Lesson 9

Choice Three: Hebrews 13. Works of Righteousness

Paul concluded his epistle to the Hebrews with some brief teachings and statements of counsel. Read Hebrews 13 and find statements about the following questions:

• How should we treat strangers and those “in bonds”?

           

            According to Paul we should treat strangers as we would treat angels.  The scripture says that “some have entertained angels unawares.”  I think this is really true.  Angels can be people here on earth.  I certainly think it is possible that an Angel from heaven could come down to us and show himself or herself to us…..I think that it is much more likely that someone here on earth could be classified as an angel.  You never know who you are dealing with but we should treat everyone with as much respect and dignity we can muster.  As for those in bonds Paul says that we should remember them.  Keep them in our prayers.  Bonds doesn’t mean just people who are in prison but I could see it also applying to people who are confused or are in tough situations.  Keep them in our prayers and we should do whatever we can to help them. 

• How is marriage looked upon?

            Verse 4 states that “Marriage is honourable in all.”  Marriage is so important to our human race.  I don’t think we understand how important especially in our society today.  The family is the fundamental unit of the human race.  Well the binding power of the family is the marriage relationship.  We are literally sealed on earth and in heaven.  There is so much in our society today that is attacking the family, especially marriage.  Satan knows if he can stop this bond then the family will eventually fall. 

• What warnings are given about covetousness?

           

            This one really applies to me.  Paul says to not covet and “be content with such things as ye have said.”  This is something really hard.  I always want the next bigger and better thing.  Anyone who knows my wife can tell you that… but I think this is a product of our society also.  If you go on to read further it says “for he hath said, I will never leave thee , nor forsake thee.”  Heavenly Father will provide for us as we do as much as we can to provide for ourselves.  He will make up the rest if we are living faithfully. 

• What is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”?

            Jesus Christ and also I would say God. 

• How are we sanctified?

            By following his gospel.  He has already “sanctified” us by his sacrifice and suffering.  We must submit to his will.

• How do we respond to those who rule over us?

            We are told to obey them and submit ourselves to them.  Although if they rule over us unrighteously I think we should still try to do something about that.

• Who did Paul ask the people to pray for?

            He asked them to “Pray for us”  I am guessing that means him and the other Apostles.  I think in this day we can pray for our Prophet and leaders.  They really do need our support and we can support them daily by praying for them.  

Choice 5: Hebrews 1–2. Jesus Christ Is Greater than Angels

 1.    Refer to “Epistle to the Hebrews” in the Bible Dictionary (pp. 746–47). Read the first paragraph and the “Analysis of Hebrews,” number 1–5. Make a list of what Jesus Christ is superior to.

·         Greater than the angels

·         Greater than Moses

·         Greater than Melchizedek

·         Greater than the order or Aaron

2.    Read Hebrews 1. Make a list of three truths Paul taught about the Savior Jesus Christ.

1.      Jesus Christ was made in the express image of God.

2.      Jesus Christ has purged our sins.

3.      Jesus Christ’s word will not pass away.

3.    Read Hebrews 2:7–18; 4:13–16; Alma 7:11–15; Doctrine and Covenants 122:8. In writing describe how these scriptures explain reasons the Son of God came to earth to experience mortality.

·         Hebrews 2:7-18

o   He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death…that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  He came to earth to rescue us and to pay the price of our death.  Physical and Spiritual.  He took on him the seed of Abraham

·         Hebrews 4: 13-16

o   He is all powerful and has see’s all creatures and their infirmities.  He has experienced everything that we have and ever will.  He is without sin and he has paid the price of all the sin and hurt we will ever fill. 

·         Alma 7: 11-15

o   He suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind so that he could take upon himself the pains and sicknesses of his people.

o   He took upon himself death so that he may loose the bands of death from his people and he will take upon himself their infirmities.  He has come to succor his people according to their infirmities.    

o   He does this so that he may blot out our transgressions

·         Doctrine and Covenants 122:8

o   He has descended below all things.  In Matthew there is a chapter that talks about how he ate with the publicans and sinners.  By doing this he became ritualistically unclean.  So he fell from a position of upper middle class in Jewish society and fell to the bottom.  He came to their level to be able. 

Lesson 7

    The lesson this week has been awesome.  I really enjoyed reading Philemon for our group assignment.  Forgiveness is such a powerful thing and even if you think that you cannot forgive someone with Christ you can.  This sounds so trivial but it is true.  It will be hard and seem impossible but with his help you can learn to forgive.  I chose to do choice 1 and it was really interesting because I always have a hard time directly applying the scriptures....especially things in the Bible to my own life.  

Choice 1: Philippians 1–4. Find Solutions in the Scriptures to Life’s Challenges

For each of the following common challenges, write the counsel from Philippians that you would use to resolve it:

·         People sometimes argue and complain over petty matters in church meetings or throughout the week (see Philippians 2:1–8, 14–15).

• There is a ton of counsel on this that could apply.  To start it says in verse 14 to do all things without murmurings and disputing’s.  I think I am guilty of this a ton and it is something that I could definitely be better at.  In verse 3 it says let nothing be done through strife or vainglory.  Then the remedy is in verse 8 it talks about being humble and obedient. 

·         Many youth feel that their parents’ testimony is sufficient for them. Since they have good parents, they rely on them for all their spiritual strength (see Philippians 2:12–15 and institute student manual commentary for Philippians 2:12, “Work out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling” [pp. 361–62]).

• It is not enough.  The first line of the student manual commentary is “An outstanding doctrine of the Church is that each individual carries the responsibility to work out his own salvation, and salvation is a process of gradual development.”  This is about as clear as it gets.  Faith without works is dead.  We cannot just say that we believe and/or that our parent’s belief is good enough.  We have to act.  We have to strive to incorporate Christ like attributes into our own lives.  The whole purpose of this life is to become more Christ like. 

·         An investigator is considering joining the Church, but his family will no longer associate with him if he does (see Philippians 3:7–16; 4:13).

• I feel like the teachings here will be very cutting to this investigator but at the same time it does not leave a lot of room for interpretation.  4:13 says that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  If you know that it is true then you should join.  I can’t imagine what this would feel like but you know that you are doing the right thing.  And you just have to hope that one day they will be able to come to the gospel and the truth. 

·         How is this writing assignment an example of the principle taught in 2 Nephi 32:3? 

• It helps me feast upon the words of Christ and it really helps me apply what I am learning to my own life. 

Colossians 3

Choice 3: Colossians 1-4. Becoming New Creatures in Christ

1.       Make a list of names, titles, and phrases used by Paul in Colossians 1:13–2:7 to describe the Savior. What did Paul teach that Jesus Christ has done for us? What do these verses teach about the responsibilities we have to receive the blessings of the Lord?

1. Son, image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature, creator, before all things, head of the body, the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, preeminence, treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
2. He is the creator of all things and we are redeemed thru him.  He is the head of the church.
3. We need to continue in faith grounded and settled.  We need to do the little things, like reading our scriptures, saying our prayers and going to church.  That is what lets us be grounded and settled.  We also need to be reconciled with Christ.  We need to accept his gift and let it take power in our lives. 

2.       Write Helaman 5:12 next to Colossians 2:7 in the margin of your scriptures. After reading these two scriptures, write a paragraph explaining what it means to be “rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith.”

Colossians 2:7-  Rooted and built up in him and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Helaman 5:12-  And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his might winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

A.     To be rooted and built up in him means that our foundation is in Christ.  When you think of the story of the wise man that build his house upon the rock.  The storms came and because the house was on rock it was not moved or damaged.  But the foolish man who built his house on the sand, his house was destroyed when the storms came.  If we build our foundation on the ways of the world then we will be deceived.  In my history and systems of psychology class we talked about this.  To the world there is the empirical(scientific observation) and rational (logic) views to gain knowledge.  Also authority figures can be the source of knowledge also.  But there is no acknowledgement of divine revelation.  As Latter Day Saints we believe in revelation.  By doing the small everyday things we can get this revelation and be rooted up in the gospel.   

3.       Review Colossians 2:8, 18 and the institute student manual commentary for Colossians 2:18-19, “What does Paul Mean by the Worshiping of Angels?” (p. 345). List at least four means of deception Paul warned the Saints about in Colossae. What does 2 Nephi 9:28-29 add to what Paul warned?

1. A verse in acts really hits this home.  Acts 17:18  “Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him.  And some said, What will this babbler say? Other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods; because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.”  They called Paul a babbler because he taught of Christ and of the resurrection.  He warns us of philosopy and vain deceit, traditions of men, not to let others beguile us of our rewards.  He warned against the worshipping of angels because in those days it was believed that you could not get revelation from God directly.  Instead you had to go thru a messenger or Angel.  Paul is saying that this thought it wrong. 
2. 2 Nephi 9:28-29 really hits this home.  Nephi warns us of “the foolishness of men.”  How they are deceived and “hearken not unto the counsel of God.”  They totally ignore it and even say deface it and say that it is not needed anymore.  They say that we don’t need a God because reasoning and observation can explain everything.  In verse 29 I think this drive the point home.  It says that “to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.”  So gaining knowledge and being learned is good as long as we don’t forget God and revelation and his counsel. 

4.       Review Colossians 3 and make a list of what we should “put on” and “put off” or “mortify.” Make a chart like the following one and place your findings in the corresponding column:

Things We Should Seek After or “Put On”	Things We Should “Mortify” or “Put Off”
The elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearing one another, forgive others, charity, peace of God, be thankful,  word of Christ Dwell, Do things in the name of the Lord	Members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, lying,

5.       Review Colossians 3:15-21 and identify in writing several ideas that would help families live in greater harmony. Then answer the following questions in writing:

A.     What specific counsel did Paul give to children, parents, husbands, and wives?

1. He counseled to let the peace of God rule in your hearts and to be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.  He really taught that we need to be loving to our families and to not have bitter feelings toward them.  Don’t provoke and for children to obey their parents.  Husbands love their wives and not to be bitter against them.  Also Wives to submit to their husbands.  Be grateful for what you have.

B.      What did Paul teach about the importance of hymns

1. That they are very important because it brings the spirit of Christ into your home.  Hymns can be a way of teaching because of this.  So when we sing hymns we can actually teach one another.