James and the Atonement: Wetzlar Week 4

August 31, 2015

Subject: James and the Atonement

Hello!

Glad to hear things are going well, transitioning back into school, new car (send me a picture, please!) Brother Hada teaching [sharing during Sunday school] from Acts, there are some Intense things in there. I´ve really enjoyed reading the New Testament more this week again.

Emily and Austin both scored big time on teachers this year. Teachers, school, studies. Studies on my mission are so different than ever before. I know I write about studies all the time. I just love to study the scriptures, to discover, rediscover and let my understanding of so many beautiful, eternal truths expand. I was reading in the Bible, the German Bible has a little intro to each book/section and that was really cool. I was pondering words, James 3:2 "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body". Also the Tongue of Angels talk from Elder Holland (classic, highly recommended) and how by words things are created, faith is expressed, people are healed and so on. Totally changing direction, but that´s why I was reading in James, I was reading in the intro and it was talking about how faith without works is dead. Often that may be seen in opposition to Romans 3:28, therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. So true on both sides. Read Romans 3:21-31 with James 2:14-25, then Galatians 5 (emphasis on verses 5 and 6. Anyways, Paul's point, and why it doesn´t conflict with James at all, but really works beautifully together, is that people often focus too much on the law. Too much on what they need to do, the commandments that we need to keep and so on. We are justified freely through the Grace of God, through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. As important as it is to keep the commandments (Christ wouldn´t have taught them if we they didn´t matter) it wouldn´t matter if it weren´t for his infinite atoning sacrifice. We need to have faith and show are love and gratitude through what we do and how we live our lives, that just isn´t the Reason or way by which we can be saved, by which we can come back to our Father in Heaven. Jesus Christ lives. His atonement is real. What a privilege to share.

I just love studies. Other things going on... Still enjoying having bikes in this area. We biked to a cool little castle today, I think it´s called Gleiberg. Splits continue to be a pleasure. We used to do two splits every 6 weeks with Langen. With 4 companionships of Elders in the district (including my own) We go on 7 splits every 6 weeks (1 with Zone leaders). Hanau and Wetterau. Then Friedrichsdorf as well. Kind of a long email today, hope you got to the end ;)

Carry on!

Love,

Hayden