So... this thought actually came up last week in Church. Right now I'm a ward missionary and participate in our mission prep Sunday school class. Someone was teaching about the Gospel of Jesus Christ you know: faith, repentance, baptism, endure to the end... He was trying to make the point that baptism is essential.. and how sad it would be for someone not to hear about the restored gospel... which is true. But, he said, "without baptism a person cannot be forgiven" ....
I don't believe this is true and have since then been studying it, but thought I would present the question here...
I'm under the impression Forgiveness comes with repentance which is a prerequisite to Baptism... Also Luke 23:34 comes to my mind when Jesus is being crucified and he asks the father to, "...forgive them; for they know not what they do."
I guess the question that I want to ask is... what's the difference between being forgiven, and receiving a remission of sins (especially as it pertains to the importance of baptism, and perhaps the sacrament)?
I feel like a part of it has to do with mercy and Justice which is always something I'm interested in...
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I'm formulating an answer to this one, but I have not found any scriptural citations for this one. I'll get back to you :)
ReplyDeleteI believe you are right in your thinking that forgiveness is obtained through repentance, not baptism. D&C 58:42 says "behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven , and I, the Lord, remember them no more." Also, in the fourth article of faith, it states that repentance comes before baptism.
ReplyDeleteMatt 26:28 states "for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." The act of baptism is a saving ordinance directly correlated with the Atonement. While one may be forgiven through repentance, they cannot be saved in the Kingdom of God without being baptized.
I hope that makes sense, that's the best I can attempt to explain it. If I come across anything more, I'll let you know.
That's a great scripture megan-- "the same is forgiven". Father's not like us, He forgives as soon as we'll put in the effort to repent properly.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to separate forgiveness from entrance into the celestial kingdom though. I know that's outside the question but it's a crucial distinction.
This kind of hearkens back to lyndee's question about justification a few months ago.
ah. thanks Megan. I like that.
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