The more I study upon this matter the more I am convinced that we are saved when we believe we are saved. In other words, if we want salvation, we must believe that Jesus can deliver that to us. Jesus spent his mortal Ministry trying to symbolically demonstrate that whatever our spiritual illness was that he could cure it. I don’t think anyone would be foolish enough to suppose that the savior was on a medical mission to save the world from leprosy. Rather, he was trying to show us that he had the power to heal us no matter what we had done or who we are or how we were living. The only thing he required in all of his healings was belief in him or faith to be healed. Indeed, after most of the saviour’s healings he commented that “thy faith hath made thee whole”. This ministerial metaphor that those who have faith to be saved from their spiritual sickness can and will be was further evidenced by many of his teachings; for example, “whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”.
Consider this, do we think that if we do not smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol that we are closer to heaven then those who do? Do we think that if we have not committed adultery or had premarital sexual relations that we are more likely candidates for salvation than someone who has committed these sins? Do we think that the active member of the church who only sporadically attends church, and does not do their home teaching has the same chances for salvation as the righteous stake president or bishop who does do all those things? Do we think that we can build our own tower of works high enough to reach the heavens?
I believe that anyone who answer is yes to any degree to any of these questions fundamentally misunderstands the savior and the nature of God. Let me attempt to illustrate why I believe this to be the case. One truth that spans all of Christianity no matter how different the sect is the view that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are omnipotent, having infinite goodness, power, and glory. Infinite goodness! Do we get that? Can we get that? NO! but what we should get is that infinite goodness by definition creates an infinite chasm between us and God simultaneously making the difference between us and the worst sinner infinitesimally insignificant. In other words, if I was to outstretch a rope that wrapped around the entire earth as a representation of infinite goodness then the amount of goodness that I possess would not even be the width of a single hair from my head. However, what is even more striking and incomprehensible to me is that based upon this analogy the difference between my goodness and the miniscule amount of goodness possessed by the worst, most evil person in the world would be completely insignificant. Even if I possess 100,000 times more goodness than the worst person in the world this would still only add up to a few centimeters on the rope of Gods goodness which stretches around the entire globe.
What this means to me is true perspective. We ought to be leveled to the dust by the realization of our absolute insignificance in relation to God’s great goodness. We should be humbled by the true perspective of seeing “things as they really are”. Having such a perspective would give us no cause to ever feel better or closer to heaven than anyone else. Having this perspective would also engender within us the realisation that our efforts to save ourselves and "work" our way to heaven are misguided and represent a gross misunderstanding of the infinite goodness of God, and the Saviours power to save. Of course, once we believe that Jesus is going to save us, we will desire to live as he lived and love as he loved and serve as he served and we will feel to offer our life to Him in gratitude and remembrance of his great gift to us. But for no other reason do our works have any significance or value. Works in the absence of the belief that Christ is the author and finisher of our salvation are hollow and meaningless and do not advance oneself one millimeter towards eternal glory unless they lead him closer to the hope of salvation through faith that Christ will save them. This must be the foundation for our good works. When we feel this way the shackles of judgement which we place upon others and which bind our own sense of self worth will fall away.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell the difference between one who has faith that Christ will save them and is performing works in gratitude of this gift, and one who is either conforming to social norms, or falsely believes that works are the essential component of their salvation.
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