37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.
Discussion
This scripture throws me off some. I read it through and on the surface and it looks like it could mean that I don't have to worry about those second servings of ice cream or chocolate anymore, after all, it says "care not for the body, neither the life of the body." It talks about caring more for the soul. Which makes sense because our current physical bodies are just temporal in nature and in the resurrection they will be perfected regardless of who we are or what we did to them.
That covers the saved from physical death part. But there's also spiritual death which is more significant for our eternal outcome. This is also the main meaning behind this particular scripture as it advises us to focus our souls which brings the more spiritual matter into it. So I'm all good up until here. I'll eat that extra piece of fried chicken and then finish my wife's fries that she's not going to eat. As long as I'm in line with the commandments of God and repenting appropriately, I'm good to go.
But then I come back to the word soul, which is the combination of the body and the spirit. So if I am to worry about the soul, I still have to worry about my body. But is this referring to our current physical bodies (the temporal one) or the resurrected ones? Because I really would like that extra helping of mac n' cheese...
Showing posts with label spirit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spirit. Show all posts
Friday, May 17, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Scripture Insight: 2 Nephi 4: 27-28
2 Nephi 4:27-28
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
Discussion
I originally came across verse 28 and was intrigued by the phrase "no longer droop in sin." The initial thought was the fact that sin does bring us down, makes us feel lower and less of a person. Too often it seems that we develop a negative life view because of our sins and it creates this downward spiral that can lead to more sin and more feelings of sadness and "drooping."
It doesn't have to be that way of course. It's not what Heavenly Father wants for us. The only lowliness he wants for us is lowliness of heart because that leads to repentance. The first part of 28 is key here: Awake, my soul! Sometimes we need that jump start to our motivation to begin that process of seeking forgiveness and working ourselves back up that downward spiral we slid down.
What was really interesting to me though was looking back over verse 27. The first line refers to yielding to sin because of the flesh. Now we all know that there is a duality of man with his spirit and body. In order to truly progress in life, we have to subject the natural man (aka "flesh") so the spirit is in control. It's way we fast so we can learn to rely on that spirit.
Knowing that about sin and the "flesh," we can understand verse 28 better. Again, the first line there is "awake, my soul!" He said soul. Not spirit. Not Flesh. Soul. Which is the spirit and the body (flesh). The sentence is also written as a command and given that the next line is too, one can assume that he is also referring to the soul when he says "no longer droop."
So what I find interesting about this is that as we struggle with things of the flesh, it brings our soul down (drooping) which by the nature of cause and effect, means our spirits are being brought down too. This reinforces the notion that we are limited in our spiritual abilities as we sin and procrastinate our repentance.
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
Discussion
I originally came across verse 28 and was intrigued by the phrase "no longer droop in sin." The initial thought was the fact that sin does bring us down, makes us feel lower and less of a person. Too often it seems that we develop a negative life view because of our sins and it creates this downward spiral that can lead to more sin and more feelings of sadness and "drooping."
It doesn't have to be that way of course. It's not what Heavenly Father wants for us. The only lowliness he wants for us is lowliness of heart because that leads to repentance. The first part of 28 is key here: Awake, my soul! Sometimes we need that jump start to our motivation to begin that process of seeking forgiveness and working ourselves back up that downward spiral we slid down.
What was really interesting to me though was looking back over verse 27. The first line refers to yielding to sin because of the flesh. Now we all know that there is a duality of man with his spirit and body. In order to truly progress in life, we have to subject the natural man (aka "flesh") so the spirit is in control. It's way we fast so we can learn to rely on that spirit.
Knowing that about sin and the "flesh," we can understand verse 28 better. Again, the first line there is "awake, my soul!" He said soul. Not spirit. Not Flesh. Soul. Which is the spirit and the body (flesh). The sentence is also written as a command and given that the next line is too, one can assume that he is also referring to the soul when he says "no longer droop."
So what I find interesting about this is that as we struggle with things of the flesh, it brings our soul down (drooping) which by the nature of cause and effect, means our spirits are being brought down too. This reinforces the notion that we are limited in our spiritual abilities as we sin and procrastinate our repentance.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Scripture Insight: Alma 7: 11-13
Alma 7: 11-13
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
Here are the notes I made for the highlighted section:
What's interesting here is that this particular passage is talking about the purpose of the atonement which I have previously understood to have 3 main purposes:
1. Atone for our sins
2. Know our suffering in order to succor
3. Overcome death.
This particular portion though indicates that #2 could have been done without the atonement; the following phrase which is a connected thought with the word "nevertheless" puts forth that the Savior suffered to take upon our sins, or #1. There is no mention again of knowing how to succor us.
But I will also put forth this: does the spirit knoweth these things BECAUSE OF the atonement?
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
Here are the notes I made for the highlighted section:
What's interesting here is that this particular passage is talking about the purpose of the atonement which I have previously understood to have 3 main purposes:
1. Atone for our sins
2. Know our suffering in order to succor
3. Overcome death.
This particular portion though indicates that #2 could have been done without the atonement; the following phrase which is a connected thought with the word "nevertheless" puts forth that the Savior suffered to take upon our sins, or #1. There is no mention again of knowing how to succor us.
But I will also put forth this: does the spirit knoweth these things BECAUSE OF the atonement?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)