267: The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ - We Are Indebted to God; He Is Never Indebted to Us
The Life and Teaching of Jesus Christ - We Are Indebted to God; He Is Never Indebted to Us
This episode focuses on the man’s relationship to God, that man's exercise of faith, humility, and grace does not place God under contract to do your will. Phil explains that faith is not a possession that gives you power and that miracles that come by faith do not exalt the one exercising faith, but God is by whose power they are accomplished (Luke 17:7–10). True humility is the destruction of spiritual pride, recognizing that even if one has done all that God commanded, he has only done that which was his duty to do. God responds to the correct exercise of faith because He is faithful to His word; man, never compels God (Hebrews 11:6–39; Hebrews 6:9–20).
Phil teaches that exceedingly strong faith leads one into the presence of Jesus Christ in His glory and that faith always precedes the witness, miracles, and greater revelations. Through humble submission, God makes men’s weakness become His strength (Ether 12:6, 12–15, 19–22, 27). He outlines that blessings come through obedience to God’s law because God has established the order by which they are received, and though God has chosen to keep His laws and covenants when we do what He says, He is never indebted to us (D&C 130:20–21; D&C 82:10).
Drawing on the ministry and example of Jesus Christ, Phil emphasizes that the will of the Son is swallowed up in the will of the Father and that disciples must likewise become one in purpose with God (John 17:1–26; Mosiah 15:7). We are all beggars before God, entirely dependent upon Him for life, light, and redemption (Mosiah 2:19–26; Mosiah 4:19).
Phil concludes that there is no man that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits of Jesus Christ. As we enter into covenant with Him, offer up the sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit, receive grace or endowment after endowment, and are sanctified through the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, we become His sons and daughters. (2 Nephi 2:8; D&C 93:19–20; Moroni 10:32–33).
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