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Show After the creation of Adam, God gave him commandments. Men was not to be a law unto himself. He was to be obedient to his Creator. Man was made in the image of God, God is a Spirit (John 4:24). This image was the spiritual likeness of God in the man, or the created. Adam's way reflected God's nature and ways. "N ow we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and .thus we see, that by his fall, all ma-iklnd became a lost and a fallen people:' "And now we that our first parents were see by this, cut off, both temporally and spiritually, There from the presence of the Lord fore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiri tual death as well as a temporal: that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord; therefore it was expedient that man kind should be reclaimed from this spiri . . . tual death." (Book of Mormon, Pages 346: 38 and 453:88-90). There was no way for man to redeem himself from his lost and fallen state which he "had brouqht upon himself, because of his own disobedience:' "But it was cro pointed unto man that they must d;e: an-d after death, they must come to judgment," "For we must all appear before the judg ment seat of Christ: that everyone may receive the things done in his body, ac cording to that he hath done, whether crood or bad." (Poqes 453:93, 346:46 and 2 Cor. 5: 10). John writes that "sin is the transgres- sian of the law." Therefore when Adam transgressed God's commandments, he became Icllen and also all the life of the God world, for it was in his loins. foreknowing man's choice had laid a plan to rescue man from the consequence of his own choice which had brought death, temporally and spiritually, to all The plan of God the seed of Adam. was that He would come into the world, God is a Spirit," and take upon him a body, Ita body hast thou prepared me." Whose body, blood and soul was to be offered for an atonement for man. Who soever will repent, being changed into a new creature, will have eternal life through All who refuse His the mercy of God. way of salvation, laid by God, will re Read John main under condemnation. 3: 17-21. (l John 3:4 and Heb. 10:5). Thus only those who have Icr'h unto repentance,. and endure to the end of the temporal life in the way of God" s1:1a11 be raised to dwell with God. Little children who die and also all who die not having salvation declared unto them will be found under the mercy (blood) of Christ. Read Page 253:58-63. These are the first resurrection, "on such the second death hath no power." The wicked, those who have perished in their sins, that have known God's commandments and would not keep them, shall have no part in the first resurrection. They will remain as though there had been no redemotion made. Read Page 253:62 and 77-78. A second death, spiritual, shall come upon them at the bar of God. (Rev. 20:6). II |
