Topic: Seal, Bind, Bound

Matthew 16:19 > Matthew 17:1-9 >Matthew 18:18 > Helaman 10:7 > Doctrine and Covenants 124:93-94 > Doctrine and Covenants 132:46 > John 6:27 > Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 > Ephesians 1:10-14 > 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 > Mosiah 5:15 > Doctrine and Covenants 110:16 > Doctrine and Covenants 1:8 > Doctrine and Covenants 68:12 > Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-53 > Ephesians 4:30

In other Scripture Trains, we have discussed Eternal Life, Judgment, Immortality and so forth. What we will learn in this Scripture Train is that the scriptures teach, very clearly, that in order to obtain the gift of Eternal Life it must be sealed upon us. Jesus first speaks of this binding or sealing power in Matthew chapter 16 verse 19, promising certain of His Apostles that He would give unto them the ‘Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven’. Then in the following chapter, verses 1 through 9, these Apostles, Peter, James and John, along with Jesus, were transfigured and there appeared unto them prophets of old to include Moses and Elijah. Although it is not mentioned in the scriptural account, we must assume that this wonderful event did not just happen, because God or Jesus thought it would be a neat thing to do; there must have been a purpose. In the next chapter verse 18, Jesus tells His Apostles, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven…” So, in chapter 16 Jesus tells these 3 Apostles that He will give unto them the keys to bind on earth and in heaven; in chapter 17 we learn of a marvelous transfiguration with the appearance of ancient prophets and in chapter 18 Jesus tells them that, “Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven”; signifying to me that they now have this power. There is no other recording in all the New Testament where these keys were likely bestowed, only here. I believe that it was during this transfiguration that the keys to bind on earth and in heaven were bestowed on Peter, James and John.

The New Testament is not the only scripture that teaches of keys or authority to seal and bind both in heaven and on earth. In the Book of Mormon, in the book of Helaman chapter 10 verse 7, the Lord declares to His prophet, Nephi, in the presence of His angels, that He is giving to him power that whatsoever he seals on earth will be sealed in heaven. In this verse, we also learn that the opposite is true as well; that whatsoever he will loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 124 verses 93 and 94, speaking of Hyrum Smith, the Lord tells Joseph Smith that Hyrum will have these same keys; that whoever he blesses shall be blessed, whoever he curses will be cursed and that which he binds on earth will be bound in heaven and whatsoever he will loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. In verse 94, we learn that this authority, this power to seal, is given to those who are prophets, seers and revelators. This information helps us understand what was happening in the New Testament when prophets of old visited the transfigured Peter, James and John! These former prophets must have also held these same keys, authorities and powers. They were then conferring these keys upon these living Apostles, Prophets of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Remember your history, these Prophets who appeared to Peter, James and John had never tasted of death, they were still living in the flesh; they had their physical bodies and could place hands upon the heads of these men and confer the keys, authorities and powers upon them.

Later in the Doctrine and Covenants in section 132 verse 46, the Lord in His instruction to the Prophet Joseph Smith, teaches more about this sealing power. We learn that this power is to be used according to the Word of the Lord. He says, “In my name and by my word”! So men who have this power given them must use it according to the will of God and in His name, they cannot go about using this power arbitrarily. This is the function of the ‘Keys’ the Lord mentioned back in Matthew 16 and in subsequent verses we have studied. Keys govern and control how this authority or power is used. Only those who hold the ‘Keys’ of the Priesthood can authorize a priesthood holder to use his priesthood authority or power in the administration of saving ordinances. There must be order in the Lord’s kingdom and this is what gives needed order. The Lord goes on to say that with this power that which is bound on the earth will be eternally bound in the heavens and whatever sins are remitted on earth will be eternally remitted in the heavens. God, by nature, is eternal and that which is joined together in His name and by His power is eternal also. In John chapter 6 verse 27, we are taught to labor for those things that have an eternal significance. Jesus teaches that this is what He will give unto us, but obviously, we must seek and work for it. Then Jesus makes the statement that is so significant to us and this Scripture Train, “For Him (meaning Jesus) hath God the Father Sealed.” The holy ordinance, this sealing ordinance, has already been administered to Jesus! He has been sealed unto God! If Jesus is our great exemplar, if we must do the works He has done, then does it not make sense that we, too, must be sealed to God in order to obtain Eternal Life?

How then, are we sealed or bound? As I stated in the previous paragraph, God gives man on earth power and authority to act in His name. This is the priesthood. The authority to direct this work comes from someone who holds the keys to that authority. In other words, just because I hold the priesthood does not give me the right to go about and use it in some careless, arbitrary, order- less fashion. I may have the power to baptize, but I cannot go out to the street and take someone and baptize him. I must have the proper authorization and that authorization must come from someone who holds the keys of that authority. Only from him can I receive permission or authority to perform any saving ordinance in the name of Christ.

The crowning ordinance offered to men and women on the earth is the sealing ordinance, where a man and a woman can be sealed together, or married for time and eternity. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 132 verse 19, we learn that if a man marries a woman by the Word of God, which is His law, by someone who is properly authorized, according to the covenant of God and it is sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, then that marriage or sealing will be bound not only on earth, but in heaven. There is much more to study in this verse, but this is what I desire to emphasize. The Holy Spirit of Promise made mention in this verse is also made mention in the book of Ephesians chapter 1 verses 10 through 14. Here we are taught that after our conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and after we have learned to trust in Him we are sealed by the promise of this Holy Spirit. We are taught that the reception of this Spirit is the pledge, by God, to us, that we are sealed in this eternal binding to Him. This is taught very clearly in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verses 21 and 22; we read that we are sealed by God and the way we know this is by the reception of the Spirit in our hearts. The Holy Spirit of Promise will bear witness to our spirit that this sealing has been ratified in heaven. It is something we will feel and thus know in our hearts. In Mosiah chapter 5 verse 15, King Benjamin counsels us to always abound in good works so that Christ may seal us His. This reemphasizes the scriptural truth that we have discussed earlier, that in order to obtain Eternal Life, we must be men and women of good works. Thus, as the Doctrine and Covenants teaches us in section 110 verse 16, “The keys…are committed into [our] hands.”

Who holds these keys today? Who is authorized to seal or bind on earth and in heaven in our day? Who can seal a man and a woman, who can seal us to God? In the Doctrine and Covenants section 1 verse 8, we read that this power will be found among those who go forth among the inhabitants of the earth bearing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This power will be given to those who the Father shall call. In other words, the bearers of this authority, or the keys of the priesthood, are those called by God and who are actively bearing the gospel to all the world, the Apostles and Prophets. See Doctrine and Covenants section 68 verse 12.

Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verses 50 through 53 sums up this entire Scripture Train and Paul in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 30 gives us a sound warning. Those who will come forth in the first resurrection, the resurrection of the just, will be those who received the testimony of Jesus Christ, believed in Him, were baptized in His name, kept the commandments of God, received the Holy Spirit, overcame the world and then are sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. The warning: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by which you are sealed unto the day of redemption. 

Topic: Eternal Life

Moses 1:39 > Doctrine and Covenants 19:10-12 > Rom 2:7 > Rom 5:21 > John 3:36 > John 6:47-69 > Hebrews 10:10 > Matthew 26:26-28 > 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 > 1 Nephi 18:1-12 > 1 John 5:11-13 > 2 Nephi 2:27 > Moroni 7:41 > The Acts 13:48 > 1 Tim 6:12 > John 5:39 > John 10:27-28 > Matthew 19:16-17 > Luke 10:25-28 > Luke 18:18-22 > Matthew 25:31-46 > John 4:36 > 1 Peter 5:5-10 > Revelation 21:7 > 2 Nephi 9:39 > Doctrine and Covenants 6:7 > Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 > Doctrine and Covenants 76:72, 75, 79 > Doctrine and Covenants 130:2

Previously, I defined the difference between immortality and Eternal Life. In this Scripture Train, I wish to further our understanding of Eternal Life. In most of the Scripture Trains, you may have noticed that they begin with scripture from the Bible; however, in this particular case I wish to begin from the Pearl of Great Price. In Moses chapter 1 verse 39, we learn that the great work and glory of almighty God, according to His own word, is to bring to pass the immortality and Eternal Life of man. Previously, we learned that immortality is a free gift to all mankind and came as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also learned that Eternal Life became possible not only as a result of the resurrection of Christ, but through His atonement, of which His resurrection was part. Eternal Life is not a free gift, which our resurrection is, but rather comes through the grace of God in combination with our righteous works while in mortality.

In Doctrine and Covenants section 19 verses 10 through 12, among other doctrines, we learn that Eternal is one of the names of God. So when we speak of Eternal Life, we speak of God's Life.  Eternal Life is God’s life or the richness of life that God enjoys. In Romans chapter 2 verse 7, Paul teaches that Eternal Life is a quality of life that we must patiently seek through continual well doing. This is the distinction between immortality and Eternal Life. As I have stated before, we know that we do not need to seek for resurrection, it is a free gift; but we do need to seek for Eternal life, which life will come to those who seek for it through patiently doing good. Paul restates this principle in Romans chapter 5 verse 21, teaching that Eternal Life comes through the grace of Jesus Christ and our personal righteousness. This is such an important principle! The grace of Christ our Lord comes to those who, through righteousness, seek Eternal Life.

Let’s further examine this principle; it all begins with belief in Jesus Christ. Beginning in John chapter 3 verse 36, Christ teaches that those who believe in Him will have Everlasting Life. Eternal and Everlasting describe the same immortal condition. Further, this verse teaches that those who do not believe in Jesus Christ shall not ‘see’ life; of course, this means that not only will they not have everlasting, or Eternal Life, but they will not even recognize it when offered to them. Christ further emphasizes the importance of belief in Himself when in John chapter 6 verses 47 through 69, He teaches that those who believe in Him will have Everlasting Life, but then He goes on to teach that He is the bread of life, the living bread, and that man must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood or else there will be no life in him. So what does it mean to eat of His bread and drink of His blood? As we see at the end of these passages that many of His followers ceased following Him after this declaration because they did not understand His teachings. In Hebrews chapter 10 verse 10, we are taught that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ. In Matthew chapter 26 verses 26 through 28 Jesus instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, wherein He teaches that the bread and wine represent His body and blood; therefore, by eating the bread and drinking the wine we are symbolically eating His flesh and drinking His blood. Turning to 1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 through 29, we learn that when Christ instituted the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper He did so commanding His disciples to eat in remembrance of His broken body and in remembrance of the blood, which He shed. Then Paul warns that those who partake of the bread and drink of the wine should do so worthily or else they bring upon themselves terrible judgments. We learn then, that His disciples are to partake of this Supper and to do so worthily. How do you become a disciple of Christ and how do you partake worthily? The Book of Mormon has the answer! In 3 Nephi chapter 18 verses 1 through 12, Jesus teaches that these emblems of His body and blood are to be given to those who are of His church, those who believe in Him and have been baptized in His name and keep His commandments. Worthiness comes through the keeping of His commandments. Therefore, if we are not worthy to partake of the emblems of the body and blood of our Savior, then we are not worthy of Eternal Life. So, if we believe in Jesus Christ that belief must be proven by our actions. We must keep His commandments! I restate, it is the keeping of His commandments that makes us worthy to partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, which Christ commanded that we must partake of or we could not obtain the Eternal Life, which He offers. John, in his writings in 1 John chapter 5 verses 11 through 13, reemphasizes this doctrine that Eternal Life is through Christ, because life is in Christ! The book of Doctrine and Covenants reemphasize the doctrine that worthiness comes by keeping the commandments and then teaches that Eternal Life is the greatest of all the gifts of God, which reminds us that Eternal Life is still a gift and that it comes by the grace of God after we have done our best to keep His commandments.

Now let’s examine one more important principle that is vital in our obtaining Eternal Life. In the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi chapter 2 verse 27, Lehi teaches that Eternal Life comes by our choice! He says we are free to choose liberty from death and hell and we are free to choose Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. In the book of Moroni chapter 7 verse 41, Moroni teaches that we need to hope for Eternal Life through the atonement of Jesus Christ and that this hope comes because of our faith, our belief, in Him. So by our own choice, which comes by our faith and belief in Jesus Christ, if we choose Eternal Life and then live according to our choice we will obtain. Thus, the verse in Acts chapter 13 verse 48 becomes much more meaningful. When the Gentiles heard the word concerning Jesus Christ preached unto them they believed and rejoiced and glorified God by choosing Eternal Life. Paul writing to Timothy alludes to the matter of choice when he states in 1 Timothy chapter 6 verse 12, “Lay hold on Eternal Life”. Or in other words, “With your agency to choose, choose Eternal Life!”

Once this choice has been made, we must stay true to that choice. Christ teaches in John chapter 5 verse 39, to search the scriptures. Why would He want us to search the scriptures? A consistent searching of scripture helps us learn the things we need to know and do to obtain Eternal Life. Following on with this thought, we read in John chapter 10 verses 27 and 28 that Christ teaches that those who hear His voice and follow Him will gain Eternal Life. Searching scripture will help us hear His voice. Then we make the choice to follow the teachings we study. Continuing with this pattern of thought, Christ teaches in Matthew chapter 19 verses 16 and 17, that we must keep the commandments to gain Eternal Life and how can we know the commandments if we do not study scripture? This instruction is repeated in Luke chapter 10 verses 25 through 28 and chapter 18 verses 18 through 22. How much more clear can He make it? We must keep the commandments! In Matthew chapter 25 verses 31 through 46, Christ teaches that those who keep His commandments and work the works of righteousness will be gathered on His right hand and those who do not will be gathered on His left hand; those on His right hand will be granted Eternal Life, those on His left will not. These verses are very clear in describing those who will or will not inherit Eternal Life, it will be those who will or will not keep His commandments. In John chapter 4 verse 36, those who reap will receive their wages and those wages are Eternal Life.

We will conclude this Scripture Train with some warnings. The Apostles of Christ have warned us that staying true and faithful to our choice of Eternal Life will not be easy. Peter warns us in 1 Peter chapter 5 verses 5-10 that we need to be humble and cast our cares upon God. He says we need to be vigilant and resist the devil, for he is always seeking whom who he may devour. He warns that the righteous will pass through trials and afflictions. In Revelation chapter 21 verse 7, John teaches that we must overcome our trials and our temptations if we are to inherit all things. In 2 Nephi chapter 9 verse 39 we are warned about yielding to the enticing temptations of the devil for the carnally minded will die. In the book of Doctrine and Covenants section 76 verses 72, 75 and 79, we are taught that some of those who will not receive Eternal Life are those who die not having received the Gospel law, in other words, those who reject it when they hear it, those who are blinded by the craftiness of evil men, in other words, those who do not recognize it when it is presented to them due to the incorrect precepts of others and those who are not valiant in their testimonies of Jesus Christ, in other words, those who accept the Gospel, but who are not valiant.

To end on a positive note! In the Doctrine and Covenants section 130 verse 2, we learn a wonderful truth and that is that in our Eternal life we will have the same sociality there as we had here, coupled with eternal glory. Beautiful! Eternal Life will be a beautiful reward for those who prove to themselves and to God, by their righteous works that they desire all that God has to offer them through the atonement and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.