Abraham's Seed

In the Book of John, Jesus taught his disciples that if they believed on His word then they would know the truth, and the truth would make them free. In reply to this many said, "We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?" (John 8:33). The Jews believed that their lineage guaranteed them the blessings promised to Abraham and their seed. I wonder then what they thought of the northern tribes who had been scattered by the Assyrians long before. Where they still entitled to these blessings, even though their nation was destroyed because they refused to repent? How then would the Jews be exempt from the same fate? In response to this standpoint Jesus taught, "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Luke 3:8).

In Sunday school today we discussed some modern "fables" that exist within the church. I wonder how many of the Saints today, like the Jews of old, believe we are justified simply because we are members of the Church. Because we have been baptized and attend our meetings weekly we are saved. I remember one of my Sunday school teachers a long time ago saying to us something like, "I think there will be many Saints that will be surprised when they see how many people there are in the Celestial Kingdom who were not members of the church." Isn't that true? God will judge us based on our works and the desires of our hearts (D&C 137:9)—it says nothing there about baptism. Having the fullness of the everlasting gospel doesn't justify us, only our works and desires do. In fact, understanding the gospel gives us even more responsibility, so we need to be careful not to become like the Pharisees of old: "And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth" (John 9:40-41).

I am so grateful that God is not a respecter of persons. He, in His infinite justice and mercy, will not condemn one man because he didn't have the opportunity to hear the gospel in this life, and exalt another because he was born into the church. I am grateful that we are required to work out our salvation (Philip. 2:12), giving us the chance to become more and more like our Savior. I know that the everlasting gospel has again been restored upon the earth in its fullness. So now that our eyes are opened, let us do the works of Abraham, that we may be counted as his seed.