Love and Choice

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son..." (John 3:16)

God loves the world. That means everyone. This is not about "good" people, it's about everyone. Jesus Christ was sent for everyone to give us a choice. Everyone may be saved by Him. The love of God is manifest in His Son, a gift that is Eternal in its scope, and universal in its application. Nobody is not saved by Christ. Let's discuss Salvation.  There are four distinct forms of Salvation

1. Salvation from physical death.
2. Salvation from suffering for our sins.
3. Salvation from hell.
4. Salvation from damnation.

Each of these is separate, distinct, and are gifts given on different conditions.  As parents give their children different gifts depending on their abilities, we are given the form of salvation for which we are prepared. We prepare ourselves to receive the gifts by submission and growth through making and keeping covenants with God.

Salvation from physical death

Because we are mortal, we all must die, where our spirits and bodies are separated. The body doesn't function without the spirit, and the spirit is powerless without the body. The spirit needs the body, and the body needs the spirit. It is not a happy separation. Three days after His death on the cross, when His lifeless body was laid in a tomb and His spirit was in Heaven, He returned with power and authority to enter into His body and be resurrected. He became immortal, never to be separated again. And, because He was resurrected, every person ever born on the Earth will also follow Him and receive their immortal and complete body to live forever in Eternity. It is a gift. Everyone gets it. The reason all are worthy of it is because we all made a covenant with our Father in Heaven prior to being born on the Earth. Based on this covenant we are given this gift no matter how we live our lives on the Earth.

Salvation from suffering

The power of God is found in His perfect justice. He cannot deny justice its due, or He would cease to be God. We are sinners, and have created pain for ourselves and others. We have been disobedient in many ways, doing our own will instead of God's. Now, we must pay for our crimes through suffering to the full measure all the suffering we have caused to others. As the ripples of water flow out forever when a rock is dropped into a clear lake, the suffering we cause continues to affect others -- generation after generation. There is no end to suffering -- except for one thing. Jesus Christ was innocent, but suffered all the pains of a damned soul in hell. That is unjust. Because He did this, He can plead our case before God. God must be just. Jesus suffered innocently so justice requires that He be compensated. His only desire for compensation is that those who believe on His name be spared from suffering. He stops the ripples. He rights the wrongs. He dries every tear. He heals every wound. We are spared from Eternal torment through His suffering. This requires only that we ask. Even those who go to hell can be spared suffering if they ask Christ for mercy.

Salvation from Hell

Hell is separation, it is emptiness, nothingness, a lack of connection with others. It is being alone for all Eternity. Jesus can save us from this fate through His wonderful Atonement which means to bring together as one. Without the Atonement we are forever doomed to being separate and single with no hope of ever connecting with others. Christ takes us out of Hell, and brings us into Heaven, where we can become a functional body with others. The minimum requirement for this is written, "As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) Those who are willing to bow the knee to Jesus Christ, and confess His leadership, can enter into Heaven. The three glories of Heaven have different requirements, all of which require bowing to the will of God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Salvation from damnation

The misunderstood term "damnation" literally means what it sounds like. As a dam holds back water, damnation is to be held back from growing and learning, to be stopped in our progress. Damnation doesn't only apply to hell, though all the souls in hell are damned because they cannot grow, however, it also applies to some places in Heaven.

"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14)

Thus, to gain Eternal Life is not the same as salvation from Hell, or going to Heaven. There are many in Heaven, by far the most, who are damned. They are stopped in their progress. They don't move on. They stay just as they are, saved from suffering and hell, having a measure of glory and connection, but not progressing on to receive more.

 

The greatest salvation is given to those who believe in Him.  "...that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16).   Only those few who believe in Jesus Christ can receive "eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7). The requirement for Eternal Life is to make and keep all the covenants of the Holy Priesthood, up to and including the covenant of Eternal Marriage, becoming one with your spouse. Only those who follow Jesus all the way without stopping may gain this Exaltation and continue with Him forever.

 

Thus, the love of God is manifest to all, from the greatest to the least, through His Son. I am amazed by His mercy and love. When Jesus said, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you," (Matthew 5:44) He included Himself. He is the perfect example of "doing good to those who hate (reject) you" because He saves even His enemies, and offers them all forms of salvation, even Eternal Life. He suffered for the damned souls in hell just as much as those who gain Eternal Life. He sends no one away. 

Condemnation

After Jesus told Nicodemus about how God loved the world, He added:

"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." (John 3:17)

Jesus is the Judge of the quick (living) and the dead, He doesn't, however, condemn any of us. Rather, He is the standard by which all are measured. We measure ourselves by Him. If we measure up, we are worthy, prepared, or ready to enter into the Kingdom of God. If we don't, we have another place in Heaven prepared for us. If we refuse a place in Heaven, then we can opt to stay out with Satan and his followers. Jesus does not cast us out nor condemn us to die. Instead, He prepared a place for each to receive our desires. We can have all we want through Him. He allows us to choose Heaven or hell. He doesn't condemn the sinner, but rather offers the means for repentance. He wasn't sent to condemn, but rather to save every one of us to the degree we desire. Because of Him we have a choice.

Mortal life is like a journey through a city, starting in the low areas filled with slums, and progressing on to the mansions in the hills with servants swimming pools.  Our Guide, who owns everything in the city, tells us He will give us a free house anywhere we desire.  We start with a large group, but as we go, people begin to file off where they want to stay.  Some stay in the ghetto; most see a modest neighborhood as desirable; while few press on to the large mansions.  We stay where we are most comfortable.  Each is given the gift he desires.

There is good reason to "stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me." I can have my desires through Him. He does not condemn, reject, or cast out anyone, but rather saves each one in every way possible. He saves us from death, suffering, hell, and gives those who desire the opportunity for Eternal Life. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have done in the past, by learning of Him and following Him all possibilities are open to you. He loves you and will give you all you desire of Him. It's your choice.