Punishment and Grace within The Plan of Happiness

[aiui] = as I understand it

My daughter, Elaina, on Facebook, asked a question that many people wonder about. Since she wrote it on a public page, I'll just quote it here:

Elaina Hargreaves Something about mainstream Christianity that I don't get: that all you need to do to be saved is accept Jesus, but if you don't you'll be damned forever. Reading in Luke I came across two verses that expressly say the opposite. Luke 12:47-48 In a nutshell he who knows the Lord and His will and doesn't do it will be severly punished, but he who doesn't, even if he deserves a beating, will only be lightly punished.

Here's exactly what Luke says: (King James Version)

 47 And that ^aservant, which knew his lord’s ^bwill, and ^cprepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.   

48 But he that ^aknew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be ^bbeaten with few stripes.

The question relates to the principle of Grace, the mercy of the Lord because, due to His paying for all sin by His Atonement in Gethsemene and on Golgotha, He can pay the price Eternal Justice demands of us because of our transgressions and sins (two different things: to transgress is to break a law or hurt someone innocently, making a mistake; to sin is to knowingly break the law or hurt someone, you meant to do it [aiui]).

Most 'mainstream' Christians I know seem to separate man's works from God's Grace, feeling, [aiui] that, almost no matter what you do after 'being saved' God's grace covers you, protects you from punishment. Hey, that's what some of the scriptures say: all you need to be saved is confess the Lord as your Savior and, {click} the Pearly Gates are unlocked and opened to you. Works, they say, are a side issue, coming from the goodness of your saved state and have nothing else, or little else to do with anything regarding your eternal punishment and reward. Hence comes the confusion Elaina points out with what Luke wrote.

 The following is my reply to Elaina's post: 

This is as I understand it:
To Know God's Law and refuse to do it is rebellion and rejection, which activates, as always, the Law of Return or Laws of the Harvest: what you sow is what you reap, only multiplied and varied. Example: sow tomatoes and you get the plant and beauty and fragrance and oxygen and fruit (flesh, juice, seeds) and you also get compost afterward. Sow rebellion and you get a lot of things; I challenge you to list them, then judge whether or not you want that harvest of punishment.

The knowingly rebellious souls are judged according to their own judgments and acts which are normally harsh and often cruel, based on "me-me-me", Self-Ish-Ness (s.i.n.). They reject mercy in their life judgments, demanding JUSTICE, so, according to the Law of Return (like for like), they are held to perfect Justice until the "uttermost farthing"is paid by them. By that time, they likely will be humbled enough to receive Christ's laws, to live by them for the rest of eternity. Then they will receive mercy and Grace and reward for the good they did do.

If you don't know the Lord's laws, He judges you as innocent and He covers for the innocent by his Atonement, His Love and His Grace. Since every knee will bow, every tongue will confess He is the Christ, those innocent ones, humble and repentant, kind and merciful in life, will receive Grace, kindness and mercy at judgment time and will be lightly punished for their mistakes before reward time.

Free advice (sometimes 2x what you paid! :) be not rebellious; be easy to entreat to goodness and mercy; be thankful for Grace.

 I have a young granddaughter who, in her childhood was severely hurt by stepfathers. Now, in her youth, she has rejected all her religious teaching (she hasn't had very good examples to follow in her family(s)), refuses to follow God's Laws, goes her own way with utter rebellious determination. She says anything she wants, true or not and, even though she is living with the "love of her life" (she's not 18 yet, he's 19, unemployed), her moods swing from syrup to bile in an instant. There is no stability and for some reason she writes:

No matter what i do i still feel like a piece of Crap!!!!!!!! I just want someone to be proud of me even if i can't find a job. :(

Last evening Sharon and I went to a pre-wedding dinner. During the comments portion, where everyone praised the couple, the air was replete with how both the young people were humble, helpful, hard working, cooperative, happy, always seeking to do what is right even as they had fun with friends and family. No rebellion. There was so much happiness, smiling, thanking, love and joy in the room. I just sat and watched for a while, and wondered, marveled at the distinct results of the choices we make.

God's Laws are just that: Laws. They are not just suggestions, not even just commandments because He decided that is what He wants you to do because he is an impetuous guy who likes restricting your actions and jerking you around at His whim and pleasure. Oh, no. The Laws of Morality, Integrity and Service have immutable consequences in this life and forever. The Laws of Return, Attraction, Cause & Effect, and the Laws of the Harvest are the same. There are no ways around them; there are few ways to stop the consequences once the actions triggering the Laws effects have been made. Live the Laws of Morality - reap the benefits. Live the laws of immorality in Self-Ish-Ness (s.i.n.) and receive the consequences. That's it. Period.

No! Wait! There ARE three ways to avoid or remove the consequences of s.i.n. That is the Good News (gospel) brought by Jesus the Messiah. They are: 1) become humble, compliant, repentant - willing to change from "my way" to "Your Way"; 2) Repent - live His Laws, seek to do so ALWAYS; 3) ASK the Lord for mercy and His grace. 

I have found that literally in the moment of decision to do those three things, hope, relief, peace enter that person's heart. Light fills the mind and JOY re-enters daily life. 

Now, Elaina and Luke were mostly thinking about Grace or punishment after death, at a person's judgment. That same principle, however, that effects the hereafter has immediate effect in the here-now. That is why I brought it up. Since the here-now creates the end result in the hereafter, shouldn't we focus on the now?

More FREE advice (worth 5x the price): Faithfully live the Laws of God now, knowing you will reap the rewards as they come in mortality, also knowing you'll be happier when the Lord says [aiui],"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.You are now a co-heir with me of all the Father has. Enter into the dominion I've prepared for you, my Friend." 

Pretty good reasons to obey the Laws, wouldn't you say? God Bless until next time.