Heirs to heaven by covenant

Dear friend

The development towards divine destiny - through people making covenants collectively and individually - has been a core concept in scripture from the earliest of times. At a pivotal point in the covenant chain sits the Patriarch and Prophet Abraham. Abraham received a conditional commitment from Christ that all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This would be achieved through the patriarch's posterity taking the Priesthood and true gospel of Jesus Christ to all people in the world. Every person who accepts the truth are aligned or adopted into Abraham's lineage. They are heirs to inherit the promises of eternity made with Abraham; to become the blessed children of God.

The Apostle Paul taught about the all-encompassing nature of the Abrahamic Covenant. He also confirmed the Covenant's capacity to break down the barriers that label us as different from each other. These barriers of bogus bias provide the basis for the discriminations that divide peoples. Paul's words are recorded in the New Testament, Galatians 3:26-29.

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

In the spirit of Peter's proclamation that "God is no respecter of persons", Paul provides the levelling lesson that covenant makers (as covenant keepers) are "all one in Christ Jesus". There is no differentiation based on wealth, race, education, gender, ability or any other way of dividing people up. We all have a fair chance at salvation. Our Father does not play favourites with forever.

We can take comfort in the covenants and their essential equity. Faith in Jesus Christ is the key that opens the door to Perfection's pathway. Anyone can choose that for themselves, no matter who they are (we are). I hope we will see ourselves as innate inheritors, heirs, joint heirs with Christ, to the greatest of all blessings, that is, eternal life in the glorious kingdom of our God.

Samuel.

Zeal as a motivation for good

Dear friend

If someone were to call you a zealot you might not be too happy. Zealots were a sect among the Jews who were known for their strict focus on the law. Their determination in this direction has led to a negative connotation to the name zealot. It is rarely a compliment.

However, the scriptures are very encouraging of zeal as a characteristic. For example from the New Testament, Galatians 4:18.

18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

The Apostle Paul clearly approves of zeal as a motivating force. I think his generic "good thing" category of potential positive activities can refer to such uses of our time as regular prayer, scripture study, giving service to others, or any other "good" pursuit.

The etymology of zeal includes Middle English, late Latin and Greek, as well as biblical sources. It is described as fervour, ardent love, or longing in relation to some type of pursuit. That doesn't sound too negative. In fact, we could maybe all do with this kind of unfailing commitment to continuing in Paul's good things.

Without using the word zeal, I believe this verse encapsulates the spirit of righteous zeal. It is from Doctrine and Covenants 58:27.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

I believe it is central to the reasons for our being on the earth that we are anxious to do good works. If we follow Jesus Christ then we must recognise that is what He did everywhere He went. I think there are more good things we could choose to do than there is time to do them. So it should be easy to find good activities to pursue to use up our time on earth.

I hope we can become positively zealous when it comes to doing the good things. This doesn't mean we become obsessive or self-righteous. We should try to develop an infectious zeal that motivates others. Zeal is good for doing good.

Samuel.