New Testament Gospel Doctrine lesson 36 – Romans

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New Testament Gospel Doctrine lesson 36 on Paul’s epistle to Romans is now at my blog.  I discuss the background of the letter, as well as the entire letter as a process to exaltation, beginning with faith and grace, moving onto baptism, as well as justification and sanctification.

Read it there, comment here.

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-testament-gospel-doctrine-lesson-36.html

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About rameumptom

Gerald (Rameumptom) Smith is a student of the gospel. Joining the Church of Jesus Christ when he was 16, he served a mission in Santa Cruz Bolivia (1978=1980). He is married to Ramona, has 3 stepchildren and 7 grandchildren. Retired Air Force (Aim High!). He has been on the Internet since 1986 when only colleges and military were online. Gerald has defended the gospel since the 1980s, and was on the first Latter-Day Saint email lists, including the late Bill Hamblin's Morm-Ant. Gerald has worked with FairMormon, More Good Foundation, LDS.Net and other pro-LDS online groups. He has blogged on the scriptures for over a decade at his site: Joel's Monastery (joelsmonastery.blogspot.com). He has the following degrees: AAS Computer Management, BS Resource Mgmt, MA Teaching/History. Gerald was the leader for the Tuskegee Alabama group, prior to it becoming a branch. He opened the door for missionary work to African Americans in Montgomery Alabama in the 1980s. He's served in two bishoprics, stake clerk, high council, HP group leader and several other callings over the years. While on his mission, he served as a counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency.

2 thoughts on “New Testament Gospel Doctrine lesson 36 – Romans”

  1. Good summery of Paul’s views on grace.

    You say, “In essence, faith and repentance are all we can do. Jesus does the rest.” That’s how I see it as well. Nephi’s scripture “we are saved grace after all we can do” is something that troubles me from this standpoint, because we never do “all we can do.” Then I started adding in my mind: “we are saved by grace after all we can do-to repent.” I think it makes more sense this way, as long as our repentance is a sincere effort to change our ways.

  2. Nate, for years I could not understand the descriptions of justification and sanctification as defined by various Church leaders. And there was a time when I could not understand why we needed to devote so much focus on Christ, if we were essentially saving ourselves by our own efforts (beyond the resurrection and atonement).

    But as I studied the Book of Mormon, I realized that it taught somewhat different than the Church of the 1970s was focused upon. Happily, we see the Church’s emphasis on grace becoming more and more apparent. It has helped me to understand truly how grace, justification and sanctification work.

    Yes, works are imperative to obtaining Celestial Glory. But works must be a natural outflow of faith. Pharisees had works, but it could not save them. And works of themselves cannot save us, either.

    What we can do is develop sufficient faith that we see, as did King Benjamin, that we are nothing but the dust and only God can save us. As we repent and take upon ourselves the blood of Christ, we are justified or made guiltless by His blood. Then, as we partake of ordinances and obey as outward examples of our faith, we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost to higher forms and levels of grace.

    In this, we learn just how very important faith and repentance truly are. They are all we can do to be justified in Christ’s blood.

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