As I was reading the final chapters that Nephi writes in 2 Nephi 28-33 this past week I marveled at Nephi's unwavering testimony of Christ and following Christ example. In chapter 31 he teaches us why Christ was baptized and how we must follow Christ in this ordinance, receive the Holy Ghost after baptism and then endure to the end to be saved.
2 Nephi 31:5 "And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfill all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water.
We learn here that Christ was baptized. Why?
2 Nephi 31:9 "And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
Christ set the example for us. He showed us the way. We too should be baptized.
2 Nephi 31:10 "And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?
Nephi is teaching us to follow Jesus and keep his commandments.
2 Nephi 31:12 "And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying;He that is baptized in my nae, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
Christ received the Holy Ghost after his baptism. We shall receive the Holy Ghost after our baptism.
2 Nephi 31:13 "Wherefore,my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism - yea, by following your Lord and you Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."
We follow Christ with full purpose of heart, with real intent, repenting, witnessing unto God we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ by baptism.
2 Nephi 31:16 "And now, my beloved brethren I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved."
Follow the Saviors example and endure to the end. Endure is a word that can bring to mind trudging along, hanging in there until it's over. But that is not what endure to the end means. Enduring to the end means being faithful all your life to Christ and his teachings. Being faithful will bring joy to the enduring.
2 Nephi 31:17 "Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
Nephi is telling us to follow the Savior. Enter into the gate of repentance, baptism by water and remission of our sins by the Holy Ghost. This path will lead to eternal life. And then he ask us is verse 19 of this same chapter "I would ask if all is done?" Is it done?
Another one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon tells us...
2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
Press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. That is a great visual sentence.
Pressing forward in Christ in the world today of worldly influences is vital to helping us endure and being faithful always.
Feasting upon the word of Christ. Another great visual sentence.
Not just read but diligently study the scriptures and the words of the prophets to help you solidify keeping the commandments and solidify your testimony of Christ and his gospel.
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