Wolves in the Flock

Peter talks about false teachers in 2 Peter 2. These are people who are members of the church, but are trying to lead people away from the truth through their words and actions. Unfortunately there are people today who do this. They try to use religion as a way to build themselves up. Fortunately for us Peter taught us how we can recognize these false teachers. They have many distinguishing characteristics:

• Deny the Lord
• Covetous
• Very persuasive in talking, but without the Holy Ghost
• Walk after the flesh - more interested in their own desires
• Immoral
• Despise leadership
• Boast of their own knowledge/accomplishments
• Self-willed and unwilling to take correction
• Speak badly about leaders of the church - including general and local leaders
• Talk badly about principles and ordinance that they don't understand
• Always seeking for pleasure
• Adulterous
• Sinful
• Vain

It is easy to see these characteristics throughout the world today. If you look at the fruits of the person - what they really do - it is easy to tell the difference between true leaders and false teachers.

This is important because once you know the truth you are responsible for living it. If you repent and then return to your previous sins, you are worse off because you are more accountable. It's the same idea as a 2 year old stealing a candy bar versus a 22 year old. If you understand that what you did is wrong, your going to be in a lot more trouble than if you didn't know better.

Lessons From Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13 has a lot of good counsel on a variety of topics:

1. Strangers in bonds should not be forgotten. Don't forget those who are in prison, elderly, or alone. Call them, write to them, be there for them.

2. Marriage is important - don't put it off, don't defile it.

3. We shouldn't covet what others have, we need to be happy with the blessings the Lord has given us.

4. Jesus Christ is the same: "yesterday, today, and forever." He won't ever change, so we can always trust him.

5. We are sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ. We are able to be cleansed from our sins and weaknesses as we repent and allow the Lord to cleanse us.

6. We need to be obedient to those who rule over us - including our parents, our teachers, and the leaders of our nations.

7. We need to pray for the leaders of the Church and for the missionaries.

Jesus Christ is Greater Than the Angels

In the book of Hebrews Paul explains to the Jews why Jesus Christ is so important. Many of the Christian Jews continued to hold on to the Law of Moses as more important than the Savior. Paul goes about explaining why Jesus Christ is the greatest and most important aspect of our faith.

Paul explains that Jesus Christ is greater than the angels, because they are servants while he is the Son. He is greater than Moses because while Moses was a faithful servant, he is a faithful Son. He is greater than the High Priests of the Law of Moses because while they were High Priests of the Aaronic (or preparatory) Priesthood, he is the Great High Priest of the Melchizedek, (or higher) Priesthood.

In Hebrews 1, Paul gives us three great truths about Jesus Christ.

1. Under the direction of God the Father, he created the world. (verse 2)

2. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. (verse 3)

3. Jesus Christ is literally the Son of God. (verse 6)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God. We owe all honor, glory, respect, and allegiance to Him. He is the God of the Old Testament, the creator of the world. So why did he come to earth, be born into the most humble of circumstances, and die on a cross? There are a number of scriptures that address this very question:

Hebrews 2:7-18 teaches us that he had to be tempted like each one of us and take our sins on him so that he could be merciful to us and make salvation possible.

Hebrews 4:13-16 explains that it was necessary for the Son of God to come to this earth so that he could have the ability to understand us perfectly in order for us to feel confident in turning to him with our troubles.

Alma 7:11-15 teaches us that Christ had to take on all of our sicknesses, infirmities, temptations, and pain so that he could fully understand each of us and so that he could win victory over death not only for himself, but for all of us.

Doctrine & Covenants 122:8 teaches that he had to descend below all things in order to truly gain victory over sin and death.

I don't fully understand all of the reasons it was necessary for Jesus Christ to come to this earth and live as he did. I don't fully understand how his living a sinless life and being resurrected makes it possible for all of us to be cleansed from our sins and live again after we die. I may not understand it all, but I am eternally grateful that the Savior did come to earth and accomplished the atonement and resurrection. If it weren't for my testimony of those truths, this life would be so much harder to bear.