Week 4, Unit 2, Choice 1

Unit 2, Choice 1: Romans 12-16. Live as Saints Should Live

Here are some of my thoughts about Paul’s teachings to the Romans. 

If we desire to have salvation in Christ, we must continually work righteousness.  We do this by keeping the commandments, honoring our covenants, and enduring the trials we must bear.  We do these things in faith and then we can have the gift of eternal life with God. Paul offers some suggestions of ways that we should live that we may attain this gift:

Keep ourselves unspotted from the world

Cleave unto things that are good

Give to those who stand in need

Be united and not prideful

Overcome evil with good

Be subject unto God-be humble

Love one another

Keep all of the commandments

 

            These are very basic standards that are easy to live by, and contribute to a wholesome life.  In addition to those things, Paul teaches that we should not judge each other.  God loves all of us, and though we may see the world differently, we should not contend with our friends and neighbors, but should seek to keep peace with them.  We should not judge one another, for we all live and die to God and will stand to be judge of Him.  Doctrine and Covenants 38:25-27 gives us even more insight on why we should not judge.  In essence it teaches what the world calls ‘the golden rule’ which is, of course where we treat others the way we want to be treated.  We are courteous, respectful, and above all, loving.

Paul refers to the church members as saints.  I think he sees them as faithful individuals who should be united in their actions through their belief in Jesus Christ.  We also refer to ourselves as latter-day saints, and strive to be true followers of Christ, “living as saints should live” through the honoring and keeping of sacred commandments and covenants.