Sunday School Old Testament: Lesson 14

01 March

old-testament-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual-355700001The purpose of this next lesson is for the class members to learn what it means to “partake of the Lord’s spiritual water and bread, sustain his chosen leaders, and obey his commandments so he can make of them a “holy nation.”

It covers the Israelites murmuring because they were hungry and thirsty, and then how the Lord blessed them with water, manna and quail. It compares the water that came from the rock Moses hit with his staff and the manna that fell from the sky to the precepts of Mormonism, and is basically another lesson on how you can work your way into the presence of God.

 I will probably never fully understand how they can cite references in the bible for their lessons, references that are clearly about God’s grace and still say they must do their part for their salvation. It’s funny how all their lessons always come back to them doing something that Jesus couldn’t do for their salvation.

One example of this, in this lesson is 1 Corinthians 10:4 –

“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

Jesus is the “spiritual rock”; He protects and sustains His people! In The MacArthur Study Bible a commentary on this verse reads:

“Rock (petra) refers to a massive cliff, not simply a large stone or boulder.”

Another example in this lesson is John 4:14 –

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

He is the spiritual drink for everlasting life!

If they believe these things about Jesus why in the world do they believe membership in the Mormon Church, and baptisms for the dead are necessary? Don’t they understand the implications of these verses?

The Church seems to have a knack for taking a very important event in the bible and making it about themselves, and making everything about the members doing their part for their salvation. Another place this is shown in this lesson is a reference to Exodus 16:22-25 when the Israelites kept manna overnight in preparing for the Sabbath.

Obedience to the Sabbath is a very important rule in Mormonism. It’s one that is engrained in the minds in the youngest members from a very early age in the form of a song they learn in Primary titled “Saturday”. The song has the child sing about all the things they’re going to do on Saturday to “get ready for Sunday”.

The Sabbath was given to the Israelites to help them remember and reflect on the creation.

Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. (Exodus 31:16-17)

If Mormons believe they are to following the Sabbath as the Israelites did, then what do they do with Exodus 16:29 where we read that those who are under the Sabbath law are not to leave their homes on the Sabbath?

“See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” (Exodus 16:29)

As followers of Jesus Christ we’re not required to follow the Sabbath Law. Paul tells us in Romans 14:5-6 not to think more highly of one day over the other.

One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.

As followers of Jesus we also know that we can worship Him any day, any time we wish. We don’t have to prepare ourselves or our homes to worship Him, nor do we have to clean ourselves up, comb our hair and put on a shirt and tie before we can come to Him in worship.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law, all those laws and ordinances were nailed to the cross. He freed us from all those things. He brought down the veil so that we could have direct communication with the Father, doing away with sacrifices and saving us by grace. And what does Mormonism do? It hangs the veil back up; it separates its followers from God, telling them they must follow a set of rules before they can ever hope to be truly saved. My heart breaks for them.

In Christ,

Melissa Grimes (melissa@lifeafter.org)

Reference:

https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-class-member-study-guide?lang=eng

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