Class notes December 10, 2000—'All Things New!'

(Click Here to see Handout called 'All Things New' for more discussion on this topic)

If you're not reading the class assignments, you're missing out on some spine tingling sessions with God's Holy Spirit!

Quick recap of 3rd Nephi:

·         Satan convincing that doctrine of Christ was a vain thing. 3 Nephi 1:40 

 ·         Nephites began to reckon time from sign. 3 Nephi 1:45

 ·         Lamanites had joined with Nephites, curse taken from them. 3 Nephi 1:52  

 ·         Baptism is occurring all the way up to the time of Christ’s death: Helaman 2:22 , Helaman 2:24, Helaman 2:79 , Helaman 2:81 ,Helaman 5:110 , Helaman 5:113 , Helaman 5:114 , Helaman 5:116, 3 Nephi 1:27 , 3 Nephi 3:68 , 3 Nephi 3:69 , 3 Nephi 3:70 , 3 Nephi 4:50

·         Gadiantons arise.  Righteous men not frightened by robber’s threats. 3 Nephi 2:15

 ·         Chief captains have spirit of revelation--by custom of people. 3 Nephi 2:24 

 ·         warns if righteous should go up against robbers, God would deliver them into their hands.  Principle not of war, but of life.  If you live outside the will of God, you go on your own strength.  (story about working on house on Sundays, re-did all work).  (Get Scriptures about God's strength not with them).  3 Nephi 2:26

 ·         A gathering together in the center of the land.  Repentance occurs.  3 Nephi 2:35

 ·         Fearsome look of robbers caused Nephites to fall to earth--lifting their voices to God.  Robbers supposed fear; disappointed.  56 slaughter. 3 Nephi 2:52

 ·         Continued war, not with Lamanites, but with Robbers.  3 Nephi 2:66

 ·         May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for Protection. 3 Nephi 2:77

·         knew it was because of their repentance and humility that they had been delivered. 3 Nephi 2:81 

 ·         No one now doubted the words of all the holy prophets. 3 Nephi 2:82 

 ·         did forsake sins and serve God with all diligence day and night! 3 Nephi 2:85

 ·         Mormon writes that he is a disciple called to declare his word among His people that they might have everlasting life. 3 Nephi 2:97 

 ·         Life application: world events can be and are fulfilled according to prayers of Holy people! 3 Nephi 2:98 

 ·         Restoration of House of Jacob. 3 Nephi 2:106-109

 ·         Nothing to hinder prosperity except falling into transgressions. 3 Nephi 3:6 

 ·         Distinguished by rank, opportunity for learning (Hel 4--in the day they are blessed, they turn away…) 3 Nephi 3:12 

 ·         people not ignorantly sinning, but willfully. 3 Nephi 3:20

 ·         Opposition in all things men inspired from heaven. 3 Nephi 3:22

 ·         the most angered were the former high priests and judges. 3 Nephi 3:25 

 ·         So great was the power, angels ministered to him daily; raised a brother from the dead; people hated him for miracles done in name of Jesus. 3 Nephi 3:59 

 ·         none brought to repentance, who were not baptized with water.  (Hebraic double negative).

·         Baptism occurring at 31 AD. 3 Nephi 3:68 

 ·         Many baptized unto repentance.  Who is doing the baptizing?  Does he die in this verse?  What is the time (year) now.  (Reign of Judges over)  How long until Christ dies?  How long until Christ appears?  Who is killed in the destruction?  The more wicked or righteous?  So didn’t Jesus teach people how to baptize?  Did he really serve communion to un-baptized people?  3 Nephi 3:70 

 Where then, did all these baptized people go?  Answer—no where!  They were still all there!

 Why then were they re-baptized?  Answer=All things become new: 

 3 Nephi 5:92 Old things are done away, and all things have become new; therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

3 Nephi 7:3 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words, he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the Law of Moses; for they understood not the saying, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

3 Nephi 7:4 And he said unto them, Marvel not that I said unto you, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

 Christ comes.  It is beautiful.  It was prophesied.  It is your heritage.  It is true.

 What becomes new? 

Ten commandments ‘became new’ so to speak.

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Original 10 Commandments (Terrestrial)

All Things New

(Celestial)

1

No other Gods

Mark 12:35 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.

2

Worship no Idols

Matthew 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
I Corinthians 5:10  I Corinthians 6:9 Romans 8:6-13  2 Nephi 6:71

3

Take not His Name in Vain

Mosiah 3:11 There is no other name given, whereby salvation cometh, therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God, that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.

Moroni 6:2 …and they were not baptized, save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it; neither did they receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.  (I.E. making a sincere convenant is to ‘Take the Name’ of Christ).

4

Keep the Sabbath

Luke 6:9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy? DC 59:2-3

5

Honor parents

Ephesians 6:1-10, Mosiah 11:159-175

6

Do not murder

I John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer; and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

7

No Adultery

Matthew 5:30 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

8

No Stealing

Mosiah 2:46  And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you that borroweth of his neighbor, should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree,  47 Or else thou shalt commit sin, and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.
3 Nephi 12:11-12 And many of them saw and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful to be written: and they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another. 12 And it came to pass that they did do all things, even as Jesus had commanded them.

9

No lying, false witness

DC 16:4e Take upon you the name of Christ, and speak the truth in soberness; and as many as repent, and are baptized in my name, which is Jesus Christ, and endure to the end, the same shall be saved.

DC 42:7f Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm.

10

No Coveting

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me. DC 18:3b,  DC 98:3a, DC 101:1a-c,  I Corinthians 6:9-10,

Romans 8:6-14

 And regarding the Law of Moses:

(below is an excerpt from a conversation with some Book of Mormon believing Messianic Jews, included for the mention of the word Telos, which is controversial within their circles.  It is the Greek word for ‘end’ which denotes the end of the Law of Moses).

 Now for ‘Telos’…

 ......There are times when I’ve often wished I had a ‘Strong’s concordance for the Book of Mormon.’  One doesn’t exist, and truthfully, as I ponder it, (…brace yourself, scholars…) I don’t think one is needed.  Sure the authors of the book were Hebrew, and sure, the Book is oozing with Hebrew grammar, thought, poetic structure etc., but God did for us dumb Gentiles a huge favor by working with a farm boy name Joseph Smith and gave him a divinely translated meaning of the purposes, promises, and prophecies of these Hebrew people into the English tongue. 

Now, If you want to conjecture that the Lord said ‘telos’ (a Greek word) to the Nephites for the word ‘end’ when saying ‘the Law hath an END,’ because of the similarly in Romans 10:4, go right ahead.  But bear in mind, the SAME WORD ‘telos’ also has a definition that means ‘the conclusion of an act or state, termination’ (see Strong’s Greek 5056).  Which definition was Christ using?   Maybe he didn’t say ‘telos’ at all.  Maybe Christ used the Hebrew word kalah (Strong’s 3615) instead, which was used throughout the old testament and means ‘accomplished, done’.

 

The point is that none of us know which native word was spoken to the Nephites (telos, kalah, etc.,) , because, perhaps, (…brace yourself again Hebrew scholars…) none of us need to know.  (Ouch, but no pain intended.  I love study as much as you do).  The evidence in this case speaks for itself.  The Nephites plainly taught the Law was in effect for a finite time, and after Christ, they didn’t keep it anymore.....

Reminder Regarding the Law of Moses:

Remember, the Nephites new the Law would come to an end someday..

Mosiah 8:4 I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the Law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the Law of Moses.

And, the Law of Moses is being kept up into the times of Samuel the prophet.

 Helaman 5:93 And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, according to the Law of Moses.

Some mistakenly thought the Law was to be done away at the time of Christ's birth:

3 Nephi 1:28 And thus the people began again to have peace in the land; and there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures, that it was no more expedient to observe the Law of Moses.

Jesus announces the Law of Moses is fulfilled, ended.

3 Nephi 4:47 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the Law of Moses fulfilled.

3 Nephi 7:3 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words, he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the Law of Moses; for they understood not the saying, that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

Jesus commands to remember the law--it contains many physical types and shadows for spiritual truths.

3 Nephi 11:25 Remember ye the Law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Finally, in the golden age of the Nephites, we have concrete proof that the people no longer were required to follow any of the Law of Moses--no performances, ordinances (i.e. sacrifices, rituals, etc.,)

4 Nephi 1:13 And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the Law of Moses, but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft, both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.

(To see other handouts regarding the Law of Moses: Click Here)

(not related to class subject—passing thought--generic Christian message--believe only and you are saved.  Why?  Not believing wasn't what cast Adam out of God's presence, it was choosing sin.  The only thing that can bring you back is choosing to turn away from sin!  The real message of Christianity is and has always been only this:  Jesus death on the cross unlocked the ability for repentance to make a difference.  Belief can only take you to repentance.  If you never turn from sin, you haven't changed in Christ.  (i.e. Satan hasn't changed.)