In contrast, today many deny or doubt the existence of a God and insist that all rules of behavior are man-made and can be accepted or rejected at will. “And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you” (Mosiah 4:9-10). “Believe in God believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:1-3).Ī great Book of Mormon prophet taught these same truths: “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression. “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. I begin with the first three of our Articles of Faith: I hope what I say will help you be more effective in your duty to witness of God and to act for truth and righteousness. I do so because we live in a world where many deny the existence of God or the significance of His commandments. The third form of evidence Jesus refers to is that of Scripture, beginning in the next verse.My fellow students: I have felt impressed to speak to you about the significance of our belief in God. The fact that Jesus is wielding the power of God is meant to inspire faith in those who see His works (John 3:2). Miracles are used by God sparingly as a wayto prove His message (Hebrews 2:3–4). The purpose of choosing only these few incidents is to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God (John 20:30–31). John specifically focuses on seven of Jesus' miracles, calling them "signs" (John 2:11). This, in fact, is a major purpose for this entire Gospel. The real-world miracles of Jesus are far more powerful evidence than any human testimony.
The Baptist's words are compelling, but he performed no miracles (John 10:41). Since these are events some of His critics have seen first-hand, Jesus notes that this testimony is "greater" than the witness of John the Baptist. In particular, Jesus notes that He has performed miracles-works-which give evidence that He has godly power. In this verse, Jesus explains the second form of evidence, which is direct observation.
In prior verses, Jesus has given the first of these: human testimony, which came from John the Baptist (John 5:33). In the interest of reaching lost souls, Jesus is willing to provide that evidence. This is why Jewish law required two or three witnesses to establish any fact (Numbers 35:30 Deuteronomy 17:6). At the same time, Jesus notes that human beings have a natural need for evidence. Jesus provides several examples of His equality with God the Father (John 5:19–30). Jesus has angered local religious leaders, by violating their traditions and claiming to be equal with God (John 5:18).
0 kommentar(er)
