17 O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he
executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law
must be fulfilled.
18 But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One
of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have
endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall
inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of
the world, and their joy shall be full forever.
In this section of his sermon, the words of Jacob border on the poetic.
17 O the greatness
and the justice
of our God!
For he executeth
all his
words,
and they have
gone forth
out of his
mouth,
and his law
must be fulfilled.
God is just, Jacob teaches us. The Savior said, “I can of mine own self do
nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine
own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30). In his epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote,
“For there is no respect [GR partiality] of persons with God” (Romans
2:11).
King Benjamin addressed the justice of God in his great
sermon.
“Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and
dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal
soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from
the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and
anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever
and ever” (Mosiah 2:38).
He fulfills all the words He gave us. Speaking to Ezekiel, the Lord said, “I the
LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go
back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and
according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel
24:14).
18 But, behold, the
righteous,
the saints of
the Holy One
of Israel,
they who have
believed
in the Holy
One of Israel,
they who have
endured
the crosses
of the world,
and despised the shame of it,
they shall
inherit
the kingdom
of God,
which was
prepared for them
from the
foundation
of the
world,
and their joy
shall be
full
forever.
In this world, we will face challenges and trials. We will be called to “[endure] the crosses of
the world” (2 Nephi 9:18). For doing
this, we will despised by the world; we will be despised by those who refuse to
bear the crosses of the world. “This is
a place of crosses and shame. Have no illusions. The world is a shameful place;
it is to be despised.”[1] “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and
come after me, cannot be my disciple. [JST Luke 14:28 Wherefore, settle this in
your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.]”
(Luke 14:27).
Those that do endure will inherit the kingdom of God, “and their joy shall be full”
(2 Nephi 9:18).
Those who are not deceived “For they that are wise and have
received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have
not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast
into the fire, but shall abide the day. And the earth shall be given unto them
for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children
shall grow up without sin unto salvation” (D&C 45:57-58).
The Lord revealed the oath and covenant of the priesthood to
Joseph Smith. In part, He said:
“For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two
priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are
sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies.
“They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of
Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God.
“And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me,
saith the Lord;
“For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;
“And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;
“And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's
kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him” (D&C
84:33-38).
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