Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 3:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 3:8

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

It is through faith that we are saved and not simply because of any religions acts. Paul is referring to the law of Moses, which was a dead law. All the rituals and acts would not save if there was no atonement made by Christ and faith in him. The same with being baptized, confirmed, endowed and sealed. None of them are in effect if there is no faith. That is why performing proxy ordinances in behalf for our deceased loved ones mean absolutely nothing, if they do not accept it. You cannot make a person accept Christ. That is entirely on their own.

This is called being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

“The Holy Spirit of Promise is the Holy Spirit promised the saints, or in other words the Holy Ghost. This name-title is used in connection with the sealing and ratifying power of the Holy Ghost, that is, the power given him to ratify and approve the righteous acts of men so that those acts will be binding on earth and in heaven. ‘All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations,’ must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, if they are to have ‘efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.’ (D. & C. 132:7.)

“To seal is to ratify, to justify, or to approve. Thus an act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost; it is one which is approved by the Lord; and the person who has taken the obligation upon himself is justified by the Spirit in the thing he has done.

“The ratifying seal of approval is put upon an act only if those entering the contract are worthy as a result of personal righteousness to receive the divine approbation. They ‘are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.’ (D. & C. 76:53.) If they are not just and true and worthy the ratifying seal is withheld."

(Bruce R. McConkie, "Holy Spirit of Promise", Eternal Marriage Student Manual)

Day 3208