https://www.lds.org/manual/new-testament-seminary-teacher-manual?lang=eng
Lesson
99: Romans 1–3
Introduction
Paul wrote a
letter to the Saints in Rome, proclaiming that the gospel of Jesus
Christ is the power of God unto salvation. He explained that
none can be saved by their own works; they must be saved by the grace of Jesus
Christ, made available through His Atonement.
I.
Romans 1:1–17 Paul declares that the gospel of Jesus Christ
is the power of God unto salvation
---Read
aloud the following statement by Elder Larry Echo Hawk of the Seventy. Explain
that as a young man, Elder Echo Hawk had enlisted in the United States Marine
Corps.
“I met my drill instructor, a battle-hardened
veteran, when he kicked open the door to the barracks and entered while
screaming words laced with profanity.
“After this terrifying introduction, he
started at one end of the barracks and confronted each recruit with questions.
Without exception, the drill instructor methodically found something about each
recruit to ridicule with loud, vulgar language. Down the row he came, with each
marine shouting back his answer as commanded: ‘Yes’ or ‘No, Sergeant
Instructor.’ … When it was my turn, I could tell he grabbed my duffel bag and
emptied the contents onto my mattress behind me. He looked through my
belongings, then walked back to face me. I braced myself for his attack. In his
hand was my Book of Mormon” (“Come unto Me, O Ye House of Israel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2012, 32).
• How would you feel if you were in Elder Echo Hawk’s
situation?
• What do you think the drill instructor was going to do?
• Have you ever been in situations in which you worried your
beliefs would be ridiculed? (Consider inviting a few students to share their
experiences with the class.)
---Invite
students to look for truths as they study Romans 1 that can help them when they face
ridicule or persecution for their beliefs and standards.
---Briefly
introduce the book of Romans by inviting a student to read aloud the following
paragraph:
The book of
Romans is an epistle that Paul wrote to the Saints in Rome near the end of his
missionary journeys. He wrote the Roman Saints to prepare them for his arrival,
to clarify and defend his teachings, and to promote unity between Jewish and
Gentile members of the Church. Rome—the capital of the Roman Empire—was
saturated with worldly philosophies and would have been a difficult place to
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
---In Romans 1:1–14 Paul began his epistle by testifying
of Jesus Christ and expressing his desire to visit the Saints in Rome.
---Invite a
student to read Romans 1:15–17 aloud. Ask the class to follow
along, looking for what Paul taught the Roman Saints about the gospel of Jesus
Christ.
• What did Paul say the gospel of Jesus Christ is? (Students
should identify a truth similar to the following: The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation to
all who exercise faith in Jesus Christ. Write this truth on the
board. You may want to suggest that students mark in their scriptures the words
or phrases that teach this truth.)
• What does the gospel of Jesus Christ allow us to be saved
from? (Physical and spiritual death.)
• Why must we exercise faith in Jesus Christ to receive the
blessings of salvation through the gospel? (Jesus Christ performed the
Atonement, which makes our salvation possible.)
---Invite a
student to read aloud the following explanation of what it means to believe in
Jesus Christ and exercise faith in Him:
As used by
Paul, the terms belief and faith mean not just mental agreement that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God, but wholehearted acceptance of and trust in Him as
the One who offered Himself in Atonement for our sins. This deep trust leads to
a life of faithfulness, manifested by repenting of sins, being baptized, and
trying to live as Jesus Christ taught (see Acts 16:30–33; Romans 6:1–11;1 Corinthians 6:9–11). “Faith in Jesus Christ … is
manifested in a life of obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel and
service to Christ” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Salvation,”scriptures.lds.org).
• Because Paul knew that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the
power of God unto salvation for all who believe, how did he feel about
preaching it? (He was not ashamed [see Romans 1:16].)
• How could having a testimony of the power of the gospel influence
your desire to share the gospel with others? (After students respond, write the
following principle on the board: As we gain a testimony that the
gospel of Jesus Christ has power to save us, then we will not be ashamed to
share it with others.)
• How can this principle help you when you face persecution or
ridicule for your beliefs?
---Invite a
student to read aloud the next portion of Elder Echo Hawk’s story, and ask the
class to listen for how he responded to the drill sergeant.
“I expected that he would yell at me;
instead, he moved close to me and whispered, ‘Are you a Mormon?’
“As commanded, I yelled, ‘Yes, Sergeant
Instructor.’
“Again I expected the worst. Instead, he
paused and raised his hand that held my Book of Mormon and in a very quiet
voice said, ‘Do you believe in this book?’
“Again I shouted, ‘Yes, Sergeant Instructor’” (“Come unto Me, O Ye House of Israel,” 32).
• How is Elder Echo Hawk’s response a good example of the
principle taught in Romans 1:16?
---Rather
than ridiculing Elder Echo Hawk, the drill instructor carefully laid down the
Book of Mormon and continued down the line of recruits. Read aloud the
remainder of Elder Echo Hawk’s statement:
“I have often wondered why that tough Marine
Corps sergeant spared me that day. But I am grateful I was able to say without
hesitation, ‘Yes, I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints’ and ‘Yes, I know the Book of Mormon is true.’ This testimony is a
precious gift given to me through the Holy
Ghost” (“Come unto Me, O Ye House of Israel,” 32).
• When have you (or someone you know) demonstrated that you
are not ashamed to share the gospel of Jesus Christ?
---Invite
students to ponder how strong they feel their testimonies of the gospel of
Jesus Christ are and what they can do to strengthen those testimonies.
Encourage them to set a goal to do so.
II.
Romans 1:18–3:23 Paul teaches that all mankind sin and fall short of the glory of
God
---In Paul’s
day, some Gentile Christians sought to excuse immoral or sinful behavior by
emphasizing God’s mercy and ignoring His perfect justice. Also, some Jewish
Christians believed that observance of the law of Moses was necessary for their salvation.
Paul sought to correct both of these misconceptions.
---Invite
several students to take turns reading aloud from Romans 1:18–32. Ask the class to follow along, looking
for sins Paul said were prevalent in his day. You may want to help students
define words and phrases in verses 18–32 to help them understand the warnings
Paul gave to the Roman Saints. For example, consider asking the following
question:
• In verse 25, what do you think “worshipped and served
the creature more than the Creator” means?
---Point out
that from Romans 1:18–32, we learn that prophets and apostles teach us about behaviors and attitudes that
are offensive to God.
---The
phrases “change the natural use into that which is against nature” in verse 26 and “leaving the natural use of the
woman” in verse 27 refer to homosexual behavior. You
may want to explain that from the beginning, and consistently throughout the
scriptures, the Lord has condemned violations of the law of chastity, including
homosexual behavior.
Note: The topic of same-sex attraction
requires great sensitivity. As your class discusses this issue, ensure that it
is done with kindness, compassion, and civility.
---To help
students understand the Church’s position on homosexual behavior, read the
following statements aloud:
“Homosexual and lesbian behavior is a serious
sin. If you find yourself struggling with same-gender attraction or you are
being persuaded to participate in inappropriate behavior, seek counsel from
your parents and bishop. They will help you” (For the Strength of Youth [booklet,
2011], 36).
“The Church’s doctrinal position is clear:
Sexual activity should only occur between a man and a woman who are married.
However, that should never be used as justification for unkindness. Jesus
Christ, whom we follow, was clear in His condemnation of sexual immorality, but
never cruel. His interest was always to lift the individual, never to tear
down. …
“The Church distinguishes between same-sex
attraction and behavior. While maintaining that feelings and inclinations
toward the same sex are not inherently sinful, engaging in homosexual behavior
is in conflict with the ‘doctrinal principle, based on sacred scripture … that
marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator’s plan for the
eternal destiny of His children’ [“First Presidency Statement on Same-Gender Marriage,” mormonnewsroom.org]” (“Same-Sex Attraction,” Gospel Topics,lds.org/topics).
• Why is it important for us to understand the teachings of
the Lord’s prophets and apostles concerning homosexual behavior?
• How can we show kindness and compassion to those who
experience same-sex attraction while still supporting the Church’s position on
homosexual behavior?
---Romans 2:1–3:8 says that Paul taught that all
people will be judged according to their works, and he showed that the Jews’
unrighteousness came from their living the law of Moses outwardly but not
inwardly.
---Invite a
student to read Romans 3:9–12, 23 aloud, and ask the class to look
for who Paul said is affected by sin.
• Who did Paul say is affected by sin? What effect do our sins
have upon us? (After students have responded, write the following truth on the
board: All accountable people sin and are in need of God’sforgiveness.)
• How does this truth help us better understand why we need
Jesus Christ?
III.
Romans 3:24–31 All mankind
may be justified through faithful acceptance of Christ’s Atonement
---In the
remaining verses of Romans 3, Paul taught how Jesus Christ overcomes
the problem we face—namely, that God cannot accept sin and that every
accountable person commits sin. In order to understand these verses, students
will need to understand the meaning of the following words:justification (being “pardoned from punishment for
sin and declared guiltless” [Guide to the Scriptures,“Justification, Justify” scriptures.lds.org]), propitiation(atoning
sacrifice and source of mercy), and grace(“divine means
of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus
Christ” [BibleDictionary, “Grace”]). Consider writing the definitions of these
words on the board before class or providing a handout with these terms to each
student.
---Ask a
student to read Romans 3:24–26 aloud. Invite the class to follow
along, looking for how we can become worthy to be in God’s presence.
• According to Romans 3:24, how are we justified, or declared worthy
to be in God’s presence?
---Point out
that the Joseph Smith Translation of Romans 3:24 changes the word freely to only (see footnote a). Explain that no matter how much good we do in this
life, we cannot earn or merit salvation on our own because, as Paul taught, we
all have sinned and therefore fall short of salvation (see Romans 3:23). It is only by God’s grace—His divine
strength and enabling power—that we are saved (see also Moroni 10:32–33).
• According to verse 26, whom does God justify by grace? (Those
who believe in Jesus.)
---Remind
students of how Paul used the terms belief and faith as discussed earlier in class.
• What principle do these verses teach about the result of
faithfully accepting Jesus Christ’s Atonement? (Students may identify a
principle such as the following: Through faithful acceptance of
the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be justified and receive salvation.)
• How can we demonstrate faithful acceptance of the Savior’s
Atonement?
---Invite
students to ponder their need for the Savior Jesus Christ and what they can do
to more faithfully accept His Atonement. Invite them to write their feelings in
their class notebooks or scripture study journals. Ask a few students to share
their feelings about and testimonies of the Savior.
---In Romans 3:27–30 Paul re-emphasized that an
individual is justified by faith in Jesus Christ rather than by his or her
observance of the law of Moses.
Commentary
and Background Information
Romans
1:1. “The gospel of God”
The gospel
of Jesus Christ is, in fact, the gospel of
God, meaning the gospel of God the Father. It became known as “the gospel
of Jesus Christ” as Christ became the chief advocate and proponent of the
Father’s plan.
Romans
1:16. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ”
Elder
Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles noted that one way we
can show that we are not ashamed of the gospel is to share it with others:
“Each of us
has many opportunities to proclaim our belief to friends and neighbors, fellow
workers, and casual acquaintances. I hope we will take these opportunities to
express our love for our Savior, our witness of his divine mission, and our
determination to serve him.
“If we do
all of this, we can say, like the Apostle Paul, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that
believeth.’ (Rom. 1:16.)” (“Witnesses of Christ,” Ensign, Nov.
1990, 32).
For an
example of someone not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, see the
account about Elder Richard G. Scott being interviewed by Captain
Hyman G. Rickover (in Marvin K. Gardner, “Elder Richard G. Scott: ‘The Real Power Comes from the
Lord,’” Ensign, Jan. 1989, 8–9).
Romans
1:26–32. Homosexual behavior is a serious sin
For more
information on the Church’s position concerning homosexual behavior and
same-sex attraction, see “Same-Sex Attraction” on lds.org/topics.
Romans
3:24. “Justified freely by his grace”
Elder
D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the
following about the word justification:
“Because of
‘the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice,’ Jesus Christ can satisfy
or ‘answer the ends of the law’ on our behalf. Pardon comes by the grace of Him
who has satisfied the demands of justice by His own suffering. … He removes our
condemnation without removing the law. We are pardoned and placed in a
condition of righteousness with Him. We become, like Him, without sin. We are
sustained and protected by the law, by justice. We are, in a word, justified.
“Thus, we
may appropriately speak of one who is justified as pardoned, without sin, or
guiltless” (“Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 20).
Supplemental
Teaching Idea
Understanding
key terms in Paul’s epistle to the Romans
To help
students understand several words Paul used that may not be familiar to them,
consider providing students a handout with the following definitions as you
begin your study of Romans (except where noted, all definitions are from the Guide
to the Scriptures [scriptures.lds.org]):
Gospel: God’s plan of salvation, made possible
through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The gospel includes the eternal truths
or laws, covenants, and ordinances needed for mankind to enter back into the
presence of God.
Salvation: To be saved from both physical and
spiritual death. In this sense, salvation in Paul’s language is the same as
eternal life (see Alma 11:40–41; D&C 6:13; 14:7; Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah: The First Coming of Christ [1978],
129–30).
Justification, Justify: To be pardoned from punishment for sin
and declared guiltless. A person is justified by the Savior’s grace through
faith in him. This faith is shown by repentance and obedience to the laws and
ordinances of the gospel. Jesus Christ’s atonement enables mankind to repent
and be justified or pardoned from punishment they otherwise would receive.
Faith: Faith is trust, confidence in, and
reliance upon the Lord Jesus Christ, which lead a person to obey Him. Faith
must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation.
Propitiation: “An atoning sacrifice” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th ed.
[2003], “propitiation”). Source of mercy, appeasement.
Grace: “Grace is a gift from Heavenly Father
given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures,
refers primarily to enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the
mercy and love of Jesus Christ” (“Grace,” Gospel Topics, lds.org/topics).
Works: A person’s actions, whether good or
bad. Each person will be judged by his [or her] own works.
Law: The commandments or rules of God upon
which all blessings and punishments are based both in heaven and on earth.
Those who obey the laws of God receive the promised blessings. … The law of Moses [or simply “the law,” as used by
Paul] was a preparatory law to bring men and women to Christ.
Right margin
extras:
Define
difficult words and phrases
Defining
difficult words and phrases can be an important step in understanding the
content of the scriptures and identifying doctrines and principles. The words
of the prophets, dictionaries, student manuals, footnotes, and scripture study
helps can help students understand difficult words and phrases.
Lesson
100: Romans 4–7
Introduction
Paul
explained how Abraham had been justified through grace. Paul then described
blessings that come to those who are justified and taught that baptism
symbolizes becoming dead to sin and alive in Christ.
---Copy
the following picture and phrases on the board.
---Invite
students to imagine that they are dying of thirst in a desert and that there is
a bottle of water on top of a nearby hill.
---Which of the following will save you: (a) your belief that the water can save you, (b) your effort to get to the water and drink it,
or (c) the water itself? (Do not say whether
students’ responses are correct.)
---This
scenario can help us understand Paul’s teachings in Romans 4–7 concerning how faith, works, and grace
relate to the doctrine of justification. (Remind students that Paul’s teachings
regarding justification were introduced in Romans 1–3.)
---According to Paul’s teachings in Romans 1–3, what does it mean to be justified? (To be
pardoned from the punishment for sin and declared guiltless or righteous.)
---Provide
context for Romans 4 by explaining that some of the Jewish
Saints in Rome overemphasized the importance of their own efforts and of the
law of Moses in being justified.
---How might some people today have a similar misunderstanding of
justification?
---Which option written on the board could represent the idea that
we can be saved by our works? (Write(Works) next to
option B.)
---Paul
tried to correct the misunderstanding that existed in his day by reminding the
Jews about the ancient patriarch Abraham, whom many Jews saw as being
justified.
---Invite
a student to read aloud Joseph Smith Translation, Romans 4:2–5 (in
the Bible appendix). Ask the class to follow
along, looking for why Abraham was judged as being righteous.
• What
was Abraham not justified by? (The “law of
works.”)
• According
to Paul’s teachings recorded in Romans 1–3, why can we not be justified by the law of
works? (Paul taught that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”
[Romans 3:23]. To be justified by the law of works would
require us to never sin.)
---As
recorded in Romans 4:6–8, Paul quoted King David to further illustrate
that our works alone do not justify us or make us innocent.
---To
summarize Romans 4:9–15, invite a student to read the following
paragraph aloud:
To discredit the idea that only those who had
been circumcised and were keeping the law of Moses could receive the blessings
of being faithful, Paul taught that Abraham had received the blessings of his
faithfulness before he
was circumcised and that circumcision was a sign of
his faithfulness. Abraham continued being faithful after covenanting with God
and being circumcised. In this way, Abraham became the father of all the faithful, whether
uncircumcised (Gentiles) or circumcised (Jews).
---Invite
a student to read aloud the Joseph
Smith Translation in Romans 4:16, footnote a, and ask the
class to follow along and look for a more complete explanation of how we are
justified.
• How
are we justified? (Students should identify a doctrine similar to the
following: We are justified by faith and works through
grace.)
---Remind
students that grace refers to the blessings,
mercy, help, and strength available to us because of Jesus
Christ’s Atonement.
• Which
of the options written on the board could represent the Atonement and grace of
Jesus Christ? Which option could represent our faith in Him? (After students
respond, write (Atonement and grace of Jesus Christ) next
to option C and (Faith) next to
option A.)
• If
we were in this situation, could we be saved by our belief and efforts if there
were no water? (No.) How is the water in this scenario like the Atonement and
grace of Jesus Christ?
---Invite
a student to read aloud the following statement by President Dieter F.
Uchtdorf of the First Presidency:
“Salvation cannot be bought with the currency
of obedience; it is purchased by the blood of the Son of God [see Acts 20:28]. …
“Grace is a gift of God, and our desire to be
obedient to each of God’s commandments is the reaching out of our mortal hand
to receive this sacred gift from our Heavenly Father” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 109, 110).
---While
the scenario portrayed on the board helps us understand how faith, works, and
grace contribute to us being justified, it does not illustrate all the ways we
can receive the Savior’s grace. Jesus Christ not only provides the life-saving
water that represents His grace, which justifies us and cleanses us from sin;
He also enables us to have the faith and strength we need to obtain the water,
or access His grace. We can be blessed by this grace before, during, and after
we exercise faith in Him and perform good works.
---Invite
a student to read aloud the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar
of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
“The power of the Atonement makes repentance
possible and … strengthens us to see, do, and become good in ways that we could
never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity” (“Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” Ensign or Liahona, May
2015, 47).
• How
can the Savior’s grace help us exercise faith in Him and do good works?
• What
are some works we can do to show our faith in Christ and be justified through
His grace? (Repent and obey the commandments and receive the ordinances of the
gospel.)
---Invite
students to divide into groups of two or three and to explain to each other how
faith and righteous works help us receive the Savior’s grace so we can be
justified. (Make sure students understand that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
and in His power to save us will motivate us to receive necessary ordinances
and to obey God’s commandments, which allows us to become justified through the
Savior’s grace.)
---In Romans 5 Paul taught of the peace that comes
to those who access the grace of Christ by faith (see verses 1–2). He further explained that the grace
available to us because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement is more than sufficient to
overcome the effects of the Fall.
II. Romans 6–7 Paul teaches how to become
free from sin and receive eternal life
---Ask
students how they would respond in the following scenario:
Your friend is planning to eventually serve a mission but is
currently making choices that oppose the Lord’s standards. When you express
concern about your friend’s behavior, he says, “It is not a big deal. Because
of the Atonement, I can always repent before I go on my mission.”
---Some
people knowingly break God’s commandments, planning to repent later, such as
before they go to the temple or serve a mission. As we study Romans 6 look for why this attitude denotes a
grave misunderstanding of the doctrine of grace.
---Divide
students into pairs. Invite each partnership to read Romans 6:1–6, 11–12 aloud together and to discuss
how Paul’s teachings could correct their friend’s thinking. After sufficient
time, ask:
• How
did Paul respond to the misconception that the Savior’s grace will
automatically free us from our sins?
• What
do you think it means to be “dead to sin” (verse 2) and be “buried with him by baptism into
death” (verse 4)?
• According
to these verses, what does baptism by immersion symbolize? (As students
respond, help them identify the following doctrine: Baptism by immersion can symbolize our death to sin and newness of
spiritual life.)
---The
new spiritual life we begin when we are baptized includes receiving a remission
of our sins and committing to obey God’s commandments.
---To
prepare students to identify additional principles in Romans 6, display some money.
• Who
pays for an employee’s wages? Why does an employer not pay for the wages of
someone else’s employee?
---Invite
students to read Romans 6:13 silently, looking for the two
“employers,” or masters, someone could yield to and serve. (You may need to
explain that yield in this verse means to
offer or give yourself to.) Ask students to report what they find.
Draw the
following chart on the board:
|
WAGES
OF SIN
|
GOD’S
WAGES
|
|
|
|
---Invite
students to read Romans 6:14–23 silently. Ask half of them to look
for the “wages” (verse 23), or consequences, of sin and the other
half to look for God’s wages. After sufficient time, ask a few students to come
to the board to write on the chart what they found. (Under ”Wages of sin“
students should write Death [see verses 16, 21, 23], and under “God’s wages”
they should write Righteousness [see verse 16], Holiness[see verses 19, 22], Everlasting life [see verse 22], and Eternal life [see verse 23].) Explain that death as a wage of sin
refers to “separation from God and His influences” and means “to die as to
things pertaining to righteousness” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Death, Spiritual,” scriptures.lds.org).
• What
principle can we learn from Romans 6:16about the consequences of yielding to sin?
(Students may use different words but should identify the following
principle: If we yield to sin, then we will become
servants of sin.)
• How
does yielding to a sin make us a servant to that sin?
---Invite
students to ponder instances when someone’s yielding to sin led to a loss of
freedom.
---Refer
to the list under “God’s wages.”
• What
are the benefits of serving righteousness rather than sin?
• What
principle can we learn from Paul’s teachings about how to become free from sin
and receive the gift of eternal life? (Students may use different words but
should identify a principle similar to the following: If we yield ourselves to God, we can become free from sin and
receive the gift of eternal life.)
• In
what ways can we yield ourselves to God?
• In
what ways have you experienced freedom from sin by yielding yourself to God?
---Testify
of the importance of yielding ourselves to God. Invite students to write down a
goal regarding how they will better yield themselves to God.
---In Romans 7 Paul used the metaphor of marriage
to teach that Church members had been freed from the law of Moses and joined to
Christ. He also wrote about the struggle between the “flesh” (verse 18), or physical appetites, and “the inward
man” (verse 22), or spirituality.
---Conclude
by testifying of the truths taught in this lesson.
Commentary
and Background Information
Romans 4:16. Grace
President
Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency clarified how we receive the
Savior’s grace:
“The
prophet Nephi made an important contribution to our understanding of God’s
grace when he declared, ‘We labor diligently … to persuade our children, and
also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we
know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can
do’ [2 Nephi 25:23; emphasis added].
“However,
I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase ‘after all we can do.’ We must
understand that ‘after’ does not equal ‘because.’
“We are
not saved ‘because’ of all that we can do. Have any of us done all that we can do? Does God wait until we’ve
expended every effort before He will intervene in our lives with His saving
grace? …
“I am
certain Nephi knew that the Savior’s grace allows andenables us to overcome sin [see 2 Nephi 4:19–35; Alma 34:31]. This is why Nephi labored so diligently to
persuade his children and brethren ‘to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled
to God’ [2 Nephi 25:23]” (“The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 110).
Elder
Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy explained how grace helps us grow
spiritually:
“Growth
means growing pains. It also means learning from our mistakes in a continual
process made possible by the Savior’s grace, which He extends both during and ‘after all we can do’ [2 Nephi 25:23; emphasis added]” (“The Atonement: All for All,”Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 97).
President
Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“For
some reason, we think the Atonement of Christ applies onlyat the end of mortal life to redemption from the
Fall, from spiritual death. It is much more than that. It is an ever-present
power to call upon in everyday life” (“The Touch of the Master’s Hand,” Ensign, May 2001, 23).
Romans 5:6–8.
Different uses of the word grace
Romans 5:6–8 discusses grace as something we
receive from God independent of our actions. For example, through the Savior’s
grace all mankind will be unconditionally redeemed from the effects of the
Fall. Other passages of scripture describe grace as something we receive from
God as a result of what we do. For example, our actions can cause us to grow in
grace or fall from grace (see John 1:16; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 3:18; D&C 93:12–13, 19–20). In addition, through grace we
receiveforgiveness of our sins “on conditions of
repentance” (D&C 18:12). However, “he that exercises no faith
unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice” (Alma 34:16).
Supplemental
Teaching Ideas
Romans 4:16. Video presentation—“The Savior Wants to Forgive”
To help
students understand the importance of the truth that we are justified by faith
and works through grace, consider showing the Mormon Messages video “The Savior Wants to Forgive” (5:50), which
portrays the true story of a man who struggled with addiction and spent time in
jail but with the Savior’s help repented and received forgiveness.
Invite students to watch for instances of the Savior extending His grace to
this man and how this man’s faith and works allowed him to access this grace.
This video is available on LDS.org.
Following
the video, ask:
•
How did
the Savior extend His grace to this man?
•
How did
this man exercise faith in Jesus
Christ and demonstrate repentance and obedience?
Romans 5:6–11, 15, 17,
20–21. The Savior’s grace is more than sufficient
Draw a
pit on the board, and invite students to copy it in their class notebooks or
scripture study journals. Explain that as recorded in Romans 5:12–14, Paul explained that because of the Fall,
death entered the world (including both physical death and spiritual death).
Ask
students to identify negative or difficult things that came into the world
because of the Fall of Adam and Eve, and write their answers in the pit on the
board. (Their answers might include physical and spiritual death, pain, sin,
suffering, sorrow, and sickness.) Invite students to ponder trials they have
experienced because of the Fall or because of their mistakes and sins and to
write them in the pit in their class notebooks or scripture study journals.
•
How can
the trials listed in the pit affect our hope in God’s promises?
Ask
students to ponder whether they have ever wondered whether they will be able to
overcome their trials.
Invite
two students to take turns reading aloud from Romans 5:6–11, 15, 17, 20–21. Ask the class to follow
along, and encourage students to notice how many times they see the phrase
“much more” throughout Romans 5.
•
What did
Paul teach about the grace and blessings of the Atonement as it relates to the
effects of the Fall? (Students may use different words, but make sure they
identify the following truth: The grace provided through the
Atonement of Jesus Christ is more than sufficient to help us overcome the
effects of the Fall.)
To help
students better understand this truth, consider adding to the drawing of the
pit on the board so that it portrays the following two figures:
Because
of the Fall, we were born into a world that is subject to the effects of that
Fall and we experience many of the challenges listed on the board (see
figure A). However, according toRomans 5:11, we have received the Atonement of Jesus
Christ.
Elder
Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
“[Heavenly
Father] prepared a way through the life of His perfectly obedient Son, Jesus
Christ, our Savior, for His Atonement to overcome every difficulty that we may
experience in mortality” (“Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority,”Ensign or Liahona, Nov.
2014, 92).
The Joseph
Smith Translation of Romans 4:16 also clarifies that our faith and
works help us come unto Christ, who, through His grace, justifies us and helps
us overcome the effects of the Fall and our sins (see figure B).
© 2016 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All
rights reserved.
Right margin extras:
Ask questions that
invite feelings and testimonies
After
students understand a doctrine or principle, you can ask questions that lead
students to reflect on spiritual experiences related to that doctrine or
principle and to feel more deeply the truthfulness and significance of that
gospel truth in their lives. Many times, those feelings engender a stronger
desire in students to live a gospel principle more faithfully.
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