore “IT” is given to abide in you; the Record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the Truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.

62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten.

63 And behold, all things are created and made to bear record of Me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of Me. (And I am IN You and you are IN Me).

64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.

65 And thus he was baptized (Immersed), and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was Born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the INNER man.

66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with Fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son

67 And thou art after the order of Him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.

68 Behold, thou art One in Me, a son/daughter of God; and thus may all become My sons/daughters: Ah-men.

D&C 76:24 By Him and Through Him (Christ) all things are Created

D&C 33:16 The Power of MY Spirit quickens ALL THINGS

Colossians 1:16 For by Him (Christ) ALL things are created.

D&C 29: All things were created by the Power of MY Spirit, My GLORY.

D&C 93: 1-40 Read it over and over until the Spirit gives you understanding.

1 Timothy 3:16 The Mystery of God: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in Spirit, Re-Ceived up in Glory

Proverbs 15:3 The “Eyes” Of the Lord are IN every place – (Omni Present)

Isaiah 6:3 The whole earth is FULL of His Glory – In every thing, and every one.

Roman 11:33 Unsearchable are the wisdom and Knowledge of Christ – Omniscient

2 Nephi 2: 24 The wisdom of Christ knoweth ALL THINGS – Omniscient

2 Nephi 9:20, Mormon 8:17, D&C 127:2 Christ Knoweth ALL Things, there is not anything save He knows it (and is part of Him).

Jacob 2:5 Christ is the ALL Powerful (OmniPotent) Creator of ALL THINGS.

Isaiah 26:4

Alma 7:13,18:18 Thou art the Great SPIRIT, that KNOWETH ALL THINGS!!!

D&C 26:35 Christ is ALL WISDOM, ALL understanding, He comprehendeth ALL THINGS!

Isaiah 9:6 The Child who is born IS; Wonderful, The MIGHTY God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

Ephesians 3:9 16-21 God Creator of all things by Christ, who dwelleth IN your heart.

Colossians 2:9 IN Him (Christ), dwelleth ALL the fullness of the Godhead (Father & Mother).

John 4:24 God (Christ) is a Spirit and they who worship Him must worship Him IN Spirit.

D&C 84:45 Live by every Word that proceedeth from the MOUTH of God – Truth is Light, Light is Spirit, even the SPIRIT of Christ.

Moses 5: 9 The Holy Ghost fell upon Adam saying: I AM the ONLY begotten of the Father from the beginning.

Isaiah 48: 17 I am the Lord thy God, the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, Creator, King of all Kings,

Acts 17:28 IN Him (Christ) we Live and Move and Have our Being.

Isaiah 54:5 Thy Maker is Thy Husband, Holy One, Redeemer, the God of the whole earth.

We learn from these scriptures and more, that Christ is The Vine from which all creation springs. HE is the Light and Life of all of us, and animals and plants and the very Breath we take each moment – HE IS OUR ETERNAL LIFE!!

Christ is the True Light in ALL of us, and we are IN Him, otherwise we do not exist. There is no such thing as a true atheist – if we exist, it is because we are made by and OF Him and are Part of Him.

IN Christ we live and move and Have our being. He is Creator of all things in the UNi-Verse, Heavens, earth, Stars, and He is IN all these things and is the Power by which it all exists.

We all are branches of the compete perfect Vine, we can do NO THING without Him. We cannot even breathe without His Spirit (Light) working within our temporal mortal bodies (space-suits) and the Light that He is FILLS us AND all the immensity of Space.

We are His Temple – He dwells continuously IN us. We are the “tabernacle” of God.

Christ is the WORD who was and is with God, and who was and is God, which was in the beginning of all creation and He came in flesh for 33 years to dwell with us and walk among us in a Space suit (Which he showed us that He is the Way to come out of our illusionary separation from Him, and come back into At-ONE-ment with Him – perfect harmonious Oneness, if only we will submit and surrender all we think we are and have and covet, and stop the foolish ladder climbing to get to “Heaven”. As He said: The Kingdom of Heaven is “Out there” – It is WITHIN you (us). It has always been within since we are WITHIN Him. He is our Eternal Husband, caretaker, Protector, teacher, our eyes, our ears, our heart, our Spirit,

Christ IS GOD (male & female – in whose Image we are manifest), IN All Things, Around, Through, Above, below all things, and we and all things that exist are BY Christ and OF Christ. There is no existence that is NOT part of Christ. NOTHING can separate us From His PERFECT UNCHANGABLE LOVE (Romans 8:38,39)

Christ is Omnipotent, Omniscient and OmniPresent (He is All - and IN All). (I’ll bet you did not know that He Is ALL IN you)

When we actually look at our countenance in a mirror, we can see His Image IN us, we have existed since the beginning with Him – this continuous existence we have has always existed and will always exist. If we choose to yield our hearts to Him (which He will never force), then we may live in Joy and Peace and His amazing Love – for ETERNITY – FOR-EV-ER!!!

God (Christ) created ALL things and is above all things and before ALL things and round about all things and ALL things are round about God, and God is IN ALL THINGS. God is Love. ALL things are created in Love. God created you and is IN YOU. He said “I AM the true Light that is IN YOU! Man is the Temple of God! What God created, call thou NOT EVIL. The Lord said: In nothing doth man offend God, except those who confess not the hand of God in ALL things. Therefore, Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in ALL Things. Confess God in ALL Things in your life – call it not evil. Accept it and be Thankful for ALL things. He that is Thankful is blessed an hundred fold. Whatever you receive with love and gratefulness has no power to hurt you. All things and all experiences turn to good for those who are grateful and who love the Lord. He told Joseph Smith and us also: “Know thou, my Son, that ALL these things shall give thee experience and shall be for thy good. You must taste the bitter in order to Prize the Sweet.” This is the purpose of Life.

God is waiting to greet you with a Miracle, if only you would receive gratefully the miracle of God’s Presence that is always IN you and before you. He loves you with a perfect unchangeable love. There is nothing you can do to increase or lose that love, it is perfect. Nothing can separate you from that PURE Love, even if you turn your back on Christ and deny Him, unless you choose to Deny His Holy Spirit, and crucify Christ afresh after being shown clearly who He is and how much He loves you, in which case you would be a son of Perdition. In this case, you would be re-routed to the beginning and start all over again.

Christ does NOT increase His love or blessings based on our worthiness (readiness). Only our awareness of His Love and Light and constant blessings increases as we increase our gratefulness to Him. This becomes a focused love for Him, which is true worship and is manifest naturally and voluntarily in love for His children and service of them and thereby of God. Keeping God’s commandments comes naturally and freely when we love Him and are grateful for ALL things. It is NOT our deeds of service to Him and others that save and exalt us, but rather it is His love and Mercy and Grace, when we finally choose to “Receive” it with Love and Gratefulness. And then it naturally follows, as Jesus said: If you Love me, you will (naturally motivated by that love) keep my commandments.

Chapter 2 WHO IS CHRIST___

.docx

Download DOCX • 251KB