Testimony of the Eyewitnesses of Christ
READ John 20:31
Why
were the Gospels in the New Testament written?
That we might believe that Jesus is the
Christ.
And that believing this, that we might
also have life through His name.
Because we come unto Christ ourselves
through the faith in Christ that these gospels or personal accounts of Christ’s
mortal life inspire in us.
READ LoF 2:54-56
What
is the purpose of the testimony of those who have stood in the presence of God?
To bear testimony that God is real – that
He lives.
To bear testimony of the path back to His
presence (that they have followed and can swear that it works).
What
are our responsibilities, after we have heard or read the words of these
prophets?
To seek after Him ourselves, with
diligence and faithfulness.
Until we obtain faith in Him and power
with Him (or spiritual light within us through Him) to behold Him face to face.
That we might receive “glorious
discoveries” and “eternal certainty” with regards to our own standing before
God and exaltation (see LoF 2:54-56).
What
is the value of these words if we do not inquire after a knowledge of God
ourselves?
Thrill seeking voyeurism – the
“goose-pimple gang” (the same spirit that possesses the sign-seeker).
The Word
READ John 1:1-3
What
does it mean that Christ was in the beginning with God?
He was a member of the Highest Council of
Heaven.
He abode with God.
What
does it mean that Christ (or “the Word”) was God?
He is not the Father but…
He was a God before He came to earth.
He had risen up to be called to be a Son
of God before He was born on earth.
Why
was Christ called the “Word” of God?
Christ embodies the Father’s will so
completely.
His Word is God’s Word – they are one.
He followed every “word” or instruction
which proceeded from the mouth of God.
He spoke out in the Highest Council.
What
is the Word?
It is truth (things as they really were,
are and will be – see D&C 93:24; the word of the Lord is truth/light/spirit
– see D&C 84:45).
Christ is a god of truth – He embodies
truth.
What
was Christ’s role in the Council of Heaven?
He organized the creation of the cosmos.
He enabled the existence or life of
everything that has come into this cosmos.
READ John 1:4-5
What
does it mean that “in him was life”?
Christ had a fullness of,
or a full measure of, light/glory/intelligence/spirit.
Christ had life in
Himself – He was a source of Light.
He is also a source of
life and has always existed – He and all of us are “self-existent” beings (see
TPJS 396:2-4).
READ John 1:9 and D&C
88:11-13
What is the difference between the physical light which
shines and lights your day and the “light” that “quickens” your mind or
understanding?
None – there is no
difference.
It all comes from God’s
person (presence) – it is God’s power/glory.
The World Does Not Know Christ
READ John 1:10-11 and D&C 84:44-47
Why
did the world not recognize Christ as the creator and God of this world?
Unless they “hearken” to the voice of the
Spirit, the light that all men are given when they enter the world will not
“enlighten” them (see D&C 84:46) and their minds become darkened or muddled
– they do not see the truth or things as they really are.
They were unable to comprehend or
understand Him because they lacked the light which “quickens” the mind; it can
be a vicious cycle because light or knowledge is gained through obedience to
eternal law but without the light within them, they did not comprehend and were
not attracted to Christ or His light (because light is attracted to light but
darkness is attracted to darkness); they must react to the “awakening”
experiences God gives them on earth and choose to arise, which will require they
exercise faith, as they will not be able to comprehend without light and will
not be attracted to the light at first.
Why
did Christ’s “own” not receive Him?
Many are called but few are chosen.
Being part of a “chosen people” is more
about being given an opportunity to rise up and know God through sacrifice,
faith, and covenants, and then to minister,
serve, love and guide others so they might rise up themselves, than it is about
inherent or actual worthiness (Those who
crucified Christ were part of the “chosen people” or Israel – in fact, they
were the spiritual leaders).
We are self-elect in that we choose to
rise up when called or we choose not to.
The Sons of God
READ John 1:12-13
How
many sons of God does Christ intend to make?
As many as will receive and believe Him.
As many as He can, as the work and glory
of God is our immortality and eternal life – which requires us becoming Sons
and Daughters of God.
How
does He intend to make them Sons of God?
First those He comes to must perceive the
light in Him and not reject it.
They must believe through His name and be
born again.
Then, He gives them knowledge or light or
intelligence to enable them to follow the path to become like Him, begotten
children in the family of God – the path that He walked to ascend in light and
truth.
They are then no more “born of blood” to
follow the appetites of the flesh or ambitions of man.
READ Psalms 2:7
What
does it imply “this day I have begotten thee?”
There is a difference between being a
“spirit child” and becoming a “son of God”.
Becoming a son requires being spiritually
“begotten”.
It is an event – “entering into the gate”
on “this day” (2 Nephi 31) albeit it then requires following a path or a
process back to the Father (see D&C 84:47-48).
READ Helaman 10:6-10
What
is Nephi being given?
The power of God, while still a mortal.
He has become a “god among us” or Immanuel
with this pronouncement from God – a “son of God” or joint-heir with Christ.
This teaching was the very reason that
Christ was persecuted and killed – that He was a “god among us” because He said
He could forgive sin and was the promised Messiah.
READ D&C 88:6-13
How
would you summarize this doctrine of light?
Light = truth = intelligence = glory of
God = Spirit (which gives light).
Intelligence (the light of truth) was not
created or made and cannot be.
Light gives life to all things and is in
all things and is how all things are governed.
Light proceeds from God to fill all space
– it is the same light that lets you see and quickens your understanding
(physical and mental “light” is the same – it is all also “spiritual” light).
God and Christ have life (a fullness of
light/glory/intelligence/ truth) in themselves.
Light grows until the fullness through
keeping God’s commandments or “word” (truth), extending grace to others, and
becoming precisely what Christ is (resonating at His frequency).
A fullness of light is received from the
Father – you must come unto Him through Christ.
Light cleaves to light and repels
darkness.
Light is lost through disobedience to
commandments (not being as Christ is), which happens when one hardens their
heart; loss is facilitated by the Adversary and the traditions of the
fathers/men/culture.
READ John 1:14
How
does a God condescend?
He is made flesh – He comes down into
this mortal sphere from His glory in heaven.
S/He takes upon Himself mortality and
must put away the glory and light he/she once had.
He puts Himself at great risk – it is
possible to fall from grace – then He ceases to be God (because He does not
live up to His word – He fails at what He says He would do); you know the
Adversary did his best to get Christ to fall.
As a sinless, perfect being, He allows
Himself to unjustly take the sins of the world and suffer as an infinite and
eternal sacrifice.
All for a rescue mission – to save as
many of us as will believe and follow Him back home to heaven.
Responsibility of the Eyewitness of
Christ
READ John 1:18 (JST) and Exodus 3:15
What
is the responsibility of the individual who sees God?
It is to bear record of the Son – that
Jesus is the only begotten of the Father and dwells in the bosom of the Father
(i.e. He lives – you know it because you’ve seen Him and felt His wounds).
This is a paragraph about witnessing or
bearing testimony (see v 15 and v 19).
What
testimony is John bearing to us?
Christ has advanced in progression far
beyond everyone else in this sphere.
He was the Spokesman in the Council of
Heaven and God’s heir.
But condescended to be born into flesh so
that He could fulfill the will of the Father.
As many as obtain authority in His name shall
gain the right to ascend to heaven – He has revealed the pathway of ascension
to the Throne of God to us.
The Law of Moses is only a set of carnal
instructions to help us enter into the covenant “Gate” back to Christ, but
Christ’s gospel empowers endless life through His sacrifice.
He is a living manifestation of the love
of the Father; He is the only way through which we can be saved.
Read JSH 1:25
What
is the risk to those who bear record of the Son and His Father?
The world will not believe them.
They will lose their standing or respect
in the world.
The world will persecute them.
The world will try to get them to deny it
= “you’re a liar” or “you’re crazy” or “you’re just trying to get attention or
power”.
