Brigham Young University (BYU) is operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often mistakenly called the “Mormon Church.” As part of their undergraduate coursework, BYU students take multiple semesters of spiritually uplifting, stimulating religion classes.
Here, in this column, students enrolled in scripture study classes have shared their thoughts, insights, and reflections on the New Testament and gospel of Jesus Christ in the form of letters to someone they know. In publishing these, we fulfill their desire to witness to all of us of the relevance, power, and beauty of the New Testament, and God’s plan of happiness for each of us. We invite you to take a look at their epiphanies and discoveries as they delve into the scriptures.
Let us know how these may help you in your own life. Share them with a friend.
About Mormons: Faith and Works
Letter to my Brother at ISU
Hey Philip,
I wanted to share a quick thought with you that I found significant. I often heard the following statement on my mission, and I am sure you did too: “I don’t do anything, because all you have to do is believe and you are saved.” I encountered this on a daily basis and never really knew how to answer the person who said it. But I learned something in New Testament class this week that has helped me. In Galatians 2:16 it reads “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” This appears to support their beliefs. However in the very next verse it reads, “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.” So essentially if we are deliberately living in sin and then rationalizing that faith alone will save us, we are condemning ourselves all the same.
Another thing that my teacher pointed out is that whenever Paul refers to “the law” in these chapters he is talking about the Law of Moses in an effort to dispel the Jews’ idea that the Law of Moses is the pure and only way to salvation.
I thought that was a pretty insightful piece of information and it was refreshing to see some doctrine to counter this widespread and faulty belief. What have you been learning as of late? Love you man. I hope school is going well and you are doing okay.
Love, Teddy
Additional Resources:
I Believe: Expressions of Faith
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